I've skied Sun Valley, Schweitzer, Whistler-Blackcomb, Big Mt. (never Whitefish Mt. Resort!), Vail, Keystone, Winter Park and Breckenridge. I've never enjoyed myself more than at Mt Bachelor.

I got back to Bachelor last March for the first time in 35 years. The mountain was one of the best areas in the PNW back in the mid-70s (long before Whistler-Blackcomb had grown into a mega-resort) and it is even better today.

When I was last there in '77, the only way to ski the whole mountain was to climb the last 1,000' or so, and the NW/Outback area wasn't even on the drawing board. Now, you've got 360-degrees from the summit, if you're good enough.

While Bachelor may not have the steeps of Whistler (often unskiable anyway due to white-out conditions), Bachelor has probably the best snow in the region (including Sun Valley) and gets more of it than any other area. (Mt. Baker may get a bit more, but then it's usually classic Cascade Concrete and the place is overrun with snowboarders.)

Grooming is on par with Sun Valley (miles ahead of Crystal or Whistler-Blackcomb) and the runs are nearly as long as SV with most being more interesting, particularly those off the NW and Outback chairs that pitch and roll nicely through the trees. Truly a cruiser's delight. I logged 50,000' plus vertical over two bluebird days thanks to no crowds and fast lifts.

We're going back in February for a week.