We are in the US for a month over Christmas, and have five kids with us, three of whom are confident snowboarders. We were thinking of going to Squaw or Mammoth, as we are based in San Francisco.

With seven of us, hotel bills are going to be high, particularly if we leave it to Xmas time. We are also worried about snow, as we hear that Lake Tahoe didn't have much at the same time last year.

Can anyone give us a creative solution? We would be prepared to travel to Vancouver, and if you're prepared to go that far, maybe we should open it up to anywhere.

Key criteria: how to sleep seven people, keep young adults fed and entertained. Thinking four nights, $2k accommodation budget.

Thanks!

Predicting which resorts are going to get decent snowfall by Xmas is always dicey. There were years when Whistler & Banff didn't get much snow, while the Sierra resorts were inundated. Sometim

We usually ski/board at June/Mammoth every year at that time, but last year June wasn't even open at Xmas. Luckily we had booked a condo at Heavenly in South Lake Tahoe. They had enough snow to keep the green and blue runs open, but most of the expert terrain was closed. That didn't stop them from charging us $72/day for a lift ticket.

I would not recommend going to Tahoe over the Xmas break. This is their very busiest time of year. Everything is very expensive and crowded. Most restaurants had over 2 hour waits to get a table.

Somehow my incomplete post automatically posted!

Since you are based in SF, you wouldn't want to book a condo in Vancouver, only to drive all the way there and find no snow. (Worse would be paying airfare for 7 people to fly into a drought.)

Because of its higher elevation, Mammoth might be the better bet for snow at Xmas. (the parking lot at Mammoth's Main Lodge is about the same elevation as the peak of Squaw) I would recommend renting a house or 3-4 bedroom condo. This way, you can save $$ by cooking your own meals. Check vrbo.com or cyberrentals.com.

The same storms that might Make Mammoth worth considering for your trip could very well force Yosemite Park to close the Tioga Pass San Franciscans use to reach the mountain. For maximum flexibility you could book hotel rooms in both Squaw and Whistler now and then cancel one or both reservations when it becomes more clear how the December weather might shape up.

Thanks to both of you for your excellent advice. Mammoth does sound like the answer, and certainly the kids are more interested from a snowboarding point of view in Mammoth than Tahoe. I imagine that there would be plenty to do, even if the snow was at a minimum...

Thanks again

Unfortunately, Mammoth can be a miserably long drive from SF if it is snowing anywhere on the way. (My son has had 13-hour marathons trying to get there). And if it is not snowing, there may not be enough to make it worth your trip.

Predicting which resort will have snow at Christmas is getting harder and harder. but I think Whistler is the safest for early snow. Last year they opened in mid-November, while Mammoth was still pretty bare at Christmas. Of course this year it could be reversed. But Whistler is worth at least a look. Great terrain for boarders, and lots of condos on offer. Try Alluradirect for owner rentals.