Tabernash2

Well, that is a "hill" compared to Winter Park which starts around 9000 and goes up to 12,000

RVvagabond

TOMSD is correct. Both are one (Mt. Rose) and relatively cheap compared to Tahoe resorts. Also closer to Reno. East side of the Great Basin desert is spectacular. Only negative is a relative short elevation drop and lack of intermediate slopes.

Northstar has excellent intermediate skiing. Of course, K22 at Squaw is THE MAN !

Vaga

Tomsd

Vaga - agree Squaw is King, and we think Heavenly Valley in South Lake Tahoe is Queen - with the Princes being Alpine Meadows in the North - and Kirkwood outside of SLT.

The Kirkwood "bonus" was going to the hot springs at Markleyville - a great way to end a day of hard skiing - soaking in the hot water.

Taber - Winter Park is a big ski area (base of 9,000 feet? - higher than I recalled) - and one of the Colorado ones I always wanted to get to but never did - as it's sort of out of the way/by itself. Always wanted to ski the powder on Mary Jane is it?

My Q: How many skiers take the lift up to the top?

Tomsd

Vaga - we skied KT 22 - but the real challenge was the adjancent Chute 75. A narrow and gnarly double diamond.

A buddy of mine (who also went to undergrad in Colorado and skied there a lot) - was skiing Chute 75 with his girl friend - who was on ski patrol - and his missed the first turn - and fell and then was shooting down the narrow/steep slope.

He tried to get his boot in the snow to slow himself down - and he blew out his knee when the trip of his boot finally lodged in the snow to slow his descent. It was sort of a wet snow day - so he has skiing the old slick style outfits - which really acted like sled rails if you fell.

Tomsd

BTW - for those who have never heard of the KT 22 run at Squaw - which usually has huge moguls - it was supposedly named for an Olympic skier - who had to take 22 kick turns her first time down it - but it was also supposedly a very icy snow day when she first tried it.

Tomsd

But Googs - back to your original Q. FYI - when my niece was about 7 or 8 - she came with us to Deer Valley, Utah (next to Park City) - and in two days - never having skied before - the young class she was in - about six kids - half boys and half girls - all in that age group - were skiing from the top to the bottom. (On the easier/intermediate slopes of course)

The kids (with a full two days of instruction) - really pick it up quick - have easier falls as they are closer to the ground (and younger - so they just bounce back up) and she had done some in-line skating - and a couple of the boys had played hockey - which really helped them get the knack of pushing off/getting around with these big sticks on your feet.

Gretchen

Tom, that is true of almost any child who takes ski lessons. They learn VERY fast, and with the newer magic carpet "lifts" on the little tyke hill, it is even moreso--they don't have to deal with a rope tow (that is how long ago ours learned and me too!).
It is one of my mantras to anyone going to Colorado to ski--take a lesson. You will improve massively and quickly.
We have friends who are ski patrol in NC mountains, and when they go to Colorado, they still take lessons. Our kids took them for mogul skiing long years ago when we first went out to the big "hills".

Tomsd

Gretchen - agree kids do often pick it up quickly - but rare that I have seen is a group that can go from never having been on skis to going from the top of the mountain (a real mountain - not a hill in Michigan or North Carolina, or other flatter areas) to the bottom in two days.

historytraveler

Tomsd, FYI, most ski areas in Colorado have beginner runs starting at the top or near the top as ski areas incorporate several mountains. Here in Colorado, beginners have long been able to ski from the "top" of a mountain.

Tomsd

history - I have skied many mountains in Colorado - and I still think it's the exception that somebody on their second day on skis ventures to the top of the mountain. Just from what I have observed over the years.

Gretchen

Well, I have, at Vail, and I was far from a good skier--at that time. You could ride the gondola up so you didn't even have to deal with getting off the lift. That was what we found great about Vail--there were greens or light blues at the top.
Whassup Tom--WHO is talking about a 2 day beginner going to the top--except YOU. Give it a rest!! ;o)
And actually, there were kids CLASSES at the top of Vail when we were there--pre-Magic Carpet days.

kureiff

Off topic: I want to sing the praises of the Magic Carpet! It's so much easier to teach beginners. My daughter started skiing at age 3, and it would have been absolutely awful to deal with a rope tow. I remember learning on a rope tow...no fun.

abram

Both Vail and Keystone have beginner areas at the top of the gondola, so you can ride up & down, but still get the benefit of beautiful views and better snow.

fmpden

Gretchen, Tomsd is not worth arguing with. He is a Walter Mitty. An expert on anything and everything. Will come into a discussion with the intent to totally dominate it with irrelevant postings and constant bragging. Remember, he posted earlier that Vail is downhill from Frisco. Probably never been on anything more than a green slope, if he skies, and never to Frisco.

Tomsd

fmd - for an engineer - you surprise me.

I will admit I was thinking of Vail being down the hill from Copper (where I have skied) - which is a little closer than from the other places on the Summit - such as Frisco, a very cute little town that I/we enjoy and have stayed at the lovely Frisco Lodge right on the main drag.

Have also stayed at Keystone - and toured Breckinridge a couple of times - in addition to spending weeks - that's weeks - skiing in both Vail and Aspen - as well as being there in the summers.

And I again say - I believe I have skied more mountains and more double diamond runs than ye - assuming you have skied double diamond runs. Care to match?

Tomsd

And even though I love skiing in Colorado - prefer Utah actually - where they get more powder at Alta and Snowbird then at Vail and Aspen.

fmpden

Need I say anything else!

Tomsd

So you backed down as usual, eh Mr. Snowmass?

Gretchen

Agree Kureiff!! I had not seen the Magic Carpet until a few years ago when we started taking grands to Keystone. I thought--how PERFECT!! And SO cute watching 3' tall people on skis step on and be run up the slope.
DH and I were the "tow" for ours 'way back when. ;o)

kureiff

Gretchen, I learned how to ski at a small, local Montana mountain with incredible snow and incredible skiing. But the two beginner choices thirty years ago were a rope tow that ripped up your gloves or a poma lift, which is another completely difficult beginner ride.

We ended moving back to the area 10 years ago, and my daughter learned how to ski at the same ski area. That magic carpet was a god-send when we were dealing with a three year old beginner. It's so easy and gives the new skiiers and boarders some independence and confidence to get on and off by themselves.

I love MT skiing. It's not glitzy, but it's pretty incredible.