I am thinking of taking a few days and head east for some skiing/boarding. I plan on going to Idaho as it's so close. I've been to Canada, Oregon, and pretty much every place in Washington. That's why I want to try something close, yet new to me.

Todd is an experience skiier, loves moguls and is very agressive. I, on the other hand, snowboard and am not aggressive. I stick to the intermediate runs. So, a place that has some good versatility would be great! I hear Schweitzer is great, but what do you think of Silver Mountain? or Sun Valley?

Which resort do you like? and why? I'd love to get some feedback from you all!

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

 

Jody,

Will Todd be taking a few days off too? Not being a rider myself I wouldn't be too good a source for recommendations, but I have skied the areas you've mentioned. Sun Valley of course would be the most expensive, however I would guess Dollar Mountain would be ideal for an intermediate rider. You might consider McCall Idaho. It's closer than the Valley and less expensive.

I haven't been to Schweitzer Basin in quite a few years, but as I recall the better area to ride requires a fairly long traverse to get to, which I don't think would be much fun.

Have you considered Canada? There are some great areas north of Spokane.

Larry

 

hi larry,

yep! the plan is to get todd's butt out there! hmm...you say n. of spokane? where abouts? i'd be very interested in hearing about it. also, i'll look into mccall.

also, i don't much care about the nightlife, shops, etc. i just need some good runs and i'm happy!

yep! been to canada. i think todd's been to most of the resorts up there so that's why we're considering idaho. he's also been to jackson hole, park city, and aspen. i, myself, being not a great skiier, prefer not to go to the really populated places.

where is your all time favorite place to go?

thanks for the info larry! =)

 

Sun Valley FTW!

 

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Sun Valley, but a lot of people love it. Red mountain and Panorama are north of Spokane- Red is a nice mountain.

FWIW, I think you should consider Kicking Horse- but it isn't the most friendly intermediate mountain. Its cool to ski a great mountain before it explodes. My buddy says its like Jackson Hole on steroids.
http://www.kickinghorseresort.com/
http://www.rockies.com/en/reviews/kickinghorse1.htm

 

thanks sun!

i'll take a peek at it right now. i appreciate the info!

 

I wouldn't go to Whistler. Every time i go up there with the intention of trying snowboarding again, I just end up drinking and enjoying the oh so sweet scenery of women who are adversely proportioned to me in a good way.

I love Whistler.

 

I've been going to Aspen/Snowmass for the last 40 years. I take two weeks and get it all out of my system for the year. BTW Snowmass has some of the best board territory to be found anywhere. That's from the pros. Todd knows the area, so he can confirm that. There are steeper places, and bigger places, but Snowmass is rarely if ever crowded. In all the years I've been going there I've never been skunked on snow.

If you can get into rail riding, massive jumps, and huge half pipes you'd never be disappointed with Snowmass. They also have a good school there, plus lots of hot tubs to soak your sorry sore ***

McCall (Brundage Mtn.) would be a good destination for you. A hard days drive from Seattle. If Todd has never been there, it would be a good change of pace for him. Assuming you'd only be there for a few days, it's big enough that he wouldn't get bored with it. Just head out on I-90, I-82, I-84, hang a left after Huntington, OR onto US-95 then turn onto SR-55 after New Meadows, ID. The ski area is left off of SR-55 on Brundage Mountain Road (aka FR-257). (Should be lots of signs.) You could probably find a place to stay at the ski area otherwise stay in McCall.

 

larry,
i should just take you with us! you know all the cool places and all the good roads to get there!

have you been to silver mountain in kellogg before? it seems like a closer drive and a pretty nice resort.

your thoughts?

yes! a hot tub is a must! i'll definately need to soak my sorry ***! i haven't been boarding in like 6 years! hahaha!

 

Last time I was in Kellogg for skiing it was called Jackass Ski Bowl. It was pretty small potatoes then and I only stayed a day. It has been expanded considerably since then, so I'm not able to pass judgement on it. I'd love to join you guys, but my skis are in Colorado.

 

BTW there are some great roads in the McCall vicinity, but this is not the time of the year to be driving them, unless you like plodding around with chains. And Silver Mountain is just a straight shot on I-90. Of course the way you 6 speeders drive you can make I-90 seem like a mountain twisties run.

 

Jodie- I have a house in Sun Valley and wouldn't recommend it for a short trip. Flying in would be the only way for short trip 10 1/2-11 hour drive in. Snow isn't great right now at Sun Valley. SV is also very expensive this time of year to try and stay.I would say Brundage is OK only. Not worth the long drive. Shweitzer is VERY Cold and has medium terrain. I have never been to Silver Mtn out of Kellogg but it's the closest in Idaho.
I spent a few days at Apex Alpine last year and it's about 6 1/2 hour drive out of here near Kelowna BC. I would recommend there. The mountain is fun (not extreme) like Kicking Horse but still old school and less expensive then a lot of places. It will have some good steeps for him and some good intermediate for you. Gunbarrell Saloon is fun. The main lodge has great rooms and a hot tub for your apres ski. I like it more than SilverStar, Big White or Red Mountain.
For Todd I am very picky about my skiing 35 of my 38 years on skiis and he won't be dissapointed. You can also fly into Kelowna for not very much to make the drive just a little bit shorter.

 

I agree, Apex is a fun mountain. Might want to also consider Sun Peaks- 5 1/2 hour drive, just outside Kamloops. Cruiser type of mountain with some decent steeps, bumps, and tree runs.

http://www.sunpeaksresort.com/

Cat skiing is also fun and relatively affordable, although if you are not a good powder skier/boarder, I wouldn't recommend it. If you can ski/board powder, the terrain is usually not very steep and easily doable. The two places I have been are Monashee powder and Chatter creek. Both nice places.

http://www.monasheepowder.com/
http://www.chattercreek.ca/

 

perfect! thanks so much you guys!

mark....wow! you know all the good ones! i'll look into the above recommended areas tonight! sounds like we need to take you along as our ski guide. =) you're good a 6speed guides, driving advice, and ski runs! kelowna sounds good. todd's like you....he's 41 years old, but has been skiing since he was 5. so he loves those challenging runs. THEN there is me. hahaha!

larry....this spring/summer, we'll have to grab jason and have you show us some of those roads that you're talking about! why get a garmin when we have you!

sun....thank you for your info as well! for me, it's going in blind without ever skiing idaho. your feedback is very appreciated.

i think it's definately going to be more towards spring when we go anyway. he gets his week off work in march, so sometime around there.

 

smells like a summer "ice cream" trip with an overnight ...