SLC or Big Sky?

Having missed all of the holiday powder, we've got to get the hell out of Dodge and find some elsewhere. We're planning on going to either Big Sky in Montana, or SLC and ski in the Cottonwoods with our Snoqualmie pass discounts.

This will be in late February, I think -- any thoughts on which place is most "likely" to have good snow? Does Utah hold it longer? Does it get skied out faster? Is it cheap enough in MT to make up for the discounted/free tickets in SLC (though that's not as much a consideration as the snow quality...)

Thanks for any advice! If we end up with a big condo and need bodies to fill it, I'll post again for interested parties...

I like the place with the best snow for the time and projected through the week.
Having spent time at both areas, I lean to the SLC trip, better benefits, more areas to go.
The access to the Wolverine Cirque from Brighton or Solitude is awesome.
You can tour to Alta and catch a bus to take you back to Brighton.

Admittedly have not been to Big Sky since Moonlight basin was added to the mix, which could be a plus.
Bridger lost some of it's luster (TO ME) with the new lift to the ridge, but the telemarkers are rampant in that area!

Do yourself a favor and consider Terrace, Northern BC.

Shames mountian is only tiny but the terrain accessible from the lifts is incredible and the locals BC savvy and friendly and lack of pow is not a concern!

I have contacts if you are interested!!!!

We've spent the last five years skiing Utah Christmas-New Years week and I've spent a bit of time skiing Montana so can comment on both.

The Snoqualmie discount is at Brighton.  In about 10 SLC ski weeks over the years I've never skied at Brighton because all the people I have talked to have not liked it nearly as much as the other resorts.  So I'm a little biased, but wouldn't recommend Utah just to use the Brighton passes.  If your intention is to only do lift skiing with the free passes, Big Sky is probably a better choice but if you want to ski at other ski areas and do some touring, I'd recommend Utah hands down.

Utah:  The other SLC ski areas (Alta, Solitude and Snowbird to a lesser extent) are really nice and the BC is great.  Utah tends to have a more stable snowpack then Montana and gets more snow.  Like all ski resorts, they get tracked out in a day after a storm but the backcountry will be untracked for a few days.

Wasatch backcountry is amazing and very easily accessible. One of our favorite tours is to park a car at the base of Big Cottonwood at the Park and Ride, take a bus to Alta in Little Cottonwood, tour up to the dividing ridge, yo-yo powder and ski out to Big Cottonwood.  Every winter trailhead has a bus stop to take you back to the valley, or you can usually hitch a ride in a few minutes.

Montana:  Big Sky is a huge resort with varied skiing.  You could also ski at nearby Moonlight Basin which I've heard good things about.  If you go to Montana I'd also seriously consider skiing Bridger Bowl at least once -- I think it has better skiing then Big Sky and they just added a new lift that opens up a lot more terrain.

I've done some BC skiing in the Bridgers near Bozeman but am not familiar with the BC skiing near Big Sky.

Don't listen to photo_matt, he has no idea of what he is talking a about... No really he's just my brother and had to give him a little s**t. He does have a good point on what it is your intentions are with your trip. Resort vs. BC. Utah has much more easily accessible BC then Big Sky/Bozeman, but that time of the year could be pretty good in Montana. They normally need a decent amount of snow to ski well, and Moonlight/Big Sky combined are quite the combo with a possible lift serviced 4000 foot north summit snow field run off of lone peak. There is touring in Beehive/Bear Basin just across in the spanish peaks, some good shorter shots, but can be fun. That time of the year the snow tends to be light, deep and some what more stable then now. Bridger Bowl is an entirely different story with the new lift and open gates policy. You can get yourself as scared as you want in a matter of minutes now. The BC in the Bridgers is mainly from the resort now so its hard to justify buying a pass just to jump on the backside and skin for the day, but can ride some lifts then do a few sidecountry laps.

SLC normally just has great snow, and good BC. Its also comes down to what type of trip do you want as far as the social scene. Momo's or some good elk eaten, beer drinking howdy folk. Stay in Bozeman and take the free shuttle bus up to Big Sky if you want to spend the hefty lift ticket. Bridger is cheaper and more local. Regards it will be a good trip and different snow than your use to.

I agree with Joedabaker.  Let the best snow conditions determine your destination if you plan to drive and do not have to make airline reservations.  I've spent time in both regions and also have the free ski pass options at both areas.  Brighton has high speed quads that access all their terrain.  They have backcountry access gates and their sidecountry is quite extensive. Plus you can buy discounted lift tickets to other areas at REI in SLC. Depending on how the season develops, Jill and I will be skiing both regions this year.  But then we are retired and live in our campervsn when we are ski slumming around.