Road Trip

[sibhusky]

I can be in and out, unlocking the car, of Walmart in five minutes.

 

[jaelni]

Hi everyone,

I am an Aussie - long time lurker, first time poster.

I am hoping for some advice from some locals.

My friend and I have just booked flight to Denver and we are purchasing the Mountain Collective ticket each.

We have decided to hit up the following resorts,
- Aspen
- Jackson Hole
- Snowbird
- Squaw

Flying out of San Francisco 2 weeks later - yes slightly ambitious plan!

Does anyone have any tips or tricks or accom/meal suggestion in those areas?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated (besides you are crazy! :-)

 

[ozgirl]

Jaelni - was that an on topic reminder?

 

[ozgirl]

I can be in and out, unlocking the car, of Walmart in five minutes.

Oh so can I! But I can also grab a few extra bits and bobs in that time too!

 

[ozgirl]

So a bit of an update.

We were both trying to wing it for this trip but the epic planner side in both of us came out. Things were becoming complicated as we were bumping against xgames in Aspen and we are in Utah during Sundance

So this is the plan (granted about 90% of this in complete changeable. We booked hotels with decent cancellation policies)

Also now there are 3 of us! I meet a guy just after booking this trip and now he is coming too!

Land in Denver 17th Jan - Drive to Frisco and spend the night. (I don't want to drive the whole distance staright after long international flight but want to "get on the road" so to speak. This is a good comprimise I think)

(18-20th Jan) Up early and drive to Aspen for 2 days/2 nights staying - Tyrolean Lodge

(20-24th Jan) Then driving to Jackson Hole for 4 nights - 3 days Skiing. Going to try and go cat skiing one of these days weather dependent.
Staying at The Snow King Resort.

(24 - 27th) Then driving to Snowbird in Utah and stay at The Lodge at Snowbird for 3 nights.

(27- 28 or 29th) The driving to Mammoth where we will stay for either one or two nights - Holiday Haus,

(29th - 1st)Then heading up to Tahoe (Squaw) for 4 nights before flying home. this isn't booked.


So hopefully 11/12 days on snow!!!


A bunch of questions from the above
- Snow King Resort says something about resort access fee? Do we have to pay the $25 a day to stay at the resort? (Yes i know it is not the real "Jackson Hole resort" we just thought it looked like a cool and cheaper place to stay)
- Any one have any suggestions about experiencing Sundance? Should we drive to Park City one night?
- Would anyone have any ski instruct recs for private lessons at any of the resorts? Adv level, potential more of a guiding experience and polishing of techniques./ (fingers crossed) powder lesson!
- Anyone have any recommendations for accom near Squaw? I used to live at Sth Lake but thats not an ideal location for this trip.

 

[marzNC]

For a lesson at JH, I highly recommend @snoWYmonkey . If you wanted a lesson at Alta, I can also recommend a PSIA Level 3 instructor there. Remember the MCP gives you a combo ticket for Alta/Snowbird.

Did you consider staying in SLC? Staying at Snowbird is certainly nice, but may be worth a price comparison. Could look around for a small house/condo since you have three. The town of Jackson has quite a few motel options but not sure how much less it would be compared to the Snow King.

Have you ever looked at VRBO.com ?

 

[marzNC]

So are you only driving on Jan. 24? Driving from JH to Snowbird is about 6.5 hours. I and a few friends may ski at Alta on Jan. 25. But if conditions are good, we would be driving to JH that day.

You have almost 25 posts. Soon you'll be able to see all the Divas Only sections, which includes Meet On The Hill.

 

[ozgirl]

For a lesson at JH, I highly recommend @snoWYmonkey . If you wanted a lesson at Alta, I can also recommend a PSIA Level 3 instructor there. Remember the MCP gives you a combo ticket for Alta/Snowbird.

Did you consider staying in SLC? Staying at Snowbird is certainly nice, but may be worth a price comparison. Could look around for a small house/condo since you have three. The town of Jackson has quite a few motel options but not sure how much less it would be compared to the Snow King.

Have you ever looked at VRBO.com ?

thanks for your thoughts.

Not sure if we will ski Alta as we have a snowboarder in our group. Said snowbaorder really wanted to stay on hill so since i have pretty much got everything my way I conceded! LOL The 3 nights at the lodge we got for $1000. divided by 3.

And no i haven't looked at VRBO.com - will check it out.

 

[snoWYmonkey]

Thank you for the referral! Jackson is definitely a great place for advanced private lessons. It falls in the middle of women's ski camp, but I can certainly recommend some names if I am not available. We can chat privately about what you want to work on and the types of instructors you enjoy working with.

As for Snow King resort access fees, I looked at the site and could not find what you are referring to, so I can not answer you. I am sure that there are additional lodging taxes (town and county) and possibly other fees. I suspect that staying at the Village (Jackson hole resort area) probably has fees too. You are actually staying in town, which to everyone here is the real Jackson. The resort, meaning the Jackson Hole ski area at Teton Village is a resort and not the town. You will get the best of both worlds with good bus service between the two.

 

[ozgirl]

So are you only driving on Jan. 24? Driving from JH to Snowbird is about 6.5 hours. I and a few friends may ski at Alta on Jan. 25. But if conditions are good, we would be driving to JH that day.

You have almost 25 posts. Soon you'll be able to see all the Divas Only sections, which includes Meet On The Hill.

I think i just achieved 25 posts! Did not know there was a "secret section" yay!

No we are driving to JH on 20th, Snowbird 24th, Mammoth 27th, and Tahoe either 28 or 29th.

 

[ozgirl]

Thank you for the referral! Jackson is definitely a great place for advanced private lessons. It falls in the middle of women's ski camp, but I can certainly recommend some names if I am not available. We can chat privately about what you want to work on and the types of instructors you enjoy working with.

As for Snow King resort access fees, I looked at the site and could not find what you are referring to, so I can not answer you. I am sure that there are additional lodging taxes (town and county) and possibly other fees. I suspect that staying at the Village (Jackson hole resort area) probably has fees too. You are actually staying in town, which to everyone here is the real Jackson. The resort, meaning the Jackson Hole ski area at Teton Village is a resort and not the town. You will get the best of both worlds with good bus service between the two.

Yes lets chat about recs.

I was thinking of buying a half day private for the boyfriend and I as a Christmas gift. He has never had a lesson.

But it will be dependent on conditions I think. and my budget might only stretch to one private on the whole trip!

Glad you didn't have any objections to Snow King! :-)

When you get to confirming the accom it mentions the "resort fee" and on expedia it points out in the conditions "this does not include resort fee of $25 a day"

 

[marzNC]

I think i just achieved 25 posts! Did not know there was a "secret section" yay!

No we are driving to JH on 20th, Snowbird 24th, Mammoth 27th, and Tahoe either 28 or 29th.

So you are driving--and not skiing--on the 24th, correct? Only reason I ask is that I'll be skiing with a couple friends somewhere around SLC on Jan. 24. Exactly where depends on conditions that day.

Since you have the MCP, at least worth skiing over for a quick look from Mineral Basin. I assume the boarder can find some fun at Snowbasin while the skiers get at least a taste of Alta.

 

[ozgirl]

Oh yes - sorry! Driving on the 24th!

But things might change. We might move on if there is no fresh snow at the current resort but fresh snow due at the next resort! So you never know!

I plan on getting a US sim card and will share the number on here when I arrive :-)

Since we have such a short time at all the resorts skiing with people who know the mountains will be a pleasing!

 

[mustski]

Four of us are skiing Alta on the 25th and then hitting Snowbasin (Utah Winter Olympics) on the 26th-30th. I'm just mentioning it in case you all can head that way for a few days.

 

[mustski]

Four of us are skiing Alta on the 25th and then hitting Snowbasin (Utah Winter Olympics) on the 26th-30th. I'm just mentioning it in case you all can head that way for a few days.

 

[Janis Williams]

ozgirl - if you want a lesson at Aspen then Reilly McGlashan used to work there and I have heard he is excellent. I've also seen a bit of online interaction with him. He seems pretty good.

 

[RuthB]

For a lesson at JH, I highly recommend @snoWYmonkey .

Another rec for snoWYmonkey and Kori is great too, but I think she will be busy with the women's camps. There are some great guy instructors too but snoWYmonkey will have the inside info on who is around.

Thank you for the referral! Jackson is definitely a great place for advanced private lessons. It falls in the middle of women's ski camp,

Wish I was coming back for women's camp this year, it is such a great camp. But we will get some January skiing in up in Canada so it's not all bad.

 

[abc]

When you get to confirming the accom it mentions the "resort fee" and on expedia it points out in the conditions "this does not include resort fee of $25 a day"

The resort fee typically allows you to use the "community facility" such as pools and gyms.

I suspect that staying at the Village (Jackson hole resort area) probably has fees too.

No, motels in the village don't have resort fees.

Snowking is just far enough away from Jackson village that you can't comfortably walk back and forth. So it's not my favorite place to stay. But if the price is right, after factoring in the resort access fee, it's no worse than any other off-the-center-of-village locations.

Last time I went to Jackson, I stayed in the Super 8 motel! It's a good size room, clean. For myself, I found it fits the "cheerful & cheap" standard. It's no IN the village. You'll need to drive for 5 minutes to go to Jackson. But I'm not the apres kind. So it's drive in to eat, walk around a bit then drive back to sleep...

Squaw lodging: There's lodging at the base of Squaw which is the most convenient though probably more pricy. Or you can stay at Tahoe City or Truckee. Or you can cross the state line and stay at the casinos for a song. I think Truckee has a bit more going on...

 

[ozgirl]

Four of us are skiing Alta on the 25th and then hitting Snowbasin (Utah Winter Olympics) on the 26th-30th. I'm just mentioning it in case you all can head that way for a few days.

Ah unfortunately the deal is that we only ski at the resorts with our Mountain Collective pass, unless we stay and extra day (not included in the pass)

ozgirl - if you want a lesson at Aspen then Reilly McGlashan used to work there and I have heard he is excellent. I've also seen a bit of online interaction with him. He seems pretty good.

thanks will take note of the name.

The resort fee typically allows you to use the "community facility" such as pools and gyms.

Wow so it is not included in the room rate? Suspect none of us will use the resort facilities - but it was nice knowing they were there...

Squaw lodging: There's lodging at the base of Squaw which is the most convenient though probably more pricy. Or you can stay at Tahoe City or Truckee. Or you can cross the state line and stay at the casinos for a song. I think Truckee has a bit more going on...

Yeah on hill seems a bit step.

We were thinking Tahoe City.

 

[Christy]

Wow so it is not included in the room rate? Suspect none of us will use the resort facilities - but it was nice knowing they were there...

Resort fees aren't just about the pool and gym--some hotels say they cover internet, turndown, etc. You'll be charged the fee whether you use any of the facilities or not--it's not generally something anyone can opt out of, though I suppose you could try emailing the manager to say its a dealbreaker and can they be waived. Resort fees are something that many of us find very deceptive and its been the subject of many articles in travel magazines and newspapers, but there are some places where they are the norm (I read that Vegas has gotten bad in this way) and so hotels don't feel that they need to drop them.