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where to go for spring break, non skiing wife, good blues

TonyPlush

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I recall Big Sky has good groomers but there isn't much except skiing.
I just returned from Big Sky. I had a great time, but I actually found their groomers to be the mountain's weakest link. Good groomers? Yes, but not great on the level of some of the other places mentioned in this thread. (Snowmass, Vail, Keystone) And like you said, Big Sky is the most ski-focused of any destination I've been to, and could leave a non-skier a little underwhelmed IMO.
 

sbooker

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So many good options that have already been mentioned but Alta and Snowbird at that time are likely to be holding winter snow in parts and crowds aren't likely to be an issue. There's more terrain at Snowbird for intermediates than most people will concede and Alta is loaded with blues.
*Bonus chance for a powder day at that time of year too. I got lucky early April a few years ago.
 

Pat AKA mustski

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That's part of the problem ;-). Most years I go where its the least worst for spring break.

Not feeling UT. But we like to see new places, which is why Squaw/Mammoth/Tahoe is on the list, plus that trip would allow some side trips to a national part or two.
Mammoth is really boring for a non skier as there is not much of a town so very little to do during the time you are skiing. Yosemite will be hard to access during April and more of a drive than you might think. Tahoe has a little more going on and might be a better option for providing entertainment for a non skier. It does depend on what she likes to do while you ski. If she is all about sitting by the fireplace, reading a good book, then Mammoth is great. If she wants shopping and a real village, she will be greatly disappointed.
 

skidrew

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I’ve never been to Telluride. Lots of blue cruisers there?

Blues? Yes. Cruisers? Not so sure, if you define a cruiser as being of some length. Most of the blues IIRC were of a shorter nature. Fun for sure, but not lengthy (there are a couple of exceptions).

That said, your wife is likely to enjoy the town - lovely place, and some non-skiing outdoor recreation as well.
 

New2

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Tahoe + Yosemite would be fun. But trying to do Mammoth + Yosemite on the same trip before Tioga Pass opens doesn't make sense to me.

I had a great trip a few years back to China Peak & Badger Pass (now Ski Yosemite) paired with Yosemite park... they're much more laid-back and under-the-radar spots, but they have tons of snow this year and fantastic intermediate terrain... might be worth a look. Coarsegold has a casino and easy access to the parks; Fresno is a real city, so there are potential options for your wife, too.
 
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opfreak

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Just an update, since I do try to listen. I did some more research on Aspen, and it looks like if I book lodging through them starting April first lift tickets are 60 bucks a day. Probably way better for the wife then Mammoth.

Can someone give me a quick overview of Aspen/Snowmass? Any weather issues in April?
 

Pat AKA mustski

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Just an update, since I do try to listen. I did some more research on Aspen, and it looks like if I book lodging through them starting April first lift tickets are 60 bucks a day. Probably way better for the wife then Mammoth.

Can someone give me a quick overview of Aspen/Snowmass? Any weather issues in April?
I can't speak to the weather in April, but there is a fantastic shuttle system so if you stay at Snowmass - which I highly recommend. There is also a small shopping village - Snowmass Mall - which she could spend some time at and you could easily ski over and meet her for lunch. On another day, your wife can easily shuttle over to the town of Aspen for a day of shopping and lunching if she wishes. It's a good sized town with a lot to see. The shuttle ride is about 30 minutes or so. You can also use the shuttle if you want to head to one or more of the other 3 mountains - Ajax (Aspen), Highlands, and Buttermilk. Highlands has plenty of great blue runs that you would enjoy also. There is a lot of on slope or ski in -ski out accommodations at Snowmass. Where were you thinking of staying?
 

ADKmel

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Aspen will be fun. At Snowmass, Your wife can take the people mover from the base up to Venga Venga to meet you after skiing for excellent slopeside guacamole and drinks.there's a few other restaurants/shops bars at the top of the people mover. The shuttle service is excellent between the Mts. Buttermilk the easiest of the Mts. Snowmass has superb Blues everywhere, one of my favorite cruising Mts. Highlands is a bit steeper then Aspen (ajax) Highlands has a very small mall but a couple of nice restaurants to sit slope side for drinks and food after skiing and Aspen proper well it's Aspen.I think you'll both be very happy. Have a great holiday!
 
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opfreak

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I can't speak to the weather in April, but there is a fantastic shuttle system so if you stay at Snowmass - which I highly recommend. There is also a small shopping village - Snowmass Mall - which she could spend some time at and you could easily ski over and meet her for lunch. On another day, your wife can easily shuttle over to the town of Aspen for a day of shopping and lunching if she wishes. It's a good sized town with a lot to see. The shuttle ride is about 30 minutes or so. You can also use the shuttle if you want to head to one or more of the other 3 mountains - Ajax (Aspen), Highlands, and Buttermilk. Highlands has plenty of great blue runs that you would enjoy also. There is a lot of on slope or ski in -ski out accommodations at Snowmass. Where were you thinking of staying?

no idea yet, any recommended areas? I just started the research on aspen. Its now between T-ride, and aspen, T-ride is having some good lodging sales near the slopes (not that any place their is very fair). Aspen would be new, t-ride wife really enjoys. Grounding of the 737-max fleet meant that even with the small number of max planes SW has, the impact is pretty big, they raised fares, and a bunch of flight options that worked were eliminated for me. So I just locked in the DEN flight.
 

Mike King

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No question about it, Snowmass is the place. Aspen has fantastic restaurants and nightlife. The cruisers at Snowmass are fantastic. Everything from fairly mellow pitches off of Elk Camp Chair to nicely pitched bench on the Big Burn transitioning to relatively steep for a blue. And if you are willing to go to blacks, then you have great transitioning terrain -- Sams Knob to High Alpine to Garrets Gulch to the Cirque to the Hanging Valley.

Aspen Mountain has a fair number of blue runs, but some of the choke points, IMO, are dangerous. Highlands has great cruising and some of the best double black steeps anywhere.

April is usually fantastic. The snowpack right now is deep. We are looking at a pickup in the storm track at the end of March according to Opensnow. Snowmass is mainly north facing with 4400 feet of vertical. The snow preservation high on the mountain is excellent. In April, we usually have great weather with softening snow up high.

If you want a happy wife, then Aspen is the place to take her. She will remember, and I suspect you will be visiting often!

Mike
 

DanoT

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Aspen is one of he iconic North American resorts that every skier/boarder should visit at least once AND it is one of the least crowded major US resorts, even on a powder day. And if you do get a powder day you will find that all the bros go to Aspen or Aspen Highlands, leaving Snowmass with untracked powder until noon and the easy black runs at Buttermilk will offer untracked powder turns all day.
 

dovski

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If you don't mind the flight great deals in Banff this time of year and great snow at Sunshine, Norquay, Lake Louise and Revelstoke (90 minutes drive) so lots of options. We have 9 nights there over Spring Break for under $1000 in a 1 bedroom condo/suite with 3 queen beds for a family of 5 at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge. Also tons to do in and around Banff for the none skier. Great food, great music scene, Banff center for the Arts … etc. You really cannot go wrong. If you want to go upscale you can stay at the Banff Springs Hotel or Chateau Lake Louise. Post Hotel in Lake Louise is also very nice. All three offer 5 star plus accommodation and all the amenities you need to keep non-skiers occupied.

My advice is to fly into Calgary and rent a car at the airport. Shuttles in Banff to all the local ski hills minus Revelstoke, but you wife can use the car for site seeing … etc. In fact if your wife wanted she could even drive into Calgary for the day as it is only about 45 min away.
 

DanoT

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I snowboard, and am a fairly solid blue

Revelstoke has been mentioned a few times, so I thought I would quote the original post, above ^^^.

Revelstoke is primarily a black diamond mountain and also with its extremely low base elevation, in April much of the lower mountain may be mush.
 

dovski

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Revelstoke has been mentioned a few times, so I thought I would quote the original post, above ^^^.

Revelstoke is primarily a black diamond mountain and also with its extremely low base elevation, in April much of the lower mountain may be mush.
Typically April is fantastic in Sunshine and Lake Louise, cannot speak for Revelstoke. When I was a kid we used to ski at Sunshine in July some years, now it closes end of May and the Canadian National team cat skis the top for summer training
 

KingGrump

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Revelstoke is primarily a black diamond mountain and also with its extremely low base elevation, in April much of the lower mountain may be mush.

Don't have to wait til April this year. Today and/or tomorrow will do.
The snow is wetting out this afternoon half way up the Stoke chair. There will be chicken heads and coral reefs come tomorrow morning.
 

dovski

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Don't have to wait til April this year. Today and/or tomorrow will do.
The snow is wetting out this afternoon half way up the Stoke chair. There will be chicken heads and coral reefs come tomorrow morning.
You should drive to Sunshine or Lake Louise tomorrow they have better snow
 

KingGrump

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You should drive to Sunshine or Lake Louise tomorrow they have better snow

No they don't. Was there last week.
BTW, I like spring skiing. Love mush and corn. Not sure they will make it to April with the current snow pack.
 

dovski

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I know they got some snow this past week but looking at the conditions now it is a little on the warm side. Hopefully we get some colder temps and snow in the next few weeks as I am there from April 5-13.
 

Pat AKA mustski

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no idea yet, any recommended areas? .
If you don’t need a lift ticket and lodging deal, then I would go VRBO. There are a lot of really great condos slope side or ski in-ski out. Top of the Village condos are true ski in ski out; the Westin is in Snowmass Mall and pretty ritzy, the Stonebridge Inn is lovely. We stayed here: https://www.vrbo.com/12255?noDates=true&petIncluded=false
The pictures don’t do it justice. It’s very cute and artsy and right next door to the Stonebridge Inn. The shuttles for everywhere stop at the Stonebridge. It is NOT close to the hot tub but it’s a 2 minute walk downhill to the slopes and, if you ski back to the Stonebridge, it’s a 2 minute walk downhill on the way home also. Your wife would probably prefer the Westin though... but it’s $$$$
 

dovski

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So a little good though not super reliable news for those thinking of Banff. Checked the long term forecast and this current weather system is expected to break around March 22 with temperatures dropping and more snow … that said long term forecasts are not super reliable especially in the mountains. Current temperatures are definitely warmer than usual and part of a weather system that appears to be hanging around for a couple days. Here is hoping the long term forecast is correct and we are skiing fresh spring POW in April :)
 

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