Advice needed on Colorado trip

[powderman]

I'm taking a trip to Colorado during the third week in April. Will there be anything open besides Breckenridge, Loveland and A-Basin? If not, my plan is to hit them all for a few days each. What are these ski areas like and where are the best tree skiing areas and bowls.

 

[Talisman]

You should plan a trip earlier in April or better yet in March to CO. If skiing that late I would consider Mammoth in CA as the snow lasts better

There isn't much in the way of trees at A-Basin as it mostly above the tree line, but there is tree skiing off of the Pali chair. Some of the tree lines off of the Pali are insanely steep. The bowl skiing at A-basin is pretty obvious and the steepest lines that don't require a hike are off of the Pali chair.

Breck's best tree skiing is on Peak Ten (all the way over on skiers right). Breck has some fun bowl's off of the summit quad, but I found better lines off of the T-bar.

I don't know much about Loveland other than it is on my list of must ski places.

 

[dmc]

I've been out the first week of April a couple of times... Duped both times... But it was also really suny..

Other then Copper... What else is there?
Maybe take a ride over to Vail or the Beav... Can also drive up to Winter Park...

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

I've been out the first week of April a couple of times... Duped both times... But it was also really suny..

Other then Copper... What else is there?
Maybe take a ride over to Vail or the Beav... Can also drive up to Winter Park...

Vail usually closes after the 3rd weekend in April...Breck and A-Basin have enough to keep you busy.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

I've been out the first week of April a couple of times... Duped both times... But it was also really suny..

Other then Copper... What else is there?
Maybe take a ride over to Vail or the Beav... Can also drive up to Winter Park...

They'll all be closed on or immediately following the third week of April. Most areas close about 4/15.

A-Basin and Loveland are a blast in the spring. A-Basin has some phenomenal steeps and, some good lift and hike-to bowl skiing. Loveland has a very European vibe, and some excellent terrain as well.

Aspen may still be open. Long drive from the Summit County areas, though. Other than that, you'll have to wait until March or early April to see if the other areas decide to extend their seasons. Don't count on it... Steamboat, Winter Park, Copper, and lots of other mountains closed with a 90"+ mid-mountain base last season. There just aren't enough spring skiers to keep the big hills open!

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

They'll all be closed on or immediately following the third week of April. Most areas close about 4/15.

A-Basin and Loveland are a blast in the spring. A-Basin has some phenomenal steeps and, some good lift and hike-to bowl skiing. Loveland has a very European vibe, and some excellent terrain as well.

Aspen may still be open. Long drive from the Summit County areas, though. Other than that, you'll have to wait until March or early April to see if the other areas decide to extend their seasons. Don't count on it... Steamboat, Winter Park, Copper, and lots of other mountains closed with a 90"+ mid-mountain base last season. There just aren't enough spring skiers to keep the big hills open!

Also, many of them are on Nat Forest Land and have to close around the 15th for the "elk migration"

 

[powderman]

You should plan a trip earlier in April or better yet in March to CO. If skiing that late I would consider Mammoth in CA as the snow lasts better

I can't make it in March/Early April. Mammoth is a long drive from Reno, is it really much better than the Lake Tahoe area?

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

I can't make it in March/Early April. Mammoth is a long drive from Reno, is it really much better than the Lake Tahoe area?

A. if you're flying into reno, why the colorado questions...gotta drive through Utah to get to CO from NV...
B. Stick with Tahoe...it'll either dump or it'll be sweet spring skiing...Squallywood will still be open...not sure about Alpine Meadows...never been to mammoth so I couldn't say if its better but I lived in Truckee for a year and the spring skiing at Squaw was tough to beat.

 

[powderman]

A. if you're flying into reno, why the colorado questions...gotta drive through Utah to get to CO from NV...

Was planning on Colorado, but didn't book yet, so I might go to Tahoe instead

 

[dmc]

yeah... tough to beat squawllywood in spring...

Spent my 30 birthday(late may) in Tahoe..
Skied Squaw and Alpine - friggin sweet - so much open..

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Why are you going so late in the season?????? Go earlier for the powder..

 

[powderman]

Why are you going so late in the season?????? Go earlier for the powder..

I thought it still snowed in April in Colorado. Are there other places that would have a higher chance of powder?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I thought it still snowed in April in Colorado. Are there other places that would have a higher chance of powder?

It still snow in Colorado in April but you have a better chance of powder earlier in the season..April in the rockies can be powder or mankity mank gluey spring snow..or refrozen crud..January my man is the time to ski the Rockies..

 

[powderman]

It still snow in Colorado in April but you have a better chance of powder earlier in the season..April in the rockies can be powder or mankity mank gluey spring snow..or refrozen crud..January my man is the time to ski the Rockies..

I think I'm gonna go in late December/early January instead to catch the pow. What other ski areas besides A-Basin and Loveland won't be crowded during this time?

 

[tjf67]

I can't make it in March/Early April. Mammoth is a long drive from Reno, is it really much better than the Lake Tahoe area?

Tahoe will be soup by late April. I dont know about Mammoth.

 

[snoseek]

I think I'm gonna go in late December/early January instead to catch the pow. What other ski areas besides A-Basin and Loveland won't be crowded during this time?

Whoaa hold on.... third week in April will probablt be the best skiing of the year a LL or A-Basin. It takes some freaky warm weather to make the snow soupy at 13,000 feet. December and early January will likely mean a weak snow pack, which will mean alot of A-Basin won't even be open yet. These areas are different than Steamboat, Jackson ect which are better mid-winter. Elevation plays a big factor in spring skiing.

 

[Geoff]

Tahoe will be soup by late April. I dont know about Mammoth.

The thing about Squaw is that it has all kinds of exposures. You basically follow the sun around in April and ski things that have just corned up. I've skied up on Granite Chief in May a bunch of times. It's some of the best spring skiing I've ever experienced. Perfect bluebird sun every day. It sets back up overnight at the top. On the steeper terrain, the corn snow is like lava. When you stop, it slowly flows down the track you've made through the bumps. Even better, Californians pretty much stop skiing by mid-April so you have huge base depths and nobody there.

 

[Phillycore]

Whoaa hold on.... third week in April will probablt be the best skiing of the year a LL or A-Basin. It takes some freaky warm weather to make the snow soupy at 13,000 feet. December and early January will likely mean a weak snow pack, which will mean alot of A-Basin won't even be open yet. These areas are different than Steamboat, Jackson ect which are better mid-winter. Elevation plays a big factor in spring skiing.

Yep... what he said

 

[powderman]

Whoaa hold on.... third week in April will probablt be the best skiing of the year a LL or A-Basin. It takes some freaky warm weather to make the snow soupy at 13,000 feet. December and early January will likely mean a weak snow pack, which will mean alot of A-Basin won't even be open yet. These areas are different than Steamboat, Jackson ect which are better mid-winter. Elevation plays a big factor in spring skiing.

Okay, I'll go in mid April as planned to Loveland, A-Basin and Breck

 

[severine]

Whoaa hold on.... third week in April will probablt be the best skiing of the year a LL or A-Basin. It takes some freaky warm weather to make the snow soupy at 13,000 feet. December and early January will likely mean a weak snow pack, which will mean alot of A-Basin won't even be open yet. These areas are different than Steamboat, Jackson ect which are better mid-winter. Elevation plays a big factor in spring skiing.

Remember Trekchick's and my report from Mother's Day weekend this year? Freshies on May 11th at A-basin, and the next day was a beaut. I wouldn't discount late April skiing in Colorado just yet.