Headed to Copper Mountain

[ozskier]

Headed to Copper the first week of January. My passes just came in ;-)

Can anyone reccomend anything there? Never been to Copper. What is it like during early January there?

 

[ALLSKIING]

Headed to Copper the first week of January. My passes just came in ;-)

Can anyone reccomend anything there? Never been to Copper. What is it like during early January there?

Its one of the worst mountains I have ever been to..Infact I just left after one run. But I will do you a favor and buy those passes half price just so you can recoop some of your money back :lol: :wink:
Sorry just having some fun I am sure the place rocks. Have fun

 

[awf170]

Not my pics. I just found them on webshots

 

[Geoff]

Headed to Copper the first week of January. My passes just came in ;-)

Can anyone reccomend anything there? Never been to Copper. What is it like during early January there?

My one day at Copper was MLK Sunday 3 years ago. It was quite busy on the lower mountain where the Anywhere USA groomed terrain is. Up above the tree line, there are a bunch of short lifts with interesting and challenging but really short descents. I was entertained but somebody who skis at an in-your-face kind of place like Snowbird with sustained vertical would sneer at the place. Parking is in satellite lots but it's well organized. The liftlines were really big everywhere but that's typical of anywhere in the front range on a weekend. When I was there, the steep stuff was pretty firm hardpack from all the traffic and it had snowed a foot 2 days before. The front range is a different world midweek with fresh snow and I now have a personal rule that I don't ski within 2 hours of Denver on weekends.

 

[ChileMass]

Oz -

I am fortunate enough to have family that has worked for Copper since 1987, and have been there about 8 times in the last 17 years. Needless to say, I love Copper. Every time I go there, I have been having so much fun in the Copper/Frisco/Silvethorne area that we have never made it to Vail, despite the fact that it's only 25 miles away. Copper's recent improvements at the base have made it even better. A few years ago, visitors could complain that here wasn't much to do at the village, and they were right, but not now.

You'll find several restaurants and bars at the base these days. Too bad the old B-Lift Pub is gone, because that place used to rock anytime after about 3 in the afternoon, 7 days a week. Most of the old places have turned over, but Double Diamond has really good burgers as I recall, right at the base.

In Silverthorne (10 min away) check out the Old Dillon Inn (or ODI as it's known locally) for killer Mexican food and tequila shooters.

Keystone has a lot of fun stuff at its base, but the skiing there sucks unless you're a novice or intermediate. But - if you want to go totally upscale, the Keystone Ranch is a seriously 5-star, multi-course, prix-fixe gourmet spot which will treat your tastebuds and leave your belly aching. If you have someone you need to impress with you, this is the place to go.

Copper skiing rules. Spalding Bowl has a bunch of ridiculous chutes (check out Patrolman's Chute way over on skier's right). And Union Peak is just great, either front or backside. The first time I skied Kaboom I bought shots for all my friends to celebrate. I have not been to Copper since they started the snowcat rides up into Tucker Mt. The cool thing about Copper is that it's largely a skier's hill, with not that many gapers. I'm pretty sure the old Club Med has closed, so there's that many fewer Texans and Californians there (sorry!!).

It's a great place - you'll love it. Take a side trip to Arapahoe Basin on a sunny day (don't go there if the wind is blowing, though). A-Basin is fabulous. Breckenridge is a great place to party, but I don't love the mountain. And Vail is only 25 miles if you get motivated.

Have fun and send us a trip report - !!

 

[ga2ski]

Dave,

Copper is one of my favorite areas in CO. The copper bowl is awesome. hike to tucker mountain if you have good snow.

If you are looking for some easy access to freshies hit skiers left of the Union Bowl that drop you down top the top of the American Flyer. also goo Intermediate trees of timber line express, but they are not on the map.

Spaulding bowl and upper enchanted forest are fun with good snow.

Bad parts are the place can be a zoo. You could see half of the CO there.

Have fun.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

You got some great insight here from the above poast Oz. I've only been to Copper 2x, but I really had a great time both. Last time I hit the cat skiing of Tucker, it was great. IMO the left serviced bowl skiing is equally as good.

 

[Marc]

H8 u die.

 

[ga2ski]

oh yeah since i know you like the parks, Ozzy, Copper has a great one.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

oh yeah since i know you like the parks, Ozzy, Copper has a great one.

They also have the best NASTAR course I have seen.

 

[Dr Skimeister]

Copper discount tix

I skied Copper for the first time last March. I found it to be as good a mountain as any other in Summit County. The "Bee Line" lift was malfunctioning for 4 days that we were there, so that made for some liftline maddness at the base area. I have booked another trip there for next January-convieniently coupled with a seminar I have to attend. I saw on the Copper website that they have $30/day lift tickets available, ending today (12/10) if you purchase 4 or more days worth online.So, if you haven't gotten your tix yet.....

 

[GrizzlyFD]

Not to hijack but I'll be in vail for the first week in january, leaving newark on the second and getting back on the 8th. They have been getting some incredible snow out there, and most resorts are reporting record snowfall amounts and base depths. Most of the resorts in summit county have had over 10 feet of snow already, and it's not even january.

If you have the time, you should check out the new imperial express at breck, on the other side of the ten mile range. I'm sure they'll have all the terrain open up there.

Have fun

 

[frozencorn]

Ditto on loving Copper. One of those places where it just all comes togeher in a moment of bliss. Hit Spaulding Bowl in the afternoon on the moutain's left side...perfect soft afternoon deep powder. Base is a little antiseptic, but it does the trick. Cheap beer at Jacks apres. My Denver friend got me a bunch of the $30 deal tickets for when I head out in March. Can't wait.