For a number of years I've had intention of spending an extended time in a mountain area somewhere on the planet. Covid has been a big wake up call to me. It's made it obvious that we don't know what is around the corner.
I plan to do my 'season' as soon as practically possible. I understand that could still be some time away (certainly not this northern hemisphere winter) but as it will be take a lot of research I am starting to plan now.
There are so many things to consider -
1. I'm making an assumption that there will be a vaccine for covid or at least some kind of insurance to cover my family for things covid related.
2. I'm thinking we'll arrive in mid December and the kids and my wife will go back to Australia at the end of January for the start of the school year. My wife would return a few weeks later (once kids are settled into routine) for a month or so. I would remain on my mid working life sabbatical until the end of March. Obviously these details are fluid - aside from the kids heading back to Oz at the end of January.
3. We could opt for one location for the duration or choose to make it a multi destination type thing. For the multi destination option my wife has an aunt in Salt Lake City that has separate accomodation in her basement. It's quite a good fully self contained set up. We could arm ourselves with Ikon passes and use her digs in Mill Creek as a base while taking vacations within a vacation to Jackson, Taos, Mammoth, Aspen etc. The positives to this is obvious. Usually lots of snow, world class hills etc. The negatives are not so obvious. We've been to the US a lot, we would definitely need a car, the exchange rate is not as favourable as Canada for example and there's a chance there could still be an orange man as President. :lol:
4. We would be open to staying in one spot but it would have to be a big mountain and have an interesting town and preferably some other interesting stuff close by that could be reached by day trip. Whister is appealing. We could plan not to be there over Christmas and New Year as an Epic pass would give us some time to road trip to Fernie to escape the crowds. Whistler would be best after the holidays.
A big Euro hill could also work. I'm thinking staying in a town near to a mountain might be best. My daughter is very into French so France would be a consideration but the exchange rate is not great and I question my ability safely ski off piste. Same goes for an Austrian or Italian area.
5. Money isn't a real factor but I am a tight arse at heart so I'd rather do 'sustainable' as opposed to lavish.
Any thoughts on this? Suggestions?
I plan to do my 'season' as soon as practically possible. I understand that could still be some time away (certainly not this northern hemisphere winter) but as it will be take a lot of research I am starting to plan now.
There are so many things to consider -
1. I'm making an assumption that there will be a vaccine for covid or at least some kind of insurance to cover my family for things covid related.
2. I'm thinking we'll arrive in mid December and the kids and my wife will go back to Australia at the end of January for the start of the school year. My wife would return a few weeks later (once kids are settled into routine) for a month or so. I would remain on my mid working life sabbatical until the end of March. Obviously these details are fluid - aside from the kids heading back to Oz at the end of January.
3. We could opt for one location for the duration or choose to make it a multi destination type thing. For the multi destination option my wife has an aunt in Salt Lake City that has separate accomodation in her basement. It's quite a good fully self contained set up. We could arm ourselves with Ikon passes and use her digs in Mill Creek as a base while taking vacations within a vacation to Jackson, Taos, Mammoth, Aspen etc. The positives to this is obvious. Usually lots of snow, world class hills etc. The negatives are not so obvious. We've been to the US a lot, we would definitely need a car, the exchange rate is not as favourable as Canada for example and there's a chance there could still be an orange man as President. :lol:
4. We would be open to staying in one spot but it would have to be a big mountain and have an interesting town and preferably some other interesting stuff close by that could be reached by day trip. Whister is appealing. We could plan not to be there over Christmas and New Year as an Epic pass would give us some time to road trip to Fernie to escape the crowds. Whistler would be best after the holidays.
A big Euro hill could also work. I'm thinking staying in a town near to a mountain might be best. My daughter is very into French so France would be a consideration but the exchange rate is not great and I question my ability safely ski off piste. Same goes for an Austrian or Italian area.
5. Money isn't a real factor but I am a tight arse at heart so I'd rather do 'sustainable' as opposed to lavish.
Any thoughts on this? Suggestions?