Where are you planning to board/ski this season?

[whitewaterguy]

I usually do an annual trip to Marmot Basin/Jasper, but my daughter has convinced to do Powder King with her. Powder King is North America's best kept secret, a veritable vortex for sucking powder out of the clouds and depositing it on their runs. If you have never been, do it at least once in your lifetime. no regrets guaranteed.

Powder King, opening, the only ski hill open in Canada, November 11, 2011....isnt this what Canada and being Canadian is all about?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hscseOy5wwI&feature=share

 

[toguy5252]

I have been going to Whistler every year for about 10 years. When the weather cooperates it is great. This year I am going to try Revelstoke. i have heard some great things about it.

 

[Questor]

The video looks like a lot of fun. And they do apparently get tons of powder snow. 490 inches of snow a year - that's 41 feet. Compared to Snow Peaks, another resort in BC interior that is well know for its powder snow, which gets 220 inches. So Powder King gets more than double. BUT...

I checked the resort web page. I don't see any stats for vertical drop. It appears to be a relatively small and undeveloped resort. Not many runs. Very limited and basic accommodation. From Wikipedia:

The resort consists of a triple chair that runs from the base to halfway up the mountain and a T-bar that carries skiers from there to the top of the runs. Anyone wishing to reach the peak has to hike from the top of the T-bar. There is a lodge with rental facilities, a cafeteria and restaurant as well as 60 room hostel for overnight stays.

The Powder King Express bus offers round trip service between Pine Center Mall and The Hart Mall in Prince George to the resort and back each day the mountain is in operation, which is usually Thursday to Sunday each week from November until April.

So while it does offer a lot in the way of snow, I don't think it is ready to compete with Whistler, Aspen or Val d'Isere just yet.

This winter, I have other commitments, so a big trip is not possible. I will probably be limited to a few days of skiing in Collingwood.

 

[Questor]

I have been going to Whistler every year for about 10 years. When the weather cooperates it is great. This year I am going to try Revelstoke. i have heard some great things about it.

I hope you get a chance to try the cat skiing. Its supposed to be amazing.

 

[toguy5252]

I hope you get a chance to try the cat skiing. Its supposed to be amazing.

I plan on doing the cat skiing.

If you are looking for powder and lots of ski-able terrain you should try Fernie.

I will be skiing over Christmas and New Year in Collingwood. let me rephrase that. I hope to be skiing over Christmas and new yer in Collingwood. It remains to be seen.

 

[wigglee]

Prince George sounds cold....brrrrrrrrr

when I was young Blue Mtn seemed too small, you were down the hill in 30 seconds and then had to line up again....but now it is long enough to tire me out and the line ups are not as time consuming thanks to the big high speed lifts.

But that B.C. scenery is awesome!

Anybody tried Bristol Mtn, south of Rochester? not bad for this area.

 

[checks]

I've already got my trip booked to Big Sky, Montana. Been there once before. In my opinion, one of the best places in North America. Not as big as Whistler, but nowhere near as crowded. My biggest complaint about Whistler is that powder gets skied out within hours. Powder will last for days and days at Big Sky. Did I mention no crowds? If you can't handle cold and high altitude, look elsewhere, though...

 

[night ride]

One of the good things about being a beginner is that most ski hills are kind of a thrill.
Biggest I've been on is 800 ft verticals but I'm looking to learn about the really sweet places to go as I progress. I've been through BC and Alberta and Vermont ski areas before I started skiing and never paid much attention. What is it that makes an area so sweet?

 

[Powershot]

One of the good things about being a beginner is that most ski hills are kind of a thrill.
Biggest I've been on is 800 ft verticals but I'm looking to learn about the really sweet places to go as I progress. I've been through BC and Alberta and Vermont ski areas before I started skiing and never paid much attention. What is it that makes an area so sweet?

For me it's the quality of the snow and the variety of the terrain. Vermont and Quebec snow can be hit and miss (sucks to go just after rain and strong winds) though the mountains are better than here, definitely worth checking out if you've got a year under your belt.. Out west is awesome, bound to have powder days on a weeklong visit and the terrain is great, I would make a trip there by your third year if you can.

 

[whitewaterguy]

The video looks like a lot of fun. And they do apparently get tons of powder snow. 490 inches of snow a year - that's 41 feet. Compared to Snow Peaks, another resort in BC interior that is well know for its powder snow, which gets 220 inches. So Powder King gets more than double. BUT...

I checked the resort web page. I don't see any stats for vertical drop. It appears to be a relatively small and undeveloped resort. Not many runs. Very limited and basic accommodation. From Wikipedia:

The resort consists of a triple chair that runs from the base to halfway up the mountain and a T-bar that carries skiers from there to the top of the runs. Anyone wishing to reach the peak has to hike from the top of the T-bar. There is a lodge with rental facilities, a cafeteria and restaurant as well as 60 room hostel for overnight stays.

The Powder King Express bus offers round trip service between Pine Center Mall and The Hart Mall in Prince George to the resort and back each day the mountain is in operation, which is usually Thursday to Sunday each week from November until April.

So while it does offer a lot in the way of snow, I don't think it is ready to compete with Whistler, Aspen or Val d'Isere just yet.

This winter, I have other commitments, so a big trip is not possible. I will probably be limited to a few days of skiing in Collingwood.

It's a very small place. NOT resort like by any means. It's very old school complete with lift operators who are constantly smokin pot and doing doughnuts in their cars on their breaks. VERY VERY reminiscent of the Canadian ski scene in the 50's and 60's when it was first developing. It's a total flashback in time, and with the deepest powder around. So not like Whistler nor Aspen. Then again if corporations set up there, it would totally lose the magic which makes it SO unique. So it remains the best kept little secret out of sight from the tourist rat race of flash and dash expensive ski outfits and show-boaters. Ya gotta be really good at working the deep stuff to handle the runs. Ultimate destination for deep powder adrenaline junkies

they dont operate the area on the basis of runs. there's lots of open bowls where people should not go without avalanche locators. sometimes your skiing around the tips of 20 foot tall trees, and if you run to close to the trees, you can end up in snow sink holes and be lost

 

[whitewaterguy]

I've already got my trip booked to Big Sky, Montana. Been there once before. In my opinion, one of the best places in North America. Not as big as Whistler, but nowhere near as crowded. My biggest complaint about Whistler is that powder gets skied out within hours. Powder will last for days and days at Big Sky. Did I mention no crowds? If you can't handle cold and high altitude, look elsewhere, though...

Been there...loved it. When we lived in Alberta, i always opted to ski Montana/Kalispell/Big Mountain area when we had a few extra days attached to a weekend

 

[milehigh]

LOVE skiing. Will go downhill anytime I can. Even X Country... usually go the woods at night for that with the dog.

Skiing is so much fun. Nothing like hard packed slightly icy downhill run on a sunny day.

 

[Questor]

Nothing like hard packed slightly icy downhill run on a sunny day.

Well, then you are in heaven here in Ontario. Lots of hard packed snow and ice. You should try powder some time.

 

[Macator2003]

Prince George sounds cold....brrrrrrrrr

when I was young Blue Mtn seemed too small, you were down the hill in 30 seconds and then had to line up again....but now it is long enough to tire me out and the line ups are not as time consuming thanks to the big high speed lifts.

But that B.C. scenery is awesome!

Anybody tried Bristol Mtn, south of Rochester? not bad for this area.

Bristol has 1100' vertical. They boost that they are only 3 hours from Toronto, but its closer to 4.

New Hampshire is still a hidden Gem. Not much farther than Vermont but a lot less $$$ and much less crowded....

 

[Jiffypop69]

A friend has a place in Rossland on Red Mountain that I might go visit. Voted Best Freeski in N.A. ...I'm used to skiing @ Blue Mountain, I'd be a little nervous to try pow, but really want to. If I had my choice, I think Revelstoke is the place I'd like to check out most. Another friend says the quality of snow in the western states is better than our stuff, and not as busy as places like Whistler. Vail, and Utah come to mind.

 

[ready2rock]

I'm going to Park City, USA in February. Great skiing & scenery.

R2R

 

[night ride]

For me it's the quality of the snow and the variety of the terrain. Vermont and Quebec snow can be hit and miss (sucks to go just after rain and strong winds) though the mountains are better than here, definitely worth checking out if you've got a year under your belt.. Out west is awesome, bound to have powder days on a weeklong visit and the terrain is great, I would make a trip there by your third year if you can.

Thanks for the tips Powershot.

A lightbulb just turned on in my head. I used to wonder why there is so much traffic in the mountains when the roads were covered in snow and people were worrying about avalanches. Why not stay home when it is like that? I get it now, it's about the powder man.

 

[Firestick]

I like to stay away from the bigger more common resorts. I like Gray Rocks or Mt-Blanc in the Laurentians. Out west, Panorama and a couple small hidden gems near Ferney, BC. Enjoy the white stuf..on the ground!

 

[Powershot]

I plan on getting to Whistler, Cypress, Grouse, Mt Baker, Silverstar, Big White, Lake Louise, Sunshine Village & Marmot Basin this winter

Nice.. Do you live out west?

 

[ready2rock]

I plan on getting to Whistler, Cypress, Grouse, Mt Baker, Silverstar, Big White, Lake Louise, Sunshine Village & Marmot Basin this winter

Wow, that's an quite a to-do list for one ski season. I've skied Banff years ago - great terrain, but cold, cold, cold. Enjoy.

R2R