Northern Rockies/Alberta Sun Valley questions...

[Johnfmh]

For passes your least expensive (not cheap) option is the Ikon Base Plus pass, currently running $1200 I think. Of course, that covers a lot more than a week at Sun Valley. Or you can get the Mountain Collective pass, although I don't know how the math would work on that one if you don't buy it early and choose the 3rd "free" day as Sun Valley.

We skied Snowbasin last season for five days midweek. We did the math and found it was cheaper to buy reduced, multi-day midweek tickets in advance from the resort than purchase the Ikon Base. Of course, with the Ikon Base, you can ski elsewhere as well.

 

[Tricia]

I've been to Sun Valley 4 times, once for golf and three times to ski. Most of the time we based out of River Run, but on one trip we based out of Warm Springs. I feel like River Run is easier for a newbie to base out of.
Two of the three times we were there, we spent time on groomers or spring groomers and bumps. One time we had the most incredible powder all the time we were there.
There is some incredible tree skiing as well as the amazing groomers that so many talk about.
The people in the area are super friendly.

If you want a unique après ski experience, you need to go to Michel's.
When we were there for a media junket, the ski company took us there for drinks and it was super fun to see all the memorabilia

About — Michel's Christiania Restaurant & Bar

www.michelschristiania.com

 

[Tom K.]

We're not big foodies, but I've enjoyed a ribeye or seven at the Sawtooth over the years.

 

[kitchener]

Might need to punt our scheduling to the second week of March... Bestsnow.net tends to be my Bible in trip planning and it reports January and February are best for Sun Valley. Any thoughts on how much of a risk it'd be rolling in there around 10 March? I learned from a Steamboat trip a long time ago some mountains just aren't great spring-ski mountains!

 

[dbostedo]

Might need to punt our scheduling to the second week of March... Bestsnow.net tends to be my Bible in trip planning and it reports January and February are best for Sun Valley. Any thoughts on how much of a risk it'd be rolling in there around 10 March? I learned from a Steamboat trip a long time ago some mountains just aren't great spring-ski mountains!

ZRankings, which in part uses bestsnow.net data, shows this for Sun Valley:



FWIW, it shows this for Steamboat:




Sun Valley is lower elevation, but quite a bit further north. March, especially early March, is not usually thought of as spring skiing out west. It's possible in a bad year, but most years early March in the Rockies still feels like mid-winter.

 

[bpratt]

Might need to punt our scheduling to the second week of March... Bestsnow.net tends to be my Bible in trip planning and it reports January and February are best for Sun Valley. Any thoughts on how much of a risk it'd be rolling in there around 10 March? I learned from a Steamboat trip a long time ago some mountains just aren't great spring-ski mountains!

I wouldn't be concerned at all. SV isn't a powder destination anyway, and the base should be as good as it gets in March. I love it as a late season destination because the light is better for more of the day on the Warm Springs side.

 

[Bill Miles]

Snow in early March might be tending to get a little Spring-ish, but should be fine.

 

[charlier]

I’m going for the 1st time also this year in Feb.
Can you throw out some more dining options?

something more higher end/steak option? Also somehting more casual but still solid options?

Definitely stop by the Sun Valley lodge for cocktails- classy lodge with outstanding photos. Continue down the road to the Trail Creek Cabin for dinner. In Ketchum, local owned, Enoteco, great lamb chops, trout, pasta, and wine.

Lefty’s and Grumpies -excellent burgers, Apple’s bar and grill near the base of Warmsprings, past Puchner Lane, Pioneer saloon for steaks (no reservations and not really upscale), and Michel's Christiania a very nice restaurant (reservations needed).

@KingGrump - perhaps the North America capitol of Kästle/Stöckli users

 

[bpratt]

I’m going for the 1st time also this year in Feb.
Can you throw out some more dining options?

something more higher end/steak option? Also somehting more casual but still solid options?

casual / take out - Wiseguy makes great New York style pizza. I was very pleasantly surprised to find pizza that good in small town Idaho.
And Sushi on Second is also very good, again especially given the location. I believe they get their fish flown in more or less daily.

 

[KingGrump]

Snow in early March might be tending to get a little Spring-ish, but should be fine.

A pair of FIS SL would fix that in a jiffy.

 

[kitchener]

...FWIW, it shows this for Steamboat:



...Sun Valley is lower elevation, but quite a bit further north. March, especially early March, is not usually thought of as spring skiing out west. It's possible in a bad year, but most years early March in the Rockies still feels like mid-winter.

Had some great February trips to Steamboat -- I can't recall when in March I was there but the afternoon slush trip was probably the thunderclap moment that led me to seek and find Tony's site in an effort to stack the odds in our favor when planning in November (and without a palantir lol).

But, pretty encouraging. If we wind up skiing in soup after lunch, Dave, yours will be the face we see when we're cursing out loud. LOL!

 

[dbostedo]

If we wind up skiing in soup after lunch, Dave, yours will be the face we see when we're cursing out loud.

I'd be honored. Tell Wayne I said hello too.

 

[kitchener]

I'd be honored. Tell Wayne I said hello too.

I can never get him to decloak, but, he lurks. (those wondering, Wayne is my first cousin who we mutually discovered at a family reunion years back, "oh, you ski?" -- we've been heading out West for a week every year, and at the suggestion of the boss, too. (she's a fair-weather skier, though talk of Sun Valley has her eyeing her boots)

 

[Bill Miles]

Had some great February trips to Steamboat -- I can't recall when in March I was there but the afternoon slush trip was probably the thunderclap moment that led me to seek and find Tony's site in an effort to stack the odds in our favor when planning in November (and without a palantir lol).

But, pretty encouraging. If we wind up skiing in soup after lunch, Dave, yours will be the face we see when we're cursing out loud. LOL!

When it starts getting slushy, best approach is to ski River Run side in the morning, Warm Spring side in the afternoon. Late season, I drive the extra distance to Warm Springs so I don't have to slush my way to the bottom to go home.

Like many places, gets worse once it stops freezing at night.

 

[kitchener]

When it starts getting slushy, best approach is to ski River Run side in the morning, Warm Spring side in the afternoon. Late season, I drive the extra distance to Warm Springs so I don't have to slush my way to the bottom to go home.

Like many places, gets worse once it stops freezing at night.

Just the advice we need. Thanks! The accommodations are divided between the two (less so Warm Springs side) -- outside of the above advantage, any disadvantages to staying in that area versus closer to the River Run area (or Ketchum)?

 

[Bill Miles]

Just the advice we need. Thanks! The accommodations are divided between the two (less so Warm Springs side) -- outside of the above advantage, and disadvantages to staying in that area versus closer to the River Run area (or Ketchum)?

River Run/Ketchum is closer to restaurants/bars etc. Warm Springs has less choices of places to stay.

 

[Darryl]

My wife and I were there in February 2020. Stayed at the Best Western Tyrolean Lodge and took the bus to the hill, and walked or bused to restaurants.

We enjoyed Sawtooth Brewery. Good beer, good food, and we hit trivia night which was a lot of fun.

 

[teejaywhy]

Why are those chairs still sitting at the Warm Springs base?

 

[Bad Bob]

Washington at a quick glance.

Ski Reports in Spokane | krem.com

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Everything could get washed out this week, but such is early season.

 

[Halfskip]

Did the ski bum thing in SV for 3 winters over 20 years ago, still go back from time to time. Love the place for the skiing, food and people. Best breakfast, hands down is the Kneadery.
Quick lunch try amazing sandwiches at Johnny G’s sub shack or KB’s (Ketchum Burrito). Classics after skiing are Apples or Grumpys, even both base lodges can be fun. Drinks at Sawtooth Club, Olympic Bar at Michel’s Christiana, Duchin Lounge and SV Wine Company. Nice dinners try Pioneer Saloon, Sushi on Second, Michel’s Christianas, Ketchum Grill, Knob Hill. Party till the doors close at 2am ish at the Casino or Whiskey’s. Check online for pricing to fit your budget the places I mentioned vary from cheap (relatively speaking) to expensive.