Month: September 2018

Welcome back to Skiing Through Life! This week we’ll be looking at the ski resort Whistler Blackcomb! I’m super excited to talk about this resort because it’s been consistently named one of the best ski resorts in the world and is a mountain many professional skiers call home. Whistler Blackcomb is located north of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It’s the largest ski resort in North America and offers guests 2 different mountains with a gondola that travels between the two peaks. This mountain gets super busy throughout the year, accommodating more than 2 million visitors.

Level of Difficulty

Considering that Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski resort in North America, it has a lot of terrain to offer guests. Whistler Blackcomb offers 200 plus trails in addition to 37 ski lifts. The majority of trails (55%) are intermediate or blue trails on both Whistler mountain and Blackcomb mountain. Around 20% are beginner trails and about 30% are advanced trails. These percentages give a good perspective on the difficulty of the mountain, pointing to the fact that it’s a great place for any type of skier. With 55% being intermediate trails, this is perfect for those who have skied before but may be just starting out again, or for seasoned skiers who want to ease back into the season. Blackcomb and Whistler also both have 4 terrain parks for skiers interested n features. Overall, the advanced terrain at Whistler Blackcomb is certainly challenging in addition to its back country skiing, but the beginning and intermediate terrain can definitely cater to any type of skier.

Family-Friendliness

One of the outstanding amenities that Whistler offers is childcare and baby-sitting for those that come to the mountain with children too young to start skiing or for those that want to skiing without the kids. Whistler offers a Holiday Experience and Family Apres program in the winter with many different activities for families with children. Whistler also offers a scavenger hunt each season tailored to kids that are visiting. In addition to these opportunities, Whistler has 4 different programs for ski/snowboard lessons. They offer adult group ski/snowboard programs, programs specifically for teens, and 5 day lessons with a lift ticket included just for the kids. Whistler also offers private ski lessons for any age/level. One major attraction of their private lesson program is that they offer ski/ride with an olympian for a full day!

Apres Ski Activities

In 2010 Whistler Blackcomb hosted the Winter Olympics, housing the alpine skiing events, Paralympic alpine skiing events, Super-G, slalom, giant slalom, and super combined. After a day on the mountain, visitors are definitely encouraged to explore Whistler’s Olympic Plaza. With multiple facilities, Whistler offers skeleton, bob sleighing, Heli skiing and snowboarding, twilight ziplining, winter bungee jumping, and snowmobiling. All of these activities are designed around giving guests a huge adrenaline rush! On a different note, Whistler offers almost every kind of dining experience imaginable. From rustic pubs serving craft beer to dance pubs, Whistler has got it all. If guests are looking for a more refined dining experience, Whistler also has restaurants such as Araxi and Basalt for fine dining. After dining for the night, Whistler also offers Canadian craft tours which will transport people to British Columbia craft beer tours in areas around the mountain.

Weather/Snowfall

Considering how far north Whistler is, they received 1239 cm of snow last year with their snowiest month being January collecting 379 cm. Their snowiest winter was that of 2010/2011 with a Toal of 1579 cm of snow! December-February, guests should expect average temperatures of around 30 degrees. The temperatures will rarely dip below 10 degrees which makes for some great crisp, sunny skiing days. On their website Whistler even offers a comprehensive review of the kind of apparel guests should be bringing with them.

Accessibility

In order to get to Whistler, most people will fly into Vancouver if they’re not within driving distance of the mountain. From Vancouver its about a 2 hour drive to the resort along the Sea to Sky Highway. This has been ranked as one of the best coastal drives in the world because you’re driving right between the ocean and the mountains! If driving the 2 hours doesn’t suit you, you can also fly from Vancouver to Whistler. Once at the mountain, most visitors park their car and will not use it again until they leave because the village is extremely pedestrian friendly and there are buses that will drive from certain hotels to the actual mountain.

Overall, if you’re looking for a mountain that offers literally everything this is definitely it. From olympians who regularly ski here to 4 year olds just starting out, Whistler Blackcomb truly offers something for everyone!

Welcome back to Skiing Through Life! In this post we’re going to explore my favorite Vermont ski location, Sugarbush Ski Resort in Warren, VT. Sugarbush is located in Northern Vermont’s Mad River Valley which comprises many different popular ski areas. Having skied in Vermont multiple times, Sugarbush is my personal favorite because it has so many trails and the emphasis they have on fun and safety! Keeping in mind the 5 review categories, let’s get started!

Level of Difficulty

Sugarbush Resort’s tallest peak stands at about 4,000 feet making for some steep lines, but also less challenging ones where the mountain bottoms out. With 111 trails and wooded areas, Sugarbush Resort is spread over 6 different peaks: Mt. Ellen (the tallest), Lincoln Peak, Castlerock Peak, North Lynx Peak, Gadd Peak, and Inverness Peak. Of these ski trails, 38 of them are black/double black diamond and 73 of them are blue and green trails. Considering this ratio, Sugarbush definitely offers a great variety if you’re skiing with a mixed group of skiers! If double black diamonds aren’t challenging enough, Sugarbush also offers 97 acres (28 “trails”) of wooded area for skiing between trees. In addition to groomed trails and wooded areas, Sugarbush has three different terrain parks with new features added every year. It’s certain that wherever you are on the mountain, you won’t be bored! 

Family-Friendliness

Sugarbush resort has multiple amenities for families. One of the features of Sugarbush is that it has 26 green trails for kids that are just starting out or even adults that are trying skiing for the first time. At the bottom of the main mountain, and on the lower half of Mt. Ellen, Sugarbush even has green trails that are designated as slow and controlled skiing areas. As for lessons, Sugarbush offers many different programs such as group ski and snowboard lessons, private ski and snowboard lessons, lessons specifically taught for first time skiers, a first timer to life timer program, and a special ski and ride school for young children. In the ski and ride program kids in group lessons are always accompanied by two or more instructors and lift staff are always there to help kids get on the ski lifts. Within the terrain parks there are also designated areas with smaller features for younger skiers/snowboarders to try out.

Apres Ski Activities

At sugarbush, one of the best apres ski activities are going out to their restaurants. Some of the mountain’s most popular places are Rumble’s Kitchen, Hogan’s Pub, and Fit to be Thai’d. Another option for meals is to visit the Paradise Market, a small grocery shop perfect for picking up a few things for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. For those that love shopping, taking a quick ride into town will bring you to shops such as The Collection, Warren Store, The Store, and Alpine Options. Many of the stores on the way up to the mountain will have ski rentals on hand which is great if you don’t want to rent skis or snowboards at the resort. Other activities on the mountain include adventures like sunset groomer rides or first tracks, provided by Cabin Cat Adventures. Through outside companies, guests can also do guided snowshoe tours through Sugarbush’s backcountry and woods.

Weather/Snowfall

Last year Sugarbush’s snow totals reached about 16 feet during their 2017-2018 winter season. This winter is projected to be a snowy one, predicted by the Farmer’s Almanac. Last winter, the resort had 54 total days of snowfall and their biggest snowfall was 23 inches! Their base stays at an average of 3 inches of snow and their summit it usually coverage in an average of 41 inches of snow. The resort is set to open around November 22nd and close for the spring on May 3rd. Usually Vermont has a bit of spring skiing, but it’s rare that they keep trails open past the end of April.

Accessibility 

From State College, Sugarbush Resort is about eight hours away, and from my home in NJ, the drive is about six hours. The mountain is very accessible especially because it is located in a valley. The drive down into town is a maximum of 20 minutes from the housing farthest away from the main access roads. The drive into Sugarbush is very beautiful especially if you’re driving in the valley around dusk on a snowy day. There’s beautiful wide open land with the mountain sitting right in front of you and once you enter the town of Warren, you’ll drive the 15 minute climb up to the resort.

Sugarbush holds a special place in my heart as it’s one of my family’s favorite resorts. There’s a great balance of beginner and advanced trails and tons of activities to do during the day or even after skiing.

Hello ski fanatics, and welcome to Skiing Through Life, your first stop for ski resort reviews! In each post, I’ll be reviewing ski resorts based on 5 factors: level of difficulty, family-friendliness, apres ski activities, weather/snow fall, and accessibility. In this post we’ll be exploring a hidden gem set in the Wasatch Mountain range of Utah. Solitude ski resort, established in 1957 by Robert M. Barrett, is well known to skiers as an intimate mountain experience. Relatively small in size, Solitude has 66 trails and is located in Big Cottonwood Canyon, 30 miles outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Level of Difficulty: Unlike some of the bigger resorts in Utah such as Alta and Park City, half of Solitude’s ski trails are marked as beginner or intermediate trails. Some mountains hold only intermediate and advanced trails on their mountains, so this ratio is extremely beneficial for first time skiers looking to ski in some western powder! With wide, green (beginner) trails set on the lower third of the mountain, and blue (intermediate) trails descending the full height of the first peak, this mountain is definitely the right choice for Level I and Level II skiers. Since half of the trails are beginner and intermediate trails, the other half are exciting black (advanced) and double black diamonds. These advanced trails are not for the faint of heart, but they do offer advanced skiers many opportunities to shred through glades (trees) on the sides of trails and some even have natural features for those of you who like to pull tricks during your runs! Overall, Solitude has a great ratio of beginner to advanced trails, giving everyone a chance to have fun at this mountain.

Family-Friendliness: Taking into account the ratio of beginner to advanced ski trails at Solitude, the mountain is also well-known for its family-friendliness. Families skiing at any level can sign their kids up for youth programs, take adult lessons or enroll themselves and their kids in the two snow sports academies. With a mountain this small, the slopes won’t get too crowded even in the peak season. This means that families with young children won’t have to worry about their skis being clipped on an over-crowded slope. Overall, Solitude is a great choice for families skiing with children of any age!

Apres Ski Activities: One of the most popular features of Solitude is their Nordic Ski Center. With 20 kilometers of ski trails saved just for Nordic skiing, this attraction can entertain guests for hours. The trails for Nordic skiing are always groomed and the center offers both classic and skating styles of Nordic skiing. In addition to this, skiers can choose between skiing in the trees or skiing on open trails. After a long day on the slopes, Solitude has many restaurants to offer everything from a pizza cafes to fine dining at St. Bernards. If you’re looking to get off the mountain for a little while you can also find restaurants and historic ski locations in Salt Lake City, 40 minutes out from Solitude. 

 

Weather/Snow-Fall: Being located out in the West, Solitude definitely gets a large amount of snow each year, giving their skiers lots of fresh powder to play in. Last year, Solitude’s biggest snowfall was 15 inches and their total snowfall was about 22 feet. Solitude”s location also offers great spring skiing. While out there during my spring break vacation in 2016, I experienced thunder-snow for the first time in the first week of April! While this was definitely unexpected and a bit traumatizing considering we were at the top of the mountain and they closed the lifts, the experience demonstrated how great spring skiing can really be, when they’re getting snow at the beginning of April!

Accessibility: For skiers who live outside of Utah, most will fly in to Salt Lake City International Airport. The airport is about 30 minutes away from the base of Solitude’s mountain range, and from the base it takes about 15-20 minutes to ascend up through the mountain to get to the actual resort. While some may find it annoying to wind through mountains, the views are amazing!

Comprising everything from a fantastic ski school, to lots of beginner trails, to great restaurants, Solitude Mountain Resort is a great place for a family ski trip or for those looking to experience back country skiing on Solitude’s fantasy ridge for the first time. If you’re an extreme skier looking for lots of challenging backcountry terrain, Solitude is probably not your best choice, but it has a lot of other qualities to offer!