Bought the epic pass and looking for best spots to ski Dec 18-22. Was at first thinking Park City but not sure how snowfall will be. For all you ski pro's what would be your best place to book for those dates with best odds to have plenty of snow. Fairly new ski people .. 2 adults and a 9 year old.

This year; whistler from everything I've been reading thus far. Maybe the sierras which I think just got nuked as well.

You're on the right track. While not guaranteed, Park City typically does get good snow in December. I've skied there several times during or near Christmas and it's always been great.

Let me know if y'all have questions or need help. I book a lot of ski trips for folks and PC is my fave!

We almost always ski PC the week of Christmas or the week after. I can only recall one time, I think two (maybe three?) years ago where snow was a problem. We had a great time anyway. The kids definitely didn't care, it was just us old people who were struggling. Of course the night before we left it started dumping which was disappointing and made getting to the airport an adventure. Still it's my favorite ski destination in the US by far.

Pre-Christmas on a La Nina year means Whistler or PNW like Stevens Pass or Big White otherwie you're skiing an upload chair on fake snow. Dec 18-22 is REALLY early. Most of the mountain regardless of where you go won't be open.

Last season was the lowest Christmas snow total on record for PCCR.

La Nina is a terrible setup for early season snow in UT and SW/S Colorado.

With that said, sli seswon doesn't really start IMO until after New Years. Yeah the hills open early Nov but the hills arent usually fill open w non man made base until Jan.

Mid Jan - End of Feb is the prime spot. Anything before Christmas is hit or miss. Everything after Mid March is the same.

PC last Xmas was really bad. However...they have had some early snow already.

Jajaja - It rained last week. They don't start making snow until later in Oct. Anything that falls now will be gone in a couple of days. The temps need to be about 27 consistent and dry for them to fire up the Guns. The next 14 days they're in the mid 50s to 60s as a high and don't break freezing at night.
Also, it hasn't really been talked about much but they are also 98.89% likely to have another Ski Patrol strike this season as the acuerdo from last season wasn't considered fulfilled by Vail in good faith. Vail says it you as but SP says it wasn't. Prime prime prime Environment for another Thanksgiving, Christmas or NY strike. The agreement was supposed to run through April 2027 but outside of the increased wages, Vail has failed to deliver on most of other agreements regarding stipend for gear, Safety and Training etc

Ask me how I know jaja.

The problem with la niña in UT is Itll be dry and hot for a week, followers by 3 days of cold and snow but then directly after the snowfall, the tenis will hit mid 40s to 50s and anything that was a base builder melts off. La Niña keeps the temps up so even when it snows, it clears before they can pack it.

So can look at Historical SME base recordings for la niña years and even during higher snowfall years, the SME still struggles because nothing sticks.

Bayou City said:

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Jajaja - It rained last week. They don't start making snow until later in Oct. Anything that falls now will be gone in a couple of days. The temps need to be about 27 consistent and dry for them to fire up the Guns. The next 14 days they're in the mid 50s to 60s as a high and don't break freezing at night.
Also, it hasn't really been talked about much but they are also 98.89% likely to have another Ski Patrol strike this season as the acuerdo from last season wasn't considered fulfilled by Vail in good faith. Vail says it you as but SP says it wasn't. Prime prime prime Environment for another Thanksgiving, Christmas or NY strike. The agreement was supposed to run through April 2027 but outside of the increased wages, Vail has failed to deliver on most of other agreements regarding stipend for gear, Safety and Training etc

Ask me how I know jaja.

The problem with la niña in UT is Itll be dry and hot for a week, followers by 3 days of cold and snow but then directly after the snowfall, the tenis will hit mid 40s to 50s and anything that was a base builder melts off. La Niña keeps the temps up so even when it snows, it clears before they can pack it.

So can look at Historical SME base recordings for la niña years and even during higher snowfall years, the SME still struggles because nothing sticks.

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We missed the strikes last year by a day....but had no snow. Returned spring break with much better conditions. Blah to more strikes and blah to Vail for not doing what they should.

I went back and looked at our photos and it was last year I was thinking of. This year has been too effing long because I was sure it was at least two years ago.

Thanks for all the insight on projected snowfall. We're booked for PC December 26-Jan 2 and now I'm thinking maybe we ought to reconsider.

I am from and live in Colorado. Always good snow over Christmas. 3 resorts started snow making yesterday, and Eisenhower tunnel approaches delayed with significant snow overnight.

Jaja

Born and raised in Vail. Lived there and Glenwood most of My Life and that comment is 100% fake news.

Always have great snow at Christmas - that statement right there make me know you know nothing without letting me know you know nothing.

Not sure what 3 yours talking about but A Basin was making snow prior to this week as was Keystone.

I'm in Tulum and still have the contacts to know who is and who isn't blowing snow - how do I know better than you when you're born and live there?

Let me guess you were born and live in Denver…..

Cool story - I've never heard anyone but texans try to push october snowfall into December ski conditions. Sure youre from here? We all know you don't want it to snow out to early and until over night lows stay around 27 or colder, anything natural that's falling now is doing to melt off.

Are you sure you're from here my guy?

If You have the Epic, Go to Whistler BC in Canada. The Pacific Noethwest is going to have a stellar snow year. Models show colder than avg temps and above avg percipitation through Feb.

Overall PNW is modeling +10 inches over median snowfall. UT is modeling -5 to -11. SW Colorado (Telly, WC, Durango) are the worst in The country at a -15.

The 70 and 82 corridor in CO are -2 to +2 and Steamboat is +5.

Northern Rockies/Grand Tetons are the other big winner at +15 - +21 above median.

I'd just book Winter Park and call it a day.

If you are fairly new, then most places along the Rockies will be just fine for having enough runs open for you guys. I'm not a big fan of Keystone, but that is usually my go-to for early season runs as they have some really long runs open to start the season. 12/18 is probably late enough though that most resorts will have plenty open as long as it isn't a really slow start to winter.

Bayou City said:

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Pre-Christmas on a La Nina year means Whistler or PNW like Stevens Pass or Big White otherwie you're skiing an upload chair on fake snow. Dec 18-22 is REALLY early. Most of the mountain regardless of where you go won't be open.

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Please don't get on a plane to ski Steven's in December (or ever). You'll have an equal chance of snow and rain. Most likely tough visibility. November and December are the atmospheric river seasons. If we tap some cold air, feet of fresh (like this past weekend). If not, it's inches of rain just above freezing. Sucks, but happens almost every year. Eventually we'll get the cold systems, but it's a dice roll until Jan. This also applies to Whistler. It's rain vulnerable for the low half of the mountain through Dec. Upper Blackcomb and Whistler will have snow - always - but you might have to download to the base.

OP, go high and go man-made; there's no guarantees that early on natural snow. Tahoe or Park City. Tahoe will give you some variety.

Not setting up well for early season open (Thanksgiving) skiers.

Going to Ridgway/Telluride for Thanksgiving, ski or no ski. I don't see any way the opening isn't pushed back at this point. Just hoping it's decent for after Christmas at this point...

We delayed our opening from Mid November to beg of December. We may push it back to mid december if we don't get some weather.