Ski trip questions...

[Long Cut]

Take a look at Banff Canada before you make a decision. Its not really that much more more expensive than some places in the US and the skiing is top notch. Lots of elk and other wildlife around.

[Rice]

Where you go is up to you. I feel like with a group of beginners the actual town is more important than the complexity of the mountains. I know Breckinridge is a fun town a lot with Aspen and definitely Lake Tahoe as was mentioned.

As far as lessons unless you're as coordinated as radio I don't see you needing more than like an hour lesson. I go all the time and just took my girlfriend and sister (both had never skied) and after an one hour lesson they were capable enough to stop.

DONT spend the entire first day on a bunny slope. They are too crowded and too short to learn. Once you learn to stop and turn which isn't hard go ahead and go up the mountain some. There you will have a lot more ground to ski and learn on. I promise you will learn 10x faster if you just spend about 1 hour max on the bunny slope then go up the mountain. By the end of the first day 2 Unathletic 20ish year old girls were going down the mountain zero problem.

Gear wise I have all Oakley stuff it's pretty nice. It's wind proof water proof ect (basically it's duck hunting stuff but not in camo)
You will want a base layer thermal ($40 ones work great for me) then a hoodie of some sort possibly and then the snow ski jacket (I have both Oakley and north-face both are good)

Snow pants are a def must. I bought a cheap pair on amazon for like $30 that work great. Honestly they are warmer to me than the Oakley ones I have.

Oakley and spy goggles are the only two I have owned and both are polarized which helps when at the top of a mountain and it's a blizzard. Go ahead and spend money on the goggles. Get good ones that don't fog up. Nothing can ruin a trip faster than playing Stevie wonder skiing down the mountains.

A toboggan for the ears is a must. I put my goggles over it to hold it there. Also I wear a neck garter that I can pull up over my face. Your face will be chapped bad if you don't. It honestly to me is the absolute must have that most people may skip on.

I have columbian 3 point gloves they are about $40 and work great for me no problems.


Goggles over head gear to keep the ears warm





The neck garter is a must have I promise.



You will want nice goggles at the top when it's looking like that.

[hillhunter]

Snowmass (aspen) hands down. Lots of ski in ski out in Snowmass, and can take a short ride to aspen for the lady's to shop, eat, do whatever if they want. I never did ski school, but would not be totally against it if you have never been, especially if your taking kids. You don't want to be trying to teach yourself, and take care of your kids at the same time. If your athletic at all, a half day should do it. Someone mentioned Virginia, only go there if you wanna ski on ice. The first time I skied it was with my cousins who live in VA, it made skiing out west a piece of cake cause east coast skiing sucks.

Drink plenty of water, even when your not thirsty, then drink some more. Stock up on phinergin, cause if you have a big group, someone WILL get altitude sickness. Lay off the heavy alcohol, one drink in high altitude is like three in MS. Try and work your quads and calves some before you leave. You use them the WHOLE time you are in skis.

[blkdout]

the one and only time I have been was to Steam boat for Music Fest. If you are in to the Texas red dirt country its alot of fun. http://themusicfest.com/ Me and my wife went for the week and drove out there. If you have never been out there its a nice drive. Once we got there though my truck never left the parking garage. We could either walk or take the shuttle where ever we had to go. We stayed at a ski in/ ski out and that was nice although we didn't ski very much due to lack of talent. If I ever go back it will probably be to steamboat just wont drive this time.

[Jrh215]

sunscreen is a must too in my book. you'll get roasted on a sunny day and won't even realize it. we always went in march over spring break. good weather not too cold unless you get a snow storm come in. Most days i was fine in a long sleeve shirt and wind/water proof jacket.