Finished my season with an extended trip out west. 15 days of skiing, mostly in good to great snow. Only a couple days of spring conditions in SLC where it was too warm by 2:00pm even above mid-mountain. Flew out to SLC to meet up with friends. We drove two cars (personal, not rentals) north on March 22. Checked out Grand Targhee for a day, then on to a condo in Big Sky for a week. We skied Bridger, Big Sky, Moonlight Basin with folks from EpicSki who were holding a Gathering there the last week of March. Great lift ticket discounts. Then drove back to SLC for spring break week at Alta Lodge. Mostly skied Alta, but did go over to Brighton one warm day since my ski buddy hadn't ever been there.
I liked Targhee a lot. There had been a foot of fresh powder the day before. Very cold so still very good snow. Wide open because of a forest fire not that long ago. Mostly ungroomed, only 500 acres of 2500 are ever groomed. Only 4.5 hours from SLC. I plan to go back in the future.
Big Sky was a lot more fun up top compared to last season. Mostly snow, not half snow and half rocks. Getting onto Liberty Bowl was much easier. Was too warm the day we were over at Moonlight. Didn't go last year, so it was good to check out the place. Moonlight Lodge food is worth a stop for lunch, but can do that even with a Big Sky lift ticket.
Marz Jr. flew out alone to meet me. She got to overlap with friends from DC we met there a couple years ago. After several spring breaks at Alta, all three tweens now can handle blacks with powder or gullies or bumps, even if don't have the best snow conditions. Alta ski school has good instructors. The bonus for me and Marz Jr. was that a storm came in last weekend. So we added a couple days instead of coming home on Sunday. Love Southwest Airlines.
April 7 was the last day for the Supreme lift. I spent most of the day over there with my ski buddy, Bill. There was 4-6 inches of fresh powder overnight. Rock-N-Roll was fun! But Devil's Apron was closed. When the weather cleared midday after Marz Jr. went to ski school, he finally got me over to the Backside for a run down Greely Hill. The High T was soft so not too bad for a first time adventure.
April 8 was stellar! More overnight snow, with more coming down in the morning. Not too many local powder hounds bothered to show up. So finding deep snow to play in wasn't hard, especially over on the Sugarloaf side. The hills below Cecret Lake were loads of fun. My last run included Sunspot (wide area off High T, not too far over). The new snow was more the deep enough to cover up the hard bumps left over from the thaw a few days before.
There was more fresh powder on April 9. Marz Jr. went out with my ski buddy for a little while in the morning. She said it was hip deep on her in places like Extrovert. I had to finish packing since we flew out that afternoon.
Grand Targhee March 23
Bridger March 25
Big Sky Liberty Bowl March 26, closest "ants" looking down the slope are skiers
Moonlight Basin March 27
Big Sky, a run off Challenger chair, March 28, dots near the center are two skiers not trees
Alta Lodge, morning of April 2, 8-9 inches
Jumping rock just below gate near bottom of Rock-N-Roll, April 7
Alta Powder Alert for April 8
Snowy morning April 8
A few more pics here:
http://s453.photobucket.com/user/marzlo ... i%20Safari
DONE
The End of an Era...We are Shutting Down the Messageboard
The messageboard is now in read-only mode and no new posts or topics can be created. We will leave the messageboard up for historical purposes, but you will not be able to make new posts or comment on existing ones.
We have started a Discord server and hope that you all will join us on there. Technology has changed over the years and maintaining the messageboard has become somewhat of a pain in the butt and Discord offers many features for users, the main one being a very polished mobile app.
We really hope you all will join us on Discord and think you will like the platform. Use the invite link below to join.
https://discord.gg/skisoutheast
The messageboard is now in read-only mode and no new posts or topics can be created. We will leave the messageboard up for historical purposes, but you will not be able to make new posts or comment on existing ones.
We have started a Discord server and hope that you all will join us on there. Technology has changed over the years and maintaining the messageboard has become somewhat of a pain in the butt and Discord offers many features for users, the main one being a very polished mobile app.
We really hope you all will join us on Discord and think you will like the platform. Use the invite link below to join.
https://discord.gg/skisoutheast
Ski Safari from SLC to Big Sky ending at Alta in April
-
marzski
- Advanced
- Posts: 1697
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:34 pm
- Location: Cary, NC
- Has thanked: 13 times
- Been thanked: 17 times
- Contact:
A few pics that I had elsewhere but forgot to add here.
Resting for pics in the middle of Sunspot on April 8. This was Marz Jr.'s fourth or fifth time skiing for a week at Alta. Got to Level 8 in ski school. That meant she was learning how to do jumps off natural terrain like that rock or the little cliff at the edge of Razorback.
Waiting for Collins to open on April 9
Resting for pics in the middle of Sunspot on April 8. This was Marz Jr.'s fourth or fifth time skiing for a week at Alta. Got to Level 8 in ski school. That meant she was learning how to do jumps off natural terrain like that rock or the little cliff at the edge of Razorback.
Waiting for Collins to open on April 9
2023-24: Wolf Creek in Dec, Massanutten in Jan, Feb; GT, Big Sky; Crested Butte; Alta/Snowbird in April.
-
marzski
- Advanced
- Posts: 1697
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:34 pm
- Location: Cary, NC
- Has thanked: 13 times
- Been thanked: 17 times
- Contact:
@theKENDOG 289513 wrote:Very nice! That's a pretty epic trip. 15 days! Half the people on this board didn't get that all season!
Was a fun trip for sure! I started planning as soon as the Epicski Gathering at Big Sky was announced last March. Really liked Big Sky and Bridger and wanted to get back sooner rather than later. Not exactly a short drive from SLC, but going with a friend who provides a car, it makes pretty good sense considering the higher airfare to Bozeman. About 400 miles between Big Sky and Alta, so 7 hours if not driving through a major snowstorm. Very pretty scenery and little traffic north of SLC.
Was a fun trip for sure! I started planning as soon as the Epicski Gathering at Big Sky was announced last March. Really liked Big Sky and Bridger and wanted to get back sooner rather than later. Not exactly a short drive from SLC, but going with a friend who provides a car, it makes pretty good sense considering the higher airfare to Bozeman. About 400 miles between Big Sky and Alta, so 7 hours if not driving through a major snowstorm. Very pretty scenery and little traffic north of SLC.
2023-24: Wolf Creek in Dec, Massanutten in Jan, Feb; GT, Big Sky; Crested Butte; Alta/Snowbird in April.
-
marzski
- Advanced
- Posts: 1697
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:34 pm
- Location: Cary, NC
- Has thanked: 13 times
- Been thanked: 17 times
- Contact:
@Ski Bunny 289518 wrote:Looks like you had a great trip!
Skiing was great. The trip was even better because I found friends willing to share travel as well as ski time. Three were retired folks who are a bit older than me, but better skiers. The other woman is a 50-something intermediate who lives in SLC. We had two cars with ski boxes and five adults, plus a ski in/out condo at Big Sky. Being at the Gathering meant there were others to ski with who knew the ski areas pretty well, if that was of interest. That meant plenty of flexibility.
Me and two of my travel mates at the top of Targhee. Tetons in the background. Bill (on the left) got to stay at Alta until April 14. We had friends who arrive at Alta Lodge for an annual alumni gathering starting April 10. Lucky guy!
Skiing was great. The trip was even better because I found friends willing to share travel as well as ski time. Three were retired folks who are a bit older than me, but better skiers. The other woman is a 50-something intermediate who lives in SLC. We had two cars with ski boxes and five adults, plus a ski in/out condo at Big Sky. Being at the Gathering meant there were others to ski with who knew the ski areas pretty well, if that was of interest. That meant plenty of flexibility.
Me and two of my travel mates at the top of Targhee. Tetons in the background. Bill (on the left) got to stay at Alta until April 14. We had friends who arrive at Alta Lodge for an annual alumni gathering starting April 10. Lucky guy!
2023-24: Wolf Creek in Dec, Massanutten in Jan, Feb; GT, Big Sky; Crested Butte; Alta/Snowbird in April.
-
marzski
- Advanced
- Posts: 1697
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:34 pm
- Location: Cary, NC
- Has thanked: 13 times
- Been thanked: 17 times
- Contact:
@skimannc1 289515 wrote:Great trip. I totally agree about Targhee. That and Alta are my two favorites I've been to. Targhee has always had great snow each time I've been even compared to Jackson. Same with Alta, never been disapointed by those two places.
I was lucky and found a local before we arrived who gave us a quick tour and tips about the place. With only three lifts, plus the beginner lift, it doesn't take long to get a sense of the place. The vibe was very nice.
We stayed at a cute little motel that was more like a boarding house in Driggs called The Pines Motel. $45 for a room with a shared bath, including tax! Walking distance to several good places to eat. 30 minute drive for the 12 miles up the mountain to Targhee.
I was lucky and found a local before we arrived who gave us a quick tour and tips about the place. With only three lifts, plus the beginner lift, it doesn't take long to get a sense of the place. The vibe was very nice.
We stayed at a cute little motel that was more like a boarding house in Driggs called The Pines Motel. $45 for a room with a shared bath, including tax! Walking distance to several good places to eat. 30 minute drive for the 12 miles up the mountain to Targhee.
2023-24: Wolf Creek in Dec, Massanutten in Jan, Feb; GT, Big Sky; Crested Butte; Alta/Snowbird in April.
-
teledave
- Expert
- Posts: 7957
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2003 4:56 pm
- Contact:
Wow, with the exception of the Moonlight Basin pic, I know exactly where all of those places are. And those places don't suck.
Plans for 2015: To ski more than you