Trip plans for 2010 yet?

TDad -- Hadn't heard of that option, but will check it out.   Maryland is not as cutting edge as California, but who knows?  

Well, last day of winter season at Whitefish is April 4.  They will close Hellroaring Basin April 1.  So, would recommend you come before that as some of the best skiing is down in that Basin (unless you are only into groomers, of course).  The last few years the snow has been terrific (fresh snow) on closing day, but that's no predictor of this coming season, as at least one season we did have warm weather at the end of March, the year I hit the tree.  I think you should have each kid miss just a couple extra days of school myself, so you can all go at once.  I mean, at that age, what's a couple days?  Get the homework from the teachers or something.  My daughter often missed a whole week of school around then for a ski vacation.  (I do remember leaving a school book back at Copper one year, you'd think we left a child behind the school was so mad...and we got it back....)

Realistically, missing school to go skiing just ain't gonna happen (see above re non-skiing wife).  So, what I've got is either March 19 - 23 or 24 - 28 with my son, and March 29 - April 1(or 2) with my daughter.*   So, Whitefish is a possibility for my son (maybe better for the earlier half week), but might not be the best option with my daughter this season.

I did the two separate Spring break ski trip thing this past year, and it's not all bad.  I had great bonding time with each of them individually, and got to ski at two different resorts. 

*(My daughter has her Spring season kick-off soccer tournament the weekend of March 27-28.  She is the high scorer on her team.  I'm thinking of taking a collection from the other parents to not take her skiing that weekend).  

I am running a bus trip to Mont Tremblant, Quebec from March 4th to the 7th, 2010.
Departing 1pm from Mississauga on the 4th, returning on the 7th.
3 nights, 2 day lift pass and transportation all for the low price of $389 pp.
We are looking for more to join us, so feel free to contact me!

Jimski,
I think the split trip offers a lot of opportunity to devote time to each kid. We did not do that but I have friends who always took one nice trip a year one of one with each parent and child. They said the trips were some of the best times ever for their family.
On a normal year for the first trip in mid-March you can go almost anywhere out west. Whitefish and Steamboat are both great areas to ski. Both have great ski towns a few miles from the base of the mountain. The second trip is only slightly more problematic. Almost everyone will try to stay open until Easter but the higher elevation resorts will have better snow top to bottom. Whitefish is a lower elevation resort and Steamboat has about the lowest base area in Colorado. I've skied Big Sky on the first week in April for several years and have never had a bad trip. Most of the big CO resorts are the same.
Steve

Are your kids comfortable flying without a parent?  Have you given thought to flying out with son on 3/24 to some place like Utah, send him home on 28th or 29th and pick up daughter same day at SLC airport, bring back to same or different resort for another few days then you fly back with her?  If you do this right you ski everyday with just a long lunch break at airport in middle of your week?

Jimski,

CA does indeed have an independent study plan in place so the schools do not lose $ due to absenteeism.  Here is an idea: Create your own independent study program with your child's teacher.  Include a report on the history of the area, a study of avalanches, sending a postcard to the class, etc.  At least that way you will not feel too guilty skipping school (your kid will not feel any guilt).

JamesJ has a great point.

Also, I forgot to mention that if you're considering Utah, and either kid is in the 5th or 6th grade, sign up for the Passport at skiutah.com.

Now that I scored some Watea 84's, I need to try them out

Denver - Mid December
Avoriaz, Portes du Soliel, France - Mid Jan (going to be a long flight from DFW)
Edited by envgeo - 11/3/09 at 6:11pm

It looks like we're headed out for our first western trip in a few years and my two boys first western trip ever. We have tickets to Denver for 2/20-2/27 for the kids winter break. I'm not sure where we're going yet and still need to make lodging and rental car reservations. The oldest is in 6th and the youngest is in 5th grade so both can ski free/cheap with the CO passports. Neither coupon book is good at Breck, Keystone or Vail so Summit County is pretty much out. I'm thinking Steamboat, CB or Telluride. I would like to go to the 'boat because it's one of the places in CO I haven't skied yet.

Besides going out west we will be hitting some of the NH areas as well as spending quite a bit of time at Jay. My oldest son won a season's pass for Jay at the end of last season. Now I just need to scrape up some discounts's for Jay so I can afford to ski there.

let's see -

Stevens
Mission
Loveland
Hood
Jackson
Schweitzer
Whistler
Hood
Chamonix
Courmayeur
Verbier
Hood
Hood
Hood

Plus one day/week backcountry and one day/week at Baker while they're open. And anything else that comes up that isn'rt already planned.

I booked the deal of the decade last week for myself, 2 brothers and dad to Snowbird/Alta, Utah.  That airfare sale with southwest and a few other airlines gave us the lowest airfare I've ever seen from Cleveland to SLC. We usually end up flying to Denver because it's so much cheaper, but we couldn't pass up this deal, and once you price out the lift tickets and transportation, it's actually pretty comparable to any of the Denver resorts.

Jan 19-23

Airfare: $222 incl tax from Cleveland to SLC, return flight leaves at 3:30pm = half day of skiing when we leave
Room: $75/nt at the Cliff Lodge and Spa (TOTAL, not per person). Ski-in/out, the best hotel at Snowbird I think. A steal.
Lift Tick: $168 for 4 days at Snowbird/Alta
Shuttle: $30/pp each way.

Total cost per person for 5 days/4 nights w/4 days of skiing = $525 + food

Exceptional.

Ariving in denver christmas day with family, 8 days 6 mountains
Gems cards in hand

Ski Cooper
Monarch
Sunlight
Loveland
Winterpark
A-basin

Life sure is good

Skibumm1000,

If you are flying into Denver then CB, Telluride or Steamboat are FAR (unless you plan to get on a puddle jumper).   Did you look at WP, CM, or Abasin?. All are in Summit county and are 70 miles or less from DEN.

First planned trip is Mammoth Mountain the 2nd weekend in March, 2010, over 4 days.  It will be the first week we can safely travel that distance with our (yet to be born) newborn.
I'm hoping to get a few trips up to the local hills with the boy just after the baby arrives. 

steveturner -- Thanks.  I'm considering Whitefish and Steamboat because of the relatively lower base altitude (4465 and 6900 ft. respectively) -- better chance for us to adjust in the short time we'll have (five days).  Sounds like either would work for the March 19 - 23/24 timeframe in terms of snow quality -- even though Tony Crocker only gives them a 3 out of 5 for Spring snow.  Other places I would consider, with somewhat higher altitudes but all with a 4 or 5 Spring snow rating from TC, are Solitude (8175 ft.), Beaver Creek (8100 ft.), and Snowmass (8104 ft.) 

jamesj -- thanks, I had thought of that option too.  It means I would only have to fly out and back once, so could save one air ticket.  Also, could keep same lodging the whole time.  Would probably work best with a non-stop flight and where the airport is relatively close to the resort, like SLC.  My son (15) would be fine; not sure about my daughter (9) -- she might wander off at the terminal and miss the flight.  Also, she has a soccer tournament the weekend of March 27-28.

quant2325 -- thanks.  I'll explore this further with non-skiing wife.

Thanks to all!     

I think we're gonna try Sunday River in February this year.  I hear it's a good family Mtn., and have never been.  Then in March/April gonna go out to visit my nephew who's gonna be patrolling at Ski Cooper this winter.

Quote:
For the nine-year-old, you may have to pay an unaccompanied minor fee.  Although I think Southwest waives it, and they're a great bet for SLC.

Go to this spot for March pictures of Big Mountain.  There are March pictures for 05-06, 07-08, and 08-09.  There are none for 06-07 because that's the year I hit the tree, but I was skiing that year as the day I hit was March 31.

Park City Feb 8th - 14th
???? - 3rd week of April...I need suggestions for good late season skiing.  

Have a Tuesday Night Pass at Holiday Valley with my daughter and a 10 pack pass as well.

I am hoping to get out close to 30days this year!

November (thanksgiving) - Taos
December (before christmas) - Angelfire/RedRiver
December (after Christmas) - Winter Park
February - Winter Park
March (Spring Break) - Winter Park

Random day or few day trips to Summit County(like tomorrow). 
Maybe a random day at JH with the crowd.
Jan 24-31 - Breckenridge
Mother's Day at A Basin with the Phil crowd if off.

Lots of PA skiing in between.

Posuane,
Why don't you consider "the gathering" in Utah.  It's a great time and a good place to meet fellow skiers.  Dates are Jan 31 - Feb 4. 
Good skiers
Good friends
Good times
Even a good beer
Hope to see you there.

Garyskr

Sib -- thanks!  Looks like great March snow. 

Any Steamboat groupies out there with March pictures?

Three road trips planned, a couple others in mind, hopefully an impromptu journey or two.

1- The Gathering in SLC plus a bit of CO skiing before and after.
2- Bumpapalooza.  Two weeks of bumpin' and jumpin' at the Jane and Copper.  Perhaps a side trip too.
3- Spring Skifari.  Wife and I will be heading to the Jane, Steamboat, Jackson/GT, Bridger, Big Sky/MLB.  Maybe more!  Look out northern Rockys Bears, I want to ski with YOU!

Wooohooo!!!

Megeve, France with the family (Wife and two small children) in February. Good place for children.