SnowSki from New Zealand writes:
Anyone who says this mountain does not have anything for experts just doesn't know the mountain. It is a large cascading mountain range, as apposed to one mountain, making it difficult for first timers, and even less imaginative 2nd or 3rd timers to find the best lines. But this means these lines can remain untracked most of the day on powder days, unlike what one of the other reviewers said you will not get "only one powder run." Yes, the very most obvious runs will get tracked first but being an immense ski field, if you know what you are doing, you can ski powder all day.
While it is true mountains such as Alta, Jackson Hole, and some European areas have more easily accessible steeps, Europe does not have the same snow quality, and the Utah fields do not have the same diversity and size. I actually found Jackson Hole to be more crowded and the powder there much more quickly tracked, we were forced to hike there with a few hours as just about every person who is there is looking for steep powder lines, and aggressively. At least 50% of Vail patrons are families, maybe more, making it very easy to slip off into the advanced areas and be amongst the powder with a very laxed vibe compared to "powder hound" resorts such as Jackson.
The only resort I have found that I believe is superior all round to Vail in Northern America is BC's Revelstoke, and I have had 'em all good from Canada right through the Cascades and the Rockies. Europe is sick on its day, but the powder is not as light as the Rockies, and is much more avalanche prone if you go off-piste.
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