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Where in April after Easter?

post #1 of 18
12/6/03 at 9:54pm
Thread Starter 
Hi
Well it's that time of the year again.And while I did not think I would get to the Northern Hemisphere this year there is a slight chance of getting away for Easter and the week after.
Many of the fields seem to be closing immediately after Easter.
The past few years we have gone to Big White and enjoyed it immensley. Now we need to look for somewhere else.
Whistler comes to mind (never been).
Does anybody have and recommendations/suggestions - BC, West Coast or even Europe.
Many thanks
nomad
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post #2 of 18
12/7/03 at 6:30am
Quote:
Originally posted by nomad:
Hi
Well it's that time of the year again.And while I did not think I would get to the Northern Hemisphere this year there is a slight chance of getting away for Easter and the week after.
Many of the fields seem to be closing immediately after Easter.
The past few years we have gone to Big White and enjoyed it immensley. Now we need to look for somewhere else.
Whistler comes to mind (never been).
Does anybody have and recommendations/suggestions - BC, West Coast or even Europe.
Many thanks
nomad
Nomad,

How about some Eastern Skiing? Never thought about it huh? A little different diversion. I think Tuckerman Ravine, NH will be open then. Check it out.

http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/...rman_42933.asp
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post #3 of 18
12/7/03 at 6:54am
Grand Targhee, Wyoming or Snowbird, Utah should give you good conditions at that time. Snowbird affords you the opportunity to ski Alta, as well.
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post #4 of 18
12/7/03 at 9:38am
Easter weekend will likely be the closing date of a bunch of Colorado resorts - Aspen, Vail, Beaver Creek. However, there will be plenty of places still open:

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  • Copper</font>
  • Breck</font>
  • A Basin</font>
  • Keystone</font>
  • Loveland</font>
  • Probably Keystone (lower elevation, conditions won't be as good as the others)</font>

[ December 07, 2003, 09:40 AM: Message edited by: BV ]
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post #5 of 18
12/7/03 at 9:40am
We skied Whistler last spring (April 20-26). Historically, Whistler has some great late-season snow. During our week, we saw impenetrable fog (actually sort of cool), one morning of impossible to negotiate bullet-proof ice, plus a few bluebird days with 8-12" of fresh powder that took your breath away.
Whistler/Blackcomb is two outstanding mountains linked by a marvellous European-style pedestrian base. I'd go back in a minute!
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post #6 of 18
12/7/03 at 12:23pm
Snowbird.
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post #7 of 18
12/7/03 at 12:57pm
squaw valley here in east coast had great powder days in april and always open and mammoth too in california is open till june like every other year.
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post #8 of 18
12/7/03 at 3:02pm
Mt Bachelor in Oregon. A great intermediate mountain. At that time of the year you should be able to ski the summit lift. No slopeside lodging but get a place in Bend, OR or in a resort called Sunriver. We rented a 3 BR house in Sunriver a few years ago for about $100/night. It's about 15-20 minutes from the ski area and is at a much lower elevation--you might even be able to golf/bike comfortably in the afternoons. Also, Mt. Bachelor has one of the best, if not THE best, lift systems in North America. One of Americas truly great places for spring skiing. Bend is a nice little community also.
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post #9 of 18
12/7/03 at 5:17pm
Squaw beeyatch!

The late season capitol of the West!
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post #10 of 18
12/7/03 at 10:34pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks Everyone
Thats certainly a few choose from.
The East Coast is probably a bit far when you have crossed the Pacific already - or maybe it does not matter!
Enjoy
nomad
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post #11 of 18
12/8/03 at 4:12am
I waited to see if anyone else would bring it up because I have said it so many times it now sounds like a broken record!

The place to ski for Easter and mid April is Banff. It is the only place on the continent that has a reliable record of holding mid winter skiing conditions that far out into the season. The upper regions of Sunshine Village and Lake Louise's back bowls often stay in pristine winter powder conditions well into April, as well as fast moving Spring fronts dropping some of the lightest powder of the season.

The thing to watch that time of the year is the northern jet stream pattern. It is common for the division between the northern jet stream and the influences of the southerly jet stream to set up a dividing line close to the Canadian border. Ski areas south of the division will quickly be influenced into Spring conditions, while high apline areas to the north benefit from a few additional weeks of winter skiing.

All of the suggestions in previous posts are great places to ski, but the conditions will likely be tending toward Spring even if a good storm drops some fresh snow. The chances in the northerly high alpine interior Canadian areas are a better proposition if you are looking for the best conditions.

[ December 08, 2003, 05:21 AM: Message edited by: feal ]
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post #12 of 18
12/8/03 at 12:54pm
That was probably the best time of year in Whistler last year.

[ December 08, 2003, 12:54 AM: Message edited by: ski_rick ]
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post #13 of 18
12/8/03 at 5:57pm
Quote:
Originally posted by nomad:

Does anybody have and recommendations/suggestions - BC, West Coast or even Europe.
Many thanks
nomad
I was in Whistler at the end of last April and it was great. Poor visibility on our first day, (Whistler was less fogged-in than Blackcomb; as it generally is), but after that it was pretty much clear. 5cm on our second day and 20cm on the third. Best spring skiing I've ever done.

I've never been to Banff in the spring but I've heard good things.
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post #14 of 18
12/8/03 at 6:05pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks feal
We have thought of Banff at other times but never gone there. Maybe now is the time. Certainly would appear to be a bit to choose from and not as forlorn a hope as it might have first appeared.
nomad
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post #15 of 18
12/11/03 at 8:00pm
i'm with feal. if you want spring skiing, colorado or tahoe have many choices; but if you want real skiing in winter conditions on new, dry snow; look for places like banf in the canadian rockies.
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post #16 of 18
12/13/03 at 6:21pm
Thread Starter 
Banff will probably get the nod. Not only th econditions but the Canadian/Oz dollar are on a par compared tot he US butit has got better.
Thanks for everbodies suggestions.
Now I just have to get the planets into alignment to make it happen!
nomad
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post #17 of 18
12/13/03 at 6:31pm
Quote:
Originally posted by feal:
It is the only place on the continent that has a reliable record of holding mid winter skiing conditions that far out into the season.
All of the suggestions in previous posts are great places to ski, but the conditions will likely be tending toward Spring even if a good storm drops some fresh snow. The chances in the northerly high alpine interior Canadian areas are a better proposition if you are looking for the best conditions.[/QB]
Have you ever skied Loveland or A-Basin in April?

In May?

A-Basin in June?

I think it is safe to say skiing at Loveland or A-Basin is a very safe bet in April.

Yes.....I have skied Norquay,Sunshine, and Louise in mid April.
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post #18 of 18
12/14/03 at 5:39am
Good point Rusty,

I haven't skied Loveland and A-Basin in April, May, or June, but I have skied Loveland in late March after the southerly jet stream moved in. It was primarily good snow condition with the beginnings of the 'freeze-thaw' cycle setting up varying conditions as the day progressed. I had just come down out of Montana and everything was in the southerly jet influence. Loveland was much better than anywhere else in the vacinity, but certainly not in winter conditions. A conversation with another traveler during that period indicated that he had just skied the Banff area and it was still in winter conditions. ..That was just one instance, but a good example of the difference 1000 miles distance and a good location for preservation can make that time of year. ... The discussion was on the place with the greatest likelihood for good conditions; and I do agree that Colorado's two highest ski areas should be included in that discussion, but am not convinced they provide any edge over their closest competitor.
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