In the PNW at least, we usually see healthy base-building snowfall at the ski areas by this time of year. It seems there will be no mid-November opening whereas one can usually anticipate skiing by Thanksgiving weekend if not sooner.
So this totally sucks. I know the snow will come eventually, hopefully. Maybe I jinxed it by getting new snow tires, or buying a pair of powder skis. Whatever, if I’m to blame so be it. I’m still jonesing to ski.
So, I have an Epic Pass and and Ikon Pass and I’m not afraid to use them.
Before anyone tells me to forget about planning a trip for early season skiing, I’m already planning to go to the Gathering, in the middle of a 2 weeks plus road trip, so it’s not like I’ll be missing out on other travel opportunities. Basically it’ll be travel and accommodations, for which I have my Worldmark/RCI credits, or Air BnB if needed. So the time and cost of driving, and/or the time and cost of airfare.
Some ideas: a quick trip to Whistler, which usually opens around Thanksgiving, and it’s only 3 1/2 driving. But I’m not convinced they will have much snow either. But if they do, it’s an easy choice.
Or a longer drive to Revelstoke. They’re supposed to open November 30, again we’ll have to see what kind of coverage they have. Okanagan resorts such as Sun Peaks or Silver Star are an option as well, though not on my passes.
Or fly to Calgary, both Sunshine and Lake Louise are open, and hopefully with more terrain open than the few runs they have now. The weather forecasts favor BC/AB and the northern Rockies, so maybe it’ll be good enough to be worth a quick trip. I even found I can drive to Abbotsford in 1 1/2 hours, and fly Flair Air to Calgary pretty reasonably for a less than Seattle-Calgary on Alaska, Delta or Air Canada on such short notice.
Or fly to Bozeman and ski Big Sky. I don’t know what the snow accumulation has been but their webcams look promising.
Or fly or take the train to Whitefish. Not on either of my passes, and again not clear how much terrain will be open.
Or fly to Denver, since I’ve got both passes I could try either/both Abasin and Keystone, or pay for a day pass at Loveland. I’m not sure what else will be open at that point, or who will have any more snow than those. One disadvantage is the higher elevation for my first time out skiing, when I live close to sea level.
Thoughts? Ideas? Tell me it’s all a horrible idea and suck it up and wait out the snow drought?
Thx
So this totally sucks. I know the snow will come eventually, hopefully. Maybe I jinxed it by getting new snow tires, or buying a pair of powder skis. Whatever, if I’m to blame so be it. I’m still jonesing to ski.
So, I have an Epic Pass and and Ikon Pass and I’m not afraid to use them.
Before anyone tells me to forget about planning a trip for early season skiing, I’m already planning to go to the Gathering, in the middle of a 2 weeks plus road trip, so it’s not like I’ll be missing out on other travel opportunities. Basically it’ll be travel and accommodations, for which I have my Worldmark/RCI credits, or Air BnB if needed. So the time and cost of driving, and/or the time and cost of airfare.
Some ideas: a quick trip to Whistler, which usually opens around Thanksgiving, and it’s only 3 1/2 driving. But I’m not convinced they will have much snow either. But if they do, it’s an easy choice.
Or a longer drive to Revelstoke. They’re supposed to open November 30, again we’ll have to see what kind of coverage they have. Okanagan resorts such as Sun Peaks or Silver Star are an option as well, though not on my passes.
Or fly to Calgary, both Sunshine and Lake Louise are open, and hopefully with more terrain open than the few runs they have now. The weather forecasts favor BC/AB and the northern Rockies, so maybe it’ll be good enough to be worth a quick trip. I even found I can drive to Abbotsford in 1 1/2 hours, and fly Flair Air to Calgary pretty reasonably for a less than Seattle-Calgary on Alaska, Delta or Air Canada on such short notice.
Or fly to Bozeman and ski Big Sky. I don’t know what the snow accumulation has been but their webcams look promising.
Or fly or take the train to Whitefish. Not on either of my passes, and again not clear how much terrain will be open.
Or fly to Denver, since I’ve got both passes I could try either/both Abasin and Keystone, or pay for a day pass at Loveland. I’m not sure what else will be open at that point, or who will have any more snow than those. One disadvantage is the higher elevation for my first time out skiing, when I live close to sea level.
Thoughts? Ideas? Tell me it’s all a horrible idea and suck it up and wait out the snow drought?
Thx
