What’s the weekend ski scene like in the SF Bay Area?

Moving to the SF Bay Area soon! I’m an intermediate skier looking for more challenge next season. I just finished my second season, and so far I’ve only skied on the East Coast, mainly Killington and Jay Peak. I keep hearing that West Coast skiing is way better, so I’m really excited.

What are some popular ski destinations from SF?

Palisades seems like the best resort, but is it a good option for a weekend or day trip? How bad is the weekend traffic? I’m not a fan of getting stuck in traffic on the way there, and definitely not a fan of spending 20 minutes in a lift line.

Bear Valley and Boreal, especially the night skiing at Boreal, also seem like good options. I usually stay up late, so that sounds great. But they definitely don’t seem as exciting as Palisades.