Two friends of mine would like to go skiing for 3-5 days somewhere out west in early December. One has never really been skiing and needs some easy slopes and/or lessons. The other is an accomplished skier who hasn't skiied often in the US. They'll be flying in from the east coast so their options are open but someplace pretty easily accessible to a decent airport would be nice. Any thoughts or suggestions on where you'd send them?

wait a month and see where the good snow is...

What crackers said, but in general Utah or the Sierras will be better than Colorado that time of year(well, actually all the time, but especially then).

The earliest I have skiied was November 17 at Killington. Upper half of 5 trails was open.
It was strange to have to ride the chair up from the mid station to the top, get off, then get back on to come down, with skis in hand.

You gotta wait and pray until at least the week before your planned weekend. I have had plans dashed by a few warm, snow melting days prior to my trip.

http://members.aol.com/crockeraf/index.htm go to this site... this guy has put together the most snow fall data i have ever seen.. he list the best chances for snow , when and were..

one year i skied killington on holloween.. upper cascade......boy it sucked

last year i was getting face shots at alta in mid october, though i had to skin up under the lifts to do it. brighton opened on halloween though, and the snow was better than it ever was the year before in colorado.

you can't beat Jackson Hole's packages available through Jackson Hole Central Reservations. Check them out on the website. I'm headed back for my third year in a row.

CO (Denver ) is your best bet. Loveland is due to open up next week. About 2 hours from Denver. By Dec the Basin should be open, Breck, and Keystone as well. All 2 - 2.5 house from Denver.

By early december, virtually every major ski area in the west will be open.

It is stupid to guess what the weather will be.

In three weeks, half of the ski areas within 45 min of downtown salt lake will be open...

Loveland is OPEN! Wahoo!!!!!
-Carissa