Planning a ski season road trip

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
11/03/2018 at 00:40 • Filed to: None

Hoping that BC/AB, Montana, and Utah get dumped on mid to late January this year! The order I’m looking at there is Revelstoke, Banff, Big Sky, Jackson Hole, and Solitude. That’s a solid 3 weeks of unrelenting skiing. I’m probably going to die and my Subaru will prove it’s snow game after I exit the US. Probably would not take the 5 as this map shows but it’s the general direction of the route.

I might just cut out the Canada section and do a round trip of home to Big Sky and back, hitting whatever has the best snow at particular times. That gives the most flexibility I would imagine. Although something about an even more epic road trip sounds fantastic to me.

Saving over 1000 miles is probably worth it. I wouldn’t really get to test out my snow tires on this route but it’d still be interesting up in Wyoming/Montana for sure. I’d probably do 5 days in Utah, 4 days in Jackson Hole, 5 days in Big Sky, another couple days in Utah, and then go home broken, broke, and satisfied.

DISCUSSION (28)

CB > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
11/03/2018 at 01:03

Heads up, the pass between Revelstoke and Alberta can close if it gets snowed in (at least, it did ten years ago).

The Snowman > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
11/03/2018 at 01:15

I live 15 minutes from solitude at the mouth of the canyon. Hit me up if you make your trip a reality.

SmugAardvark > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
11/03/2018 at 01:16

Stop E (Utah), puts you right near I-80. Why not cut across, as 80 takes you just north of Lake Tahoe? If our winter ever picks up, there’s some decent spots. I might even feel so inclined to join you for a day (and I know there are at least one or two other Oppos that frequent Tahoe).

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
11/03/2018 at 01:16

No detour to Whistler?

AestheticsInMotion > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
11/03/2018 at 01:35

If you drive through Seattle in the winter and don’t spend an hour or two shredding some snowy forest service roads with me I’ll be deeply hurt. More importantly, the Miata will be deeply hurt.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CB
11/03/2018 at 01:37

Sounds like it's a fun snow driving adventure when it's open then! But yeah things like that are certainly concerning. I'm pretty sure the same problem exists to Jackson Hole in Wyoming as well. From the north, Yellowstone is closed winter, from the west that pass from Idaho is crazy steep and high elevation, and then the south is way out of the way.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > CB
11/03/2018 at 01:37

Pretty common occurrence. The kicking horse pass is a gnarly stretch of road. Steep hills, sharp drop offs, tight corners, in experienced winter drivers, heavy traffic, and only one lane each way don’t lend themselves to highways staying open. It’s still a rare occurrence the road closes due to accumulated snowfall... g enerally it’s collision cleanup that shuts it down.

CB > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
11/03/2018 at 01:38

Whistler is for eastern Canadians and UBC frat boys.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SmugAardvark
11/03/2018 at 01:39

It's just a matter of timing. Squaw is on my pass as well, so it would be easy to make that happen. But the only issue is I'm already looking at 3 weeks of skiing and I only have so much vacation time lol. Plus my legs will be DEAD. Reminds me that I need to start training Pronto... Leg day every day!

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > CB
11/03/2018 at 01:39

Ouch. I like Whistler....

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AestheticsInMotion
11/03/2018 at 01:40

If I go through with that plan, it was going to be a number one priority to do that as well. I mean I’ll have a subaru with snow tires and carrying chains, a shovel, and kitty litter for good measure so at least one of us wouldn’t get stuck lol.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > The Snowman
11/03/2018 at 01:43

The Utah portion is 100% a reality no matter what. I've got unlimited days at Solitude and then 5 at Brighton, 5 at deer, and 5 at Alta/Snowbird. Plus there's a ton of sub $50 a night airbnbs scattered throughout SLC. So it's happening for sure. I'm probably doing the one trip and hitting Solitude/Brighton and maybe a couple of days at Deer and then the other would be Alta/Snowbird.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
11/03/2018 at 01:45

Whistler is on epic pass. If they were on Ikon instead, this road trip would have been definitely planned already haha. I know there are a few other smaller WA/BC mountains on the pass too but I'm pretty unsure about making the longer trip anyways.

vicali > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
11/03/2018 at 01:46

Sun Peaks (Kamloops) SilverStar (Vernon) Red Mtn (Ross la nd ) and Whitewater (Nelson ) if you’ve come all this way..

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > vicali
11/03/2018 at 01:54

I don't have enough time to do everything on my pass much less others unfortunately

CB > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
11/03/2018 at 01:56

As an Eastern guy (well, according to Western Canada) who is the son of a UBC frat boy, that’s my only exposure.

I know it's a lovely place, hopefully my girlfriend and I can go next year.

CompactLuxuryFan > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
11/03/2018 at 02:26

Wow, you’re really living that STI lifestyle! I’ll be lucky if I make it to Tahoe once and make some use of quattro.

RPM esq. > CB
11/03/2018 at 02:28

Nah it’s great as long as you don’t go in thinking all that massive amount of real estate is actually worthwhile since the bottom half is always useless slush. But there’s lots of good stuff high up.

whatisthatsound > CB
11/03/2018 at 02:51

Kinja'd!!!

Whistler is for backcountry everything and lift access everything. I didn't believe the hype until I saw it. Now, nothing else compares.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CompactLuxuryFan
11/03/2018 at 10:52

I doubt I'll really get to drive through snow but I'll certainly be ready for it if I get lucky!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
11/03/2018 at 12:52

You think the short option won’t test your snow tires? Spoken like a true Californian!

I was on some of those same roads at the end of June around Yellowstone and in Western Wyoming. There was snow on the side of the road. And there was a pass that closed a week earlier. June.

But if you make it though Oregon and stop here for skiing I'll join you!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
11/03/2018 at 20:05

Haha I’m not a born and raised Californian but I’m also not a real North easterner being from Jersey anyways. I can handle myself in some snow, assuming the proper tires and ground clearance and not being in a rush. The awd is a bonus considering my previous experiences in the snow have been in a Miata! But yeah I’ll be keeping my plans flexible based on the weather. I’d love to make it to Jackson Hole but I know the roads in/out of there can be nuts. Plus getting further north is sure to be a challenge. But LA to SLC is a cakewalk, with only a couple of passes with decent elevation that I can handle safely.

But yes, if i end up going with the long trip, I'm definitely gonna be hitting up people along the way for snow adventures.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
11/03/2018 at 22:06

Big sky is nice but we get a crap ton more snow in whitefish. You would also have an opportunity to very much test out your snow tires.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
11/03/2018 at 22:42

Yeah but my pass has big Sky which is why I’d go there lol. Plus my friends already booked an airbnb so I guess I’m pretty set on going then. I’ll get a solid 15 days in on skis that trip b etween Deer Valley, Solitude, Brighton, Jackson Hole, and Big Sky. Now to book a bunch of other airbnbs and make sure to have flexible cancellation to plan for the weather and adjust if needed.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
11/04/2018 at 00:42

Haha I really just meant it sounded like you were underestimating the Rockies. Please don’t underestimate the Rockies. They will fuck you up.

Either route you choose should be a blast!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
11/04/2018 at 02:08

I'll make sure to put a bumper sticker that says "The Donner party" lol. I'll be prepared with a shovel, snow chains, extra blanket, water, food, and always expect the worst.

Powder Pedro > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
11/06/2018 at 18:56

I highly recommend altering your Canadian stops to include Red Mountain and Whitewater. If you like steep trees power and no crowds, but I’m super biased towards the local mountains here.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Powder Pedro
11/07/2018 at 10:19

I am sticking to my Ikon pass destinations just because its already paid for. But I am leaning towards cutting the Canada portion anyways, just because its a bit ambitious. Probably sticking to plan B as I am already putting together my lodging list.