Best mountains to ski early season (Nov + early Dec.)

I mean Abasin is usually open the earliest around Halloween or the week before if you are craving to shred. Breck had one jump line open their first weekend this year and they open around November 7-11th ish

kamiI mean Abasin is usually open the earliest around Halloween or the week before if you are craving to shred. Breck had one jump line open their first weekend this year and they open around November 7-11th ish

November 7-15th ish*

Park city was pretty damn awful this November, I normally enjoy ripping some early season groomers down payday or something but it was just abysmal this year. That epic pass really did bring out the people in droves, like half-hour waits on some days for maaaybe 3-4 runs of at best decent skiing. maybe hold off on that one till the middle of the year, they really wanted to get that fucking lame gondola open by the 2nd or 3rd week for some odd reason. I skied Deer Valley a few times and it was alright, but nothing to write home about


Snowbird/Alta were alright, didn't nearly ski there as much in the early season due to work but had some pretty awesome days there early season. I kinda stay away from the major ones here over the holidays till everyone heads back east, but I recall skiing some pow turns on thanksgiving up at Alta. Twas insanely busy but it was really nice making some really soft turns that early instead of shitty man-made ice. Snowbird had some pretty decent groomers mostly, they were smart and waited till things were actually filled in before dropping the ropes on stuff. Park city opened terrain that had literal boulders sticking out of the ground for the xmas crowd. They would have been so fucked if that 22" storm didn't pummel them over Christmas. Some fuckin deep skiing though, easily the deepest turns ive had at a Park City resort no doubt.



Its hit or miss, man. it can dump some good amounts but it will also just be classic man-made groomer skiing with fall-like weather which isn't bad at all, but be a bit wary of holding out for insanely great skiing. still fun to toss back a few cold ones and ski some groomers though.

Mammoth

Keystone or Abasin out west and Killington on the east

DeebieSkeebiesPark city was pretty damn awful this November, I normally enjoy ripping some early season groomers down payday or something but it was just abysmal this year. That epic pass really did bring out the people in droves, like half-hour waits on some days for maaaybe 3-4 runs of at best decent skiing. maybe hold off on that one till the middle of the year, they really wanted to get that fucking lame gondola open by the 2nd or 3rd week for some odd reason. I skied Deer Valley a few times and it was alright, but nothing to write home about


Snowbird/Alta were alright, didn't nearly ski there as much in the early season due to work but had some pretty awesome days there early season. I kinda stay away from the major ones here over the holidays till everyone heads back east, but I recall skiing some pow turns on thanksgiving up at Alta. Twas insanely busy but it was really nice making some really soft turns that early instead of shitty man-made ice. Snowbird had some pretty decent groomers mostly, they were smart and waited till things were actually filled in before dropping the ropes on stuff. Park city opened terrain that had literal boulders sticking out of the ground for the xmas crowd. They would have been so fucked if that 22" storm didn't pummel them over Christmas. Some fuckin deep skiing though, easily the deepest turns ive had at a Park City resort no doubt.



Its hit or miss, man. it can dump some good amounts but it will also just be classic man-made groomer skiing with fall-like weather which isn't bad at all, but be a bit wary of holding out for insanely great skiing. still fun to toss back a few cold ones and ski some groomers though.

Yeah I totally agree. I drove through PC on the way to Tahoe one early Nov and there was nothing even at the summit it was still bare so I know Utah is like everywhere else and thats still super early but I've been on maybe 3-4 X Mas Utah trips and never got skunked LCC might end up being the spot.


I will probably end up with either/both the mountain collective or the max pass due to them being affiliated with so many damned places (If I buy a 240 dollar Boreal pass for another 300 I can get like 40 free days at most of the good east coast mountains 5 days each and another 40 at random places out West) I can pull this off pretty cheap just trying to get everywhere on my radar. Couldn't dream of booking until a couple days prior. THese 2 passes are really stepping up their game to compete with the Epic.


All these spots are in play I think I could keep my flights+hotel+tickets for a week to around a grand.

Altabird
Aspen
Jackson Hole
BAnff/Lake Louise Sunshine
Squaw
Mammoth
Sun Valley
Taos
Whistler
Bachelor
Crystal WA
Big Sky
Copper
Winter Park
Steamboat
Aleksya

Titus69Keystone or Abasin out west and Killington on the east

Killy was miserable this year early I skiied it the day before Stowe opening day and you still had to hike up to the Gondi. WHen Stowe opened it was great 2 nice long groomer trails top to bottom. Would chose SR over Killy for super early every time.


Also looking to know places to avoid where tehy could get 3-4 feet of fresh snow super early but they would still only open 30% of the terrain because they don't have much staff. That was still sort of an issue mid DEcember last year when I went to Whistler and it was buried but a few lifts weren't running yet due to time of year.


Im going to leave a day or two after I book and with Thanksgiving being so early on Nov 24 this year be back prior to December somewhere should have snow Nov 15 or so and be over half open.

gapersarefriendsMammoth

Mammoth is usually open around this time. It probably won't be great, but better than most areas. You will not find much great terrain open at that point.

Probably mammoth But sun valley opens thanksgiving and busy ass lines here are like normal lines at a lot of resorts

dan4060Mammoth is usually open around this time. It probably won't be great, but better than most areas. You will not find much great terrain open at that point.

I skied three days, the last of which was thanksgiving. Last two days there was 2 1/2 feet of snow. Some of the best pow days i had all year hahaha

Honestly, wait til october, look where it snows, book last min trip. It'll be expensive/busy around thanksgiving no matter what, so best bet might be to book a trip last min right before thanksgiving wherever it snows a bunch.

gapersarefriendsI skied three days, the last of which was thanksgiving. Last two days there was 2 1/2 feet of snow. Some of the best pow days i had all year hahaha

Those days are sketchy with all the rocks lurking under the pow. Still great to get pow that early though. In 10/11 I got pow mid-November, but I did some serious base damage. Still worth it.

dan4060Those days are sketchy with all the rocks lurking under the pow. Still great to get pow that early though. In 10/11 I got pow mid-November, but I did some serious base damage. Still worth it.

fuck the base damage, im woried about catcing a rock and blowing a leg up, or falling and smacking my head off a rock. Early season pow is a good time to take it easy and scope lines and airs so there is no hesitation when it has filled in sufficiently.

dan4060Those days are sketchy with all the rocks lurking under the pow. Still great to get pow that early though. In 10/11 I got pow mid-November, but I did some serious base damage. Still worth it.

Oh yeah. Last day up there was the first day 23 was open, third or fourth lap i ripped a good three inches of base out of my brand new jj's hahaha. Was worth it though

PeppermillRenoYeah I totally agree. I drove through PC on the way to Tahoe one early Nov and there was nothing even at the summit it was still bare so I know Utah is like everywhere else and thats still super early but I've been on maybe 3-4 X Mas Utah trips and never got skunked LCC might end up being the spot.


I will probably end up with either/both the mountain collective or the max pass due to them being affiliated with so many damned places (If I buy a 240 dollar Boreal pass for another 300 I can get like 40 free days at most of the good east coast mountains 5 days each and another 40 at random places out West) I can pull this off pretty cheap just trying to get everywhere on my radar. Couldn't dream of booking until a couple days prior. THese 2 passes are really stepping up their game to compete with the Epic.


All these spots are in play I think I could keep my flights+hotel+tickets for a week to around a grand.

Altabird
Aspen
Jackson Hole
BAnff/Lake Louise Sunshine
Squaw
Mammoth
Sun Valley
Taos
Whistler
Bachelor
Crystal WA
Big Sky
Copper
Winter Park
Steamboat
Aleksya

i agree with all but Alyeska that place blows

2Planker907i agree with all but Alyeska that place blows

Why so? I've never been there but I've heard it's pretty banger

kamiWhy so? I've never been there but I've heard it's pretty banger

I grew up in Alaska the mountain isn't run very well for starters the my could budget better for patrol to open terrain as well as budget for a park. I don't ride park often as I am from Alaska an we don't have a park ha. Season Passes are $1420 as a side note. Plus the years they have good snow they close the mountain down in April when you could legit ski till June.

2Planker907I grew up in Alaska the mountain isn't run very well for starters the my could budget better for patrol to open terrain as well as budget for a park. I don't ride park often as I am from Alaska an we don't have a park ha. Season Passes are $1420 as a side note. Plus the years they have good snow they close the mountain down in April when you could legit ski till June.

So your gripes are that they have an expensive pass, don't have a park, and shutdown in April.

Sounds a lot like most other big mtns in the USA.

IMO your gripes should have been- lack of decent skiing on lowlight/storm days because no trees, 3 hours of daylight when OP wants to go, rarely open the gnar, long fucking way to fly for resort skiing, wet snow/rain, and the fact Alaska isn't exactly crackin for the apres haha

californiagrownSo your gripes are that they have an expensive pass, don't have a park, and shutdown in April.

Sounds a lot like most other big mtns in the USA.

IMO your gripes should have been- lack of decent skiing on lowlight/storm days because no trees, 3 hours of daylight when OP wants to go, rarely open the gnar, long fucking way to fly for resort skiing, wet snow/rain, and the fact Alaska isn't exactly crackin for the apres haha

Those are valid gripes to I guess I'm used to low light storm riding an skiing above tree line I will compliment they have a lot of terrain open for night skiing due to the long dark winter days. OP moved to Denver so he can live Apres lifestyle will soon find out he doesn't have enough money to do so hahaha

Trollhaugen is always the first in the Midwest, usually early/mid november similar to all of the resorts out west

colorado

PeppermillRenoYeah I totally agree. I drove through PC on the way to Tahoe one early Nov and there was nothing even at the summit it was still bare so I know Utah is like everywhere else and thats still super early but I've been on maybe 3-4 X Mas Utah trips and never got skunked LCC might end up being the spot.


I will probably end up with either/both the mountain collective or the max pass due to them being affiliated with so many damned places (If I buy a 240 dollar Boreal pass for another 300 I can get like 40 free days at most of the good east coast mountains 5 days each and another 40 at random places out West) I can pull this off pretty cheap just trying to get everywhere on my radar. Couldn't dream of booking until a couple days prior. THese 2 passes are really stepping up their game to compete with the Epic.


All these spots are in play I think I could keep my flights+hotel+tickets for a week to around a grand.

Altabird
Aspen
Jackson Hole
BAnff/Lake Louise Sunshine
Squaw
Mammoth
Sun Valley
Taos
Whistler
Bachelor
Crystal WA
Big Sky
Copper
Winter Park
Steamboat
Aleksya

crystal is not easy to deal with for those not from the area, no sort of shuttle/bus so you need to rent a vehicle, not much lodging...and november snowpack is iffy as they rely mostly on what falls. better to go later when you can fully enjoy the terrain and snowfall with coverage.

Out east it's sunday river, close second is killington. Sunday River always announces its opening day too early and killington scrambles to open a day earlier, but their snow usually sucks compared to sunday river because it's so rushed. They opened october 18 and 19 respectively last year