Where to go after Vegas? - Snowboarding Forum

phile00 · 12-13-2011, 12:54 AM

Hi guys, I know this is trip reports, but I can't seem to find a place to post a question about where to go. I'll be attending CES in Vegas this January, and afterward my friend and I are going to rent and RV and go riding. We have quite a few options around us with Utah and Cali.

Since we're renting an RV, we'll be able to kind of travel from resort to resort depending on the conditions. Where do you think we should go?

Thanks in advance!

WasatchMan · 12-13-2011, 01:10 AM

Well, considering everywhere around Utah, Colorado, Wyoming is dry as a bone right now, and seems to be for a while, I'd maybe check out Brian Head, UT. Seems a lot of places in the southern rockies/south west area are getting some snow.

What terrain do you like to ride? Looking for park? freeride/pow?

I wouldn't go near california, I think they are worse off than us, what I would do is wait for your trip, and check the weather everywhere, follow the storms (if any) my friend

SnowSource · 12-13-2011, 02:05 AM

Go get Brain Dead in Brian Head. They're getting hit along with us SoCal folk

snowvols · 12-13-2011, 08:30 AM

Stay in Vegas... Went there a little over a week ago and that is where the snow is. Stay in that area. They are supposed to get pounded again. Utah we have no snow. Groomers yay or if you get out in the BC the entire snowpack is just about faceted. Who wants to ride that? No one is really getting snow. Right now I would stay at the Vegas resort. This all might change in a week or two. Just play it by ear and drive to where the snow is.

phile00 · 12-17-2011, 01:00 AM

Thanks for the help guys!

Quote:

Originally Posted by WasatchMan

Well, considering everywhere around Utah, Colorado, Wyoming is dry as a bone right now, and seems to be for a while, I'd maybe check out Brian Head, UT. Seems a lot of places in the southern rockies/south west area are getting some snow.

What terrain do you like to ride? Looking for park? freeride/pow?

I wouldn't go near california, I think they are worse off than us, what I would do is wait for your trip, and check the weather everywhere, follow the storms (if any) my friend

I actually like riding everything. But my favorite is freeride/glade/pow

I'm a newb in glade though. I can manage a black diamond glade area, but not great yet.

Assuming there actually is snow, which resort would you recommend since my options are NV/CA/UT?

cjcameron11 · 12-17-2011, 08:35 AM

I was in Vegas last week and took 2 trips to mt charleston (40 mins from the strip). It's a small resort but it had just got dumped on with 3 feet and has had more since then, it has some nice tree runs and some challenging moguls etc I think it's worth the 50 bucks ticket

phile00 · 12-17-2011, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjcameron11

I was in Vegas last week and took 2 trips to mt charleston (40 mins from the strip). It's a small resort but it had just got dumped on with 3 feet and has had more since then, it has some nice tree runs and some challenging moguls etc I think it's worth the 50 bucks ticket

Damn 3 feet? Sweet, I'll definitely keep that in mind, thanks!

jdang307 · 12-19-2011, 11:18 PM

Never been to any of these but Ski Las Vegas is right there next to Mt Charleston as well.

It might be the same mountain though (their website doesn't state)

snowvols · 12-20-2011, 08:33 AM

Did you think I was being sarcastic when I told you to stay there? The resort is in the Spring Mountains. The range isn't huge by any means, but there is some great terrain there. Buddies I met up with a few weeks ago went back last week and said it was even better than when we were there. The drive into the mountains is pretty awesome too with the Joshua trees everywhere and then boom pines and big mountains.

philadendron · 12-20-2011, 04:39 PM

I live in Vegas and have hiked all over the Spring Mountains and also ridden the resort there several times. It's a great area but I haven't been up this season. Problem with the resort is temps are so high there in the day that you have ice in the morning (which takes awhile to melt since the resort is in a canyon), good snow around lunch, then soft stuff at the end of the day. The terrain stuff they have is actually pretty decent, but I'm not the best judge since I don't ride that stuff. Groomers are short and lifts are slow. You won't find super steep stuff anywhere. There are some moguls under one lift and an awesome off-piste run through a riverbed that's easy to get to.

That said, there's a reason a lot of Vegas locals drive 3.5 hours to either Brian Head or Big Bear, which cost the same as Las Vegas but offer way more terrain and challenge. Both of those places have been getting snow so by January their bases should be in good shape. Brian Head has 7 of their 8 lifts open and I know Big Bear and Snow Summit have close to 100% open right now. I rode Snow Summit two weeks ago and since then they've gotten blasted with at least a foot, I think. Their snowmaking is extensive since they can use Big Bear Lake as their source.

Depends how long you're looking to travel for but I'd say follow the snow. Check the conditions a couple days before and plan accordingly. It's an easy drive to either Brian Head or Big Bear.

12-13-2011, 12:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
phile00 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CNY Posts: 685	Where to go after Vegas? Hi guys, I know this is trip reports, but I can't seem to find a place to post a question about where to go. I'll be attending CES in Vegas this January, and afterward my friend and I are going to rent and RV and go riding. We have quite a few options around us with Utah and Cali. Since we're renting an RV, we'll be able to kind of travel from resort to resort depending on the conditions. Where do you think we should go? Thanks in advance!

12-17-2011, 08:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
cjcameron11 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 724	I was in Vegas last week and took 2 trips to mt charleston (40 mins from the strip). It's a small resort but it had just got dumped on with 3 feet and has had more since then, it has some nice tree runs and some challenging moguls etc I think it's worth the 50 bucks ticket __________________ my names's Petey and i have gigantic balls

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12-13-2011, 01:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
WasatchMan Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 1,023	Well, considering everywhere around Utah, Colorado, Wyoming is dry as a bone right now, and seems to be for a while, I'd maybe check out Brian Head, UT. Seems a lot of places in the southern rockies/south west area are getting some snow. What terrain do you like to ride? Looking for park? freeride/pow? I wouldn't go near california, I think they are worse off than us, what I would do is wait for your trip, and check the weather everywhere, follow the storms (if any) my friend

12-13-2011, 02:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
SnowSource Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 128	Go get Brain Dead in Brian Head. They're getting hit along with us SoCal folk

12-13-2011, 08:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
snowvols Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 1,388	Stay in Vegas... Went there a little over a week ago and that is where the snow is. Stay in that area. They are supposed to get pounded again. Utah we have no snow. Groomers yay or if you get out in the BC the entire snowpack is just about faceted. Who wants to ride that? No one is really getting snow. Right now I would stay at the Vegas resort. This all might change in a week or two. Just play it by ear and drive to where the snow is.

12-19-2011, 11:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
jdang307 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 2,063	Never been to any of these but Ski Las Vegas is right there next to Mt Charleston as well. It might be the same mountain though (their website doesn't state)

12-20-2011, 08:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
snowvols Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 1,388	Did you think I was being sarcastic when I told you to stay there? The resort is in the Spring Mountains. The range isn't huge by any means, but there is some great terrain there. Buddies I met up with a few weeks ago went back last week and said it was even better than when we were there. The drive into the mountains is pretty awesome too with the Joshua trees everywhere and then boom pines and big mountains.

12-20-2011, 04:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
philadendron Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 62	I live in Vegas and have hiked all over the Spring Mountains and also ridden the resort there several times. It's a great area but I haven't been up this season. Problem with the resort is temps are so high there in the day that you have ice in the morning (which takes awhile to melt since the resort is in a canyon), good snow around lunch, then soft stuff at the end of the day. The terrain stuff they have is actually pretty decent, but I'm not the best judge since I don't ride that stuff. Groomers are short and lifts are slow. You won't find super steep stuff anywhere. There are some moguls under one lift and an awesome off-piste run through a riverbed that's easy to get to. That said, there's a reason a lot of Vegas locals drive 3.5 hours to either Brian Head or Big Bear, which cost the same as Las Vegas but offer way more terrain and challenge. Both of those places have been getting snow so by January their bases should be in good shape. Brian Head has 7 of their 8 lifts open and I know Big Bear and Snow Summit have close to 100% open right now. I rode Snow Summit two weeks ago and since then they've gotten blasted with at least a foot, I think. Their snowmaking is extensive since they can use Big Bear Lake as their source. Depends how long you're looking to travel for but I'd say follow the snow. Check the conditions a couple days before and plan accordingly. It's an easy drive to either Brian Head or Big Bear.