Heading to Colorado

[GadgetRick]

Going out to Colorado for my first time in mid-April. Looking for suggestions for places to ski this year. I want places where I won't run into the huge crowds (Brekenridge and Vail are out for the weekend). I only have 3 days to ski (Saturday, Sunday and Monday). Here's what's been suggested so far. Let me know what you think:

-A-Basin--just heard it's an awesome place with lots of fun aggressive runs. Crowds don't get too bad. I've heard they've not gotten great snow this year.

-Keystone--I hear it's similar to A-Basin but maybe not quite as challenging. Also heard they've suffered on the snow front this year as well.

-Loveland--heard it's a great locals mountain with lots of great challenging stuff. I also hear they just got some freshies over the weekend. Too bad it's not mid-April!

-Brekenridge--most people have told me it's pretty but not all that great. I hear it's real crowded on the weekend.

-Copper--haven't heard much about it except that it's a nice mountain.

-Vail--I hear you gotta do that back bowls but don't do it on the weekend.

These are the choices so far. Any other suggestions? Also, if you know a certain mountain is Ski Patroller friendly, that would be helpful. Right now we're looking at maybe doing Keystone on Saturday, A-Basin during the day on Sunday then doing night skiing at Keystone on Sunday. Then doing Vail on Monday. I'm also considering bailing on Keystone on Saturday and trying Loveland.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[ChileMass]

Rickster -

Been going to CO since 1988 (8 trips) since I have family that work and live at Copper.

Obviously, I am a HUGE Copper fan. With snow, it's as good as anywhere. Go over the back of R (Rendezvous) lift to the Copper Bowl area and over to Spalding Bowl off Resolution lift amd you'll be in heaven. Also - if there's enough snow, check out the meadows and glades to the West of S lift (head toward Jacques Peak). If you need a weekend mountain that is easy to get to, Copper can work. The crowds hang out on Main Vein and Andy's Encore, so if you go to R/S lift areas, you wil avoid most of that. Ski Kaboom and the Union Peak face for me.......Copper has upgraded the village big-time in the last 3-4 years, so there's more to do than before, but night life is not in the same league as Breck or other places.

Although Breckenridge is not my favorite mountain to ski, it has just about the perfect Colorado ski resort ambience. The separate mountains (Peaks 7/8/9/10) connect via long catwalks and maintenance roads that are boring, crowded, and frankly make the overall experience suffer. Getting from one Peak to another is a real chore and you spend a lot of the day just connecting across the various mountains. Peak 7 is great, and the areas above treeline are superb. The problem is, it's not very easy to get to the lifts to the upper areas. BUT - the Vista House on Peak 8 is fabulous for lunch and people-watching and the village of Breck is just great for hanging out, partying, etc. Ski Breck during the week if you want, and definitely go there for evening fun. Lots of good restaurants and fun clubs with live music.......

Keystone sucks. Lots of tourists snowplowing down the hill wearing $000s of equipment, apparel, etc and they have no idea what they are doing. Very little challenging terrain, although what is there is really well-groomed. The village is great, and there are fun clubs at night. I went back to Keystone to ski it for a second time a few years ago figuring it couldn't suck as bad as what I remembered, but it did......

I have to admit that in all the years we have been going to CO, I have had so much fun in Summit County that I have never made it over the hill to Vail, so I can't comment. I have been told the back bowls are phenomenal, but I also hear it's crowded, busy and expensive. Also never skied Loveland. Too many other great hills too close by.

A-Basin is awesome when the conditions are right. I had one of the most epic powder days of my life there about 6-8 years ago. However, on a cold, windy day, it can be a sheet of ice from top to bottom due to the high elevation. The East wall is so easy and fun to ski on a clear day, and if you feel really rugged, the Pallavacini chutes over on the other side of the area will burn your legs off. You should see the locals skiing some of those chutes. If the sun is out and the snow is deep, you gotta ski there. It's cheap, the lifts are old and slow, and the lodge is a terrific throwback to the 60s. Late in the season, the "beach" might be happening in the parking lot, and those animals have some serious fun every day. Who needs to ski when you're loaded in the CO sunshine at 10AM?

Have a great time - be sure to buy discount lift tickets in Silverthorne or Dillon at any ski shop.......

 

[pepperdawg]

My .02 cents -


Actually off to Breck on the 19th for a week...

Chile pretty much summed it up rather nicely....If there is decent snow - A-basin has the goods as far as terrian goes - It has been a lean snow year out there (although 2+ feet in the last few days)

I think you maybe getting worked up over the crowds - Vail, Breck have crazy high-speed lifts, and in April crowds will lessen - serioulsy. I htink breck just added a new 6 pak and a couple of new HSQs.....definitly make a day for Vail and the back bowls - especailly if you get a nice sunny day...Breck is cruiser heaven, but there are steeps to be found with minimal poking around.....as mentioned the back bowls of copper are great too - great views. I dunno where i am going with this post, but its all good - enjoy!!!!

PS - summits are 11k-13k - bring lots o H20. If oyu dont have one already - invest in a camelback.

PSS - Sunscreen

 

[GadgetRick]

Whew!

More great info! I'm having a good problem trying to decide where to go while I'm out there. I think I'll forget about Keystone unless we want to do a few night runs. I hear you can use the same ticket at A-Basin and Keystone and they're good into the night. Might be fun really burning the legs off after skiing all day...

I just may have to give Copper a try. Sounds like a fun place. We are almost definately planning on hitting Vail on Monday. Gotta try those bowls I keep hearing about.

Thanks for the great info. I'll let everyone know where I wind up. the unfortunate part is I've still got a month and a half to wait!!!!