Unless you get really lucky, you are not likely to find any resort (Including A-Basin) open with anything more than a few green and blue trails by the middle of December. How many would be dependent on how much natual snow comes down.
Likely the only open terrain would be that opened as a result of snowmaking, and resorts focus that first on greens and a few blues.Thus. blacks would likely be non existent.
I'd be surprised if you'd find more than 10% of terrain open by EOM November -- maybe 20% (if you are lucky) be mid December.
My point of reference I've skied early season Summit County for something like 30 years.
Copper and A-Basin open earlier than most in CO.
Both on IKON pass, along with Steamboat, Winter Park, Eldora....
Stay in Silverthorne or Frisco, right in the middle.
That's been my Go-To plan in past years.
Yeah I would agree with Bob that late Nov/early Dec is not going to be so great for skiing. I've often heard folks doing fairly well at that time frame at Grand Targhee ski area in WY about an hour west of Jackson, WY. It's a smaller ski area, but big by mid-Atlantic standards. It usually gets early season snow and has a lot of low-medium angle terrain that skis well with a modest snowpack. The town of Driggs, 10 miles from Grand Targhee has a few bars and restaurants that could possibly support a low key bachelor party gang. Jackson WY has a lot of fun bars, restaurants, shops that could be good for that, but again the skiing there would likely be quite limited. Maybe you could do a JH/GT combo trip?
Or Could you do a ski destination wedding in January?? That would open up most ski areas in North America.
If you stick with Dec trip and can accept focusing more on the party aspect than the skiing aspect, then places like Vail, Breckenridge, Aspen, Park City might be fun? They'd be open on limited terrain, but have lots of bars and restaurants.
In order for A-Basin to be worthwhile early season, the Lenawee Express lift
needs to be operating so you can ski from top to bottom. Great views up there.
Copper and Eldora are probably better for beginners. FYI:
This season's opening days were: AB 10/29, Eldora 11/3, Copper 11/13.
I've only really been paying attention the last couple of years but I don't think A-Basin usually has much open until mid-december. They will get a few runs on the lower mountain open in late October or early November but getting Lenawee lift open takes several more weeks. Happy to be corrected by those who have paid attention for longer!
Late season of course is a different story.
I'll throw in an idea you didn't ask about: hurry and do it this Spring. You'll definitely have snow and you won't be cutting it so close to your wedding.
My best friend from college did this (he had moved to CO) and our group had a variety of skill levels including one guy who had never skied but wanted to try it. My advice is everyone should be honest with each other. I was only getting three days of skiing in and I was in CO. I was like I'm not giving lessons or spending the day waiting, but I can't wait to have beers together at the end of the day. And at the end of the day, we were all still friends. (Truthfully the group kind of self segregated -- the good skiers went off together and the beginners stuck together. But we all did beers and dinner out every night and had a blast).
I'd say shift the party as late as possible, maybe right before the wedding. That is a tough time. Maybe Aruba ?
I would have to vote for Summit County. You have Abasin and Copper on iKon, and in between Keystone and Breck on Epic, plus Loveland which is not to be overlooked. There are lots of pass options but going to be $$ either way. They are either all going to suck or not. Good selection of pubs etc... you might spend more money on bar tabs.
Agree with Denis; however, for a batchelor party you sort of have to plan the dates.
Brighton is one of the early openers that relies much less on natural snow than the others. They have a pretty decent setup and Boyne is aggressive with snowmaking - even in Utah. They've been the most reliable early IME.
They'll usually have Crest, Magestic and Snake usually open fairly early (before Thanksgiving), with night skiing starting mid-December. Pick up some of their go cards or an early season pass good until Christmas and you can go pretty cheap.
Maybe the Canadian Rockies would be more reliable early?
Crush wrote:
A-Basin is most likely a success. Utah can be tricky either 100% or not so much.
Flying up to Banff has worked well for a few of my friends who wanted an early season trip before Christmas.
What I and my crew started doing a few years ago was make Wolf Creek Ski Area our early season destination. WCSA was 100% open by the week of Dec. 11 in 2021, 2022, and 2023. This season and 2021-22 were low snow situations in Colorado. There is enough mellow trees and glade terrain that it's possible to have fun in fresh snow if you know where to go and have rock skis. There is enough snowmaking on core groomers so that people who ski greens and blues have top-to-bottom runs off high-speed lifts. Our priority as retirees is the skiing, not the aprés.
Go South Lake Tahoe Nevada-side has worthy casinos and nightlife that Alan and Chow would appreciate. 😁
pagamony wrote:
Maybe the other option is Reno and just ski it if you can. :)
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