Sparkling white snow. Sloping hills. Chair lifts, parks, rails and jumps.
When thoughts of hitting the slopes come to mind, Arizona isn't usually the most desirable destination. With winter in full swing and hardly any snow on the ground, snowboarders and skiers in the Valley often consider out-of-state options to get their fix. To help out, SPM and the Snowdevils Ski and Snowboard Club have compiled a list of some of the best snowboarding and skiing locations outside of Arizona. Each of the following destinations is within a nine-hour drive from Tempe, so the next time you feel the urge to glide down a mountain - grab some friends, load the car and strap in for a weekend on the slopes.
Durango
Durango Mountain, located in southwestern Colorado, draws visitors for its easy-riding and lengthy slopes. The terrain at Durango "isn't that challenging compared to other mountains," Snowdevils president Nick Stadie says, but adds that the resort and town make Durango worth the visit.
The town of Durango, located about 20 minutes from the mountain, is usually filled with college-age visitors, says undeclared sophomore Angie Scala. "It's a pretty small town but there are always a lot of young people there, especially during snow season," she says.
For experienced skiers and snowboarders, nearby Silverton Mountain is a "really cool alternative to Durango" and offers only guided skiing, Stadie says. Visitors can hire a guide and take on Silverton to experience "serious skiing, fresh tracks and a lot of vertical terrain."
For more information, visit durangomountainresort.com.
Bear Mountain
With 12 lifts, 94 park features and an average yearly snowfall of 100 inches, Bear Mountain has a lot to offer. Known for its terrain-style runs, Bear draws in more advanced skiers and snowboarders who like to spend time in the parks, Stadie says. "A lot of people go to Bear because it's something different," he says. "They have freestyle terrain on almost every run."
Bear Mountain is part of Big Bear Mountain Resorts, which also includes Snow Summit Mountain, located less than two miles away. Night skiing and snowboarding is available at Snow Summit on select weekends, and Bear hosts the only superpipe in southern California - a half pipe that stretches nearly 600 feet long and 77 feet wide.
"Bear is really popular with all of the park riders," Lane says, referring to the snowboarders and skiers who spend their time on jumps and rails. "If that's something you like to do, then Bear's a great mountain for that."
For more information, visit bigbearmountainresorts.com.
Telluride
"The cool thing about Telluride is that it has such a good town to go with it," Stadie says.
Telluride was founded in 1878 and is nestled in the surrounding snow-covered mountains, with the edges of the 8-by-12-block town merging right into the base of the lifts. "The town is picturesque, to say the least, and more than mildly expensive, but totally worth it," says biology senior and Snowdevils member Katie MacCormick.
What's the best thing about Telluride's nightlife? "The bars," Stadie says with a smile. The taverns at Telluride are known for their "old town feel," and help add to the attraction of Telluride as a mountaintop destination, he adds.
Telluride is "not the easiest place for beginners," MacCormick says. "But for anyone who likes to tear down steep [runs] and track through fresh powder in the bowls, this is the place for you."
For more information, visit tellurideskiresort.com.
Wolf Creek
Wolf Creek is a "grassroots, bare-bones kind of mountain," Stadie says. With just one high-speed lift and no restaurants or lodging at the base, Wolf Creek draws its skiers and snowboarders in by boasting some of the best snow in Colorado. "They always advertise the most snow in the state - that's their claim to fame," Stadie says.
The lodging for Wolf Creek is located about 20 miles away in Pagosa Springs, but the nightlife there is "nonexistent," according to Snowdevils vice president Kail Lane. "You just have to hang out with the locals at the bars," Lane says. Nonetheless, the snow quality continues to attract boarders and skiers to the mountain.
"They definitely don't have the biggest runs or lifts, but if you're talking about the quality of snow, Wolf Creek is the best place to go," Lane says.
For more information, visit wolfcreekski.com.
Reach the reporter at: nicole.m.stewart@asu.edu.
