>>8.5 feet of snow in the last week is nothing to sneeze at. Kirkwood was my favorite. Highway 88 from the central valley would close during big storms, but access from NV was not an issue. Awsome skiing with no lift lines! They don't ever get real powder though.. Just too warm.
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>Here's hoping you get the chance to drive to the mountains and cough up the current lift ticket price soon. None of us are getting any younger but there is always muscle memory. As my ski instructor said, don't worry about wiping out or getting hurt and just let those skis run. She said this is weird but you're much safer if you do it that way.

Just coming back from a couple of days in switzerland (a dream of pulver snow last week - each day 20 cm of crunching powder added at minus 18 celsius). Nearly noboby on the slopes as it was pre-season and no lines at the lifts.

Only thing I bemoan is the attempt to turn every run into a broad, well plastered highway - the stretches with buckles and hills are "too dangerous" this day and age...