East West Hospitality’s Post

Standout glade terrain isn’t exclusive to west of the Mississippi, and it’s hard to find a better example than Jay Peak Resort in all of North America according to PeakRankings. Vermont’s northernmost ski resort already lands in the upper echelon of the state thanks to its well-designed intermediate-to-advanced glade areas, which provide dedicated tree terrain with wide enough spacing for skiability but tight enough features to make them interesting. But two qualities especially put Jay Peak over the top versus its in-state rivals: the resort’s abnormally high snowfall totals, which allow the glades to fill in much more reliably than most other East Coast mountains, and the insane, tram-serviced Jay Peak Face Chutes, which are home to what’s easily the most favorable wind-blown glades you’ll find anywhere—assuming you can handle them.

Utah’s Deer Valley just announced what will probably be the biggest ski resort terrain expansion of the decade. This ski-only resort—snowboarders aren’t allowed—says it will be adding over 3,700 acres of new skiable terrain, allowing it to nearly triple in size to 5,726 acres—and making it, by our calculations, the fourth largest ski resort in North America. Here are our thoughts on this ambitious project: https://lnkd.in/ebZbmKr7

Are you an experienced skier or snowboarder looking for a challenge? Black diamond terrain might be just what you need. These ungroomed slopes are generally anything greater than 25 or 30 degrees, but the trail ratings can vary depending on the mountain. For example, in 2019, Big Sky Ski Resort in Montana updated its ratings to include triple black diamonds to denote high-consequence areas. As the terrain becomes more difficult, different challenges present themselves such as rocks, cliffs, moguls, trees, snow conditions, and more. However, it can be hard to gauge the difficulty, especially when variable snow conditions can greatly affect the terrain. Are you up for the challenge of black diamond terrain

When you start the conversation and begin exploring a heliski holiday it usually begins with where, weather/snow conditions and who’s going to go. But knowing each person’s ABILITY allows you to zero in on the where that have the terrain and meets that ability. Then it’s the BUDGET leading to type of PACKAGE and personal requirements. ABILITY - you don’t need to be a pro but you do need to ski or board well. Every operator knows their terrain and who is best suited for that terrain. From chest-deep powder to wind-whipped crust, wide-open alpine to steep and narrow trees, you will need to be able to navigate the challenges of varied conditions. PACKAGE time of season # of days # of people THE BUDGET Classic – 3 groups of 4,5 or 6 Semi Private – 2 groups of 4 or 5 Private – 1 group Private Villa – 1 group Lodge Buyout – up 10 - 12 Your next step should be to get in touch with Heliski Holiday and take the “added value” advantage of the Premium FREE Service. Thank you to the contributing operators who have always supported and allowed me to share their knowledge. LAST FRONTIER HELISKIING BELLA COOLA HELISKIING NORTHERN ESCAPE HELISKIING SKEENA HELISKIING To review the Heliski OPERATORS who have supported and are featured on Heliski Holiday, https://bit.ly/3Qird1I

Took this photo at the base of Whistler this week. One of the top ski resorts in North America, yet no snow to be found below 1,200 meters altitude. The Pacific Coast and the Rocky Mountains have experienced record lows, with some areas recording the lowest snow levels since measurements began in the 1960s. Of course, this year has been affected by El Niño, a recurring weather pattern that occurs every 2 to 7 years and has been doing so for millions of years, leading to warmer winters. However, these weather patterns are becoming increasingly intense. In the winter, it's becoming more difficult to see snow like we did 20 years ago. In the summer, it's a whole different story, with wildfires increasing in size and frequency. P.S. For avid skiers like me, there's good news: a cold front and a large snowstorm are finally expected this weekend across the Pacific Northwest, potentially saving our winter.

The impact of weather on outdoor activities and hospitality can't be overstated! As March began, ski areas across North America experienced wildly varying weather, from too much snow in the West to the arrival of early spring and even rain the East. Ski Area Management (SAM) Magazine reports on the best and worst weather for ski areas in recent days ⬇️ https://hubs.li/Q02nkfKY0

If you follow me on LinkedIn (here: https://lnkd.in/dzcqjpQf ) you know that I used to ski in Serre Chevalier Briançon and that some of my family live there. Can the Vail Resorts Epic Pass business model come to Europe? What do you think SkiStar AB and Compagnie des Alpes? After all Crans-Montana has been bought by Vail Resorts last year. Indeed, Colorado ski resorts, led by Vail Resorts, are revolutionizing pricing with season passes. Early commitment yields cheap skiing while daily rates soar. Result? Record visits, but locals feel crowded out (see article in The Economist today: https://lnkd.in/gGAd9Spp ). Vail Resorts's growth faces challenges amid housing and transit woes. Skiing mirrors broader market trends: market power drives profit via price discrimination, but at the cost of access and community concerns. #skipass #vailresort #marriott #clubmed #serrechevalier

A rapidly rising star in North America's ski scene, how is Big Sky, MT, affecting the local community and region around it, and why are some people concerned? Read the full article on SnowBrains.com:

Above-average powder days in the 2023-24 season forecast? Yes please. “If the jet stream indeed pushes south as expected, ski resorts in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah are poised to reap the rewards of enhanced snowfall,” said Mike Richardson, meteorologist with OpenSnow. Specifically, Richardson predicts that resorts like Telluride, Taos and Purgatory in Colorado and Wolf Creek and Red River in New Mexico could see snow totals exceeding 200 inches. Similarly, Utah gems like Snowbird, Powder Mountain and Sundance may also hit the jackpot with above-average powder days. https://lnkd.in/gHB9yxhA