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THE MAJOR SKI AREAS OF THE COLORADO ROCKIES Judging by the devotees of Colorado's various ski areas, each ski area is the best. That's why there is a place in the market for them all. We humans tend to favor the familiar. Nevertheless we make an attempt here to describe each so you can select the area you would prefer if you are new to the region or are curious about trying a ski area new to you. Four of these ski areas are within a few miles of each other in Summit County: Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, and Keystone. All the Summit County areas are at high altitudes, so consider the effect on your breathing. All these are linked with shuttle buses and three--(Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, and Keystone (and to a degree, Vail/Beaver Creek)--have interchangeable lift tickets, as do Copper Mountain and Winter Park. The Summit County, Vail/Beaver Creek, and Winter Park/Mary Jane ski areas are accessed by shuttle service from the Denver International Airport or by car, mostly via Interstate 70. Arapahoe Basin (Summit County):
exits. Known as The Legend,
one admirer opined that in fact God had not made the world Aspen areas: exits. Four major ski areas are at or near the old mining town of Aspen. Abundant accommodations, classy shopping, and night life are here and at nearby Snowmass Village. Aspen Mountain has varied terrain, Aspen Highlands has abundant expert slopes, Snowmass is good for all levels, and Buttermilk has terrain for beginner and intermediate level skiers. There is an airport at Aspen with scheduled commercial service. Beaver Creek: exits. Also see Vail/Beaver Creek below.
Beaver Creek photo:
Breckenridge (Summit County): exits: Some years more skier days are recorded at Breckenridge
than at any other U.S. ski area. It's a major area with 4 peaks (called 7, 8, 9,
& 10 for their positions along the Ten-Mile Range ridge), lots of lifts,
varied terrain with gentle beginner slopes and outstanding expert ridges and
bowls and chutes. The top of the highest lift is 12,840 feet altitude almost on
the highest ridgetop in the photo above(advanced
and expert terrain only). Base areas are at Village and Beaver Run on Peak 9 and
at Peak 8, each about 9,200 feet. International ski races and freestyle and snowboard events are
held at Breckenridge. At times this ski area lives up to its nickname Breckenfridge and at others
Breckenwind, so be prepared with appropriate clothing, goggles, sunscreen, etc., but there are strategically-placed day lodges at
several of the lift tops and bases for on-mountain warmups. The fact that Copper Mountain (Summit County): exits. Here is another fine Colorado ski area with abundant lifts and terrain that naturally segregates the skiers by ability level. Excellent extreme skiing bowls are present and these often have powder snow that is new or has stayed cold enough to behave like new. There is outstanding terrain for beginners to learn. Accommodations and restaurants are near the lift bases. The area is operated by Intrawest: exits the company that developed Whistler-Blackcomb Ski Area in British Columbia and which operates several other resorts as well including Winter Park in Colorado and Stratton in Vermont. Crested Butte: exits. Slopes here include degrees of difficulty for all, with both beginner areas and challenging slopes. Extreme skiing competitions are held here. Crested Butte's mountain scenery is awesome on clear days, especially from the on-slope day lodge. The modern town of Mt. Crested Butte sits at the mountain base, and a few miles away are the quaint buildings of the early Crested Butte mining town , both now providing plenty of dining, lodging, and apres-ski activities. Keystone (Summit County): exits. What is special about Keystone? It has an advanced-beginner
slope that is a bit over Steamboat: exits. Here is another massive Colorado ski area, this one some 90 miles north of Interstate 70, and with a nearby commercial airport. Skiers of all ability levels find slopes here to enjoy, and the snowfall here is usually more abundant than at most other Colorado ski areas. The base altitude of Steamboat is a bit lower than at other Colorado ski areas, making breathing easier but also producing slushy snow sooner at season's end. Accommodations are plentiful at the resort and in the nearby town, where there is a natural warm-spring municipal pool and shops and restaurants. Snowcat powder skiing is provided nearby, a less expensive alternative to a helicopter skiing vacation. Telluride: exits. In the southwestern corner of Colorado is an old mining town with a fantastic modern ski area, having great beginner and expert terrain and everything in between. On clear days, the views west into the adjacent desert and east into the ski area and town's glaciated valley are worth riding the lift just to see. Accommodations are plentiful, as is night life. Helicopter skiing can be arranged. There is an airport on the hill above town. Vail/Beaver Creek areas: exits. Vail Mountain is the biggest ski area in the United
States, with some 5,289 acres--for some Winter Park/Mary Jane: exits. How many cities have their own snow park, especially one as large as the combined Winter Park/Mary Jane ski areas? Although an hour and a half away from Denver, Winter Park is one of that city's parks! On certain days, you can even take the ski train from downtown Denver to slopeside. Another of Colorado's high-altitude ski areas, Winter Park is also a large, varied area with terrain to please all. Snowstorms may leave a bit more here than is typical for other Colorado ski areas, and there is a handy ski town. While many expert skiers enjoy the bumps of Mary Jane the most, others find plenty to do on the runs at the older, more-comfortable-to-them Winter Park section of the ski area. Intrawest, owner of Copper Mountain, also operates Winter Park. Additional, smaller, ski areas are in the central Rockies, each with its own character and fans and all worth a visit: Eldora: exits, Loveland: exits, Powderhorn: exits, Ski Cooper: exits, Monarch: exits, Wolf Creek: exits, Sunlight: exits, Ski Durango: exits and Sol Vista: exits . For more information on Colorado ski areas, go to www.skicolorado.com: exits For current on-mountain cams showing snow conditions world-wide, go to http://www.snoweye.com: exits. This "Skiing the Colorado Rockies" page last modified
11/04/2009: \SkiMyBest\skicoro.htm.
Copyright © 2010 William R Jones. |
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