Is Heavenly building a new gondola?!

MARCH 19, 2024:

-Despite there being no official word yet from Heavenly Officials or the big wigs at Vail Corp, Snow Life has it on good authority that South Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Resort is on the verge of putting forward a proposal to County Officials to begin the initial stages of installing a new “Base to Base” gondola.

Keep reading for details. Article by: ~Z. Phelan~  

A potential game changing lift is on the horizon at Heavenly Mt. Resort

 

Heavenly Gondola

Heavenly’s current Village Gondola has been prone to shut downs and wind holds since it’s inception, due to it’s route over an exposed peak.

New Heavenly Gondola

Snow Life has become privy to some potentially game changing information that could transform the landscape of South Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Mountain Resort and completely change the way tourists access the mountain. If rumors are to be believed, Heavenly is in the initial stages of proposing the construction of a second base area gondola, one that would connect two of the base areas, and transport skiers and riders safely up the mountain even on windy storm days!

The rumored new gondola proposal would begin in the Heavenly Village, near to where the current base gondola is located, and run one of two possible routes, jutting Eastward and connecting to the Boulder Base area on the Nevada side of the mountain. The most likely route would see the new gondola running a West to East route from downtown SLT or Stateline and up the side-country terrain colloquially known as “The Burn”, letting off at a top station adjacent to the Boulder Base parking lot. Another probable route would see the top station terminating at the conjunction of Boulder Chair and the new North Bowl Express.

The reason for this new gondola would be simple and effective: Heavenly is constantly troubled by storm closures, and the current gondola is the first lift to be shut down when storms roll in off the Pacific and batter the Sierra Nevada Mountains with winds that can often exceed 100mph. Heavenly has the unfortunate setup of being a Northern facing mountain, when more than 90% of the storms that enter the area blow in from West to East. Storms often shut down several lifts including Sky and Tamarack on the California side and occasionally Comet, Dipper, Olympic and North Bowl on the Nevada side. 

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Heavenly New Gondola

Two potential routes for the new Heavenly base to base gondola

See the original Heavenly Trail map on the Heavenly Mountain site HERE

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Shuttle stop at Boulder Base Area on the Nevada side.

Base to base gondola at Heavenly

When storms shut down the Village Gondola, tourists staying in the area have little recourse but to either drive themselves to one of the other base areas, or battle often massive shuttle bus lines at the nearby transit center. 

Heavenly’s shuttle system is often strained on holidays and weekends, and their only solution to overcrowding and parking issues in recent years has been to institute a “reservation only” parking system at the California Base, when one might think it prudent to build a parking structure of some sort, instead of gouging the tourists even more to park at a surface lot that has existed for decades. 

This gondola, if built, would almost completely remedy having to shuttle village tourists to and from Cal Base, and create a direct artery to the Nevada side of the resort from downtown that (if designed correctly) would be adverse to most storms and high winds. 

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Boulder Lodge. One of Heavenly’s 4 base areas.

Boulder Lodge and base area

While, if implemented, this is almost certain to piss off Tahoe Locals and Carson Valley locals that frequent the resort, it would be a big step in the right direction to appeasing the growing number of tourists that visit Heavenly Mountain Resort each year. 
The unfortunate side effect would be that the usually quiet Boulder Base would be transformed into a bustling mountain hub, and the wind sheltered Nevada side would be constantly busy, even on storm days. 

Heavenly officials have long mulled building a crossover lift from the California side to the Nevada side that would be low angle enough to be sheltered from the storm winds, as California’s Sky Chair is one of the first to get shut down on storm days, and effectively severs the resort in two as there is no other way to access Nevada side lifts or trails once it’s closed. This hypothesized “J-lift” as it was coined, has seemingly taken a back seat to this possible new mountain access gondola. 

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A typical weekend lift line at the aging “Sky Express” chair. 

Long Overdue Lift Upgrades

Despite record skier numbers and increased profits, Vail Corporation has been reluctant to perform many lift upgrades at its mountains in recent years, and is falling further and further behind competitor Alterra (Ikon Pass) when it comes to lift infrastructure capability at their ski resorts. Heavenly is a prime example of that, having been acquired by Vail Corp in 2002, it wasn’t long after that an intuitive and well thought out “Master Development Plan” was presented, stating that inside of just 10 short years a plethora of upgrades were to be implemented including this huge list which is a direct quote from Heavenly’s Wikipedia Page which was only recently amended a few years ago, as it has become very clear that most of these plans have long since been abandoned.

-“Future lift upgrades include the upgrade of the Galaxy double chair to a high speed detachable quad, the upgrade of the North Bowl triple chair to a high speed detachable quad, the replacement of the Patsy’s and Groove triple chairs with a single high speed detachable quad, a high speed detachable lift to replace the Aerial Tram that will terminate at the future Powderbowl Lodge, the extension and conversion of the Mott Canyon double chair to a fixed grip quad that will terminate at the top of Dipper Express, the construction of a fixed grip quad between the base of Sky Express and the top of the Gondola, the reinstallation of the Wells Fargo chair, accessing abandoned terrain on the Nevada side, and the upgrading of Sky Express from a high speed detachable quad to a high speed detachable six-pack.” ~Source: Wikipedia

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Direct snip from Heavenly’s Wikipedia Page circa 2012.

Where is the money going?

To read such a staggering list of potential upgrades, all of which make perfect sense and would alleviate much of Heavenly’s overcrowding issues, begs the question: Where is all the money going? And why has only one of these proposed upgrades ever taken place in the last 22 years since the Vail Acquisition? 

Building a second gondola at Heavenly would make a lot of sense, and go a long way towards improving the experience for most tourists. But will it actually happen? Why spend money and upgrade your mountain, when you can just get by with the same old status quo. 

I guess these things will remain to be seen, but Vail actually spending some money as apposed to adding more charges sure would be a welcome change. 

If the Gondy does get made, remember you heard it here first! And if you want tons more unique and insightful ski town journalism, be sure to follow Snow Life on Facebook and Instagram!

Have a great Spring Skiing Season!! ~ZP

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How to make it snow!

-Having a mild Winter? Not getting “the goods” as often as you’d like? Well don’t sit around on you laurels and mope that it’s not snowing enough, take action!

-Here are five sure-fire ways to make it snow, at least according to some long held ski town lore.  ~Z. Phelan~  

5 ways to make it snow:

 

#1: Wash your car!


Most of us know that Mother Nature tends to have an odd sense of humor sometimes, and can be quite the contrarian. Washing your car so that it can shine on those bright sunny days is a sure way to fool Mother Nature into “raining (snowing) on your parade.” 

 

#2: make an offering to Ullr


Some say that Ullr, the Norse God of Winter takes control of the weather for a few months a year and is to thank or blame for cold snaps and large snow storms. To appease this god and receive his blessings, it is believed that a sacrifice must be made. Most ski areas have a designated tree for just such offerings, and avid powder hounds have been known to leave beads, bras and even ski and snowboard boots all in an effort to boost their Winter.

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#3: Do a snow dance


Not that anyone needs an excuse to cut loose and dance up some endorphins, but dancing with a higher purpose, such as making it snow, might just make Mother Nature smile and grant your wish. 

 

Image provided by Local Freshies

#4: Put your trail maps in the freezer


Grab that stash of trail maps you’ve got laying around from your last few ski trips, say a blessing and shove them right into your home freezer! This will certainly break that hex that’s keeping the storms away from your local resort. 

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#5: Pray for snow


God, Allah, Buddha, Ullr, Mother Nature, Old Man Winter… whoever you choose to pray to, just get after it! Some higher power is sure to hear you, and take pity on your soul! Right? 

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How to make it snow!

 

 

 

Woman stuck on Tahoe Gondola overnight

-A Tahoe tourist, briefly reported as missing, ends up spending the night on Heavenly Mountain Resort’s Gondola.

 

Woman spends the night on Heavenly Gondola

 

A foreign tourist named Monica Lazo came to South Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Mountain Resort this week and planned to snowboard with several of her friends on Thursday, January 25th. Being a less experienced snowboarder, Monica fell behind at some point in the day, and got separated from her friends. 

Just before 5pm, Monica reportedly boarded the top station of Heavenly Mountain’s gondola, intending to ride back down to the village, only for the gondola to stop shortly after she boarded, where she was subsequently stuck for the next 15 hours and not able to get off until the ski lift was started again on the morning of the 26th. 

Stuck on a ski lift

As reported by the Tahoe Daily Tribune, Monica’s friends sprang into action on Thursday night, when their friend did not return from the ski area that evening. Friend Astro Mila supposedly spoke with employees of the ski area, posted on social media photos of Monica and eventually called local police to report her friend missing.

Monica apparently did not posses a cell phone when the gondola shut down for the day, and was not able to call for help when she became stuck, although according to an interview by Sacramento’s KCRA’s News, she repeatedly yelled out the window of the gondola cabin, but was too far away from passerby’s to be heard. 

Despite spending 15 hours overnight in the gondola cabin with a low temp of 23 degrees, Monica was able to get off in the morning of the 26th when the lift began running again, and reportedly declined medical treatment. The incident is currently under investigation by both resort officials and local authorities.  

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Video by Sacramento’s KCRA News, interviewing the woman stuck on the gondola overnight. 

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Woman stuck on Tahoe Gondola overnight

Article by Z. Phelan, sourced from Tahoe Daily Tribune and Sacramento’s KCRA News.

 

 

Heavenly opens more terrain!

-Two more chairs are in action at Tahoe’s Heavenly Ski Resort this weekend and more snow is on the way!

-While it seems a bit odd to be reporting on terrain openings still, in the middle of January, most folks know that this season has not been one for the books so far. But that’s all about to change!

~Z. Phelan~  

 

Mott Canyon is open!

 

It’s been a slow start, snow wise, here in the Sierra Nevada, and while most local ski areas were able to open on time, the terrain offerings have been far below normal to this point in the season. Resorts have had the snow guns blazing when they can, and trails have been slowly pieced together with the help of a few natural snow storms, but now, finally, things look to be taking a turn for the better!

The jewel of South Lake Tahoe, Heavenly Resort just announced today (January 19th) that it would be adding two more chairlifts and a whole smattering of additional terrain to it’s open offerings for the season, and for locals it’s a welcome surprise! Mott Canyon chair, and Galaxy chair both sprang to life this morning, along with more than a dozen trails, which has boosted Heavenly’s terrain offering to nearly 100% (side country gate terrain not withstanding).

Heavenly opens more terrain

Mott Canyon, one of two back bowls on the Eastern side of Heavenly, sprang open today with little warning and only a brief announcement from the Resort operators. While the steeper and larger Killebrew Canyon is still waiting on a little more snow, the Mott Canyon side, service by an old 2 seater of the same name is now cranking for the 2023-24 season, offering steep and challenging terrain to the adoring locals and daring tourists. 

 

Galaxy chairlift also starting cranking today which added one additional groomed trail, and several off-piste runs plus some tree skiing. While it may not have the super steeps like Mott Canyon does, the zones feeding into Galaxy chair can offer some fun and rewarding runs at a little bit lower of  an angle. 

Keep scrolling, as we take a quick look at the incoming snowstorm! 

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Bring on the storms!

What to expect:

As I write this, my other computer monitor is filled with radar images, and predictions for the impending snow storm. Most of these El Nino storm systems we’ve had so far this season in the high Sierra have been on the warm and wet side, and only one has really delivered the goods that it promised.

This storm might be somewhere in between, as expectations have recently been tempered from what was originally classified as an “atmospheric river” with up to 3 feet of snow for the crest. Now predictions in snow totals have lowered, but thankfully so have the temperatures.

While we many only see 4-6 inches at lake level here in Tahoe, resort peaks could see 1-2 feet of snow which would spruce up the terrain quite nicely and really enhance some of the off-piste skiing and riding.

Snow is expected off and on from Friday night (Jan 19th), through late Monday evening (Jan 22nd).

So, in summary, if you were staying away from Tahoe to this point because of the “low tide” conditions and sparse terrain offerings, let this serve as your wake up call that it’s “game on” once again for the ski season!

“Ski the snow on the ground, not the date on the calendar” 

– Glen Plake

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“Heavenly opens more terrain”

 

 

 

Projected closing dates for Tahoe & central Sierra ski areas

-It’s been a banner snow year for the Sierra Nevada and the Tahoe Basin, some resorts are even topping 800 inches for the season! Many ski areas in region have already announced lengthy extensions, and we’ve got all the details here.

-Check out the projected closing dates for all California and Nevada ski areas in the Sierra! 

When will Tahoe ski areas close? Find out here!

TAHOE

Here’s the closing dates for Lake Tahoe ski areas in California and Nevada for the 2022-2023 season.

bOREAL

Soda Springs, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 17
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 11
  • Current snowpack: 260″

Projected closing: Sunday April 16th

Diamond Peak

Incline Village, Nevada.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 3
  • 2022-23 Opening: Dec 3
  • Current snowpack: 120″

Projected Closing: Monday, May 1st

Donner Ski Ranch

Norden, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 8
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 26
  • Current snowpack: 150″

Projected Closing: Sunday APril 9th

Heavenly

South Lake Tahoe, CA. / Stateline, Nevada

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 24
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 12
  • Current snowpack: 174″

Projected closing: Sunday May 7th

Homewood

Homewood, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 14
  • 2022-23 Opening: Dec 16
  • Current snowpack: 180″

Projected Closing: Sunday, April 9th

Kirkwood

Kirkwood, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: May 1
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 12
  • Current snowpack: 201″

Projected Closing: Sunday, May 14th

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Mount Rose

Reno, Nevada.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 17
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 11
  • Current snowpack: 180″

Projected closing: Sunday April 30th

Northstar

Truckee, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 17
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 12
  • Current snowpack: 184″

Projected Closing: Sunday, April 30th

Palisades

Olympic Valley, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: May 31
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 3
  • Current snowpack: 228″

Projected Closing: Tuesday, July 4th

Sierra @ Tahoe

Twin Bridges, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Not open
  • 2022-23 Opening: Dec 3
  • Current snowpack: 244″

Projected closing: Sunday, April 16th

Soda Springs

Soda Springs, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 17
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 25
  • Current snowpack: 187″

Projected Closing: Sunday, April 16th

Sugar Bowl

Norden, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 17
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 25
  • Current snowpack: 247″

Projected Closing: Sunday, April 23rd

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tHE REST OF CALI

Here’s the closing dates for California ski areas in the Central Sierra, and Mount Shasta.

Badger Pass

Yosemite, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Mid-Mar
  • 2022-23 Opening: Dec 15
  • Current snowpack: NA”

Projected closing: Closed

Bear Valley

Bear Valley, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 17
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 25
  • Current snowpack: 204″

Projected Closing: Sunday, April 16th

China Peak

Lakeshore, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 3
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 12
  • Current snowpack: 121″

Projected Closing: Sunday, May 7th

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Dodge Ridge

Pinecrest, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 4
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 11
  • Current snowpack: 160″

Projected closing: Sunday, May 7th

June Mountain

 June Lake, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 10
  • 2022-23 Opening: Dec 11
  • Current snowpack: 170″

Projected Closing: Sunday, April 9th

Mammoth MT.

Mammoth Lakes, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: June 5
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 3
  • Current snowpack: 340″

Projected Closing: Late July / Early August

Mount Shasta

McCloud, California.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Mar 12
  • 2022-23 Opening: Dec 10
  • Current snowpack: 169″

Projected closing: Sunday April 16th

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Tahoe Ski Area Closing Dates 2023 – One Life To Ski

 

 

Colorado Ski Area Closing Dates 2023

-The end is nigh!

-Spring is here, and our beloved ski season is growing shorter. With the bumper snow season in the Colorado Rockies, it’s well expected that several ski areas will extend their ski seasons to appease their slush loving guests. Here is what we know so, the projected closing dates for ski areas in Colorado for the 2022-23 season as of March 20. 

When do Colorado ski areas close? Find out here!

A-Basin

Summit County, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: June 5
  • 2022-23 Opening: Oct 23
  • Current snowpack: 66″

Projected closing: Sunday June 4th

Aspen Buttermilk

Aspen, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: June 5
  • 2022-23 Opening: Dec 17
  • Current snowpack: 49″

Projected Closing: Sunday April 2nd

Aspen Highlands

Aspen, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: April 10
  • 2022-23 Opening: Dec 10
  • Current snowpack: 94″

Projected Closing: Sunday April 16th

Aspen Mountain

Aspen, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 24
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 19
  • Current snowpack: 59″

Projected closing: Sunday April 23rd

Aspen Snowmass

Aspen, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: April 24
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 19
  • Current snowpack: 88″

Projected Closing: Sunday April 16th

Beaver Creek

Eagle County, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 17
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 21
  • Current snowpack: 60″

Projected Closing: Monday April 17th

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Breckenridge

Breckenridge, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: May 15
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 9
  • Current snowpack: 60″

Projected closing: Sunday May 28th

Copper Mountain

Summit County, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 24
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 14
  • Current snowpack: 62″

Projected Closing: Sunday April 23rd

Crested Butte

Crested Butte, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 3
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 23
  • Current snowpack: 94″

Projected Closing: Sunday april 2nd

Echo Mountain

Clear Creek County, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: 
  • 2022-23 Opening: Dec 15
  • Current snowpack: 30″

Projected closing: Sunday April 16

Eldora

Eldora, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 17
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 11
  • Current snowpack: 30″

Projected Closing: Sunday April 16th

Keystone

Keystone, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr17
  • 2022-23 Opening: Oct 28
  • Current snowpack: 51″

Projected Closing: Sunday April 16th

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Loveland

Georgetown, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: May 8
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 3
  • Current snowpack: “58

Projected closing: Monday May 8th

Monarch Mountain

Salida, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 17
  • 2022-23 Opening: Dec 1
  • Current snowpack: 71″

Projected Closing: Sunday April 9th

POwderhorn

Grand Junction, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 4
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 25
  • Current snowpack: 85″

Projected Closing: Sunday April 2nd

Purgatory

Durango, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 17
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 19
  • Current snowpack: 90″

Projected closing: Sunday April 16th

Silverton

 Silverton, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 17
  • 2022-23 Opening: Dec 29
  • Current snowpack: 140″

Projected Closing: Sunday April 16th

Ski Cooper

Leadville, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 17
  • 2022-23 Opening: Dec 7
  • Current snowpack: 56″

Projected Closing: Sunday April 16th

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Steamboat

Steamboat, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 10
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 23
  • Current snowpack: 111″

Projected closing: Sunday April 16th

Sunlight

Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 4
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 25
  • Current snowpack: 64″

Projected Closing: Sunday April 2nd

Telluride

Telluride, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 3
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 26
  • Current snowpack: 61″

Projected Closing: Sunday April 2nd

Vail

Vail, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: May 1
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 11
  • Current snowpack: 74″

Projected closing: Sunday April 30th

Winter Park

Winter Park, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: May 21
  • 2022-23 Opening: Oct 31
  • Current snowpack: 70″

Projected Closing: Sunday May 21st

Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek, Colorado.

  • 2021-22 Closing: Apr 17
  • 2022-23 Opening: Nov 4
  • Current snowpack: 161″

Projected Closing: Sunday April 9th

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COlorado ski area closing dates 2023

 

 

 

The Best ski area in every state

-What makes a ski resort “the best” you might ask. Well several factors are taken into account here, including: Vertical rise, total skiable acres, annual snowfall, lift infrastructure and number of trails. When those numbers tend to be rather close, other factors come into play such as: Crowd size, vibe/atmosphere and length of season.

-This list was compiled through many weeks and months of skiing/riding at many of these resorts as well as hours of research and information gathering online. Like any good “best” list, there is certainly room for debate, but overall, the metrics used to weed out each State’s #1 are pretty sound.

Happy scrolling…

~Z. Phelan~  

Best Ski Area in every state

Rating the top ski area in each U.S. State alphabetically.

Ski Bama

Vertical: 150ft

Acreage: 1

Snowfall: >12″

Lifts: 2

Trails: 1

Alabama:

Cloundmont

The answer is “Yes, Alabama does have a ski area.” Albeit a small one that is hardly ever open. On the grounds of a golf course, this bunny slope opens once or twice a season for short periods when Northern Alabama gets a little dusting of snow or cold enough temps for snowmaking.

Alyeska

Vertical: 2,500ft

Acreage: 1,610

Snowfall: 669″

Lifts: 7

Trails: 76

Alaska:

Alyeska

Although there are several other ski areas sprinkled around the Great State, none besides Juneau’s Eaglecrest is particularly notable for their size or amenities. Alyeska is by far the most developed ski area in AK and claims the second most annual snowfall of any ski area in the World, making it the best ski area in Alaska.

Arizona Snowbowl

Vertical: 2,800ft

Acreage: 777

Snowfall: 260″

Lifts: 8

Trails: 55

Arizona:

Arizona Snowbowl

An easy choice here, as Snowbowl is one of only 4 ski areas in the State, and claims the most vertical, most terrain and most lifts including high-speed chairs and a gondola. Plus they have the longest season Nov-May. With ever rising ticket prices to prove it, AZ Snowbowl is the best ski area in Arizona.

Mammoth Mountain

Vertical: 3,100ft

Acreage: 3,500+

Snowfall: 400+”

Lifts: 25

Trails: 175

California:

Mammoth Mountain

Plenty of room for argument here, especially for those who love the steeps and deeps at Palisades, or the views at Heavenly. But there’s no denying that Mammoth has them all beat with the most altitude, most trails, most snowfall and by far the longest season of anywhere in Cali! Making it the best ski area in California.

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Telly

Vertical: 4,425ft

Acreage: 2,000+

Snowfall: 300″+

Lifts: 19

Trails: 147

Colorado:

Telluride Ski Resort

Massive vertical, stunning views, a plethora of trails, and ample infrastructure help Telluride stand up to any other ski area in Colorado and the fact that they’ve only been mildly tainted by the far reaching grasp of the corporate ski powers in America, allows Telluride to edge out the competition and claim the title of the best ski area in Colorado. 

Mohawk Mountain

Vertical: 650ft

Acreage: 107

Snowfall: >100″

Lifts: 7

Trails: 25

Connecticut:

Mohawk Mountain

With only 4 ski areas in the State, and none of them very big or tall, Mohawk seems a clear choice as it has the most vertical rise and best terrain offerings. Connecticut’s first and best ski area is Mohawk Mountain. 

Sun Valley

Vertical: 3,400ft

Acreage: 2,457

Snowfall: 221″

Lifts: 17

Trails: 120

Idaho:

Sun Valley

Idaho has a ton of awesome medium to large sized ski areas spread around it’s vast and diverse mountain ranges, however for all of their attributes, none can stand up to the “King of Fall Line Skiing.” Awesome terrain, huge vert, and great views make Sun Valley clearly the best ski area in Idaho. Oh, and it’s one of the most historically relevant ski areas on the continent as well. 

Chestnut Mountain

Vertical: 475ft

Acreage: 139

Snowfall: 50″

Lifts: 10

Trails: 19

Illinois:

Chestnut Mountain Resort

By far the most vertical of any ski area in the State, and the only ski area that is more than a bunny hill. Chestnut has the most lifts in Illinois, plus night skiing and numerous trails. Previously voted as “the #1 Midwest ski resort” by Transworld Snowboarding, Chestnut Mountain Resort is the best ski area in Illinois.

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Perfect North

Vertical: 400ft

Acreage: 100

Snowfall: >50″

Lifts: 13

Trails: 24

Indiana:

Perfect North SLopes

One of only two ski areas in Indiana, PNS has the most vertical feet, best snowmaking and most acreage in the State, making it the best ski area in Indiana.

Ski Sundown

Vertical: 475ft

Acreage: >200

Snowfall: >50″

Lifts: 6

Trails: 21

Iowa:

Sundown Mountain Resort

Sundown Mountain has the most lifts, trails, acreage, and vertical in the State. Making it the clear choice for the best ski area in Iowa.

Sunday River

Vertical: 2,340ft

Acreage: 884

Snowfall: 167″

Lifts: 18

Trails: 139

Maine:

Sunday River

With one of the longest seasons on the East Coast, some of the best snowmaking, amazing scenery and ample vert, Sunday River is by far the best ski area in Maine and one of the top ski areas in the East. 

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Wisp Resort

Vertical: 700ft

Acreage: 172

Snowfall: 100″+

Lifts: 12

Trails: 33

Maryland:

Wisp

The first, best and only ski area inside of the State of Maryland, Wisp is an all-seasons resort with a lot to offer. With a broad infrastructure, night skiing and decent vertical, Wisp is the best ski area in Maryland. 

Jiminy Peak logo

Vertical: 1,150ft

Acreage: 170

Snowfall: 100″

Lifts: 9

Trails: 45

Massachusetts:

Jiminy Peak

With the State’s highest lift served peak, most lifts, most trails, and an ample vertical drop, Jiminy Peak is the clear choice for best ski area in Massachusetts. 

Mount Bohemia

Vertical: 900ft

Acreage: 585

Snowfall: 273″

Lifts: 2

Trails: 105

Michigan:

-Mount bohemia

One of the most unique and intriguing ski resorts in the country. Snow-cat skiing, overnight yurts, lake effect snow and no grooming help to make Mount Bohemia one of kind and by far the best ski area in Michigan and a star of the upper Mid-West.

Lutsen Mountains

Vertical: 825ft

Acreage: 1,000+

Snowfall: 115″

Lifts: 7

Trails: 92

Minnesota:

Lutsen Mountains

With almost double the vertical and quadruple the skiable acreage of it’s competitors, and boasting arguably the best lift infrastructure in the Mid-West, the Lutsen Mountains stand tall above the rest and is clearly the best ski area in Minnesota.

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Hidden Valley Ski Area

Vertical: 310ft

Acreage: 60

Snowfall: >50″

Lifts: 7

Trails: 14

Missouri:

Hidden Valley

Only two ski areas exist inside the State boundaries of Missouri, and while they may not be close in proximity, their stats are almost identical. Both are also recent acquisitions of Vail Corp. Hidden Valley however, has the slight advantage in vertical, number of lifts and operational longevity and can claim the title of best ski area in Missouri. 

Big Sky logo

Vertical: 4,350ft

Acreage: 5,800

Snowfall: 400″

Lifts: 36

Trails: 317

Montana:

Big Sky Resort

Since enveloping it’s neighbor Moonlight Basin, Big Sky now has some of the best statistics in all of North America, and is by far the best ski area in Montana, and is certainly in the conversation of top ski areas on the North American continent. Massive vertical, huge acreage, modern lifts, dry snow and limited crowds are just some of what makes this resort one of a kind and an absolute “must visit” for any skier or snowboarder. 

Mount Rose

Vertical: 1,800ft

Acreage: 1,200+

Snowfall: 350″

Lifts: 8

Trails: 70+

Nevada:

Mount Rose

While the lake views may be limited here, the steeps and the snow quality are unparalleled in the Tahoe Basin. While giving an honorable mention to the half of Heavenly Valley that resides in the Silver State, it would be improper not to name Mount Rose Ski Tahoe as the best ski area in Nevada. It only takes two words to prove they own that title: “The Chutes.”

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Cannon Mountain logo

Vertical: 2,180ft

Acreage: 282

Snowfall: 160″

Lifts: 11

Trails: 72

New Hampshire:

Cannon Mountain

It’s hard to argue with the stats here: Cannon Mountain boasts the highest peak, most vertical, most lifts and one of the best lift ticket prices for a large resort in the Northeast. While a case could be made for Wildcat or Loon as far as terrain and heritage goes, on pure statistical dominance, Cannon Mountain is the best ski resort in New Hampshire. 

Mountain Creek logo

Vertical: 1,040ft

Acreage: 167

Snowfall: >50″

Lifts: 5

Trails: 29

New Jersey:

Mountain Creek

Its only competition being a neighboring bunny hill and an indoor ski area, Mountain Creek stands out as the clear favorite for best resort in New Jersey. Boasting several peaks, good snowmaking, decent vert and some night skiing, Mountain Creek holds it’s own in the Northeast. 

Taos

Vertical: 3,131ft

Acreage: 1,294

Snowfall: 300″

Lifts: 13

Trails: 110

New Mexico:

Taos Ski Valley

Unquestionably the biggest and best ski area in the entire Southwest, Taos has some of the steepest terrain in the entire country, and paired with dry snow, low crowds and a cool village, there is no other place in the region that even comes close. Taos Ski Valley is easily the best ski area in New Mexico.

Whiteface ski logo

Vertical: 3,430ft

Acreage: 288

Snowfall: 190″

Lifts: 12

Trails: 90

new york:

Whiteface Mountain

One of the largest ski areas on the East Coast and by far the biggest in New York, Whiteface has the Empire State’s highest peak and most vertical terrain and is just a stone’s throw from beautiful Lake Placid, making it the top spot and best ski area in New York. 

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Sugar Mountain

Vertical: 1,200ft

Acreage: 125

Snowfall: 70″

Lifts: 9

Trails: 20

North Carolina:

Sugar Mountain

A proper all season’s resort, Sugar Mountain boasts some of the best stats of any resort in the Southeast, with decent vert, good snowmaking and a variety of trails. A clear leader in the region for an around Winter experience and hands down the best ski area in North Carolina. 

Huff Hills logo

Vertical: 450ft

Acreage: 80

Snowfall: 40″

Lifts: 4

Trails: 16

North Dakota:

Huff Hills

While North Dakota certainly has ample snow and cold conditions during the Winter months, the lack of geographical contours limit the State to only 3 operating ski areas, all of which are rather small. Huff Hills is the clear leader with the most lifts, vertical and ski trails in the State and is easily the best ski area in North Dakota. 

Mad River Mountain logo

Vertical: 300ft

Acreage: 144

Snowfall: 22″

Lifts: 12

Trails: 20

Ohio:

Mad River Mountain

Not to be confused with Vermont’s Mad River Glen, MRM edges out it’s in State competition slightly to claim the title of best ski area in Ohio with: Most vertical, most lifts, most trails and the highest summit. 

Timberline Lodge logo

Vertical: 4,540ft

Acreage: 1,685

Snowfall: 540″

Lifts: 9

Trails: 42

Oregon:

Timberline Lodge

There are certainly steeper and deeper ski areas in the State with far better terrain, but it’s hard not to put Timberline at the #1 best ski area in Oregon when they have things on their resume such as: Free cat-skiing, most vertical terrain, most snowfall, best Spring Pass and the longest ski season on the continent.

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Blue Knob logo

Vertical: 1,072ft

Acreage: 82

Snowfall: 100″

Lifts: 5

Trails: 34

Pennsylvania:

Blue Knob

Although not as well known as some other regional ski areas, Blue Knob boasts the highest lift served terrain in Pennsylvania, the most vertical feet, and the most challenging ski runs with tree skiing and actual double black diamond runs. 

Yawgoo Valley logo

Vertical: 245ft

Acreage: 36

Snowfall: >50″

Lifts: 3

Trails: 12

Rhode Island:

Yawgoo Valley

A small ski area for a small State. Yawgoo Valley is the only and therefor the best ski area in Rhode Island and serves as a multi-purpose site with snow tubing and even a water park for Summer ops. 

Terry Peak

Vertical: 1,100ft

Acreage: 600

Snowfall: 150″

Lifts: 5

Trails: 25

South Dakota:

Terry Peak

An easy choice here, as Terry Peak Ski Area has the highest lift served skiing between the Alps and Rockies. Western South Dakota’s Black Hills offer stunning views and a laid back vibe. Terry Peak has the most vertical, best lift infrastructure and most acreage of any ski area in the State and is the best ski area in South Dakota. 

Ober Gatlinburg

Vertical: 773

Acreage: 38

Snowfall: >50″

Lifts: 4

Trails: 10

Tennessee:

Ober Gatlinburg

The one and only ski area in the State, Ober Gatlinburg is an all-season’s resort with some modest skiing and snowboarding terrain each Winter that is serviced by an aerial tram and several chairlifts. It’s easy to proclaim OB the best ski area in Tennessee. 

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Snowbird Utah

Vertical: 3,240ft

Acreage: 2,500

Snowfall: 500″+

Lifts: 13

Trails: 85

Utah:

Snowbird

With the longest ski season in the Wasatch, some serious steep terrain and a back door into Alta, Snowbird is unquestionably the best ski area in Utah. Snowbird also has one of the most modern lift systems in the State and is one of the top areas for average annual snowfall. 

Killington logo

Vertical: 3,050ft

Acreage: 1,509

Snowfall: 250″

Lifts: 22

Trails: 155

Vermont:

Killington

While many of Vermont’s ski areas may have better terrain, a deeper history, and certainly more soul, none can stand up to the pure size and statistical prowess of the mighty Killington. With the most vertical, highest peak, and most lifts in the State, plus the longest ski season in the East, it’s hard not to call Killington the best ski area in Vermont.

Wintergreen resort logo

Vertical: 1,003ft

Acreage: 129

Snowfall: >50″

Lifts: 5

Trails: 25

Virginia:

Wintergreen REsort

Boasting the most skiable acres, highest lift served peak, and most trails of any ski area in the State, Wintergreen is a clear choice for the best ski area in Virginia. 

Mount Baker

Vertical: 1,500ft

Acreage: 1,000

Snowfall: 663″

Lifts: 10

Trails: 38

Washington:

Mount Baker

This was a tough call, as Crystal Mountain clearly has the advantage in terrain amount and variety, as well as better steeps and lift infrastructure. However, total annual snowfall, quality vibe, low ticket prices and a less corporate structure win the day here. I mean how could the “Snowiest ski area in the World” not be the best ski area in Washington State? Impossible! 

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Snowshoe logo

Vertical: 1,500ft

Acreage: 244

Snowfall: 180″

Lifts: 14

Trails: 60

West Virginia:

Snowshoe Mountain

The largest ski area in all of the Southeast, Snowshoe Mountain easily takes the title of best ski area in West Virginia with it’s unique summit village, ample vertical terrain and wide trail variety. 

Granite Peak logo

Vertical: 700ft

Acreage: 210

Snowfall: 75″

Lifts: 7

Trails: 68

Wisconsin:

Granite Peak

While some of Wisconsin’s smaller ski areas may have a longer season and certainly cooler names (Little Switzerland, Trollhaugen Troll, Christmas Mt), none can compare with Granite Peak for shear size and altitude. Not to mention it’s one of the oldest ski areas in the country and by far the best ski area in Wisconsin. 

Jackson Hole

Vertical: 4,139ft

Acreage: 2,500

Snowfall: 460″

Lifts: 16

Trails: 131

Wyoming:

Jackson Hole

Another easy pick, as most of the rest of the ski area offerings in the State of Wyoming are less than half the size and none hold the legend and lore of this World-Famous ski area. The steep and deep Jackson Hole is not only the best ski area in Wyoming, but is one of the best and most well known ski areas on the globe. 

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The Best Ski area in every State

 

 

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-Peak Skis by Bode Miller-

 

 

Depravity on the Slopes

That time “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” went skiing.

-I’m not a huge “Sunny” fan, but I catch the odd episode now and then and am usually amused by them. This one, however I am ashamed to say flew under my radar upon its initial release, and I didn’t catch up with it until a couple of years after it came out. Whether you’re a fan of the show or not, this particular episode is definitely worth a watch as it’s all about skiing and snowboarding and has some great nostalgic throwback references to how ski slopes used to be and about the menace of mega-corps and greed turning them into something foul.

-Some laughs, some skiing, and a little depravity. What more could you ask for. Below is the trailer and a few clips from the show that will surely inspire you to give it a watch if you’ve never seen it. Enjoy! ~Z. Phelan~  

The gang goes skiing

 The plot (if you can call it that) is that Frank Reynolds is scheming to buy the fictional “Snow Mountain” in the Poconos with the idea of turning it into a mega resort for the super rich and building condos and all the upgrades that come with a transformation of that type. Charlie meanwhile meets and befriends some of the town’s original ski bums that turn him on to the ski lifestyle and old school mountain traditions and warn him what will happen if the ski area goes corporate. Soon enough the gang is split, with some supporting Frank’s evil plan and some wanting the ski town to remain true to it’s roots. A ski race ensues with the winner getting their way, and I wont spoil the finish for you by elaborating any further.

The writers of the show have obviously done some serious research into ski culture and probably grew up with some of the classic ski films as there are strong references to 1980’s-90’s (cheesy) ski flicks. The corporatization of small ski areas is a fundamental theme of the show as well, hinting to an all to real predicament that many ski areas seem to find themselves in these days. 

The whole episode and all ski scenes are actually filmed at California’s Mammoth Mountain in the Springtime. Which makes sense seeing as the show is actually filmed in Los Angeles.

It's always sunny in Philadelphia ski episode

~Danny DeVito (Frank Reynolds) plotting to buy “Snow Mountain”

This video is official FXX trailer for the episode when it came out back in 2016. Season 11, episode 3. “The Gang Hits The Slopes.” Watch the full episode on demand on Hulu, or purchase from Amazon Prime Video for about $1.99.

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This video from Noel Tolosa is a prime example of the lewd humor that makes “Sunny” such a unique show these days. Frank is laying out his master development plan to renovate the slopes when the boys get their first real taste of extravagant mountain life. 

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This clip from “Paulie IASIP” depicts Dennis introducing his ringers from Switzerland in a bid to win the ski competition and gain control of Snow Mountain.

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It’s always sunny ski episode

THanks for reading: Depravity on the slopes,

That time It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia went skiing.

 

 

 

 

Best ski lift fail videos

-From trouble loading to falling and jumping off, to lifts failing and so much more. These are some of the craziest ski lift videos and compilations from around the net. 

-This post contains affiliate links from several cool places from around the ski community. Clicking on the links helps Snow Life and One Life To Ski keep creating awesome content and posts. Thank you for visiting and for your support, happy scrolling!  ~Snow Life~  

Failure to launch

Brought to you by the Epic Ends Channel, this video is full of skiers and snowboarders that are not quite so adept at loading ski lifts and hilarity ensues as their loading failures are captured on video. 

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Scary chairlift rollback

This video is from a few years ago at a South American ski area. The chair was stopped, but the breaks were not applied, so it suffered a rollback that ended up injuring 8 skiers. No one perished and everyone recovered. The result of the investigation was that it was human error that caused the incident. 

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T-bar lift fails

This video is provided by Dejan Kovacic and the theme here is all about T-bars. This type of surface drag lift is not very prevalent in North America and for those who are not used to it, they take a little getting used to. As you can see in this fail video.

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Falling off of ski lifts

This video for the media company This Is Happening features skiers and snowboarders that just can’t seem to stay on the lifts. From dropping off lifts on accident to getting off too early and epic bails, it’s all here. 

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Kid wipes out lift line

This video went viral a few weeks ago when a young and inexperienced European snowboarder failed to control himself on a t-bar surface lift and his ensuing accident ended up wiping out the entire line of skiers and riders behind him. 

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Thanks for reading: Best ski lift fail videos!

 

 

 

Wildlife encounters on the slopes

Most of us enjoy skiing and riding because it is an amazing way to enjoy scenery and be active in an outdoor setting. Rarely though do we encounter anything besides other humans when we go to the slopes. In the Winter, most sensible animals have gone into hibernation or retreated to lower altitudes to wait out the season. Every once in a while though some form of wildlife will make its way onto a ski slope and it often makes for a thrilling encounter. 

BEAR CHASES SKIER

From a ski resort in Romania, this young skier was chased by a Brown Bear that had been seen roaming around the slopes earlier in the day. No injuries were reported and the skier was able to escape. 

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SKIERS ENCOUNTER SNOW LEOPARD

 

This video is from a ski area in India, where these off-piste skiers encountered a snow leopard hiding in the snow, after a brief faceoff, the leopard makes a move towards one of the skiers, then runs away. 

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MOOSE CHASING SKIERS

 

This one was filmed at Breckenridge in Colorado and is of a moose running down one of the ski trails. The actually seems to outpace the snowboarder who is quite flabbergasted as to what to do. 

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Snow Life Network

 

This wild bull found its way onto a ski resort in Sochi, Russia and began chasing skiers around the slopes. 

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dog loves sliding down the slopes

 

 

This animal is not so wild. In fact it’s someone’s pet golden retriever that loves the ski slopes just as much as it’s owner and can slide down the ski runs in style!

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Thanks for reading and watching: Wildlife encounters on the slopes

 

 

 

The legend of punxsutawney Phil

and the origins of Groundhog Day

6 more weeks of Winter?

Punxsutawney Phil

Groundhog Day is a popular North American tradition and unofficial holiday that is observed annually on the morning of February the 2nd. The Legend goes that if a groundhog comes out of its den on the morning of the 2nd and sees its shadow, then there will be 6 more weeks of harsh Winter. However if it does not see its shadow, due to overcast skies, then the Weather will let up and an early Spring will soon be ushered in. 

The tradition of Groundhog Day was brought to America in the 1800’s by German and Dutch immigrants and is a take off of an old bit of weather lore from Germany known as “Badger Day,” where a Badger would leave it’s den and see it’s shadow, then predicting 4 more weeks of Winter.

While there are many regional variations of the weather predicting Groundhog such as “Buckeye Chuck” in Ohio, “Sir Walter Wally” in North Carolina, and “Wiarton Willie” in British Columbia, by far the most famous and thought to be the longest standing is Pennsylvania’s “Punxsutawney Phil.”

Punxsutawney Phil

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A movie and tv star

 First publicized in America by the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper in 1886, these lovable rodents have become wildly popularized over the years as most the of the regional groundhogs are now televised locally when making their predictions and Punxsutawney Phil receives National attention each year during his famous ceremony held in the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The holiday itself even became of movie back in 1993 with the now cult famous “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray. 

Each year skiers and snowboarders and all snow sport loving folks celebrate his prediction for another 6 weeks of good snow and Winter, or are saddened if calls an early halt to the season. And while it’s a neat little tradition and something to lift our spirits up and a have a laugh about, they are just rodents after all and statistics kept in Pennsylvania actually have Phil batting about 40% on his predictions over the years. However inaccurate, it’s still an amusing tale and a deeply ingrained part of the seasonal folklore of North America. One that is sure to endure for many a Winter to come. 

Punxsutawney Phil

~Punxsutawney Phil after seeing his shadow~

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Thanks for reading

The legend of punxsutawney Phil and the origins of Groundhog Day

 

 

 

Resell your gear

Do you have some gently used ski, snowboard, or outdoor gear that’s just laying around your garage? Why not turn that old gear into some cold hard cash by selling it on Gear Trade!

Check it out!

How it works

Request a label

Gear Trade will send you a free shipping label to send your gear to them. They can even send you a box if you need it.

Ship it to Gear Trade

Go ahead and fill that box with anything you want to unload. Fill extra nooks and crannies with (clean) outdoor clothing or gear.

Get Paid!

When Gear Trade receives your gear, they’ll assess its value. You have 48 hours to change the price or make adjustments to your listing. When it sells, your earnings will go into your Geartrade account. You can cash out at any time to your Venmo, PayPal, or use your earnings to shop the site with your store credit.

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~Snow Life

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Thanks for reading: Resell your gear!

 

 

 

The evolution of snow skates

-Many different ways to slide down a mountain have been invented throughout the years, the most famous obviously being skiing and snowboarding. But it seems each season the outliers become more and more visible around the slopes, and now to see mini-skis, ski bikes and of course snow skates is not such an oddity.

-Read on for a little history on the Evolution of Snow Skates. ~Z. Phelan~  

 

From Sled Dogs to Snowfeet

 

You might be asking yourself, WTF are Snow Skates? Not to be confused with a “Snowskate” singular, which is essentially a mini snowboard bolted to a skateboard deck. Snow Skates are a boot shaped apparatus with a smooth mini-sled type surface on the bottom of it meant for gliding down a groomed piste.

Thought to have been originally conceived by the Dutch as long ago as 1865, Snow Skates came onto the scene in a more modern form in Switzerland in the 70’s. But it was not until the 90’s that they would be branded and sold commercially. 

The originals: Sled Dogs

 Marketed as an alternative way to get down the mountain without cumbersome skis or even poles. Sled Dogs are basically a ski boot that, instead of being designed to snap into a binding, has a smooth flat surface area below the sole of the boot that is meant for gliding on snow.

The first major commercial company to put Snow Skates on the map, Sled Dogs were founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the early 90’s and received moderate interest and even television appearances during the Winter Olympics. By 2014 the name and product rights had shifted to a Norwegian company and an attempted revitalization even saw them make an appearance on Shark Tank. Now days the originals can be found on Amazon and Ebay, but availability is very limited. In another attempted resurgence, Sled Dogs have recently rebranded as ODR Ski, check them out here.

Photo courtesy of: the Corner Treasure Shop on Ebay. 

Sled Dogs

 

New on the scene

 

Founded by two roommates via a kickstarter campaign, and quickly spreading around the World, Snowfeet are the new kids on the block for the Snow Skate scene.

Snowfeet are much more versatile than their predecessors and are designed to be an accessory to your normal snowboarding or ski boots as opposed to a replacement.  

The future: SnowFeet

The newest trend in snow skating is one that is far more adaptable, portable and affordable than the original. Snowfeet are essentially a mini sled for your foot bottom that can be strapped over a ski boot, snowboard boot or even some hiking shoes. Snow Feet were founded in the Czech Republic which is where they are produced, although sales and popularity are rising for this new product and the availability is spreading Worldwide. 

 

 

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Snowfeet

The idea for snowfeet was born from a love of the mountains and skiing and also ice hockey, and snowfeet seem to be an adept fusion of two of Winter’s most popular sports.

Snowfeet are primarily manufactured in the Czech Republic, a country with a long tradition of manufacturing some of the best skis in the world. They are a small company of friends and family from a small town that have a global ambition of creating the next big winter sport. Snowfeet offer a wide range of their mini-sleds and also mini-skis with tons of cool colors and graphics to choose from.

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tHANKS FOR READING: tHE EVOLUTION OF SNOWSKATES

 

 

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How to stay positive during a crappy ski season

 

As I write this article, I am currently sitting in a small Southern European ski town, looking out the window and watching it rain. It’s about 48 degrees (+9C) outside, and I’ve been questioning my life decisions for the better part of the last month. The ski resort that I chose to spend my season at is in the throes of its worst Winter in over 15 years, or so the locals tell me, and every day I check my Facebook page & the news feeds I am reminded that my former home in South Lake Tahoe is shaping up to have one it’s best snowfall seasons ever in history!

So how, as an avid skier, am I able to stay positive, when I have clearly put all of my eggs into the wrong basket this Winter? The answer is not so easy or straightforward to explain, but my many seasons in Tahoe, especially the bad ones, have conditioned me for this. The broad strokes of my explanation, which you can read further in the next few paragraphs, has to do with self distraction, perseverance, and the willingness to believe that your powder days will come. However hard it is to be patient for them. 

The Bad Winter Blues

While we always enter the new ski season with high expectations, sometimes Mother Nature has other plans. Every skier and snowboarder would love for it to snow on the regular from November to March, but sadly that’s not always the case. Many mountainous snow zones around the World are prone to “Feast or Famine” seasons where they either get walloped with snow, or the storms are few and far between. But even on those sparse seasons, there’s always some good ski days to look forward to. The key is to take advantage of them when they come.  Sometimes you just need to be patient and wait it out. “Miracle March” does happen, April powder days are a thing! And guess what, while most folks are long since over it and are ready to put the crappy season behind them, you can go reap your just rewards without the bloated lift lines and crowded slopes. Late season powder days are for the hearty few that maintained a good attitude and never lost faith.

So what can we skiers do to bide the time until the storms come? How do we fill our days without luscious powder to ski? Well here’s a few ideas to keep your mind right until the conditions improve:

Ski Anyway

We can all agree that skiing/riding on the man made snow is not nearly as enjoyable and not having a fresh powder day mixed in every once in a while can be deflating. However, you can make the most of this not so good snow period by doing other things on the slopes that you may have been putting off, such as working on your form, practicing moguls or breaking in those new ski boots you bought. I mean if it’s going to suck a little bit, it might as well suck a lot, and at least you’re being constructive until the skiing gets good again.

Find an alternative activity

The mountains are a place for adventure, and while most of us prefer our primary mountain adventure to be skiing or snowboarding, if the snow is low, then there are usually other fun Springtime adventure things to enjoy! Grab your mountain bike and find some open trails. Wanted to try four wheeling, or a zip line? Now’s the time! Even if it’s something as simple as going to the mountains and hanging out in the local ski bar to soak up some of the ambiance, it’s all a morale booster and can help take your mind off of the crappy snow conditions.

WOrk on yourself

If the skiing really sucks that bad, and you just can’t bring yourself to hit the slopes as often as you would have liked, if at all, then that means you probably have a lot of unplanned free time on your hands. Free time is precious for adults, and the older you get, the more fleeting it seems to become. So why not spend some of your extra free time that you’d normally being skiing or snowboarding, and use it to better yourself. Take some online classes, work on your business, try a foreign language, or even hit the gym a little bit. Any of these are sure to make you feel better about your time spent, and distract you from those powder laps that you’re not getting.

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The mountains are a pretty rad place, no matter how deep the snow is… here’s a few more ways to indulge yourself:

 

I’ll finish this article off with one of my favorite quotes: “Don’t get so hung up on where you would rather be, that you forget to make the most of where you are.” ~Unknown.

 

Thanks for reading: How to stay positive during a bad ski season

 

 

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Check out the great low prices and awesome selection. Visit the Après Ski Store now!

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Best steeps in Tahoe

-The Tahoe Basin (and its immediate vicinity) boasts a whopping 15 ski areas, and aside from it’s world class views is also renowned for some pretty awesome terrain. Here’s the Snow Life list of the 5 best zones for steep and deep terrain in Tahoe!

“The Chutes” Mount Rose (Reno, Nv)

Drop in

To access the Chutes you can choose any one of 9 designated entry gates around the perimeter of the zone. The Northwest Express chair from the main base area is the best lift to access the Chutes.

Get out

All Chutes bottom out at the “Chuter” return chair. Chuter brings you back to the Winters Creek Base area where you can load up onto the Zephyr Express for a return to the Summit. 

Horonable Mention

Mt. Rose is one of the steepest ski areas in Tahoe and besides the Chutes, they have several other good zones for Expert and Advanced skiers/riders including: Washoe Zephyr on the Easternmost boundary line on looker’s left, and the Olympic Trees (same area).

CLICK TO ENLARGE

40-55

Pitch Degree

17

Runs in the Zone

1,000’+

Vertical Feet

200+

Skiable Acres

Lift Ticket


$165 / Adult (peak)

  • No pass alliance
  • No Slope-side lodging
  • Good Lift infrastructure
  • Minimal view of Tahoe
  • Good view of Carson Valley
  • Good local beer

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“The Wall” Kirkwood (Kirkwood, CA)

Drop In

One of the most challenging run entrances in all of Tahoe, whether there’s tons of snow or not. From the top of “The Wall” #10 chairlift, the resort partially maintains an S-shaped trail that drops right into the main part of the run, or you can choose to “send it” from the top of the cornice that caps the whole length of The Wall. Also further down the ridge there are some chutes notched into the cliffs that are skiable if you’re daring.

Get out

Anything skier’s left of the chair will get you right back down to the main base area, but a slight traverse to skier’s right will give you access to Eagle Bowl, which is a little bit lower angle and is good after a fresh dump and before the sun hits it. 

Honorable Mention

So… basically the honorable mention here is most of the rest of the resort, as every summit lift will reward you with some steeps. Some of the best and least skied runs can be accessed by going to the backside and hiking above the Sunrise chair, stay close to the barrier on Larry’s Lip, then drop into one the 7 chutes leading you back to the front side. 

CLICK TO ENLARGE

38-45

Pitch Degree

19

Runs in the Zone

1,600′

Vertical Feet

8

Expert Runs 

Lift Ticket


$155 / Adult (peak)

  • On the Epic Pass
  • Slope-side lodging available
  • Free & Paid parking available
  • Top resort for steeps / powder
  • Not known for their views
  • Best ski bar in Tahoe = 7,800′

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“Killebrew & Mott Canyons” Heavenly (Stateline, NV)

Drop In

One of the harder zones to get to at Heavenly, and an even harder area to lap, the side by side Expert’s Only gated terrain of Killebrew & Mott Canyons are best accessed by taking a hard left from the top of the Dipper Express Quad and either skiing through the Dipper Woods, or dropping into Milky Way Bowl. They can also be accessed from the top of the Sky Express chair by following the Skyline Trail until it intersects with Milky Way Bowl.

Get Out

Technically there are two ways out, but the one Heavenly would like you to use is to ride the Rim Trail traverse around until you find the Mott Canyon chair which is a slow speed 2 seater that barely gets you out of the zone, dropping off at a flat blue trail where your best move is to ski down to Dipper Express if you want to lap the zone again. On super deep snow years, those daring enough dip out the bottom of Killebrew Canyon and grab a few thousand extra vert by skiing all the way down to the nearby town of Minden in what’s known as “The Minden Mile.” Not recommended for tourists or those without avy gear and local knowledge.

Honorable Mention

Unbeknowst to most, Heavenly has some of the best side-country gated terrain to be found anywhere! The problem is, it’s very rarely skiable unless the conditions are primo. Most of it is not even on the trail map, and is unmaintained by the resort, but Stateline Gate which can be found directly behind the Tamarack Lodge, and Firebreak Gate which is just off of the top of Olympic Chair allow for Gondola laps down Heavenly’s front side and is some of the craziest terrain you’ll ever ski. Oh, and the infamous Gunbarrel mogul run is a pretty fun run too. 

CLICK TO ENLARGE

40+

Pitch Degree

22

Runs in the Zone

863’+

Vertical Feet

22

Expert Runs

Lift Ticket


$225 / Adult (peak)

  • On the Epic Pass
  • Slopeside lodging available
  • Best parking at Boulder Lodge
  • Top resort for Lake Views
  • 4 base areas over 2 States
  • Highest summit in Tahoe

“Palisades” Palisades @ Tahoe (Olympic Valley, CA)

Drop in

Dropping in here requires some effort. Best way to access the Palisades is to jump on the Siberia Express Chair and take a hard left once at the top. Then the fun begins as you’re in for a bit of hike up the ridge to access some of the steepest and gnarliest terrain in Tahoe.

Get out

Most runs (unless you drop into Sun Bowl) will lead you back down to Siberia Express chair.

Honorable Mention

Some legendary runs here, so don’t spend all day on Siberia. The famous KT-22 chair has some of the best off-piste fall line skiing in the country, and around the backside the Granite Chief Bowl has some amazing powdery steeps as well. 

CLICK TO ENLARGE

40-67

Pitch Degree

9

Runs in the Zone

1,000’+

Vertical Feet

5

Expert Runs

Lift Ticket


$269 / Adult (peak)

  • On the Ikon Pass & Base Pass
  • Slopeside lodging available
  • Best parking at Alpine Meadows
  • Top resort for steeps / powder
  • Not known for their lake views
  • Longest ski season in Tahoe

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“Mount Lincoln” Sugar Bowl (Norden, Ca)

Drop in

One of the most overlooked ski areas in all of Tahoe, Sugar Bowl has arguably some of the best terrain and gets more snowfall than most other Tahoe resorts. A part of the Mt. Lincoln zone at Sugar Bowl, the “Palisades” (not to be mistaken for the other zone and resort by same name) are some extremely gnarly steeps. Accessed from skier’s left off the top of the Mountain Lincoln Express, there are chutes and cliffs and spines abound.

Get Out

All roads lead right back to the Mt. Lincoln Express chair, where you can load up and do it all over again. 

Honorable Mentions

Although rarely opened, the terrain off of the Summit chair in the Mount Judah zone yields some exceptional sunny side skiing. Also the Crow’s Nest Peak on far looker’s right has some quality gladed terrain as well. 

View SB Palisades Here!

 

 

CLICK TO ENLARGE

40+

Pitch Degree

10+

Runs in the Zone

1,293′

Vertical Feet

5+

Expert Runs in Zone

Lift Ticket


$158/ Adult (peak)

  • On Mountain Collective Pass
  • Slope-side lodging available
  • Best parking at Village Lot
  • Top resort for annual snowfall
  • Not known for their lake views
  • Antique Gondola still operating

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Check out the great low prices and awesome selection. Visit the Après Ski Store now!

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Research your next ski trip with this unparalleled web page that’s full of all the stats you want to know! Vert, snowfall, trails, when to go and how to get there, it’s all here. 

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Thanks for reading: The Steepest Ski Zones in Tahoe

 

 

 

Skiing alone

Skiing alone

-Advantages to skiing or riding by yourself. 

I get it, humans are social creatures by nature and most of us prefer to do things in groups, especially with our friends. But sometimes those friends and loved ones don’t have the same free time that we do or their interest level in something is not as strong as ours. 

So what do we do? Acquiesce? Sit at home and be bummed out because no body wants to go ski/ride that day or do something fun? Screw that! You want to do it, go do it! I guarantee you’ll still have a good time as long as you keep a positive mindset and are willing to step outside of your comfort zone a little.

I’ve always subscribed to the way of thinking that if no one is available to hang out and do fun stuff, then that’s their loss. I’m not going to miss out on doing cool shit just because others don’t have the time, interest or the guts to do it. I’d rather fly solo on an experience than sit around on the couch because I couldn’t talk anyone else into going. 

Some of the coolest adventures and best ski days I’ve ever had were on solo excursions. If you are skeptical and need a little more convincing, keep scrolling and check my top 10 advantages to skiing/riding by yourself!

~Z.Phelan

Singles Line

#1: Singles Lines are usually shorter


The bane of every skier’s existence, especially if you frequent mega-resorts, is long lift lines. If you’re skiing in a group, you often don’t have a choice but to just pile up in the que and wait it out like everyone else. If you’re rolling solo however, just slide into the singles line which is often much shorter and grab that outside seat back to the top for another lap.

Ski trail sign

#2: Choose your own runs


No need to plan your route to the next chairlift, or stop at a trail intersection and talk about which way to go. Just let instinct and curiosity guide your way and glide down whatever trail feels right. 

Chairlift rider

#3: A chair to yourself


Say it’s some random Tuesday at your local ski area, and all your friends are either stuck working or otherwise preoccupied… Crowds are down and the slopes are empty. You’re lucky enough to grab a chair all to yourself and are rewarded with a peaceful and relaxing ride to the top. No need to come up with small talk, plenty of elbow room, just lean back and enjoy the views. You’d be surprised at the cool thoughts that come to your mind on a solo chair ride.

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#4: Meet new friends


Getting a chair to yourself is a nice bonus on solo days, but sometimes when you’re skiing alone, another solo skier or boarder will jump on a chair with you. What better ice breaker of a conversation topic with a stranger than the shared interest that you are both doing at that very moment, skiing (riding). Many solo skiers/riders are open to a little chit-chat and they may even be a local that can show you some cool new runs or a zone you’ve never tried before or vice versa. Making a new “friend for a day” is a good way to broaden your horizons and have some interesting banter, and who knows, maybe you’ll meet someone that wants to hang again in the future. 

#5: Go at your own pace


You want to lollygag and take it easy, go for it! You wanna rip and ski lights out? Have at it. No need to pull over on the side of the trail and wait for those slower friends or your significant other that you’d normally be obligated to keep tabs on. Just go, it’s that simple, don’t think, just go. 

Rambo run

#6: Try shit that your friends wouldn’t


No need to cater to the weakest member of your ski group. That sketchy double black diamond you’ve been eyeing all season… go ahead and try it. Think you can ski it but maybe not look good doing it? Well if you’re rolling solo there’s no one else around to cast judgement on your style, it’s just you and the mountain, no peer pressure, ego trips or surplus testosterone. 

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Snow Life car

#7: Show up when you want


Not a morning person? Me either. While I will get up early for an epic powder day, most other ski days, if I’m going solo, I’d rather show up “whenever.”  Sometimes conditions don’t call for an all day’er, and if you’re friends aren’t coming with you, or meeting you there, then it doesn’t really matter when you roll up to the slopes. No stress. 

#8: You’re free to listen to music


Now please don’t be “that guy” who skis around with a Bluetooth speaker hanging off of his gear or a boombox strapped to his backpack, no need for a DJ on the slopes. But helmet mounted speakers are pretty awesome, and listening to music while skiing is both energizing and inspiring! Skiing solo means there’s no one to chat with all the time so you’re free to just groove away in your own little world.

#9: SOak up your surroundings


Being on your own (unless you’ve met some new riding buddies already) means you’re not constantly caught up in conversation and you have a little more time to “stop and smell the roses.” The slopes are a great place for soaking up some stunning scenery and reconnecting with nature, and they can be good sources of other fun activities such as people watching. From skiers wiping out or doing cool tricks, folks in crazy outfits, etc… Antics are usually abound and without the distraction of a companion, you’re free to experience it all.

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#10: bragging rights


Had an awesome day on the slopes? Go ahead, talk a little smack. Call me petty, but there’s a certain level of satisfaction that comes with rubbing it to your friends that were too lazy or didn’t feel like shredding. Seems fitting to finish this article with the old adage that “even a bad day on the mountain is still better than a day on the couch.”

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Ski Resort Stickers


The curious hobby of collecting stickers from ski resorts and WTF to do with them!?

Stickers, Or it never happened!


If you’re like me, you relish the opportunity to visit a new ski area (or 10) every season. Trying out new terrain, exploring new trails and experiencing new ski towns are what makes the ski travel experience so special. Just about every ski area you’ll come across seems to have some kind of gift shop and most of them, at least in America, all sell one thing in common, STICKERS! 

For me, a day at a new ski resort is not complete without a stop at the gift store for a handful of stickers, and while I’ve been able to collect my fair share over the years through my travels, my quandary has always been “what to do with them!?”

My snowboarder friends have an easy answer: Put them on a snowboard!

An experienced snowboarder will wear out, or at least grow tired of a snowboard every 2 or 3 years and when it’s time to retire the old one, so it goes with the tales of where it has been. Placing a sticker from each resort you’ve ridden on that board is a cool way to display the souvenir stickers in a meaningful and lasting way. Problem is, I’m a skier and stickers just don’t look the same on skis, neither do they usually have enough surface area.

So where do they go? What to do with a growing pile of ski area stickers?

A funny observation at some ski areas is that stickers from rival ski areas end up on the lift towers, especially on older lifts where it is easier to reach and the lift is slower.

Between putting stickers on lift poles, water bottles, cars, box tops, snowboards, maybe even a garage fridge, I’ve seen some pretty creative places to put those well earned resort stickers. But none of them work for me. 

Do you collect stickers? If so, where do you put them? I need some advice, because my collection is getting a little out of hand and it makes no sense for them to be sitting around collecting dust. 

*Photos by Jake Galberth, & Snow Life LLC

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Looking to pick up some rad new ski clothes, or want to make your home feel more like a slopeside cabin? Take a minute to check out the Snow Life Store and browse hundreds of original clothing designs, art prints and housewares that would make awesome additions to any skier or snowboarder’s collection.

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Check out the most unique ski clothes and accessories here!

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Après ski shirt

The snow Life shop

Web Market

Ski coasters

The snow Life Shop

Web Market

Après Ski store

Looking to pick up some rad new ski clothes, or want to make your home feel more like a slopeside cabin? Take a minute to check out the Snow Life Store and browse hundreds of original clothing designs, art prints and housewares that would make awesome additions to any skier or snowboarder’s collection.

The Snow Life collection is all original and inspired by (what else) the mountains! So go ahead and peruse this awesome line of quality ski and snowboard themed items with always free shipping and great prices. Visit the Après Ski Store now!

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Ski Resort Information Resource

Research your next ski trip with this unparalleled web page that’s full of all the stats you want to know! Vert, snowfall, trails, when to go and how to get there, it’s all here. 

Savage Snow Memes logo

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Ski and Snowboard Meme Dump

The biggest Meme Dump on the internet for all things snow related: Ski memes, snowboard memes, snowmobile memes, gifs, demotivationals, it’s all here!