Recent content by jimk

Is the skyway monte bianco just a scenic lift, no skiing off it for the general public? Even if no skiing, sounds like it might be worth a look if it's free with our ikon pass? Is it within walking distance of the Val Veny Cable car?

Utah is firming up too with an extended dry, sunny period that began on 11 Jan, although fortunately the Cottonwoods received close to 60" from the 1st to the 10th. I skied Solitude on 14 Jan 2026. Almost all terrain is open there except Honeycomb Canyon. I had a fun morning with free...

My son and I have a private reserved for Vallee Blanche on 24 Jan 2026. Hoping for good weather on 24th as the 25th would be less convenient for our further itinerary, if we would even be allowed to reschedule. Do they give you a refund if weather is very poor viz? Thanks again to Chris and...

I went to the link Chris furnished: " I often use the local town Guide Office. Chamonix Compagnie des Guides LINK. " It appears to offer dates to ski the Vallee Blanche starting on Jan 24 and 25. Those are our last two days in Chamonix. I'm not inclined to reserve this far out and would...

This beer out of Longmont, CO is currently $13.99 for a box of 15 cans at the local supermarket, ABV 4.2, 95 calories. Tastes like typical American light beer, not great, but goes down easy and best served very cold. Anytime I find a drinkable beer for less than a buck a can, that's a cheap...

My last three ski days at Snowbird, Jan 8/9/11 have been excellent. Soft, powdery conditions prevail from the nearly 60 inches of new snow since Jan 1. Of the 14 ski days I have in Utah since Dec 5, these three were by far the best. The vast majority of the resort's terrain is now open...

This pic by @Harvey ought to have the caption "the good old days are now!" 😶‍🌫️ Reminds me of my prior ski country haunts in Western PA, WV, and MD.

On 8 Jan 2026 I skied Snowbird for the first time since New Years Eve. Since then the situation has greatly improved. They are reporting upwards of 50" new snow in CY 2026. About 90% of the frontside of the mountain is now open and skiable. Tiger Tail and Red Lens and other off-piste terrain...

I'm busy traveling. Now back East for memorial services for family member, return to Utah soon But it was very kind for @ChrisC to provide his input. I did pull the trigger and depart for Alps, Jan 19-31. Using Geneva as gateway. Likely 4-5 ski days in Chamonix including Vallee Blanche...

I'm hearing from friends that the Cottonwoods got a foot of heavy snow on 1 Jan 2026.

Hmmm, it's looking more likely that I'll make that trip to Europe for the last ten days of January. Need to do a little more intra-family coordination, but considering pulling the trigger on airfares to Geneva this weekend. Likely to spend five days in Chamonix. Where I spend the second five...

Tony, I snapped this photo near Ontario, CA heading east on I-15 on Dec 27, 2025 not long after those days of heavy rain/snow in much of CA. Is that Mt. Baldy with the nice little coating of white on top? Same area 3 hikers recently died? Where's the Baldy ski area in this photo?

Thanks for keeping this thread going. There is still a 50-50 chance I may get to ski Cham, Zermatt, or Jungfrau areas during the Jan 20-30 time frame. Looks like snowpack will be improving through January. May find out if trip is a GO in the next week or so.

28 dec 2025, I went to Southern CA for part of Christmas week and when I returned the snow was better at Snowbird, but not in a huge way, Snowbird got about a foot of new snow on Dec 26-28. They opened Little Cloud lift on the 28th. Regulator Johnson and nearby parts of Little Cloud Bowl remain...

One of my Snowbird buddies has been skiing Alta quite a bit in the last week or two. He says there is considerably more terrain acreage open than Snowbird or Solitude. This is not unexpected, as Alta typically does well in early season compared to the others, catching every little bit of snow...