Opinions on vail in December?
- Thread starter jd440
- Start date
Anywhere it will be hard to say. Some years the coverage is great and no worries, other years it is bare as can be. In most cases the snow is fine (not great). What part of December are you talking?
Do you guys already have lodging? Christmas and President's weekend are the two busiest time in the Vail area and prices are high. Our snowmobile club gets a good rate at a hotel in Eagle (about 30 min. West of Vail). Riding is usually ok in December with good powder days, but the base is usually not quite perfect yet. Good riding on Vail Pass and Red & White. Contact me if you need more details on riding, lodging or anything else.
Give me a call, I have just what you are looking for and the area is huge compared to Vail, with better and more consistent snow. Thanks, Mark
Well I don't think that the comment on the snow is true, Mark does have a great lodge up on the Mesa, and it is a great place to ride. Last year was an off year and they dwarfed us in powder. Much more affordable all around. We stayed there last year and rode right out of the lodge area to miles and miles of terrain.
If all you are doing is snowmobiling, go there. If you want to board/ski, hit clubs and pull some @ss, you will like the Vail area. Bring your savings account though.
yep Marks lodge...Thunder Mountain Lodge...is the bomb!
http://www.thundermountainlodge.net/Thunder_Mountain_Lodge/Snowmobiling.html
I think he has rentals on site too.
What do you have for a rental fleet this coming year Mark???
http://www.thundermountainlodge.net/Thunder_Mountain_Lodge/Snowmobiling.html
I think he has rentals on site too.
What do you have for a rental fleet this coming year Mark???
Vail is over-crowded, parking is tiny and you HAVE TO PAY FOR IT! It's clogged with enviro-nazis and twig fairies. Lodging will easily cost you upwards of $250/night and dining, well, if you don't eat fast food, 30-40/night just for food, drinks will bankrupt you.
I have never ridden the Grand Mesa, I have heard very wonderful things and seen some sweet photos and vids. We plan on riding there if the snow is good this season. There are many other different possibilities that are around. You can call Steamboat Lake Outfitters and check with them. We had a large ride there and lodging was pretty decent, they have their own bar and diner, but I would pack your own fuel. Before Xmas is generally a great time to break in a sled or break a sled, your choice. Bug is right, the snow may be deep after a dump but the base is not primed and 36" of fresh will not protect you against a 24" stump or rock. Wait till after the New Year when lodging is cheaper and more available. You can try SOCO, Dizz knows that area very well and has impressed us with his photos and vids. I don't know about lodging but he could help you. Rabbit Ears/Buff Pass has excellent riding but you have to trailer either way 20-30 minutes. Parking can be a b*tch. Lodging is Steamboat is pricey but you can chase ski-bunny tail in the bars when the sun goes down. Dining isn't that expensive. Lodging in Kremmling is cheap compared to either Steamboat or Vail/Summit County but I can guarantee you, there will be no tail chasing, the legal tail you don't want. LMAO! Most guys I know that stay in Kremmling, get home, shower, eat, have a couple brews and go to the room and play on the internets or sleep.
Hope that this helps you. Good luck.
~PJ
I have never ridden the Grand Mesa, I have heard very wonderful things and seen some sweet photos and vids. We plan on riding there if the snow is good this season. There are many other different possibilities that are around. You can call Steamboat Lake Outfitters and check with them. We had a large ride there and lodging was pretty decent, they have their own bar and diner, but I would pack your own fuel. Before Xmas is generally a great time to break in a sled or break a sled, your choice. Bug is right, the snow may be deep after a dump but the base is not primed and 36" of fresh will not protect you against a 24" stump or rock. Wait till after the New Year when lodging is cheaper and more available. You can try SOCO, Dizz knows that area very well and has impressed us with his photos and vids. I don't know about lodging but he could help you. Rabbit Ears/Buff Pass has excellent riding but you have to trailer either way 20-30 minutes. Parking can be a b*tch. Lodging is Steamboat is pricey but you can chase ski-bunny tail in the bars when the sun goes down. Dining isn't that expensive. Lodging in Kremmling is cheap compared to either Steamboat or Vail/Summit County but I can guarantee you, there will be no tail chasing, the legal tail you don't want. LMAO! Most guys I know that stay in Kremmling, get home, shower, eat, have a couple brews and go to the room and play on the internets or sleep.
Hope that this helps you. Good luck.
~PJ
S
snowww1
Well-known member
Vail area is hit or miss in December depending on the storms. Grand Mesa consistently gets more snow and has a much larger riding area (800 square miles) and gets an average of 35 feet of snow a year. I would rather drive 2 hours from my home to the Grand Mesa than ride the Vail area which is much closer. Watch who is getting the snow and then make a decision. Just my .02
S
stingray719
Well-known member
My brother likes to boondock through the trees until he gets hopelessly stuck. I like to tear down a just gromed road in warp drive. When we go to grand mesa neither of us is disapointed.
Last trip to Vail though an idiot boarder/snowmobiler on wrong side of the rode on a blind hill almost caused a wreck of epic proportions. Be ready for much traffic and idiot riders at Vail.....and I used to ride there alot.
In the last 5 years has Vail EVER had more snow than Grand Mesa? Curious, not being a smartass
Last trip to Vail though an idiot boarder/snowmobiler on wrong side of the rode on a blind hill almost caused a wreck of epic proportions. Be ready for much traffic and idiot riders at Vail.....and I used to ride there alot.
In the last 5 years has Vail EVER had more snow than Grand Mesa? Curious, not being a smartass
Yes. In my experience, Vail usually has a deeper base. I don't have statistics and I really don't care who has the most snow, so I'm not talking one or the other up. Seems like GM is huge when it's on and has the potential to be very low base on a bad year. Vail has slow seasons (like last year) but always has a good enough base in Jan-Feb. Last year the mesa was epic and I'm glad I did it. Instead of getting caught on the snow conditions I would determine what you really want for riding conditions. They are very different places and you have no idea what's going to happen with snow. The good news is you can always back out of one and hit the other in about 4 hours time.
Keep in mind that when people talk about "Vail" there are two major areas. Vail Pass, which has every snow monkey you can think of, but there are great places to ride. There is also Red & White which is directly north of the town of Vail. Another great place with groomed roads which is not as big as the mesa. I've had "epic" days on all three!
Before I bought the lodge which was Spruce Lodge and is now Thunder Mountain Lodge on the Grand Mesa, one of my concerns was the consistency of snow depth. Coming from WI I am very familiar with hit or miss winters. The NOAA people were able to furnish snow depths back 10 years. In that time the Grand Mesa never received less than 326" of snow with the most snow received 488". I would say that our snow base on the Mesa is some of the most consistent and rideable you will find anywhere. We have the longest continuous trail in the U.S. (Groomed Constantly) and the boondocking to rival anything you will find. If there is anything the Mesa is lacking is the real steep stuff. Which 99% percent of the people say they want but most will never ride, just look at! We have as steep as anyone just not as much as some areas. Overall, I think the Mesa is some of the best all around riding you will find anywhere with a very consistent snow depth. I have yet to find anyone disappointed with the Mesa. Watch, now it won't snow up here at all this year and I'll look like an idiot! LOL
Grand Mesa Rocks. So does Thunder Mountain Lodge.
Admittedly, I'm biased to Grand Mesa since I live in Grand Junction and ride it all the time. But, I've ridden quite a few places in Colorado including Grand Mesa, Cumbres Pass, South Fork/Wolf Creek, Vail (R&W), Kebler Pass, Flattops, RE, Area 62, Arrowhead, Creede, and Lake City. Of all these spots, my favorite is still Grand Mesa. It has awesome snow and incredible terrain that will make anyone giggle. It's also one of the "safer" areas in terms of avalanche danger - what I mean is that it doesn't have any of the GIGANTIC devastating paths that you'll find in the SJ's, Vail, or Kebler for example. Still have to be vigilant, but it's just easier to stay in safe areas.
Book a weekend with Mark at Thunder Mountain Lodge and you will not regret it. When he says "I have what you are looking for" - he means it. If you want any more beta, I'd be happy to help. PM me.
Admittedly, I'm biased to Grand Mesa since I live in Grand Junction and ride it all the time. But, I've ridden quite a few places in Colorado including Grand Mesa, Cumbres Pass, South Fork/Wolf Creek, Vail (R&W), Kebler Pass, Flattops, RE, Area 62, Arrowhead, Creede, and Lake City. Of all these spots, my favorite is still Grand Mesa. It has awesome snow and incredible terrain that will make anyone giggle. It's also one of the "safer" areas in terms of avalanche danger - what I mean is that it doesn't have any of the GIGANTIC devastating paths that you'll find in the SJ's, Vail, or Kebler for example. Still have to be vigilant, but it's just easier to stay in safe areas.
Book a weekend with Mark at Thunder Mountain Lodge and you will not regret it. When he says "I have what you are looking for" - he means it. If you want any more beta, I'd be happy to help. PM me.
I second Thunder Mountain Lodge. Cool place and they carry fuel. Riding is right out of the door.
