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 SKIING
THE COLORADO ROCKIES
by Bill Jones, Ski Instructor
Certified Professional Ski Instructor (Registration #110478)
Colorado has the finest powder! The longest runs! The best
apres-ski life! The best you-name-it! You've seen the ads. Of course you've seen
the same ads for skiing in other places, too.
So what is special about Colorado?
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 in 6 days and then
rested on the seventh, as suggested in the Christian Bible's Old Testament. He
said God had saved the seventh day to concentrate on making just Arapahoe Basin!
The Basin is an area at high altitude with many extreme runs into couloirs, off
cornices, through steep tree-slopes and down avalanche chutes. And so its
reputation is as an area for expert skiers. It is that, but it also has beginner
slopes, and intermediate terrain even from the highest lifts. Because of its
high altitude, breathing and even being well may be an issue for lowland visitors. It can be cold
and/or windy. In storms, you can experience white-out conditions (when both sky
and snow become white and you lose perspective and sense of balance), but then
you can ski the lower slopes and stay where trees give a sense of place. But in
milder weather or when the sun is out, views of the mountain scenery are
spectacular. Lifts are older and slower, but the season lasts late--into June
often and even until August 14 once. Earlier in the season, the steeper slopes
may not yet have enough snow to cover their rocks but with snow-making to add
base, the intermediate runs can be a delight with the colder powder of this high
altitude. No accommodations are here, only lunch
service, but runs finish at or near the day-lodge, making it easier to find your
skiing buddies or kiddies. Construction of a lift to serve new terrain in
Montezuma Bowl is expected to begin in summer 2007. Arapahoe Basin also operates
Bear Valley: exits in
California. This web-site's developer, Bill Jones,
ski instructor
has been on the Arapahoe Basin Ski School staff and
is authorized to teach at Arapahoe Basin: click to book a lesson
from Bill.
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
Breckenridge often records more skier days than any other North American ski
area shows that most find its environment quite acceptable. The lift layout once
took time to get in mind and
has daunted some in the past, but a new peak-interconnect lift and improved
signing make the slopes skier-friendly. A new gondola
from town to the slopes eases both access to the mountain and egress from it at day's end.
There is also a "Four O'Clock Run": you can ski to your condo or car in town. The nearby town has abundant
accommodations and a quaint "pseduo-historic" architecture with plenty
of dining and apres-ski activities. Breckenridge is part of
Vail Resorts: exits. This web-site's developer, Bill Jones ski instructor, is
based at the Breckenridge Ski School and can teach not only there but also the
other Vail resorts:
click to book a lesson from Bill.
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 3 miles long
(pictured at right). Keystone is also known for abundant intermediate
runs. And in recent years it has added lifts to bump slopes on North Peak and
others that extend into
"outback" areas of advanced terrain including small bowls where one can come as close to
enjoying the (shared) solitude of nature as can happen at any downhill ski area. Keystone
makes lots of snow to ensure quality of experience, and has a reputation for
quality machine-grooming of its runs. There are conveniently located accommodations, and apres-ski life has expanded at the developing River Run base area. This is the
only area in the region with night skiing (check for selected nights during principal season).
Most of Keystone's runs are more sheltered than those at other
Summit County ski areas because almost all of Keystone's runs are
lined by forest. Sno-cat skiing is offered, subject to
conditions. Keystone is part of
Vail Resorts: exits. This web-site's
developer, Bill Jones ski instructor, has been on the
Keystone Ski School staff and is authorized to teach at this
area: click to book a lesson from Bill.
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 skiers an awesome opportunity to explore
and for others, overpoweringly large. There is great bowl skiing, although some
bowls face south and at
times especially in later season catch enough sun so their snow gets heavy. To prevail, just ski the storms or get
out soon afterwards before the sun has warmed the snow. Or, pick the best
spots of the day; you'll have plenty of choices. Terrain is varied, with plenty of intermediate and advanced to expert
terrain, and the town of Vail can respond to almost any need. The Vail Ski
School is probably the largest in the country, with some 1200 full- and
part-time instructors, and is a standard-setter. Beaver
Creek is an alternative to Vail for those who want slopes that are usually less
populated
or are looking for expansive beginner terrain (on the upper part of the
mountain). Yet Beaver Creek has also
hosted world-class downhill races and has steep-steep bump runs appropriately
named for birds of prey. Vail/Beaver Creek areas are operated by
Vail Resorts: exits. Travelers can fly
into Denver International Airport and take a shuttle to Vail or come in to the
Eagle County Airport, which is nearer but with fewer connections. This web-site's developer, Bill Jones, ski instructor,
has been on the Vail Ski School staff and is authorized to teach at Vail and
Beaver Creek:
click to book a lesson from Bill.
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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