The Glide Winter Mountain Guide

Have you ever tried to explain what it feels like to ride or ski fresh powder, or making first tracks the morning after a blizzard, to someone who’s never skied or ridden a snowboard? It’s tough. It’s one of those rare experiences in life that truly goes beyond words. Most skiers and snowboarders would agree, it’s a feeling that is pretty much impossible to explain to someone who has never had an epic day of riding or skiing.

Now for those of us who have had the experience, all we can really tell the rest of the folks is that we’re hooked. There’s no going back. It’s a real addiction. Thoughts of blizzards and fantasies of carving through knee-deep fluffy snow distract you from work or school or whatever it is you’re supposed to be focused on. When fall begins fading and the cold weather and first winter storms come creeping through, we start getting fired up. Here we are in November, and it’s about that time. It’s time to get your skis and boards waxed up and ready to ride. The 2004-2005-winter season is just getting started.

So in celebration of the first snowfalls, we’ve listed off some rather choice resorts for you to check out this season. Whether you’ve hit these spots for years, or need a new weekend roadtrip, you’ll find all the exclusive insider info and local knowledge to get you dialed for the powder trip of a lifetime.

The Right Coast

Ahh, the majestic East coast mountains – home to endless windy roads that get you terribly lost, maple syrup stands, antique shops and Ben and Jerry’s. Get passed that and you’re off to some of the best icy granular this country has to offer. But it’s not all manmade, hard pack, as the deep Northeast has some of the best terrain in all of the lower 48.

With most mountains easily hittable with a daytrip, you shouldn’t have a problem getting to some of the more remote locations even if you‘re heading up from NYC or Boston. There are a ton of resorts in Vermont alone that are first run doable, with over two-dozen nestled in the state’s hilly mountainsides. If anything, there are way too many great ones to rattle off in a single list, but some of the more outstanding hills are Sunday River, Jay Peak, Stowe, Killington, and of course, the hardcore ski mecca, Mad River Glen.

Glide Profile: Killington, Vermont

Bigger sometimes is better – and Killington is freaking huge. With a full assortment of terrain and varying difficulty levels, Killington boldly boasts the “largest trail acreage in the east- 1,200+ acres.” That’s a lot of ground to cover, but the two heated gondolas make traversing the over two hundred trails a little less painful. They also claim to have the longest season and highest lift-serviced terrain peaking at just over 4,000 feet.

East Coast snow conditions are as fickle as they get. Fortunately, Killington has extensive snowmaking capabilities to make sure there’s solid coverage throughout the winter. Last season was extremely stormy and Killington got dumped with close to four feet of powder in late March. That’ll keep you making turns till Memorial Day. Stay tuned to their snow report for conditions as the seven peaks can all change independently. A sunny morning up the K1 can be a frigid descent down Bear Mountain.

Killington is located in South Central Vermont. The closest major cities are Albany, Boston, or Burlington. Thankfully, it’s one of the easier resorts to navigate to in the windy maze of backwoods Vermont highways.

Mandatory Info: killington.com 1-800-734-9435

Local Knowledge: Killington offers midweek stay and ski free deals that are definitely worth checking out. You’ll find a variety of great restaurants and some serious apres-ski on the Access Road. A number of fun concerts, competitions, and events throughout the season will keep your weekends full. If you’re planning to head up to Killington for thanksgiving, you’ll definitely want to make your way over to the annual “Loaded Turkey Rail Jam” competition-taking place November 21st.

Top Right Coast Resorts: Stratton, VT / Loon, NH / Mount Snow, VT / Okemo, VT / Smugglers Notch, VT / Stowe, VT / Sunday River, ME / Waterville Valley, NH / Snowshoe Mountain, WV / Mountain Creek, NJ / Sugarloaf, ME / Sugarbush, VT / Waitsfield, VT

The Best Of The West
California is home to a wide range of mountains that spread from just outside Los Angeles all the way up past Mammoth and over to the majestic Lake Tahoe. While there are many amazing resorts in California and even outside of Las Vegas, we have to give an honorable mention to Bear Mountain. Bear Mountain Resort is a smaller sized resort in Southern California. The slopes are littered with jumps, rails, and all kinds of obstacles that range in difficulty – the entire mountain is pretty much a park. For those who haven’t been there or haven’t even heard of the resort, that may seem hard to believe, but it’s true. You can check out Bear’s site at bearmtn.com. There is a hell of a lot to choose from out here, but one of the best resorts in the west is the colossal Mammoth Mountain.

Glide Profile: Mammoth Mountain, California

Mammoth is just that- colossal. This mountain will blow you away by its intimidating size alone. You need at least four days to fully explore this mountain – from the insanely fun Dragons Tail runs all the way over to the equally challenging and exciting White Bark Bowl. Mammoth is one of those places where every time you go back, you discover something new. Whether it’s a perfect tree run, a challenging chute, or an entire park you never wandered over to- Mammoth will continue to blow your mind. While it does tend to get a bit hectic during holidays, Mammoth is typically wide open on weekdays and early on in the season.

Mammoth opened this year on Tuesday, October 21, 2004. Is it just me, or is that way early in the year to open? Southern and Central California just happened to get pounded by a perfect storm and as a result, scored a heaping four feet of snow at Mammoth and some resorts in Lake Tahoe. With a kick-start like that, it’s definitely going to be a good season up at Mammoth.

Mammoth Mountain Resort is located in the growing mountain town of Mammoth Lakes, which is directly east of Yosemite National Park in central California. June Mountain Resort is only about 20 miles away and is also a great resort worth checking out. Reno is the closest major city; it is 165 miles from Mammoth Lakes. LA and San Francisco are over 300 miles away.

Mandatory Info: mammothmountain.com 1-800-MAMMOTH

Local Knowledge: There are tons of places to stay in Mammoth. If you’re on a tight budget, the Holiday Inn is the way to go. If you’re throwing down the big bucks and want to shack up in a classy joint, definitely check out Juniper Springs Hotel.

Other Great Western Resorts: Alpine Meadows, CA / Bear Mountain, CA / Kirkwood, CA / Mountain High, CA / Northstar-at-Tahoe, CA / Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA / Snow Summit, CA / Squaw Valley, CA / Mt. Baldy, CA / June Mountain, CA / Heavenly Resort, CA

Canada, eh?

Oh Canada, our home and native land of huge mountains with insane terrain and massive annual snowfall averages. Canada’s resorts can be found all across the land from Quebec to Calgary to Vancouver’s prized jewel- Whistler Blackcomb.

Glide Profile: Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

You’ve got to give respect to a resort that holds adult and kids summer snowboard and ski camps in August. Whistler gets more snow than they know what to do with, and usually operate right up to back to school shopping. Whistler is another beast of a mountain in terms of size. It’s actually more like two huge mountains, so give yourself at least a few days to check out both the Whistler and Blackcomb. While you’re at it, give yourself an extra couple of days to check out Vancouver, AKA the “Amsterdam of Canada.” You’re sure to have a good time in this city.

Whistler is an incredibly scenic two-hour drive from Vancouver and four to five hours from Seattle. In the late spring through the summer you can see a number of waterfalls on the way up right off route 99.

Mandatory Info: whistlerblackcomb.com 1-866-218-9690

Local Knowledge: Whistler hosts the annual “World Ski and Snowboard Fest” each spring. This is one of the largest annual events in skiing and snowboarding; it’s quite the spectacle and definitely a blast. The event features world-class ski and snowboard competitions and always includes a huge concert. Last year the Black Eyed Peas headlined.

Canada’s Best Resorts: Panorama Mountain Resort, BC / Blue Mountain, ON / Fernie, BC / Kicking Horse, BC / Mont Saint-Sauveur, QC / Mount Tremblant, QC

Rocky Mountains

When I think about getting a real “Rocky Mountain high,” the first thing that springs to mind – well the second thing that springs to mind – is charging down wide open fields of snow in Brighton, taking a long tree run through Vail’s vast forest-like slopes, or carving through knee deep powder after a blizzard at Buttermilk Mountain. This region has been host to the X-Games and Olympics over the past few years, so you’ll find some of the most challenging and exciting terrain you’ve ever hit at places like Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee.

The Rockies are the heart and soul of our county’s mountains. Take your pick from just about any of the amazing hills spanning from Arizona through Wyoming. Honestly, you really can’t loose when any of these resorts have good snow, and Breckenridge is one of many amazing resorts of the Rockies.

Glide Profile: Breckenridge, Colorado

Top to bottom, chair to bar stool, Breck is the complete package with a great variety of terrain. With a ton of nearby competition with top-notch resorts like Beaver Creek, Copper Mountain, and Vail, Breckenridge has a certain charm not found elsewhere. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a full-fledged resort, but it’s not too posh or ritzy like some neighbors can be. Lift tickets and lodging are affordable, the mountain is massive and fun to explore, the town has a great nightlife and the locals are mostly friendly. It’s tough to not have a blast up here, even if the snow conditions are less than ideal.

Breck’s definitely seen its share of relatively dry seasons so make sure to check the snow report and even consult a local to find out what the conditions are really like. They usually have an amazing spring, so keep that in mind as well. If you’re heading up a bit earlier, note that it’s bitter cold up there from December through February so pack warm. And don’t forget to hit the T-bar up to the North bowl – that’s worth the price of a plane ticket alone.

You’ll find Breckenridge 100 miles outside of Denver. It’s the first major resort you hit if you are on the way to Copper Mountain or Vail, off Route 70.

Mandatory Info: breckenridge.com (800) 789-SNOW

Local Knowledge: Breckenridge is a classic winnter resort towns. Make sure to stop by Rasta Pasta for a serving of carb filled deliciousness. Sherpa and Yetis, Eric’s and Cecelia’s are the top local nightspots and definitely worth checking out. There’s also killer snowmobiling at Breckenridge. Head to their website for more info and rates.

Other Rocky Mountain Resorts:Aspen Mountain, CO / Big Mountain, MT / Big Sky, MT / Bridger Bowl, MT / Brighton, UT / Jackson Hole, WY / Park City, UT / Copper Mountain, CO / Crested Butte, CO / Grand Targhee, WY / Silverton Mountain, CO / Snowbird, UT / Steamboat, CO / The Canyons, UT / Winter Park, CO / Vail, CO / Beaver Creek, CO / Keystone Resort, CO

The Great Northwest

You’ll find a ton of amazing, and relatively undiscovered resorts in the Great Northwest – spanning from Oregon through Washington. And a lot of these resorts are moms and pop shops, which means cheap lift tickets and epic backcountry spots. The huge mountains in this area receive a ton of snow and host several summer camp programs. If you’re looking for wide-open runs, mellow locals, good vibes, great snow, and inexpensive accommodations—The Great Northwest is definitely the place to go!

Glide Profile: Mt. Hood Meadows, Oregon

You’ll find plenty of challenging, steep terrain at Mt. Hood which always makes for an exciting day or riding or skiing. Since Mt. Hood is close to Portland (only about an hour’s drive); it gets a bit crowded on the weekends, especially during the peak season in between January-February. Also try and avoid holidays. Easily accessible, affordable, and challenging—Mt. Hood Meadows is definitely one of the best resorts in the country.

Mandatory Info: skihood.com 1-800-SKI-HOOD

Local Knowledge: The local forecast? Just expect to get snowed in. It dumps up at Hood 0 their annual snowfall average is a whopping 430 inches so plan an extra sick day.

Top Northwestern Resorts: Mt. Bachelor, OR / Timberline, OR / Alpental, WA / Alyeska, AK / Mt. Baker, WA / Stevens Pass, WA / Sun Valley, ID

The Mid West

Yes indeed, the Midwest is a cold ass beyatch in the wintertime. Once you get past the endless cornfields and farmland, the Midwest has pockets of hilly countryside that is home to a number of kick ass resorts. While it may not be your first choice for a ski resort destination, locals know that the combination of abundant annual snowfall, small crowds, and affordable lift tickets make these mini-mountains of the Midwest some of the best in the country.

Glide Profile: Tyrol Basin, Wisconsin

Tyrol is a fun and well maintained resort with a variety of terrain and some surprisingly challenging features. Get adventurous, a big ski trip to the Midwest will be something you and your friends won’t forget. And if you live in the Midwest- get out and support your local resort. Be proud of your middle-eastern roots and hit it up!

Depending on conditions Tyrol, and most other midwestern resorts, is generally open from November through March. The resort is an easy drive located slightly north of Madison, Wisconsin.

Mandatory Info: tyrolbasin.com 608-437-4135

Local Knowledge: Tyrol is open seven nights a week until 10:00 p.m., so skip the same old bar scene one night, break out your clear lens goggles and get your night riding on!

More Great Midwestern Resorts: Cascade Resort, WI / Devils Head Resort, WICrystal Mountain, MI / Nubs Nob, MI / Big Powderhorn, MI / Boyne Mountain, MI / Indianhead, MI / Shanty Creek, MI / Alpine Valley, WI

Some major events to plan a roadtrip around:

January 13-16 The Honda Session, Vail
January 29-February 1 Winter X-Games, Buttermilk Resort
February 11-13 East Coast Freeskiing Open, Okemo
February TBA Vans Championships of Snowboarding, Sierra at Tahoe
March TBA East Coast Freeskiing Open, Vail
March 14-20 US Open of Snowboarding, Stratton
April TBA World Ski and Snowboard Fest, Whistler

 

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