Five Great Ski Resorts Just for Expert Skiers on the West Side of the Continent

The Western United States has become the home to some of the greatest expert ski runs in the country. From Whistler, British Columbia to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The only thing more impressive than skiing these resorts would be to helicopter in somewhere and ski the backwoods making your own trails.

The Western resorts have some of the most challenging trails in the country and are in some of the hottest spots. From the celebrity gawking at Breckenridge and Aspen to the added edition of hitting the casinos after a hard days fun at Kirkwood. The five resorts listed here will give you the toughest challenges of your skiing life.

Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort

Snowmass is Aspen's expert haven. With 91 runs 32 percent of them are expert, 12% are rated most difficult, 50% are rated difficult and 6% are easy. Translation, be prepared to be challenged. New this year to Snowmass is a 22 foot superpipe. The mountain also has nine restaurants and a variety of pro shops for rentals you can access more information here.

All Day passes at Snowmass are priced from:

$360 for an adult four day pass at the window or $284 if purchased in advance
$440 for an adult five day pass at the window or $345 if purchased in advance
$516 for an adult six day pass at the window or $402 if purchased in advance
$602 for an adult seven day pass at the window or $469 if purchased in advance

Lodging for Snowmass ranges from:

$75 a night at the Pokolodi Lodge
$99-139 a night at The Silvertree Hotel
$1000-15000 from one bedroom condos to beautiful chalets.

Breckenridge Ski Resort

Breckenridge Ski Resort located in the Colorado Rockies is famous for two things: celebrities sharing the slopes with you and some of the most daring expert runs in the United States. The most challenging expert runs you can take are located on Peak 10. The highest elevation, and the steepest skiing anywhere await you. For a map of the runs click here.

All Day passes at Breckenridge Ski Resort and include Keystone also:

$213 for an adult three day pass
$260 for an adult four day pass
$295 for an adult five day pass

Lodging for Breckenridge ranges from:

$185-385 a night at the Mountain Thunder Lodge at Peak 8
$310-353 a night at the Crystal Peak Lodge at Peak 7
$367 a night at the Blue Sky Lodge

For a complete run down of options for lodging in Breckenridge please click here.

Mammoth Mountain

Mammoth Mountain is located in the Southern most range of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range off highway 395 and about a six hour drive from Los Angeles or Las Vegas. Mammoth Mountain offers runs for all levels but their expert runs are known throughout the country as some of the most rigorous in the country. If you are in Mammoth, June Mountain is not far away and is Mammoth's sister property and contains a ton more expert runs. Bottom line if you go this far to ski, make a week out of it and enjoy the entire area.

All Day passes at Mammoth Mountain begin at:

$87 for an adult one day pass
$165 for an adult two day pass

Lodging for one night in Mammoth Lakes area can range from:

$205 for a single bedroom condo at Juniper Springs Lodge
$609 for a deluxe three bedroom at The Village Lodge

Whistler Blackcomb

Whistler Blackcomb is located just outside the site of the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. A beautiful location in the Canadian Rockies November of 2009 has been "officially their snowiest month ever." To review the trail map click here . From Xhiggy's Meadow at the top of Blackcomb to challenging runs Angel Dust and Sun Burn this will be a ski vacation you will not soon forget. For a run down of the things to do in Whistler besides skiing click here.

All Day passes at Whistler Blackcomb begin at:

$125-178 for an adult two day pass.
$207-272 for an adult three day pass.

Lodging per night in Whistler Village three locations:

$79-499 for studio suite at Mountain Side Lodge
$109-529 for a room at the Best Western Listel Whistler Hotel
$169-499 for a one bedroom Marriott Residence Inn (actually Upper Whistler)

Kirkwood

Located in beautiful Lake Tahoe, Kirkwood is an expert skiers perfect getaway. Challenging runs, spectacular scenery and wild nightlife await you at this little known gem in the Sierra Nevadas. The Rip Curl K2 Stomping Grounds is one of the expert level areas for Kirkwood. It is located just off Chair 5 and has bigger jumps and kinked rails to challenge the most expert skier. The expert park has been moved to Mokelumne below Home Run. For a breakdown of all runs at Kirkwood click here.

All day passes at Kirkwood begin at:

$69 for an adult day pass.
$111 for two day pass.
$148 for a three day pass.

Lodging for Kirkwood per day starts at:

$159 for weekdays
$199 for weekends
$249 for holidays