Advice needed for first Colorado trip

[Kerovick]

I'm about to begin planning my fisrt Colorado Ski trip. I have never been out west before and the biggest Mountain I have ever skied is WF(and It only had excelsior open at the time). My Friend that I'm going out with has been there before. We are planning for the trip to be about 7 days sometime in Match 07. The days are completlly negotiable. Both of us are (east coast) double black skiers. I need get into some deep powder for the first time ever and also would like to hit some more challenging terrain than what I've experienced thus far. I have also never skied glades before (but I want to Oh so bad!)

My main questions are:
Should we fly into Denver or Colorado springs? Is one gonna be cheaper that the other?

Which resorts should we hit? My short list are Arapoe Basin, Winterpark and Loveland but I've never been to any of them so I don't know how they are in March. Are they crowded? Expensive? Better chance of powder days at one over the other? Bad choices all around? Suggestions?

Cheap lodging?

Any other genral tips for planning a ski trip that a first timer would benifit from?

Thanks in advance for all the advice!

Kerovick

 

[dmc]

Hit Summit County...
Stay in Brekenridge... Ski Copper, Abasin, Breck, Keystone...

 

[smootharc]

Are you fixed on Colorado ?

Just curious....as the west is a big place....and jonesing for deep powder could, in theory, suggest other Western states as perhaps offering better rolls of the dice.

Just my .02

 

[Geoff]

Just curious....as the west is a big place....and jonesing for deep powder could, in theory, suggest other Western states as perhaps offering better rolls of the dice.

Just my .02

Food for thought:
3+ million people live within an hour and change from Summit County. Many of them have inexpensive season passes and can blow off work on a powder day. The Powder Nazi density on I-70 is enormous.

You've at least picked some of the better ski areas in the region for snowfall (those three average 350" or so per year). Overall, Colorado isn't the best place to go for big snowfall.

Take a look at Tony Crocker's data at http://bestsnow.net/
Mt Baker gets 650"+, Snowbird/Alta get 500"+ and there are a bunch of places like Squaw/Alpine Meadows, Kirkwood, Whistler, and Targhee that get 450"+.

From the east coast, Snowbird/Alta is the obvious choice since it's the only place with truly big snow where you can hop on a plane at 8am and be skiing by noon and then ski until 2:00pm on your last day and still catch your flight home. If you don't want to share the mountain, a Jackson Hole/Targhee trip would burn more travel time but your odds of getting untracked runs are better.

The other way to ensure good skiing surface is to go to smaller resorts with fixed grip lifts. You don't need the huge snowfall if nobody is there to share it with you.... like Mad River Glen in the east. I now go to small places people ignore like Ski Santa Fe, Wolf Creek, and Monarch.

 

[RIDEr]

Hit Summit County...
Stay in Brekenridge... Ski Copper, Abasin, Breck, Keystone...

I concur with DMC. Staying in Breck will provide you access to all of the Vail Resorts among others... I would definately check out 'Monarch (hour west of Breck)' if you have a chance. They are the Grand Targhee of Colorado... meaning, they get a ton of snow..

Otherwise, head to Telluride with a 2 day trip to Wolf Creek (SouthWest side of the rockies). The town in Wolf Creek isn't much, but you won't even think about the town after you have an epic day on the mountain with freshie's all over...

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

I agree with Geoff....flying into SLC is perfect, close to alta with great transportation (you dont need a car)....

 

[RISkier]

Some thoughts with the caveat that we've not skied CO, but have been doing a lot of research trying to plan a trip this year. We skied Utah winter before last. In terms of price and convenience to the airport it's very tough to beat. If cost is a big issue I'd definately consider staying at one of the many hotels that offer package deals in the Sandy or Midvale areas. You can get packages that include lift tickets to Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, or Brighton, plus breakfest, and lodging for 2 people for around $169 / night. The Best Western Cottontree has gotten good recommendations here and good reviews on tripadvisor. But many other hotels offer similar packages. Biggest disadvantage is that your not staying in a ski resort, it's basically the suburbs of SLC. Biggest advantages are proximity to the SLC airport, price, and relatively easy access to tons of skiing. It also gives you the about the highest probability of powder.

In CO I think it would be less expensive and more convenient to fly into Denver for most of the resorts you've mentioned. From what I can tell, some of the least expensive accomodations you could find would be in the Dillon/Silverthorne area. Dillon, Silverthorne, and Frisco are close to Copper, Breckenridge, Keystone, Araphahoe Basin, and 25-30 miles from Vail. Loveland also wouldn't be too far though I think you have to go over a pass to get there. My impression is that Dillon and Silverthorne are not much to wright home about in terms of being upscale. Frisco is reputed to have a very nice main street area but seems to be more expensive for accomodations. Breckenridge is reputed to be very lively with lots of off-slope action, that said, from what I can read I suspect I'd prefer the skiing at Copper or Arapahoe Basin. We haven't decided what we're going to do this year, but based on everything I look at, it's tough to beat UT in terms of bang for the buck.

 

[marcski]

definitely summit county, a-basin, copper, breck, keystone and vail is just beyond the pass.

I also agree with others, and having been to both, I ski utah now every year. Nothing beats the 45 min shuttle to alta. And with mucho options in the valley you can't go wrong.

 

[wintersyndrome]

Hit Summit County...
Stay in Brekenridge... Ski Copper, Abasin, Breck, Keystone...

I concur, though I have read on here that the I-70 Corridor is loaded with Powder Nazis...this is also TRUE...you may also want to hit up Wolf Creek, or consider Telluride or Crested Butte, if you like it steep. As for where to saty Dillon and silverthorne may not offer much, but they are right next to the highway and in the middle of lots of Options, plus steamboat is an hour anda half north as well.

Just a tip, those altitudes can be troublesome to fresh, "Sea-Level" Lungs

 

[dmc]

If i were to hit Colorado this year - I'd hit Crested, Teluride, Wolf Creek and Silverton... BUT - I'm crashing at a friends place in Jackson in March and doing a hut trip in Canada in April... I do intend on making it back to Co... The weather is incredible...

BUT - the Summit County area is still pretty sweet.. Lot's of options..

 

[thaller1]

I stayed in Leadville last year (about 30-60 minutes from Arapahoe, Vail, Loveland and Copper) ..if you fly into Denver take your time driving to the ski areas. i-70 sucks..there's no other way to put it.

When it snows there it's unbelievable..we travelled every day through a mountain pass with no sand or salt on the roads.. very little in the way of guardrails and the locals think it's perfectly safe to travel at speeds in excess of 60 mph through the mountains. So don't panic!..

However, if you are just there to ski.. Copper and Vail are "musts".. especially if the bowls are open. Don't let people discourage you from Vail. We had the time of our lives..theres a little ski rental shop in Lion's Head that rents for 1/2 the price of the others. Bring your own food!! It's EXPENSIVE... drink plenty of water and don't let your body fool itself into thinking you are not hungry. It's easy to drop 10 lbs in a few days there due to dehydration and loss of appetite.

I haven't been to Steamboat or Telluride, but I hear they are amazing... but hard to get to. If you are looking to get in a few resorts...try to stay in and around the Loveland Pass/Summit County area... IMO...

Oh, and I hope you like breakfast burritos!

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

Hit Summit County...
Stay in Brekenridge... Ski Copper, Abasin, Breck, Keystone...

What Dmc said, u dont have to stay in Breck though, Winter Park, Vail , and Beaver Creek are also easy drives all less than an hour..

 

[AHM]

I'd actually skip the front range and most of CO..............

Front range skiing (Summitt County, stretched to Vail and BC) is crowded, pow can go quick, and really it isn't all that steep (yep, I hear ya on A-basin).

Southwestern CO a bit better and the chance for more pow (chance is key here). For a more hard core CO trip, with a bit of std CO thrown in you could consider this:

Couple days at Telluride to get your ski legs. It's a neat town, I have found lodging for 2 for 100.00 night in March at Easter booked last minute (2004). Then I would head to Silverton (Thurs - Sun). Your actual best bet for CO pow is Silverton on Thurs as the area is not open on Mon - Wed, so any fresh that falls on those days you get. Silverton will test your ability, and you will need to hike, but you have a good chance of finding pow. You'll need to rent avi gear from them and I would go guided, although for this season they are supposedly allowing un guided groups in some of it. From Silverton you can go to either Wolf Creek or Durango (Purgatory). Each should offer some pow and off the beaten track, with cheap lodging easy to find as neither is a destination resort. You can also spice it up with a day touring in Red Mt Pass or Wolf Creek pass. Use San Juan Mt Guides for that. This would be a pow guarantee if the avi danger is good to go. You would fly this whole trip in and out of Durango. You could also go with the Geoff suggestion of Monarch. Crested Butte lacks for snow, that's all there is to it.

Many suggested SLC and I would agree with that option. It will be cost effective, high probability of good snow and ski on day in and out. Howwever, a dump at Alta and SB gets hammered fast. On a big dumper if you can get up to Solitude, it will be less crowded, but still the snow brings out the SLC posse en force.

With each CO/UT option, you will need to consider the altitude, it will have some effect. To avoid that, and still get the pow, try Nelson BC and whitewater, Rossland BC and Red Mt and Fernie BC and Fernie. Each will provide big snows, cheap lodging, cheap tickets and a great road trip. Fly into Spokane WA and drive to Rossland, then to Nelson and finally to Fernie. In comparable snow, this will blow SLC and Alta-Snowbird away. The pow will last for days, and the terrain and hikable terrain will be huge. Don't let Whitewater's vert worry you, Whitewater has more hikable terrain than most ever will. There is a reason so many never leave Rossland and Nelson. Check it out. Summitt county and CO will be there, unchanged really, forever. BC is still somewhat undiscoverd by most Americans.

Having skied the western US for over 30 years, I'll take BC every time.

 

[tirolerpeter]

CO trip advice

Kerovic, what month are you planning on making your trip? Are you going to be doing it during one of the "Holiday Weeks?" What airport will you be departing from? These are important factors regarding snow conditions, lodging costs, and slope crowding. There is some fantastic skiing in CO (I have done a couple of week long trips to all the Summit County areas in the past.) and I am assuming your travel buddy has enjoyed some of it. However, as a "first" trip out west I have to agree with RISkier...try Utah. There is no place that you can reach as easily, stay as cheaply, and enjoy such diversity of terrain as in the Salt Lake City area. Last season, a friend of mine (who had never been west) called me to ask me to join him and a friend of his (who had been to CO a couple of times)to make a CO run. I countered with a suggestion to do UT instead considering the limited time period that he (owns a retail business) had to deal with. Economics wasn't an issue for either of them. They agreed to try UT with me. Both of them spent the first two days with their jaws hanging open at the terrain and snow conditions we had. In fact, two weeks after we got home, my friend's friend contacted us and talked us into a second run out there three weeks later. Three full days (neither of them could have lasted a fourth anyway) of skiing including ALL costs (Air, lodging, lifts, car, food, airport parking cost us about $700 each. My $.02 ! BTW, go to < skiutah.com > and send for the booklet. It covers all the resorts, and a number of people here can give tips on lodging away from the actual resorts, but not more then a 30 or 45 minute drive from any one of them.

 

[Dr Skimeister]

Colorado...

Another option is Steamboat. Less crowded, very good snow. Fly into Hayden, take the van into Steamboat. Excellent transportation system so you won't need a car. And a wide range of trail choices.

 

[Geoff]

Another option is Steamboat. Less crowded, very good snow. Fly into Hayden, take the van into Steamboat. Excellent transportation system so you won't need a car. And a wide range of trail choices.

I guess it depends on what "We're both eastern double black skiers" means. Personally, I'm very entertained skiing Steamboat but an adreno-junkie would sneer at the place since it doesn't have "no fall zone" high pucker factor steep terrain. By eastern standards, it's plenty steep. The numbered chutes at the very top are short but have some decent pitch. Rolex is as steep as an Outer Limits or White Heat. It's loaded with nice advanced terrain and nicely spaced apen trees. If your frame of reference is Snowbird, Jackson Hole, or Whistler, it's somewhat wimpy.

The town certainly ain't Aspen. It's OK but there's not all that much up on the mountain and you have to take the bus loop to town. On the flip side, you can stay in town on the bus loop and save bucks on lodging.

Steamboat does get busy but nothing like Summit County on weekends. It also does a ton of family business so there's somewhat less competition for the goods on a powder day.

I believe Continental still runs a Saturday non-stop from Newark to Hayden. If I lived in NYC, that's superb access since the van ride is only about 25 minutes.

 

[Kerovick]

We are meeting my friend's sister (who lives in Co.) out there so we definitlly can't goto any Utah resorts althought you all have pecked my curiosity about them, I ordered the skiutah brochure. We had a 3-way conference call last night and seem to be leaning heavilly towards spending the 4 days of skiing at crested butte (or crusty butt as my inner child calls it) Anyone ever been there before? Impressions?



The other ones dicussed where:
Winter Park -probally out of the running cause both of them have been there multi times
Cooper Mountain
A-basin
Wolf creek- website didn't mention and high speed lifts
Loveland.

to answer some Questions:
We will be leaving from BWI
We have not yet set a date for the trip
As for the "east coast double black skiers" comment we are both comfy on a steep pitch with moguls but would be a little freaked out to suddenlly finding our selves skiing off a cliff! Tree skiiing sounds like a lot of fun though!
My friends sister will be meeting us at the airport and driving us where ever we end up.

Thanks again for everyones advice/opinons

Kero

 

[Jonni]

I'll add another vote to the Summit County option. I went there just after school vacation got done and went during the week. Breck was busy as usual, but not unbearably crowded at all during the week. I don't think I waited more than a minute in a lift line. Skiied Copper two of the 7 days we were there on a powder day and loved it. Copper is nice that it has different zones/pods of skiing pretty much going from right to left. Right hand side is easy stuff left hand side is blacks/double blacks. I wasn't able to get to A-Basin or Keystone, but I highly recommend the area itself.

 

[Geoff]

We are meeting my friend's sister (who lives in Co.) out there so we definitlly can't goto any Utah resorts althought you all have pecked my curiosity about them, I ordered the skiutah brochure. We had a 3-way conference call last night and seem to be leaning heavilly towards spending the 4 days of skiing at crested butte (or crusty butt as my inner child calls it) Anyone ever been there before? Impressions?



The other ones dicussed where:
Winter Park -probally out of the running cause both of them have been there multi times
Cooper Mountain
A-basin
Wolf creek- website didn't mention and high speed lifts
Loveland.

to answer some Questions:
We will be leaving from BWI
We have not yet set a date for the trip
As for the "east coast double black skiers" comment we are both comfy on a steep pitch with moguls but would be a little freaked out to suddenlly finding our selves skiing off a cliff! Tree skiiing sounds like a lot of fun though!
My friends sister will be meeting us at the airport and driving us where ever we end up.

Thanks again for everyones advice/opinons

Kero

I spent a week at Crested Butte last winter. The skiing to looker's left off the surface lift will give an eastern double black skier some serious pucker factor. The skiing on looker's right at the boundary line is also interesting. Down the front, there's one rickety double chair on the upper mountain I really enjoyed. At the bottom of that lift, there's an outdoor bar made from snow called the Ice Bar that's worthy of a cocktail or three. The rest of the mountain is pretty uninspired anywhere USA groomers. You do not want a car. There's squat for parking both at the resort and in-town. You really want slopeside lodging since the bus loop from town is complete mayhem at peak periods. The restaurant and bar scene in town is pretty good. Access from Gunnison is a fairly flat improved road along a riverbed until you get to town. If the plane lands, you'll have no issues getting the 45-minute shuttle van to the resort. If the airport is shut for weather, you're screwed. The roads completely suck driving from Denver and it's probably a 4+ hour ride on dry roads. I bought lift tickets on eBay for half price.

 

[Beartrap]

I have been to A-Basin, Keystone, Loveland, and Winter Park. Here is my two cents.

A-Basin- Went for a few hours because our Keystone ticket let us ski it. Was not bad, the day we went it was snowing like crazy and visibility was at 20 feet. I would go again.

Keystone- This place felt like Killington to me, packed, icy, and pretty much groomed to death even up on the North Peak and Outback. I doubt I would go back.

Loveland- This is my favorite area in Colorado. Feels like Magic, and ever other small locals ski area. It has no high speed lifts but that's what makes it a locals place. People love Mad River Glen and Magic, but then go out west and ski all the McMountains. I do not get it.

Winter Park- Crowded even on a weekday. Cool Terrain if you stay away from the lower mountain and some of Mary Jane.