Where To Ski with Comped Lodging?

[Tony Crocker]

Chamonix is the most impressive mountain scenery I've ever seen. Jungfrau has a very good reputation in that regard too, though I haven't been there. Chamonix is not beginner-friendly, my guess is Jungfrau is better since it doesn't get a lot of buzz among the hard core.

 

[Patrick]

Chamonix is the most impressive mountain scenery I've even seen.

Definitely hard to beat.

Jungfrau has a very good reputation in that regard too, though I haven't been there. Chamonix is not beginner-friendly, my guess is Jungfrau is better since it doesn't get a lot of buzz among the hard core.

The ski areas in the Jungfray are interconnected and the scale of them versus Chamonix's is so much larger. Plus there is terrain for everyone. Trains on the slopes add a certain something + scenery isn't as big as Chamonix, but it's also pretty amazing. Probably much spectacular I've seen with Chamonix. More than what I've seen in North America.

 

[Marc_C]

Chamonix is the most impressive mountain scenery I've even seen.

Definitely hard to beat.

Jungfrau has a very good reputation in that regard too, though I haven't been there. Chamonix is not beginner-friendly, my guess is Jungfrau is better since it doesn't get a lot of buzz among the hard core.

The ski areas in the Jungfray are interconnected and the scale of them versus Chamonix's is so much larger. Plus there is terrain for everyone. Trains on the slopes add a certain something + scenery isn't as big as Chamonix, but it's also pretty amazing. Probably much spectacular I've seen with Chamonix. More than what I've seen in North America.

Again, going back to the OP, the comped lodging options in Europe are London, Paris, and Tuscany. So what's all this talk of Cham and Grindelwald?

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Since the Mrs. is making the decision, I'm aware that our discussion will have little or no impact on where they go. But given the choices above and the descriptions of their ski abilities, here are my Top 4 with + and -

Telluride
+ Skiing (interesting terrain, enough to keep both of you busy)
+ Ambiance (nice town with little to no Front Range influence)
- Accessibility (unless you cash in FF miles and book early enough to grab one of those direct flights from Newark, you're looking at an expensive plane fare, $400+, or a long drive from Denver.

Jackson
+ Skiing (while JH does have a lot of steep terrain, there are a *lot* of blue/dark blue trails that my wife enjoyed. Also, Grand Targhee would be heaven for her and a better than average shot at skiing easy powder.)
+ Ambiance (nice town, good public transport to all three ski areas from Jackson)
+ Lots of non-skiing things to do/Yellowstone
- Accessibility on a budget (same deal as Telluride)

Deer Valley
+ Skiing (would be a match for their skill levels, ski on same lifts, enough to keep them busy for several days with Park City and The Canyons next door. Given the wife's skill levels and lack of powder chops, I don't see any reason for renting a car and driving to the Cottonwoods)
+ Location (right next to Park City, a decent ski town, though not as atmospheric as Telluride or Jackson)
+ Accessibility (30 minutes from SLC airport, cheap airfares)
- Ambiance (feels like a big condo development)

Steamboat
+ Skiing (would be a match for their skill levels, ski on same lifts, enough to keep them busy for several days)
+ Location (a decent ski town, though not as atmospheric as Telluride or Jackson)
- Accessibility on a budget (same deal as Telluride)

I still vote for Jackson.

 

[Patrick]

I still vote for Jackson.

Jackson is amongst my favorites areas, but I wouldn't choose Jackson at all for Harvey and Mrs. Harvey.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Jackson is amongst my favorites areas, but I wouldn't choose Jackson at all for Harvey and Mrs. Harvey.

I know, you'd send them to Chamonix or Jungfrau -- places where they don't have free lodging!

 

[Patrick]

Jackson is amongst my favorites areas, but I wouldn't choose Jackson at all for Harvey and Mrs. Harvey.

I know, you'd send them to Chamonix or Jungfrau -- places where they don't have free lodging!

Although I've never been to Sun Valley, I would choose that "resort" over Jackson from what Harv has told us.

 

[Marc_C]

Deer Valley
+ Skiing ...Given the wife's skill levels and lack of powder chops, I don't see any reason for renting a car and driving to the Cottonwoods)

Actually, those would be perfect reasons for going to Alta. People tend to forget it's excellent beginner and low intermediate terrain and powder learning opportunities along with instructors who actually know how to teach powder technique.

 

[Marc_C]

SunValley (resort classic thing - never been) way before Jackson (been). Not sure, but Jackson can be pretty limiting terrain wise according to skills.

There are far more non-skiing options in both Jackson and Telluride than in Ketchum. And why go to a western resort for conditions that surprisingly frequently are very similar to the hard-pack of the Northeast? Unlike most of the other Rockies and intermountain west areas, apparently Sun Valley skiers need to sharpen their edges fairly regularly. :stir:

 

[Patrick]

SunValley (resort classic thing - never been) way before Jackson (been). Not sure, but Jackson can be pretty limiting terrain wise according to skills.

There are far more non-skiing options in both Jackson and Telluride than in Ketchum. And why go to a western resort for conditions that surprisingly frequently are very similar to the hard-pack of the Northeast? Unlike most of the other Rockies and intermountain west areas, apparently Sun Valley skiers need to sharpen their edges fairly regularly. :stir:

Jackson (or Telluride, I imagine) is a cool place when you're into the skiing thing. You are forgetting the purpose and reason of this trip. Skiing isn't priority one, but a side dish.

Sun Valley is more than just skiing like Timberline Lodge.

 

[Marc_C]

Jackson (or Telluride, I imagine) is a cool place when you're into the skiing thing. You are forgetting the purpose and reason of this trip. Skiing isn't priority one, but a side dish.

Sun Valley is more than just skiing like Timberline Lodge.

That was exactly my point. Sun Valley pales when compared to Jackson or Telluride for non-skiing activities. Of the 3, Jackson probably has the most options for not skiing, followed by Telluride.

 

[Admin]

Of the 3, Jackson probably has the most options for not skiing, followed by Telluride.

Precisely my thought process as expressed much, much earlier in this thread. If Patrick didn't spend much time in town he missed out.

 

[Tony Crocker]

If they go to a western ski resort, it needs to be:
1) On the free lodging list
2) Appropriate and adding some value for both of them

Some of you aren't reading very carefully ](*,)

My wife's ideal conditions are groomers with 3 inches of powder on top. She's not a beginner but not really an intermediate either. (She needs lessons).

Jackson is completely inappropriate for this level of skier, unless she's going to be in lessons the whole time. Intermediate runs at Jackson would be rated single black at most other ski areas. Gore probably has more terrain in her comfort zone.

Of the 3, Jackson probably has the most options for not skiing

Will his wife be OK with doing some of those things by herself while Harvey is skiing?

Actually, those would be perfect reasons for going to Alta. People tend to forget it's excellent beginner and low intermediate terrain and powder learning opportunities along with instructors who actually know how to teach powder technique.

Alta is not on the list.

Unlike most of the other Rockies and intermountain west areas, apparently Sun Valley skiers need to sharpen their edges fairly regularly.

Agree with this. Harvey's stated ski priorities are:

the overriding factor would be having the best chance for great conditions and new snow.

With regard to jamesdeluxe's comments, I agree that Steamboat and Telluride are good choices. With regard to Deer Valley, can anyone here give me a reason why Beaver Creek wouldn't be better, assuming you're going to stay put in your comped lodging?

I do agree with Patrick not to give up on the Alps without some investigation.
1) The wife will get a comped destination she's really enthusiastic about, presumably Tuscany.
2) You are paying a fixed cost in air to get over there. Marginal cost to add a ski week might not be that much. Maybe even consider an "under the radar" place if you can get a deal. Mid-size Euro ski areas can still be bigger than large ones here.
3) Lots of interesting non-ski option in Euro resorts, as others have mentioned.

 

[Harvey]

Since the Mrs. is making the decision, I'm aware that our discussion will have little or no impact on where they go.

This discussion is definitely having an impact. I'd say that the list has been shortened considerably to about 3 or 4 destinations.

My wife considers my needs/wants. That's one reason I like her. \/

Plus don't forget...while she's not obsessed like me...she does like skiing. If we went for a week she'd ski 5 or 6 days. I'd ski bell to bell every day I could, and rest in the chair lift and in the plane on the way home. :-D

Gotta give Tony credit - he is really paying attention. The post above is a clear description of what I was trying to express originally.

There has been some back channel discussion about my lack of participation in this thread. I'll try to work less and post more. :-$

 

[Marc_C]

Actually, those would be perfect reasons for going to Alta. People tend to forget it's excellent beginner and low intermediate terrain and powder learning opportunities along with instructors who actually know how to teach powder technique.

Alta is not on the list.

Apparently some aren't reading carefully! 8)
That was addressing jamesdelux's statement about the skiing ability and lack of powder experience of Harv's wife making it not worthwhile to rent a car and head to the Cottonwoods if they were staying at DV. I'm suggesting that those are not valid reasons alone for not going to Alta. Sure, they may not want to rent a car, make the commute, etc., but that's not the point of my post.

 

[Patrick]

Jackson is completely inappropriate for this level of skier, unless she's going to be in lessons the whole time. Intermediate runs at Jackson would be rated single black at most other ski areas. Gore probably has more terrain in her comfort zone.

Tony gets it. Tony might remember what I said about Jackson after my first day there. I said how small I found the place, especially when conditions sucked and skiers were beginner-intermediate.

Remember this is one of my favorite places, but I'm objective.

If Patrick didn't spend much time in town he missed out.

I spent a few days in town, but it doesn't work for what Harv is looking for.

 

[Marc_C]

With regard to Deer Valley, can anyone here give me a reason why Beaver Creek wouldn't be better, assuming you're going to stay put in your comped lodging?

Perhaps because there's a real town with other diversions a free 5 minute shuttle ride away and two other ski areas with suitable terrain also accessible via short, free shuttle?

 

[Marc_C]

If Patrick didn't spend much time in town he missed out.

I spent a few days in town, but it doesn't work for what Harv is looking for.

Uh, the town and the ski area are, what, 10 minutes apart? And a full ski day is something like 6 hours out of 24? It's not like one precludes the other. And didn't you say that on this trip, skiing is a secondary concern?

 

[jamesdeluxe]

This discussion is definitely having an impact. I'd say that the list has been shortened considerably to about 3 or 4 destinations.

How about posting your short list so we can continue arguing?

Then you can channel Gpaul and cancel the entire trip.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Perhaps because there's a real town with other diversions a free 5 minute shuttle ride away and two other ski areas with suitable terrain also accessible via short, free shuttle?

In addition to Beaver Creek being better than Deer Valley, Vail blows away the "two other ski areas with suitable terrain." And using Deer Valley as a base to ski Alta, somehow I doubt that's the kind of commute Harvey had in mind. It would help if Harvey could elaborate on the "other diversions" his wife would most like. He did mention cross country, and Beaver Creek's looks really good. And while on that subject, one of the easy chairs at Beaver Creek, Cinch, is at the very top of the mountain with the best snow conditions and nice views.

The town of Park City is certainly more appealing to the eye than Vail/Beaver Creek, but in terms of what you can actually do in the way of non-ski activities, I'd be surprised if there's much difference. And if the eye appeal is very important Telluride is the best of your western options. But not better than the Alps (anticipating Patrick).

Tony might remember what I said about Jackson after my first day there. I said how small I found the place, especially when conditions sucked and skiers were beginner-intermediate.

I guess I was wise to go to Yellowstone that day. The other 3 steadily improved from very good to epic. But Patrick's point is well taken. Even Harvey will be limited at Jackson unless there is a fair amount of recent new snow. I'll have to give Patrick some credit here. For someone who can and does ski the most obnoxious snow conditions imaginable, he does have an eye for evaluating a ski area for the less capable as well.