Advice for Colorado Trip in January
December 31, 2012
I've never been skiing in out west before. I know so far natural snow conditions are nearly non existent in Colorado so unless mother nature starts dumping conditions out there will not be optimal. However I will be out there for my wifes family renuion from 28 December - 1 Jan, might only get one day in during the reunion, not sure where at. They decided to have the reunion in Estes Park, the closest ski area is Eldora and that is a little over an hour away. Luckily, although my wife has to come back to DC to work, I get to stay out there until the 6th of January and ski. I will probably have one buddy out there with me. What is the best way to spend 4 full days skiing on the cheap in CO? Willing to pay more for better skiing but plan to stay in a hostel or something of the sort to save money. My buddy and I don't need luxury but a good bar to kick back a few cold ones in the evening and a good burger and fries or a good pizza are a must. I am military so I qualify for discounted lift tickets at many resorts. I don't have my return ticket yet so if snow conditions don't improve we might be able to find a way further west to Utah after the family reunion and fly back from Salt Lake City.
I am not an advanced skier though I can safely make it down pretty much any run in the mid atlantic safely, though not necessarily with ease in the case of icy bump runs. I'd like to improve my skiing ability, so I wouldn't be opposed to taking some affordable lessons for skiers who are not beginners but not experts either. Which resorts should I look at? Where should I stay? Would you try to rent a car, or would you just try to take a bus? Would you stay in one spot or or would you try to hit 4 different resorts in 4 different days? Should I bring my skis out there (Atomic Nomad Blackeye with a 82mm waist), or rent skis, maybe a wider waist if it actually starts snowing? Is skiing black terrain in bounds out west really that much tougher than skiing black runs up at Killington or over at Timberline? Thanks for the advice.
Still have a month for improving conditions. I would keep the faith and plan for the extended stay in Colorado, but you'll probably need to rent a car anyway. I'd bring own skis. The inbounds black diamonds are fairly similar, but usually have better snow than East
Eldora has a good snowmaking capacity, so it might be good and close for the reunion day of skiing even if natural conditions remain sketchy and in good times can provide terrain and vertical close to what you get off the K-1 gondola at Killington (shorter, steeper gondi at K). Not sure, but from Estes Park it might almost be as close to drive over to Steamboat for your extra four days as to go to I70 ski areas. There are relatively cheap motels in Steamboat Springs, but lift tickets are pricey. If you head down towards I70 there is the Rocky Mtn Hostel near Winter Park ski area and that hill might be good for 3-4 days, maybe with a day at Loveland (very affordable) coming or going. It's hard to get deals on the Vail resorts unless you buy a season pass and four days is too short for that. But staying in a central location like Frisco in Summit County would set you up for daily drives or free bus system to Breck, Keystone, A-basin and Copper. If your ski days are Jan 2-5 crowds may lower and you might be able to wait to pick destination where best snow is in CO, UT or WY and just go on the fly. Occasionally, some parts of CO have better snow than the I70 resorts, maybe some place like Wolf Creek south of Colorado Springs, or Steamboat.
Liftopia might help with tickets and check each ski area website for milt discounts. BTW, Keystone is also particularly well known in CO for snowmaking and might be worth checking out if conditions remain sketchy. I'm not one for doom and gloom. Manmade conditions on 2000' vertical groomers in CO is as good as we often get around here and beats flying home with dry skis since you're going out there anyway.
I will be in CA and OR same time frame and doing snow dances now:-)
Thanks for the advice Jim. I guess I'll book my return flight out of Denver, get a rental car and wait on locking down which resort I am going to until I know what the snow conditions at the various mountains look like. On the bright side accuweather is calling for snow on the 3rd, the 6 and 7th the 13th through the 18th and the 20th, 21st and 23rd. It also is showing low temps throughout that period. Might be cause for optimism. How many inches of snow does it take to get the non snowmaking terrain open in the Colorado Resorts?
The resort with the best intermediate terrain in Clear Creek, Summit or Eagle counties is Keystone. The lifts servicing blues range from 1600 to 2330 feet of vert. The blues are pleasantly steep. Keystone also does a great job of snowmaking.
I've been in Summit county for two weeks and absent snowmaking, nothing would be open. There has been no new snow in the last two weeks, and almost no snow in the weeks before that. Given that, right now Keystone has twice as much terrain open as anybody else -- including Vail. I keep running into Vail regulars at Keystone and they keep telling me that they're at Keystone because conditions at Vail are so poor.
However, the Chritmas/New Year time is always a zoo, and unless there's significant snow in the next three weeks it will be worse than normal this year. Given that, it might be worthwhile looking at Loveland, A-Basin or Eldora instead of the big name resorts as they will be less crowded.
Good luck!
Well I justed learned something after reading the local newspaper. Keystone is doing such a good job of blowing snow that Keystone has more terrain open than any other resort in the country
I'll keep Keystone in mind, looks like they offer a Liberty pass which would let me ski at Keystone and A-basin for the year (which would only be those 4 or 5 day) for $209 which would translate to an affordable 40 - 50 bucks a day. I am also kind of tempted to head up to Steamboat Springs, I've been there in summer and it seems like a pretty cool spot with terrain that looks good but not too crazy. It looks like the weather is about to shift in Colorado and some snow should start coming along with colder weather. Hopefully the next month will hold enough snow to get a lot of terrain open at most of the Colorado resorts and afford me the chance to taste some powder, not just groomers.
Well I justed learned something after reading the local newspaper. Keystone is doing such a good job of blowing snow that Keystone has more terrain open than any other resort in the country
I call BS. West coast has been hammered and many resorts have over 1000 ac open, compared to 204 today at Keystone.
<I call BS. West coast has been hammered and many resorts have over 1000 ac open, compared to 204 today at Keystone.>
Maybe now, but not on 12/1 for a 12/2 newspaper article.
Well it appears that things are finally starting to improve.
The jetstream is starting to bow southward, and with it snow chances are improving.
The Summit County 10 day shows sunny tomorrow, and then snow Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
You might actually have good conditions when you get to Colorado in January.
It's about time.
So things are starting to look good out there with plenty of snow in the last three weeks and a couple more storms coming through next week. Since most resorts should be mostly open on terrain by new years. Where would you recommend knowing snow making won't be the deciding factor? Is a. Fwd car good enough or do I need to rent a 4wd suv? I think I am leaning towards steamboat.
Glad weather is beginning to turn in your favor. I believe Steamboat has received about 3 feet of new snow in the last week and could be good. Have you surfed the web to see if there are any CO resorts with especially good deals for military? That might drive your selection of places to ski assuming decent conditions. There can be a huge difference in costs for renting econocar vs 4WD SUB. I usually opt for econocar, but you could reserve both and drop the 4WD a day or two before renting if not needed based on last minute forecast.
Skied my first day this season at Eldora with today with the inlaws. Had a blast ripping groomers with my brother-in-law and cousin in law. Even though there was no fresh snow conditions weren't too icy at all unlike conditions back east even after a little snow. Unfortunately there was only one black open and it was under the guns the whole way, however many of the blues were as steep as White Lightning and were still alot of fun. Main complaint about Eldora is the slow lifts. I will keep you posted over the next week with what we get ourselves into, unfortunately after tomorrow (and I can't ski tomorrow) there is no snow in the forecast. We still haven't decided where exactly to go over the next week but I am thinking maybe Winter Park on the 3rd and then Steamboat after that.
