queequeg Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 Some friends and I are planning to try and take an early season trip- never done this before, but I have time off to burn so might as well. What resorts would be a decent bet for a good time in the early season (novemberish) ... I was thinking of going up to canada? Tremblant? Mt.Sainte-Anne? Any idears? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebu Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 It's no "mountain" by any means, but Ski Brule (in Iron River, MI) always opens up for a weekend WELL before all of the others in michigan, and probably before most in the whole midwest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allee Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 Western Canada would probably be a better bet than Eastern Canada at that time of the year. It's early for anywhere at that point though. Most of the BC resorts aren't even open until the first week of Dec. In Banff, Lake Louise is open but pretty sketchy and very limited terrain, while Sunshine is usually about 80% open by the end of Nov. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Dahl Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 If you don't mind the travel, and if we get hammered early up here, Mt. Baker ski area has been open for business on/before Thanksgiving day many times. I have hiked for freshies as early as Nov. 5 some years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 We do occasionally get these here in UT. I remember riding Brighton a 2-3 seasons ago with a healthy base on October 30 (they typically open before anyone else in the area). Snow was GOOD and many trails were open! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nekdut Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 Mammoth opens November 13th. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave ESPI Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 If its cold enough, Vermont is a safe bet. Nov 10th there was "rideable" trails on 3 mountains in VT last year. I got out Nov 15th at Jiminy in MA, so Anything is possible witht the right weather pattern, and this year they are saying will be cold ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twelsch42 Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 In Colorado Loveland and A-basin usually "open" mid October. Early/Mid November and other front range hills begin to open. Late November and you start to get more area within the resorts opening, to deal with Thanksgiving crowds. Barring huge extraordinary early snow, anything before December 1 usually leaves me wishing for winter. My $.02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdea Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 Some friends and I are planning to try and take an early season trip- never done this before, but I have time off to burn so might as well. What resorts would be a decent bet for a good time in the early season (novemberish) ... I was thinking of going up to canada? Tremblant? Mt.Sainte-Anne? Any idears? sunday river, killington and okemo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekempmeister Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 I'll 2nd the aforementioned comments about A-Basin and Loveland. I go every year for about a week in late Nov - early Dec and am never disappointed. I can buy an plane ticket several weeks out and not watch NOAA obsessively to see if I'm going to be shutout. Also, you can buy a 4-pack from Loveland online for $120.00 w/no blackout dates. Awesome deal. A.Basin is equally a good deal at about $50-$60 (I don't remember exactly). Everything about it is good - I've got family in West Denver and these two resorts are relatively close, in the grand scheme of things. Fortunately my work provides an ample amount of personal time and these annual trips are how I burn some of the time I'd otherwise lose at year's end. Typically, it's a great way to start the season and it's not too redundant because the hills close to home are just barely getting under way, if at all. That often would include NY and VT, although last year was an exception. I'm not sure about via JFK or LaGuardia, however, from Balt/D.C., non-stops to Denver are frequent and not too pricey ($300-$350 if planned right). Love the non-stops because I think I'll most likely end up in the same city as my gear. All this is getting me stoked - think I'll check out Southwest flights right now. Thanks Queequeg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skategoat Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 There's open just to say you're open and then there's rideable open. I've been to Killington in November. Shredded the bases on a brand new pair or skis riding on the rocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queequeg Posted September 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 I'll 2nd the aforementioned comments about A-Basin and Loveland. I go every year for about a week in late Nov - early Dec and am never disappointed. I can buy an plane ticket several weeks out and not watch NOAA obsessively to see if I'm going to be shutout. Also, you can buy a 4-pack from Loveland online for $120.00 w/no blackout dates. Awesome deal. A.Basin is equally a good deal at about $50-$60 (I don't remember exactly). Everything about it is good - I've got family in West Denver and these two resorts are relatively close, in the grand scheme of things. Fortunately my work provides an ample amount of personal time and these annual trips are how I burn some of the time I'd otherwise lose at year's end. Typically, it's a great way to start the season and it's not too redundant because the hills close to home are just barely getting under way, if at all. That often would include NY and VT, although last year was an exception. I'm not sure about via JFK or LaGuardia, however, from Balt/D.C., non-stops to Denver are frequent and not too pricey ($300-$350 if planned right). Love the non-stops because I think I'll most likely end up in the same city as my gear. All this is getting me stoked - think I'll check out Southwest flights right now. Thanks Queequeg! So, Western Canada, A.Basin or Loveland sound like the most soild bets. Thanks for all the helpful info everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spil Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 Got some snow today, and it looks pretty good (for mid September). I'll be going up mid November, so hopefully it will be "rideable" and not just "open," but anything is better than sitting around in 90 degree weather... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surf Quebec Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 Eastern Canada sites, like Mont Ste-Anne or Mont-Tremblant may have a few "pistes" open in november but it's not worth a trip. The weather can changes so much around here from day to day that it's risky to come here in november. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nekdut Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 Yes :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Gendzwill Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 So far Sunshine is still dry, although I drove through there on the long weekend and there had been a dump already. Louise makes snow so they always have at least one run open by mid-November. Not sure if it's worth flying out from NY to make turns down man-made snow on a green run though... although even if there's no snow, Banff is a glorious place to be if you've never been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueB Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 For 3 years in a row Whistler and 3 local mountains here opened mid November. Also, for last 2 years we had huge dumps in the early season (read: swallie inbounds). However, as it is costal, it's unpredictable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDY_2_Carve Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Wolf Creek, CO gets some amazing early season snow but they won't open till November'ish. Not so hot for carving though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
two_ravens Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Grand Targhee in western Wyoming is scheduled to open Nov. 22, weather dependent. They usually have decent grooming, and often have very good snow by late November. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seb Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 I would consider Mont Ste-Anne, rather than Tremblant. A lot of racing team from East Coast driving down to Quebec every fall. We have seen good Snowboarding in early November some year. They open their north side, with 1000' vertical drop with a high-speed quad, a carving threat. But, during first couple of weekends, it could get too crowded around noon for good carving so you need to be there early. Seb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philfell Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Copper Mt. There is a reason why race teams from around the world come to Copper as early as the 3rd week in Oct to train for the up coming world cup season. If you want a safe bet for early snow Copper is it. Depending on weather it's early or late Nov. you may have other resorts in the are to choose from as well (like Breck, A-Basin, Vail, etc.). Stay away from the east coast if you have the option, you will have better conditions and more terrain if you come to Colorado. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kipstar Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Yes :) loving that shot of, well what I call Chair 2, but has some new fancy pants soft as name these days no doubt. Yeah, Mammoth has the man made going on early season along with some natural stuff, gets a big of a mega season and the mountain is well good for carving with no rocks poking through on chair 1 or 2 to speak of. Man.....I miss that place ;-( been 3 years since I got to ride in USA :-((((( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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