Where to next?? - Snowboarding Forum

BWayne89 · 11-12-2012, 04:31 PM

Hey guys, I just wanted to get some input on a few locations for this upcoming year. I have been out west to Whistler for the past 2 years and have been both disappointed and content with Whistler. My only complaints for Whistler have been mediocre snowfall and snow conditions for the duration of my trip. Other then that, Whistler has been a blast from the summit to the valley, non stop thrills.

I've always wanted to snowboard "true pow". I got a small taste of it while I was in Whistler but it was short lived and only available in this one chute that I was unable to find afterwards. I live in a region that typically gets mediocre snowfall and unfortunately the hills are groomer conditions. I would love to go to AK and experience some Heli-boarding/backcountry but currently funds are tight. I could probably afford the trip out that way but the added expense of a Heli-tour would probably push me over the limit.

So I ask:
Alaska- are there any half-decent resorts ( similar to Whistler/Blackcomb) in the AK that allow the user to experience pow without the added expense of Heli-boarding?
Nelson, BC - is this strictly Heli-boarding? Or do they have a chairlift?

Vermont or Quebec? - Which one would be better?
Colorado or Utah?
Alberta?

jdang307 · 11-12-2012, 04:36 PM

Alyeska is one resort I know of in Alaska. But don't know about snow conditions.

Japan if you can afford it.

Colorado snow stays pretty soft for a few days. More so than the pacific resorts. Sierra Cement is still pretty good compared to hardpack

Utah just got 5 feet in the cottonwood resorts. We plan on going there this year . HOpefully the weather cooperates (clear on the drive in, then massive snowstorm the night before we board heh)

ShredLife · 11-12-2012, 04:38 PM

look into cat riding. you get to access heli-esque terrain, you get more runs in, and its cheaper.

chugach powder guides in AK - i think SnoWolf used them...among many others, as well as operators in the lower 48 (mt bailey)

otherwise for resorts: Jackson Hole, Revelstoke, Shames, etc. will offer the type of riding you're looking for. as for POW well sometimes you just gotta get lucky with the weather. go in march.

i dunno what riding in quebec is like but no way in hell would i go to vt to look for powder.

grafta · 11-12-2012, 05:00 PM

If you are looking for somewhere in Canada, think interior British Columbia. Do a search on some of the threads already here. This has been beaten over the head many, many times before

grafta · 11-12-2012, 05:03 PM

this is just one >
http://www.snowboardingforum.com/gen...13-advice.html

BWayne89 · 11-12-2012, 06:14 PM

Thanks for all the input....

neednsnow · 11-12-2012, 06:59 PM

Utah.....be flexible and pull the trigger last-minute.

tigre · 11-12-2012, 08:57 PM

If funds are tight, stay in the Lower-48 or nearish the border in Canada. AK can be done on a reasonable budget, but it's still probably going to be more than anywhere down there due to the high cost of transportation, food and lodging, etc. The weather can be pretty ugly too, if you pick the wrong time to come up. Down there, flights are cheap(er), driving is a reasonable possibility from most parts of the country, and you can watch the weather as the season goes on and figure out where you want to go on more of a spur-of-the-moment basis.

I second the snowcat option, as well. I don't know if I'd plan a whole trip around it, but maybe find a good resort with some lift-accessible backcountry stuff (assuming you have some idea how to read terrain and avoid avalanches) and do some cat runs while you're there.

jdang307 · 11-12-2012, 10:52 PM

Powder Mountain has snowcat tours right?

That is essentially backcountry full avalanche gear stuff right? Or do they clear it out first, due to liability with the cat tours?

poutanen · 11-12-2012, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWayne89

So I ask:
Alaska- are there any half-decent resorts ( similar to Whistler/Blackcomb) in the AK that allow the user to experience pow without the added expense of Heli-boarding?
Nelson, BC - is this strictly Heli-boarding? Or do they have a chairlift?

Vermont or Quebec? - Which one would be better?
Colorado or Utah?
Alberta?

From what I've heard Alaska gets the same wet heavy snow as Whistler.

I've rode a fair bit in QC and VT and they're similar. Jay gets more snow than anywhere else in the east so I don't quite get the don't go to Vermont for powder comment.

Heard good things about Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Montana.

I like Alberta terrain and snow, but I live here and can pick when I go to the mountains. We can get massive dumps or there may be nothing for a couple weeks.

One option would be k-pow near Calgary. It's done on a former resort but it's catboarding so you can get fresh lines from what I hear. Cost is about $300 per day.

11-12-2012, 04:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
BWayne89 Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 39	Where to next?? Hey guys, I just wanted to get some input on a few locations for this upcoming year. I have been out west to Whistler for the past 2 years and have been both disappointed and content with Whistler. My only complaints for Whistler have been mediocre snowfall and snow conditions for the duration of my trip. Other then that, Whistler has been a blast from the summit to the valley, non stop thrills. I've always wanted to snowboard "true pow". I got a small taste of it while I was in Whistler but it was short lived and only available in this one chute that I was unable to find afterwards. I live in a region that typically gets mediocre snowfall and unfortunately the hills are groomer conditions. I would love to go to AK and experience some Heli-boarding/backcountry but currently funds are tight. I could probably afford the trip out that way but the added expense of a Heli-tour would probably push me over the limit. So I ask: Alaska- are there any half-decent resorts ( similar to Whistler/Blackcomb) in the AK that allow the user to experience pow without the added expense of Heli-boarding? Nelson, BC - is this strictly Heli-boarding? Or do they have a chairlift? Vermont or Quebec? - Which one would be better? Colorado or Utah? Alberta?

11-12-2012, 04:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
ShredLife The Rooster King Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,344	look into cat riding. you get to access heli-esque terrain, you get more runs in, and its cheaper. chugach powder guides in AK - i think SnoWolf used them...among many others, as well as operators in the lower 48 (mt bailey) otherwise for resorts: Jackson Hole, Revelstoke, Shames, etc. will offer the type of riding you're looking for. as for POW well sometimes you just gotta get lucky with the weather. go in march. i dunno what riding in quebec is like but no way in hell would i go to vt to look for powder. __________________ get the hell off my lawn.

11-12-2012, 06:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
neednsnow -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: PA Posts: 1,208	Utah.....be flexible and pull the trigger last-minute. __________________ Neednsnow.com: Traveling the States and Taking Pictures

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11-12-2012, 04:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
jdang307 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 2,063	Alyeska is one resort I know of in Alaska. But don't know about snow conditions. Japan if you can afford it. Colorado snow stays pretty soft for a few days. More so than the pacific resorts. Sierra Cement is still pretty good compared to hardpack Utah just got 5 feet in the cottonwood resorts. We plan on going there this year . HOpefully the weather cooperates (clear on the drive in, then massive snowstorm the night before we board heh)

11-12-2012, 05:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
grafta Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,752	If you are looking for somewhere in Canada, think interior British Columbia. Do a search on some of the threads already here. This has been beaten over the head many, many times before

11-12-2012, 05:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
grafta Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,752	this is just one > http://www.snowboardingforum.com/gen...13-advice.html

11-12-2012, 06:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
BWayne89 Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 39	Thanks for all the input....

11-12-2012, 08:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
tigre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Valdez, Alaska Posts: 116	If funds are tight, stay in the Lower-48 or nearish the border in Canada. AK can be done on a reasonable budget, but it's still probably going to be more than anywhere down there due to the high cost of transportation, food and lodging, etc. The weather can be pretty ugly too, if you pick the wrong time to come up. Down there, flights are cheap(er), driving is a reasonable possibility from most parts of the country, and you can watch the weather as the season goes on and figure out where you want to go on more of a spur-of-the-moment basis. I second the snowcat option, as well. I don't know if I'd plan a whole trip around it, but maybe find a good resort with some lift-accessible backcountry stuff (assuming you have some idea how to read terrain and avoid avalanches) and do some cat runs while you're there.

11-12-2012, 10:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
jdang307 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 2,063	Powder Mountain has snowcat tours right? That is essentially backcountry full avalanche gear stuff right? Or do they clear it out first, due to liability with the cat tours?