Will You Visit A Ski Area This Summer?

If I lived closer to the mountains it would be likely.  There's GREAT trout fishing up there.  However, since I'm 3 hours away I'd prefer to spend that time driving to the beach instead during the spring and summer months.

I've had a condo at Park City for the last several years and have discovered how nice it is in the summer. The trail system for hiking/mountain biking is unreal. I can just take off on my bike from the condo and ride pretty much anywhere and on any kind of trail. I've been finding myself looking forward to mountain biking season in park City as much as sking. Definitely some epic experiences to be had. And of course, lunches sitting outside at places like Deer Valley isn't bad either.

No. I like to hike and backpack but not under lift towers and through logged out runs. Summer mountain recreation to me is getting away from people and getting to the most scenic areas, so a ski area would not fit the bill for either criteria. Ski areas are something that hikers avoid where I live--hiking books bemoan any hike that necessarily passes through one, and hikers swap back door short cut secrets about how to avoid them (ie like how to avoid hiking through Stevens Pass Ski Area if you're hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail). We go to Whistler regularly in winter but in summer, I'd rather get away from people and hike or camp or rent a cabin elsewhere, than base myself in a busy resort town with lots of development.

We do -- since our condo is at Copper, we visit there a few times every summer. We will ride up to Solitude on the chairlift and eat bbq and hike around, sometimes take bikes up and ride, too. There are some fun things for the kids to do down in the village, bumper boats, go-carts, climbing wall, etc. I think they are adding a zipline this summer. Copper has weekend activities, concerts and the like; we don't go for anything specific, generally just go see whoever is there on the days we happen to be up.

 

Copper itself is kind of dull in summer (which I prefer! also read as "quiet"), I try to stay out of the busier areas. But one nice thing about it is its proximity to Vail (and other locations), because Vail is always great in summer, with more to do as far as the town. Very close to Shrine Pass area that way, for hiking.  And it's on the "easy" (ie, short) side of the Vail Pass bike path. We occasionally ride to Frisco and back, as well.  

 

It's been difficult to get up often with the kids' summer activities, but those are dialing back as they get older; we'll see how it goes this year. 

In general, I agree with Christy when it comes to hiking (though lifts are nice when you have older/non-athletic relatives visiting). My bottom line for biking is based on what type of shape I'm in (took most of last summer off as I was away from the mountains). If it's rough-going, Snowbasin has some nice lift-served singletrack that's worth popping on a lift ticket for. Fun to do it on a Sunday when they host free concerts. I've also been itching to check out Brian Head for biking, but not sure if I'd do lift served or area XC/shuttle rides.

 

Deer Valley has one of the best summer concert series I've had the pleasure of attending. Two summers ago, I saw both Jimmy Cliff/Michael Franti and Bob Dylan there. It's particularly fun because you can bring your own cooler and enjoy an open, general admission atmosphere - the front of the stage was blocked off for Dylan, but I got right up front without any problem for Jimmy Cliff.

I will....to ski.
 

Certianly. We hike near the ski area and usually end up in it at some point. Looking forward to a business meeting in Jackson Hole later this summer and it's fun to ride up the tram and then head out hiking from there.  Hope to get to one of the mountain film or music festivals in the San Juans too.

Northstar has some great mountain biking, and Squaw has some great hiking, not to mention the pool at High Camp. 

Lots of great things to do at the ski resorts around here, even when the snow is gone. 

My wife and I are going to Crystal for our anniversary in August. Doing a day hike followed by a gondola ride to dinner at the Summit House.

 

I'm also planning to participate in the volunteer clean up at Stevens over the summer as well after all the snow melts.

Like Christy319 we stay away from ski lifts.  There are trails and routes all over the mountains that get you away from all development.  There is lots of wilderness all up and down the Cascades.  We see Mt. Baker and Stevens Pass at times as we drive through on our way somewhere else, but we don't stop.

It's only summer for half the planet for a quarter of the year at a time...........

Have most of my life... When I was in high school my family started going to Vail in the summer.

 

When my wife and I were first married we hit most of the Colorado resorts, Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico, Montana...

 

We've stopped at quite a few of the resorts on a couple trips to the Alps too, and last summer we went to Whistler.

 

At a minimum any more we'll hit Breckenridge Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. Can't beat summer in the mountains compared to Omaha's heat and humidity.

Yes, mainly concerts and golf, but a lift ride is possible if we have out of towners visiting.

Massanutten is a 4-season timeshare resort.  It's actually more popular during the summer than any other season.  There is plenty to do on resort and nearby.  It's a place to cool off for folks in the DC and Richmond areas.  Right next to the Shenandoah National Park with the Skyline Drive.

 

We don't go that often but sometimes stop in on the way north so my daughter can play at the waterpark.  Have been there in the spring and fall but not lately.  Enjoyed riding up the lift to the top of the mountain for the view on the backside.  You can't climb up to see that view in the winter.  The other side of the ridge is covered with bike trails for those who like mountain biking.  We've had fun on the easier valley golf course.  Not good enough for the narrower fairways of the mountain course.

I've been to some ski areas in past summers, but currently do not have any plans to do so this year.  One Mid Atlantic ski area does have grass skiing, I think the only place in the US that still does it, so that may be worth a trip.

 

If the bigger Mid-Atlantic ski areas that have more to do over the summer were closer to home, I would go.  3 to 4 hours is too long of a drive for the limited activities they offer, especially since I don't play golf.

  a few summer ski resort pics...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...and the Chamonix McDonalds (nothing like the US McDonalds -- except the food).

I'll be going to Crystal to take a free gondola ride up and hike down and pick up some trash.
I also might be at Stevens for mountain biking.

Other than that, I will be steering clear of the ski resorts, as hiking near logged runs with lift towers isn't my favorite thing to do especially when there are so many better options.

Yeah.
It's called Portillo.

Booked the stay at Timberline Lodge over 4th of July, morning planning to ski, afternoon - hike, evening - chilling at the pool :)