茂禄驴
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The Snow Finder
| | | THE SNOW FINDER |
| | | Big Sky | | | Jackson Hole | | | Mt. Baker | | | Park City | | | Steamboat | | | Taos | | | Vail | |
Alta Ski Area, Utah Best Time to Go: Early January can be cold, powdery, and empty 鈥 but if you need a snow guarantee, book February through March. Family Report Card: B- Best Event: The Groundhog’s Day Race (February 1) includes a dual slalom in the morning; in the afternoon, those contestants not yet eliminated compete in the Pro Bump event, in which they must go over one bump on their telemark skis. Who Goes There: Forty-something traditionalists who could either duck hunt or ski in the same outfit, and would trade ten days of groomed sunshine for a single day of untracked powder. Stats: Elevation: 10,650 feet; vertical: 2,100 feet; tickets: all-area ticket, $28 (all ages) includes use of the entire mountain; beginner-lift ticket, $20 (all ages) includes use of three lifts. Trails/Lifts: 25% beginner, 40% intermediate,35% advanced/expert trails;eight fixed chairs, five surface lifts Average Snow: 500 inches (or more)
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Colorado Best Time to Go: April is A-Basin’s magic month. The resort’s dizzying altitude insures that the extreme East Wall, which towers above A-Basin’s lifts and groomed runs, has full coverage and consistent conditions. Family Report Card: C- Best Event: In the Cardboard Downhill Derby (February 21), contestants cruise down the slope in their cardboard works of art (Noah’s Ark, a dragon in a Viking ship, a hot tub) and are judged on originality and craftsmanship. Who Goes There: Hard-core types who don’t color coordinate; locals who consider skiing more relevant to the future of humankind than rocket science. Stats: Elevation: 13,050 feet; vertical: 2,250 feet ; tickets: adult, $39; ages 5-14, $12; 4 and under free (1996-1997) Trails/Lifts: 15% beginner, 45% intermediate, 40% advanced/expert trails; five fixed chairs
Banff/Lake Louise Ski Area, Alberta Best Time to Go: Mid-February through late March gets the best snow of the season, but Christmas is a magical time here, especially for families. Family Report Card: A- Best Event: The weekly Torchlight Dinner and Ski includes apr藛s-ski appetizers, a full buffet, live entertainment, dancing in ski boots, and a guided torchlight ski down the mountain. Who Goes There: Brits and Germans attracted by the alpine scenery and very unalpine prices. Stats: Elevation: 8,650 feet; vertical: 3,250 feet; tickets: adult, US$34; student (13-17, or older with a valid student ID), US$27; 12 and under, US$11 Trails/Lifts: 25% beginner, 45% intermediate, 30% advanced/expert trails; two high-speed quads, five fixed chairs, three surface lifts Average Snow: 200 (or fewer) inches
Big Sky Ski & Summer Resort, Montana Best Time to Go: January and February bring very cold weather, but plenty of dry snow. Family Report Card: B Best Event: On Dirt Bag Day, scheduled for mid-March, you ski in your tackiest clothes, then compete for the title of King or Queen Dirt Bag at the Dirt Bag Ball. Who Goes There: In-laws and outlaws from Ted and Jane’s Mongolia-sized ranch; Bozeman college students; ski-school cowboys with tight Levi’s and loose Austrian accents. Stats: Elevation: 11,150 feet; vertical: 4,180 feet; tickets: adult, $47; ages 11-16, $40; 10 and under free Trails/Lifts: 10% beginner, 47% intermediate, 43% advanced/expert trails; one 15-person tram, one four-person gondola, four high-speed quads, six fixed chairs, three surface lifts
Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Colorado Best Time to Go: February 鈥 the snow is most abundant and the North Face area, which takes a lot of snow to open, should have good coverage by then. Family Report Card: B+ Best Event: ESPN Winter X Games (January 15-18) include events such as mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing, blading, and snowmobile hill-climbing. Who Goes There: An odd mix of Texas yahoos and stoner college kids from nearby Western State. Stats: Elevation: 11,875 feet; vertical: 2,775 feet; tickets: adult, $47; 12 and under pay their age per day Trails/Lifts: 24% beginner, 57% intermediate, 19% advanced/expert trails (plus 550 acres of expert-only terrain); three high-speed quads, seven fixed chairs, four surface lifts
Heavenly, California Best Time to Go: When it comes to reliable snow, the odds favor February. Family Report Card: C- Best Event: Bumps and Jumps Challenge, one of the top professional mogul and aerial competitions in the country, will be held March 20-21. Who Goes There: High-stakes gamblers headed for Mott Canyon; nickel-slot cruisers bound for Big Dipper. Stats: Elevation: 10,040 feet; vertical: 3,500 feet; tickets: adult, $47; youth (13-15), $34; kids (6-12), $22; 5 Trails/Lifts: 20% beginner, 47% intermediate, 33% advanced/expert trails; one tram, one six-passenger high-speed chair, three high-speed quads, 15 fixed chairs, six surface lifts
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming Best Time to Go: Though January lacks the crowds and high-season prices, mid-February to mid-March is the best time to catch cold temperatures and fresh snow. Family Report Card: B+ Best Event: The 1998 Chevy Truck U.S. Alpine Championships (March 18-25) will be held at both Jackson Hole and neighboring Snow King; about 175 skiers are expected to participate. Who Goes There: Locals decked out in wind-, water-, and even fire-resistant one-piece suits that probably cost them more than they paid for their cars. A sound investment. Stats: Elevation: 10,450 feet; vertical: 4,139 feet; tickets: adult, $48; 14 and under, $24 Trails/Lifts: 10% beginner, 40% intermediate, 50% advanced/expert trails; one 8-passenger gondola, one aerial tram, one high-speed quad, six fixed chairs, two surface lifts
Mammoth Mountain, California Best Time to Go: Weekdays 鈥 L.A. road warriors book weekends to the rafters. Mid-February to mid-March is known for the biggest snows, which in turn attract the biggest crowds. Family Report Card: B Best Event: The FIS Women’s World Cup (November 27-28) includes the Super G and the brand new Parallel event. The Women’s World Cup, a prelude to the Winter Olympics, will also feature the return of America’s favorite, Picabo Street. Who Goes There: Los Angelenos who can’t live without their radar detectors or cell phones. Stats: Elevation: 11,053 feet; vertical: 3,100 feet; tickets: adult, $47; teen (13-18), $34; kid (7-12), $23; 6 and under free Trails/Lifts: 30% beginner, 40% intermediate, 30% advanced/expert trails; two gondolas, five high-speed quads, 21 fixed chairs, one surface lift
Mt. Bachelor, Oregon Best Time to Go: Bachelor has a late season, often allowing skiing into July, but the peak months are February and March. Family Report Card: B+ Best Event: Mt. Bachelor is hosting one of the four U.S. Snowboard Bud Light Grand Prix competitions January 22-25; the results of all four events will determine the American team for the 1998 Winter Olympics. Who Goes There: Northwest locals in wool cocker-spaniel hats with Eddie Bauer outlet price tag still affixed; micro-buses full of western Oregon snowboarders; migratory northern Californians. Stats: Elevation: 9,065 feet; vertical: 3,365 feet; tickets: adult, $36; ages 7-12, $19.50; 6 and under free (or $38 for 200 points or $75 for 400 points) (1996-1997) Trails/Lifts: 15% beginner, 60% intermediate, 25% advanced/expert trails; seven high-speed quads, four fixed chairs, two surface lifts
Mt. Baker Ski Area, Washington Best Time to Go: November. More than almost any resort in the nation, Baker is known for having good 鈥 and frequently outstanding 鈥 snowfall in the early season. Family Report Card: C- Best Event: The fourteenth annual Mt. Baker Who Goes There: Famous snowboarding pioneers, Vancouverites tired of Whistler’s crowds, and powder freaks 鈥 last year Baker got 780 inches of snow, the most of any lift-served resort in the world. Stats: Elevation: 5,050 feet; vertical: 1,500 feet; tickets: Mondays-Wednesdays, $18; Thursdays-Friday, $20; weekends and holidays, $29.50; discounts for teens and kids Trails/Lifts: 30% beginner, 42% intermediate, 28% advanced/expert trails; eight fixed chairs, two surface lifts Average Snow: 500 inches (or more)
Mt. Hood Meadows, Oregon Best Time to Go: February is a can’t-miss snow month. Family Report Card: C Best Event: Vegetate (April 15-19), a “snowboarding for native wildflowers” event, includes Half-Pipe, Slope Style, and BoarderCross contests as well as an Invitational Big Air Contest. Who Goes There: Overworked high-tech industry junkies from Gresham, unemployed forest-industry workers from throughout the Northwest; year-round snowboard campers from Government Camp. Stats: Elevation: 7,300 feet; vertical: 2,777 feet; tickets: adult, $35; junior (7-12), $21, 6 and under, $6 (1996-1997; though the junior and 6 and under prices will remain the same) Trails/Lifts: 15% beginner, 50% intermediate, 35% advanced/expert trails; three high-speed quads, seven fixed chairs, two surface lifts
Northstar-at-Tahoe, California Best Time to Go: February and March for powder; weekdays for solitude. Family Report Card: A+ Best Event: The 25th Anniversary Celebrations (January 25, February 25, and March 25) include all-day parties, music, giveaways, food and entertainment; on these days, $2.50 of all adult lift tickets sold will be donated to charities. Who Goes There: Upscale Bay-Area families toting cell phones and feeling like black-diamond skiers on the rating-inflated slope of the extinct volcano, Mount Pluto. Stats: Elevation: 8,610 feet; vertical: 2,280 feet; tickets: adult, $46; young adult (13-22), $38; child (5-12), $10; 4 and under free Trails/Lifts: 25% beginner, 50% intermediate, 25% advanced/expert trails;
Park City Mountain Area, Utah Best Time to Go: Snowmaking provides reliable snow from Thanksgiving on; for the real thing, go in December and January. Unless you want to hobnob with the stars, avoid the Sundance Film Festival in January. Family Report Card: C Best Event: The Chevy Truck America’s Opening World Cup Races November 20-23 include men’s and women’s slalom and GS events. Who Goes There: Avant-garde filmmakers who ski (both of them); Salt Lake college students on a weekend splurge. Stats: Elevation: 10,000 feet; vertical: 3,100 feet; tickets: adult, $52; 12 and under, $23 Trails/Lifts: 17% beginner, 44% intermediate, 39% advanced/expert trails; three six-passenger high-speed chairs, two high-speed quads, nine fixed chairs (ten, with the fixed high-speed quad)
Snowmass, Colorado Best Time to Go: February. March has better snow, but spring break crowds can be brutal. Family Report Card: A+ Best Event: At Ski Splash ’98 (January 15), skiers ski down a ramp in tandem dressed in crazy costumes 鈥 or barely dressed at all 鈥 into a pool. Who Goes There: Families who own one of the millions of Snowmass condos, and one-planked locals who can’t legally snowboard at Aspen Mountain. Stats: Elevation: 12,510 feet; vertical: 4,406 feet; tickets: adult, $59; Independence Pass (ages 13-27), $39; ages 7-12, $35; 6 and under free Trails/Lifts: 10% beginner, 52% intermediate, 38% advanced/expert trails; seven high-speed quads, eight fixed chairs, three surface lifts
Squaw Valley USA, California Best Time to Go: April. Combine the wide-open Sierra peaks with warm, sunny days, and you get a perfect recipe for spring corn. Family Report Card: B+ Best Event: The U.S. Pro Men’s and Women’s Finals (March 19-22) includes a women’s dual slalom, women’s GS, men’s dual slalom, men’s GS, and a men’s speed event. Who Goes There: San Franciscans with sport utes, and the least-acrophobic winter sport studs in North America. Stats: Elevation: 9,050 feet; vertical: 2,850 feet; tickets: adult, $48; ages 13-15, $24; 12 and under, $5 (with one full-paying adult; no limit to number of kids per adult) Trails/Lifts: 25% beginner, 45% intermediate, 30% advanced/expert trails; one cable car, one gondola, four high-speed quads, 21 fixed chairs, three surface lifts, one Pulse Lift
Steamboat, Colorado Best Time to Go: February is a can’t-miss snow month. Family Report Card: A++ Best Event: The 24th Annual Norwest Bank Cowboy Downhill (January 20), a ski rodeo featuring more than 100 of the country’s best professional rodeo cowboys performing their feats (lassoing, saddling, slaloming) on skis. Who Goes There: Locals in cowboy hats; visitors trying to look like locals; lots of families, who appreciate the cheap lift tickets. Stats: Elevation: 10,568 feet; vertical: 3,668 feet; tickets: adult, $48 ($43 during value season: November 22-Dec. 12 and April 6-12); youth (12 and under), $28 all season Trails/Lifts: 13% beginner, 56% intermediate, 31% advanced/expert trails; one gondola, three high-speed quads, 14 fixed chairs, three surface lifts
Stratton Mountain, Vermont Best Time to Go: December. Rain is possible in the shoulder months, and besides, Vermont does Christmas right. Family Report Card: A- Best Event: The U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships (March 19-22) attract 200+ of the world’s best boarders, plus 5,000 spectators who enjoy the sport’s biggest and wildest bash. Who Goes There: New York suburbanites, boardheads from all over the East. Stats: Elevation: 3,875 feet; vertical: 2,003 feet; tickets: adult, $44 midweek, $49 weekends and holidays; young adult (13-17), $39; junior (7-12), $29; 6 and under free (1996-1997) Trails/Lifts: 35% beginner, 37% intermediate, 28% advanced/expert trails; one six-passenger detachable chair, one gondola, eight fixed chairs, two surface lifts Average Snow: 200 (or fewer) inches
Sunday River, Maine Best Time to Go: March and April bring affordable packages and fewer skiers; March has the most snow of the year. Family Report Card: A Best Event: The 11th Annual Bust ‘N’ Burn (April 4-5), the East’s biggest spring mogul party, brings together 300 of the best (and worst) amateur bumps skiers to compete on Sunday River’s infamous White Heat run. Who Goes There: Bostonians who have taken too many trips to New Hampshire only to find patchy, icy conditions and are looking for a safe bet (even if the snow’s not real, at least it’s there). Stats: Elevation: 3,140 feet; vertical: 2,340 feet; tickets: adult, $44 midweek, $47 weekends and holidays; junior (6-12), $28 midweek, $29 weekends and holidays; 5 and under free Trails/Lifts: 25% beginner, 35% intermediate, 40% advanced/expert trails; four high-speed quads, 11 fixed chairs, two surface lifts Average Snow: 200 (or fewer) inches
Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico Best Time to Go: Though great powder skiing can be had in January, mid-February to mid-March is prime time 鈥 albeit with higher prices. Family Report Card: B- Best Event: The Winter Wine Festival (January 20-25) includes wine tasting, wine seminars, and a wine-makers’ dinner; on January 23 there’s a Grand Tasting, with wine from 20 vineyards from around the world. Who Goes There: Upscale, older types who can ski the pants off hotshots half their age; packs of college-age Texans; serious skiers who don’t mind the lack of nightlife. Stats: Elevation: 11,819 feet; vertical: 2,612 feet; tickets: adult, $40 ($27 low season: Thanksgiving-December 19); teen (13-16), $30 ($21 low season); 12 and under, $25 ($17 low season) Trails/Lifts: 24% beginner, 25% intermediate, 51% advanced/expert trails; ten fixed chairs, one surface lift
The Big Mountain, Montana Best Time to Go: The Big Mountain is usually an early opener, but fog is a problem. Better weather comes later, in February and March. Family Report Card: B Best Event: In the Big Mountain Annual Furniture Race (April 11), competitors race down a slope with at least one piece of furniture and a braking system (racers have incorporated chairs, beds, toilets, a hot tub, etc.). Who Goes There: Bleary-eyed Amtrak party hounds from Seattle and Minneapolis, Whitefish locals, Southern Albertans looking for warm (0 degrees and above) weather. Stats: Elevation: 7,000 feet; vertical: 2,300 feet; tickets: adult, $40; junior (7-18) and college kids with IDs, $27; 6 and under free Trails/Lifts: 25% beginner, 50% intermediate, 25% advanced/expert trails; two high-speed quads, six fixed chairs, two surface lifts
Tremblant, Quebec Best Time to Go: January can be icy cold; go in March and April for warmer temperatures and long days. Family Report Card: A Best Event: The World Cup Freestyle (January 9-11), including mogul, aerial, and ballet events, is the last chance for competitors from around the world to qualify for the 1998 Winter Olympics. Who Goes There: Montreal trendies, European package skiers, American families who like the exchange rate, elderly Quebecois who remember when this was North America’s great caf鈥-society resort. Stats: Elevation:: 3,001 feet; vertical: 2,131 feet; tickets: adult, US$31; ages 13-17, US$24; ages 6-12, US$16; 5 and under free Trails/Lifts: 20% beginner, 45% intermediate, 35% advanced/expert trails; one gondola, five high-speed quads, four fixed chairs, one surface lift Average Snow: 200 (or fewer) inches
Vail, Colorado Best Time to Go: January is the least crowded winter month; it’s easier to find lodging, and the base area is less frantic. The snow is consistently good then too. Family Report Card: A+ Best Event: UnVailed, a snowboarding event scheduled for March 26-29, includes both amateur (open) and professional competition and attracts many of the world’s top snowboarders. Who Goes There: Mogul ski stars, ski-industry VIPs, celebs, and ordinary people who want to hang out with all of the above. Stats: Elevation: 11,450 feet; vertical: 3,330 feet; tickets: adult, $52; 12 and under, $35 Trails/Lifts: 28% beginner, 32% intermediate, 40% advanced/expert trails; one gondola, ten high-speed quads, nine fixed chairs, ten surface lifts
Whistler Resort/Blackcomb, British Columbia Best Time to Go: April has the fewest people, the best snowpack, and good low-season packages. Family Report Card: A+ Best Event: The World Ski & Snowboard Festival (April 10-19), with more than 2,000 athletes participating in 25 events, includes the Couloir Extreme Race and the West Beach Snowboard Classic. Who Goes There: Hard-partying Vancouverites, weekenders from Seattle, and Japanese tourists on package tours. Stats: Elevation: 7,494 feet (Blackcomb Mountain); vertical: 5,280 feet; tickets: adult, US$40 dual-mountain, $38 one-mountain; ages 13-18, $35 and $29; ages 7-12, $22 and $17 (’96-’97) Trails/Lifts: Whistler: 20% beginner, 55% intermediate, 25% advanced/expert; Blackcomb: 15% beginner; 55% intermediate; 30% advanced/expert trails; 3 gondolas, 9 high-speed quads, 7 fixed chairs, 11 surface lifts
Winter Park Resort, Colorado Best Time to Go: April for sun, a surprising amount of powder, and no crowds. Family Report Card: B+ Best Event: The Spring Splash, held on closing day, April 19, includes a crazy obstacle course that ends with a jump over (or into) a 60-foot-wide pond. Who Goes There: Baby boomers from all over the country with their echo-boom kids in tow; Denverites on lo-o-o-o-ng lunch hours. Stats: Elevation: 12,060 feet; vertical: 3,060 feet; tickets: adult, $45 (1996-1997); ages 6-13, $15; 5 and under, free Trails/Lifts: 12% beginner, 30% intermediate, 58% advanced/expert trails; seven high-speed quads, 13 fixed chairs |