txags92 said:

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Says the guy fulfilling yet another stereotype on Texags.

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What "stereotype"?

Urban Country Boy said:

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txags92 said:

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Says the guy fulfilling yet another stereotype on Texags.

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What "stereotype"?

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Look, we can continue this little back and forth, but as you said, we are all Aggies. I apologize if I offended you by poking fun at your post. It was not my intent to offend you.

I am assuming based on the boards your profile shows you frequenting that maybe what I was making fun of isn't something you have seen before very much. On several of the Texags boards, and particularly on the Outdoors and Automotive boards, it is kind of a standard thing anytime somebody asks for a suggestion on something that somebody ends up recommending something that is way beyond what they asked for and way over their budget. For instance a rifle recommendation to take Texas whitetails inside of 300 yds with a budget of 2k for the rifle and scope, and somebody will respond with a recommendation for a rifle capable of taking large dangerous game in Africa at twice that range with a scope that costs twice the OP's budget. It happens all the time, and has become a joke that is often done intentionally these days.

Your recommendation of Christmas in Europe was certainly a good idea for a future trip and it is one that is on my personal bucket list. But it was well beyond and pretty much completely the opposite of what the OP asked for and that is what I was poking fun at. Not the suggestion itself or you for making it.

ETA: the other stereotypes I was kiddingly referring to are 1) the rich guy who wants everybody to know that they have been places and seen things the rest of us can't dream of, 2) the internet tough guy who wants to challenge anybody he disagrees with, and 3) the appeal to authority by posting about donation levels or playing professionally or otherwise having some skill level or history that is irrelevant to the topic, but somehow makes their opinion more valid than anybody else's. I didn't bring them up to embarrass or challenge you, I assumed you had been around enough discussions on Texags to recognize some of it. Sorry again if I offended you and I will bow out at this point to avoid further derailing the thread.

Great early season snow list here:

https://www.zrankings.com/articles/best-ski-resorts-for-early-season-christmas-new-years-snow-top-15

Hayden with the shuttle to SS really looks like a great option.

If your need help w lodging, I can see what discount r I can get through my company if it helps.

JustPanda said:

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Great early season snow list here:

https://www.zrankings.com/articles/best-ski-resorts-for-early-season-christmas-new-years-snow-top-15

Hayden with the shuttle to SS really looks like a great option.

If your need help w lodging, I can see what discount r I can get through my company if it helps.

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Thanks. I could definitely use any discounts. My email is username at gmail if you dont want to post your contact.

Early search for lodging is giving me a reminder that I'm Lolpoor

aglaohfour said:

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We've done Christmas in Park City four times in the last nine years and I'm still not tired of it. There is more than enough stuff to do for non-skiers. We start with a couple days of ski school right when we arrive (mostly for a refresher since we only only ski in December and March) and then the rest of the trip we mix in ski days with stuff like snowmobiling, snowshoeing, tubing, shopping, at home days to rest, play board games, bake cookies, etc.

Driving is not something you need to be worried about in PC it is such a quick and easy drive from the airport and they keep the roads in excellent shape. In probably 10 trips total, there has only been one time I was actually worried while driving and it was at night in blizzard conditions driving from Soldier Hollow back to PC. Other than that, I've never had an issue.

I would not recommend relying on Uber to get around - in my experience, the wait times can be ridiculous. But my favorite tip is to take an Uber from SLC to the Enterprise location at Kimball Junction and pick up your car there. I've saved thousands by doing this at Christmas - doesn't make a huge cost difference in March.

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I'd second PC. It will have snow at Christmas and has the holiday vibe. I was sitting on certs and a bunch of Hilton pts. - pulled the trigger on the Waldorf in 2021 and it's been our peak holiday experience.

Aspen, Breck and Vail will also be dolled-up and open.

Up in the PNW, we will have snow. But Hood / Bachelor aren't festive. Timberline will be festive, but there's not much to do outside of ski. And we bah-low with road clearing on 26 and the drive is a nightmare.

Leavenworth, WA is a legit Christmas destination with the market. You'd be skiing Stevens Pass (Vail owned). You could take the Amtrak Empire Builder from SEA to Leavenworth! Wenatchee airport is only serviced by Alaska.

If you drop the Southwest requirement, Canada has some super great Christmas options: Mont-Tremblant or Whistler.

Curveball: what about Stowe? I've never been, but it's been on our radar to visit and looks awesome around Christmas. I'd imagine snow would be iffy being east coast, but I don't know for fact.

txags92 said:

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Urban Country Boy said:

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txags92 said:

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Urban Country Boy said:

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txags92 said:

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Urban Country Boy said:

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jaggiemaggie said:

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We live in Houston so I've never driven in snow so would probably just hire a shuttle to take us.

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Yes to this. Good idea. Years ago I was going over the Rockys, snowing. Barely moving. People were passing me like I was driving 30 mph. And I was. I wanted to yell at them, "Can't you see the Texas plates?"

Edit: You may not see snow or maybe too much of it. And you can't get there by Southwest...but Christmas in Europe is wonderful. It is what Christmas is all about. The Christmas markets, decorations, all of it. New Year's, go to Prague.

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Sorry, not trying to attack you because I understand the logic behind your post, but this made me laugh as a "peak Texags" post. OP says I just want my kids to see snow for Christmas and we want to go somewhere we can fly Southwest. And the response is "You can't fly southwest to get there and you may not even see snow, but you need to go to Prague for Christmas"

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Where are your travels?

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Yeah yeah, we get it, you have been all over Europe and it is clearly WAY better than anything in the US. And yet none of that is relevant to what the OP was asking for. I said in my post I understand why you made the suggestion and wasn't attacking it. But clearly, just like every other Texags stereotype, you are trying to make it into something it isn't. Bravo!

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Yes you were attacking me. You did it twice.

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Dude, making humor about something that is stereotypical on texags (providing an overpriced idea that doesn't match anything the op requested) is not an attack on you. It is just funny because it happens so often. I specifically went out of my way to say that I understood your suggestion for what it was and was not attacking it. You have reacted with another texags stereotype with the bowed up I have been all over the world and know better than anybody what he should want response. That is fine. You have most certainly got more experience than I do with Europe because I have never been there. And that has nothing to do with what the OP asked about. He wants to fly on SW to see snow with his kids.

Just lighten up a bit man. With only 280 posts over 3 years on Texags, you probably haven't grasped the nuances of some of the humor around here, but I really wasn't trying to attack you, I promise. Just poking fun at something that always happens on threads asking for suggestions.

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In the spirit of this thread, I suggest OP book right now to Santiago Chile. Why wait until December, when he could be in the snow by this weekend!

And to make this more Barne's-like, I took my boy there about 10 years ago in August.

Win At Life said:

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txags92 said:

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Urban Country Boy said:

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txags92 said:

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Urban Country Boy said:

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txags92 said:

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Urban Country Boy said:

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jaggiemaggie said:

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We live in Houston so I've never driven in snow so would probably just hire a shuttle to take us.

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Yes to this. Good idea. Years ago I was going over the Rockys, snowing. Barely moving. People were passing me like I was driving 30 mph. And I was. I wanted to yell at them, "Can't you see the Texas plates?"

Edit: You may not see snow or maybe too much of it. And you can't get there by Southwest...but Christmas in Europe is wonderful. It is what Christmas is all about. The Christmas markets, decorations, all of it. New Year's, go to Prague.

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Sorry, not trying to attack you because I understand the logic behind your post, but this made me laugh as a "peak Texags" post. OP says I just want my kids to see snow for Christmas and we want to go somewhere we can fly Southwest. And the response is "You can't fly southwest to get there and you may not even see snow, but you need to go to Prague for Christmas"

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Where are your travels?

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Yeah yeah, we get it, you have been all over Europe and it is clearly WAY better than anything in the US. And yet none of that is relevant to what the OP was asking for. I said in my post I understand why you made the suggestion and wasn't attacking it. But clearly, just like every other Texags stereotype, you are trying to make it into something it isn't. Bravo!

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Yes you were attacking me. You did it twice.

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Dude, making humor about something that is stereotypical on texags (providing an overpriced idea that doesn't match anything the op requested) is not an attack on you. It is just funny because it happens so often. I specifically went out of my way to say that I understood your suggestion for what it was and was not attacking it. You have reacted with another texags stereotype with the bowed up I have been all over the world and know better than anybody what he should want response. That is fine. You have most certainly got more experience than I do with Europe because I have never been there. And that has nothing to do with what the OP asked about. He wants to fly on SW to see snow with his kids.

Just lighten up a bit man. With only 280 posts over 3 years on Texags, you probably haven't grasped the nuances of some of the humor around here, but I really wasn't trying to attack you, I promise. Just poking fun at something that always happens on threads asking for suggestions.

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In the spirit of this thread, I suggest OP book right now to Santiago Chile. Why wait until December, when he could be in the snow by this weekend!

And to make this more Barne's-like, I took my boy there about 10 years ago in August.

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Did you see my villa on the hill overlooking the bay?

/Barnes

MFBarnes!

txags92 said:

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Urban Country Boy said:

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txags92 said:

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Says the guy fulfilling yet another stereotype on Texags.

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What "stereotype"?

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1) the rich guy who wants everybody to know that they have been places and seen things the rest of us can't dream of.

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Not a rich guy, at all. I do my travels on miles. I go to places few will go. Vaccinations, special clothes and malarial meds. Security while I am there. Not rich but I will go anywhere, anytime.

Why do you keep trying to derail this thread even more?

Jackson WY would be a pretty awesome spot if the $ makes sense, about the shortest drive from an airport to town as there is in the ski world, and it's all flat roads. Can ski at Snow King instead of Jackson Hole and its waaaaayyy cheaper, though admittedly limited beginner terrain. There is tubing and a alpine coaster as well and you can walk to downtown from Snow King Resort. Haven't been there at Xmas but I would imagine the square/town is lit up and awesome.

Couple things I'd recommend/to be aware of regardless of where you go, a lot of hotels/condos will not allow any sort of sledding on properry, so if you envision the kids on toboggans and saucers all day, you should make sure that can happen where you stay i.e a house with some property or some sort of public/pay sledding hill nearby.

Any ole winter/"ski" gloves do not always = waterproof, if you're wanting to be outside throwing snowballs and building snowmen make sure the gloves/boots/pants are waterproof. Doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune, Facebook marketplace can be your friend, but make sure those things are waterproof or cold hand/kids will ensue quickly. ...or they'll be having so much fun they won't even notice.

If you pick JH, I can get you deeply discounted ski passes.

Snow King is a cool little weird local mountain. Most people incorrectly assume it's JH. I have dozens of food recs in Jackson if you'd like them We May be moving there this fall to be closer to the in laws.

JustPanda said:

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Why do you keep trying to derail this thread even more?

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Just responding. Did you see? Duh.

Sorry I missed out on the fun in this thread but hopefully I can still participate.

I've snowboarded in 7 States, played in the snow in West Germany and used to have to shovel snow off our double wide in Valdez, Alaska as one of my regular chores at age 6.

My recommendation for snow in December is Alaska or Lake Tahoe. Everywhere else you can get to easily is hit or miss.

Park City is a good recommendation and I saw a Vermont suggestion. I snowboarded at Killington, VT a few years ago and it was good but Colorado is still better. I went to Sundance about a decade ago and my Utah experience wasn't that great.

We had a massive amount of snow out here in California / Nevada this past year. No guarantee what this year will bring but if your target is Christmas and you're not going to Vienna, Austria, I'd look at Tahoe. Southwest flies to Reno and it's a short drive from there.

Solid Rec! El Nino typically rips Northern CA hard too. Really hoping for a solid year but fearing the snow gods won't give us back to back epicness.

You could also look at Stevens Pass - they get a ton of early season Pow.

I'll check out Tahoe. As far as lodging, do you guys recommend staying in Truckee ? It seems Northstar Village also looks like a nice area to stay but I don't know if it's within my price range.

jaggiemaggie said:

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I'll check out Tahoe. As far as lodging, do you guys recommend staying in Truckee ? It seems Northstar Village also looks like a nice area to stay but I don't know if it's within my price range.

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South Shore of Tahoe is probably a good bet to find something more affordable, but Christmas week at any ski area is going to be peak pricing.

Truckee is way closer to Northstar but it's about 2 hours or so to Kirkwood and an hour to Heavenly. South Lake Tahoe is about an hour from Kirkwood and an hour from Northstar and 15-20 minutes from Heavenly.

All of those are on the Epic Pass so if you decide on any of those 3 early season passes will save you about 50%.

You could also look at Ski Cooper outside Leadville or Sunlight Mountain outside Glenwood Springs if you're worried about price and lodging.

Wolf Creek, near Durango usually leads in Early Season snow. Everywhere else in the lower 48 is hit or miss before February.

The wild card is the Wasach Range, SLC/Park City. When I lived there, Park City went from "we have no idea when" to open in 3 days, Thanksgiving week 2000. Utah snow is feast for famine. It might snow 1-6 feet in a day, and not snow again for a week or so. I always prayed for Saturday night dumps, the Morman locals were never seen on Sunday's, get a dump Friday night and the mountain would be covered over Saturday and empty Sunday.

Colorado is usually more slow & steady, with the odd 3 day blizzard mixed in.

Alaska in the winter is usually cold, cloudy and miserable.

References: Lived in Steamboat, Park City, & currently have a place in Summit County (Keystone/Breckenridge/Copper Mtn). Been in the mountains somewhere nearly all this Century.

Wolf Creek isn't near Durango. Powderhorn is outside of Durango. WC is outside Pagosa Springs and a dozen+ hills catch 100+ inches between November and December and 200+ through January.

Jackson Hole at 76 average snow days per year usually catches more than anywhere in CO. They average 130+ inches through December, 230+ through January , and 425+ average per season. The don't get the most snow, but they CRUSH it pre-New Years and slay it pre-Presidents Day

Forgot to mention Mt Baker at 177+ inches through December and 509+ inches per season with 71 snow days and an average base of 96 inches! WTF!!! That's 7+ inches per snow day.

So yeah, there are plenty of places that beat Wolf Creek. I love WC but it's nowhere near some of the other ski hills regarding snowfall and def doesn't lead the lower 48 in early season totals. But, for Colorado, it usually leads or like last year splits the lead in state in snowfall w SS. and still a solid little hill w inches per snow day at almost 6.75.

Most of the hills in Little Cottonwood Canyon push 500+ a year too and 60-70+ snow days a year. Not as much early but a solid annual total and a solid number of snow days.

For reference WC catches around 344 inches and 51ish snow days and Vail catches ~250 inches w 68 snow days per year - 3.67 inches per snow day. Breck gets 300 inches on 77 days which is 3.89 inches per snow day. The 3-5 inches per snow day are the hills that typically peak in late Feb/March.

Actually in Durango today. Not sure there is Pax Service to Pagosa Springs, but ya, it's closer to WC.

Love Durango. Probs my fav town in the state. Enjoy

Hella jealous of your travels! We went heli skiing last year in the Tetons and have a trip planned to AK in early March. SUPER STOKED

Any advice for a lower 48 skier?

Texags early season Mt Baker trip anyone?

Just booked a condo about a 1.5 miles from Northstar ski Village.

Congratulations!

Now just don't get stuck like the Donner Party. Your kids sound old enough to have that piece of history explained before you drive through Donner Pass.

If your kids or you are going to ski, you'll want to buy epic day passes early before they stop selling them. Epic Day passes are 1/2 price until Labor Day. Afterwards, you're looking at $220+ a day which is insane.

$220 are you kidding?
That is insane.

Yeah. They're $93 and $48 a day right now. The price doubles + after Labor Day. I want to say peak season for Northstar is $235/day adult and $139/child. Total crap when a regional Tahoe Value Pass is less than $600, but that's Vail Resorts.

I thank God everyday for my lifetime Epic Pass. Each year it's getting more and more insane. I remember when prices we $39 a day and everyone said they'd never pay $100. Now we're at $235 and rising….Barf.

Vail isn't even close to the worst offender and actually is a steal when you factor the accessibility it grants for $1,000. My Aspen 4 Mountain Alpine Pass was $3,100 last year and Telly was $3,000+ too. Who knows what they will be this year. Thank God I get Aspen comped through work and 7 days at Telly for free through my Epic Pass.

JustPanda said:

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Yeah. They're $93 and $48 a day right now. The price doubles + after Labor Day. I want to say peak season for Northstar is $235/day adult and $139/child. Total crap when a regional Tahoe Value Pass is less than $600, but that's Vail Resorts.

I thank God everyday for my lifetime Epic Pass. Each year it's getting more and more insane. I remember when prices we $39 a day and everyone said they'd never pay $100. Now we're at $235 and rising….Barf.

Vail isn't even close to the worst offender and actually is a steal when you factor the accessibility it grants for $1,000. My Aspen 4 Mountain Alpine Pass was $3,100 last year and Telly was $3,000+ too. Who knows what they will be this year. Thank God I get Aspen comped through work and 7 days at Telly for free through my Epic Pass.

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I can remember going to Crested Butte with my brother right after new years and staying at the Best Western in Gunnison for $88/night with free breakfast and 2 lift tickets included in the price. Full price lift tickets were $35/day at the time.

Fun fact - I actually learned how to snowboard at a ski hill called Ski Butler in Kentucky
When I was there at the Armor School at Fort Knox winter of 1993-1994, they offered $25 lift + rental with military ID.
Now it was only about a 300 foot elevation change but, when you're learning to find the edge on a snowboard, it doesn't really make any difference, you've got 3 days of pain you have to suffer through. Might as well do it for cheap.

3 days of pain is exactly how I describe learning to ride.