TABLE OF CONTENTS: The West
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By: Matt Harvey

1. Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

Steeps: *****
Pow: ****
Park: *****
Nightlife: *****
Ticket Price: $81

For five years running, Whistler Blackcomb has sat at the top of our Resort Guide list. Not only in its region, but in the entire continent. The resort has everything anyone could ever want in a resort: great steeps easily lift-accessed, epic powder to cover the big peaks, a terrain park for every level of rider with a plethora of jumps, rails and pipes, and last but certainly not least, one hell of a nightlife. Whistler is one of the only places in the world where in a single descent you can rip a gnarly chute, shred some bumps, throw your new tricks in a park, dodge through some trees, scream down a groomer, and take your skis off and walk the 20 steps to a bar. It’s a true skier’s paradise, and if you’ve never been, make sure it’s the next place you visit.

2. Mammoth Mountain, California

Steeps: ****
Pow: ****
Park: *****
Nightlife: ***
Ticket Price: $78 (2006-07 season)

Mammoth has consistently ranked at the top of our park and pipe lists, attracting pros from around the world for pre- and post-season training. But it’s not just the park that makes Mammoth our number two pick in the West. Often overlooked, Mammoth has epic big-mountain skiing, easily accessible from the multitude of high-speed lifts. Runs like Grizzly and Shaft beg to be shredded when the big dumps come (and they often do), with the wind buff keeping the snow fresh for hours at a time. For park fanatics, Mammoth is a must-see destination. The jumps are built to perfection, polished throughout the day, and the scene is big. Generally dominated by snowboarders, the line-ups for the jumps can get big on the weekends, but it’s worth the battle. The best time to hit up the park is in the spring, where you can chill on the deck when you’re done and watch the action in the superpipe and lower hits while enjoying a brew.

3. Squaw Valley, California

Steeps: *****
Pow: ****
Park: ***
Nightlife: ****
Ticket Price: $69

Squaw Valley is legendary. It is one of the only places in North America, rivaled perhaps only by Jackson, with a lift that has a recognizable — if not infamous — name: KT-22. The lift drops skiers into some of the best terrain in the country, if not the entire world. Check out the Headwall, the Palisades, Silverado and Granite Chief, all a quick ride away, and all movie and magazine worthy. The name of the game at Squaw is terrain; so much so that all other elements — like park and nightlife — seem a distant thought. With terrain that good, it’s no wonder Squaw has produced skiers like Shane McConkey, Kent Kreitler, Scott Gaffney, CR Johnson and Michelle Parker, to name just a few. Get in shape, calm your nerves and head up KT-22 at least one time this season.

4. Heavenly, California

Steeps: ***
Pow: ***
Park: ***
Nightlife: *****
Ticket Price: $ 73 (2006-07 season)

Heavenly is a massive, sprawling, 4,800-acre resort located on Lake Tahoe and offers the most astonishing views in the area. Although intermediate runs rule here, the steeps in Mott and Killebrew Canyons offer up good lines for the expert in you. When you’re done shredding in the bowls, what better way to end a day than by screaming down an intermediate groomer switch? Heavenly’s base area is a party in a box. With a wide variety of casinos in nearby South Lake Tahoe, there is never any chance of running out of things to do once you’re done skiing. Check out the accommodation offerings at Harvey’s Casino and go party at the Montbleu Resort Casino & Spa, an übertrendy spot with a huge gambling floor (including a sweet new poker room) and music spun by world-famous DJs.

5. Mt. Baker, Washington

Steeps: *****
Pow: *****
Park: **
Nightlife: *
Ticket Price: $41

Say the words “Mount Baker” at a party and the first thing you will hear back, without fail, is: “Dude, they get so much snow, it’s so sick!” Seriously, give it a try. The rumors are true: Mount Baker gets more snow, on average, than any other resort in the lower 48. In the ’98-’99 season, Baker recorded a national record of 1,140 inches of snowfall. That’s 95 feet! But hey, the Arctic gets a lot of snow, too, and you don’t see anyone skiing there. The terrain at Baker is what puts it in our top list of resorts on the West. It’s the closest thing in the West to Alaskan-style ridges and lines, all a quick trek from the lifts. The in-bounds stuff is great, but to get a real taste of Baker, you’re going to want to head out of bounds. Head up Chair 8 and shred the Shuksan Arm, a hero ridge visible from the chair. Then ski it again. Don’t look for parties or a banger park here, though. Baker is all about shredding big mountain.