Hi all, I'm heading to snowmass with the family in March but we've never been there and I'm looking for advice on what runs I should look for or steer clear of.
I'm very comfortable in any groomed black run, regardless of pitch (pretty much). I can handle most steep big black bumps, but I don't handle them well. I start to struggle when the bumps progress beyond moderate in size. That said, it is what I'm trying to improve on. I'm looking to avoid any tight tree runs or cliffs/cornices.
Areas at snowmass I'm wondering about are the cirque and hanging valley (presumably too hard for me). What about high alpine and Sam's knob.
It's could be really easy to find yourself far above your comfort level in the Cirque or Hanging Valley, based on your skill level description. It's necessary to know how to read and navigate challenging terrain and snow conditions. The Cirque is 2500 vertical feet, once you start over the headwall, you're in for the full vert. While it's "possible" to traverse to the right after the upper pitch, toward U. Green Cabin, it's likely to backfire if the reason is to attempt an escape from too-challenging terrain, there are nasty rock glaciers and super-steep glades lurking there, better to stay along the left -hand gully in the well-traveled open mogul slot.
One option: Ride the cirque Poma and ski across the High Pass traverse to the top of High Alpine lift. This gives a good intro to navigating the rock ridges and sastrugi that you'd encounter in the cirque, without actually dropping in. ( don't traverse too far, above the gnarliest part of the Wall -- that run is Upper Ladder, and you may wish there was one).
Upper Green Cabin, off High Alpine is a nice, moderately steep groomer along the east face of the cirque with great views. Elk Camp runs are much less steep, with great views of Hanging Valley Wall from the lift and runs.
The other gotcha you may want to avoid is sliding too far into the tempting mellow glades of Coyote Hollow at the top of Sheer Bliss, which funnels into 1000 vertical feet of gnarly moguls in Garrett Gulch. There
might be a rope line guiding you above the point of commitment.... It's a great run if you love a mogully gully, but hides sneakily between the Whispering Jesse and Sheer Bliss groomers. You can sort-of see a hint of where it is from the Sheer Bliss lift.
You might be fine on Longshot, it's not all that steep, but the moguls go on for a long while -it's rarely, if ever, groomed above the runout. A good test of whether you'd enjoy Longshot would be the moguls on Gray Wolf, under the Elk Camp chair, similar pitch. Powerline Glade is a good starter challenge that gives you the option of bailing out onto groomed as needed, skiers right. Also: The moguls to the far, far right side of Sheer Bliss, challenge increases as you descend, but you can steer left out of the bumps onto corduroy relief any time (Extra credit for Camp 3).
Staying in Glenwood Springs cause we are cheapazz. But watching if any deals pop-up. Maybe Carbondale or Basalt to be a little closer. I was all excited - thought I found something in Snowmass Village one block from slopes for<$400/night but quickly figured out it had one of the lowest Google rating I've seen in my memory (like 2.8 or something... most recent reviews were 1* lol.)
Yeah that's why I didn't mention Juicy Lucy's, it's a great steak place but only if your Cheapazz goal gets deferred to some other meals. More Glenwood: Slope & Hatch probably the best fit for both cheap and good while avoiding generic fast food. You could go to the Pullman, it's super-duper trendy small plates, but you might need to stop by the Village Inn for something to eat afterwards. We had lunch at Zheng Asian Bistro on Friday, excellent and reasonable, along the pseudo-main-street in front of Target, a mile west of the real downtown. Italian Underground has new owners since our last visit, so can't say how much of the former greatness remains.
Those sucky hotel reviews are likely from the old Wildwood Lodge, great location just above the Snowmass mall. Maybe a sharp reminder that "seems cheap" not always equals "worth it". We walked past it a couple of times, does not appear to be maintained anymore, appears partly converted to employee housing.
