Mercurial

if your looking for good terrain, i would say Vail or Breckenridge. The only downside to those two resorts is that they are ridiculously expensive (at least vail is, not sure about breck).But if you want great snow, Utah stomps Colorado. Even Ski Utah's slogan is the greatest snow on earth, which is 80% true.

__________________
"If I fall, If I die, know I lived it to the fullest.If I fall, If I die, know I lived and missed some bullets"

IdahoFreshies

i will narrow my search to the best NATURAL terrain. what resort has the biggest lines, most vertical, and the best pow.

i think its a very valid question. If you could go to only one resort (for natural terrain btw)which one would be the best.

__________________
If you don't like the way I drive, stay off the sidewalk.

grafta

Gotta say I'm pretty happy living in Vancouver. Sure, I have to drive to ride but I have good options both in Canada and the States nearby. It's not 'resort living', but it's pretty good. Living on any hill is gonna have it's pros and cons. Nothing's perfect!

digZ

Ugh, Iowa does not claim Council Bluffs.

Although I think Seven Oaks near Boone might have Crescent beat! 30 acres, and a VERY VERY VERY generous black diamond run. It would be lucky to be rated a blue elsewhere, and in some places in CO could even be classified as a steeper green

Argo

I think breck and vail are cheap for the season. No car needed, $650 season pass, lots of varied terrain, random jobs all over...... You can find relatively inexpensive housing around too....

mixie

I rode about 40 days at Mammoth last season and well over 50 this season. I rent a place up there for the winter.



Even this year with record LACK of snow they're still going to be open til Memorial Day. Last year I made my last turns on June 13th but they remained open until July 4th. They keep em spinning 7 days a week too. I actually was in Mammoth the entire month of May last season We had a few powder days, it's awesome up there. There's tons to do besides board and you're close to Yosemite as well.

Last May/June I met a lot of people on the gondi that were from utah/colorado/tahoe that came to mammoth for the lift served and the back country. Once the Tioga Pass opens that pretty much opens up anything in Yosemite for hiking. I am hoping next season to have the gear to go BC.



OP-anything specific you'd like to know about the resort or town?

poutanen

I was thinking about doing something similar in Fernie. Was thinking I could get a room for about $500 a month, and that would be far cheaper than getting a B&B or hotel every time I head out for the weekend. It's about 3:30 away from me so too long for a day trip...

mixie

Mammoth is a 5 hour drive for me. I don't spend anywhere near 500 a month but.....I share a small place with 5 other ski bums. It's not always the most pleasant conditions but I'm ok with that.



oh yeah, mammoth is huge and will get tracked out fast. I have a flexible gig and pretty much only ride weekdays. And if I do have to ride on a weekend, I go to June.

poutanen

Yeah I'd like to find something cheaper, or an apartment to share with people but I think that's not going to happen. Might just get this room and rent it to my work friends every once in a while to help pay the bills.

I was planning on spending every third week or so in Fernie next winter. I have a busy work summer so winter is the best time for me to take vacation days. Every third week would give me lotsa quiet mid-week days in the powder!

mixie

I work freelance for the most part. And I often have large chunks of time with out work at all.

I killed it at work last September-October. Worked a lot of 70+ hour weeks. Paid for my entire season and was able to turn down work in March/April so I could follow the storms ride some weekday pow.


Which to not totally derail the OPs thread. It really goes back to the best resort is the one you can ride the most.


So. find a resort where you know you will have a couch to crash on!