Pajarito-Bred
New member
All the Summit County areas are now open with snowmaking, and I was tempted enough to head up for a weekend of early-season turns.
Unfortunately, Vail Resorts marketing of the Epic/Colorado passes to locals brought out enough ski-crazed (and board-crazed) people that the few lifts and runs open were quite crowded. I definitely would have stayed home if not for the pre-purchased pass.
The CO pass, for CO residents, was about $370 for season skiing at A-Basin, Breck and Keystone, plus 10 days at Vail/Beaver Creek. The Epic pass runs about $600-$700 depending on when you buy it, tosses in the rest of the season at Vail/BC (and Heavenly, at Tahoe, CA). I don't usually drive past Vail/BC to ski the crowds in summit county, won't likely go back to Summit County this year. There's lots of other places closer and/or less crowded.
Saturday at Breck, only the two Peak 8 HS quads were running (plus a couple beginner chairs), one Quad serving only one icy run, the other serving two-- one steeply rolling and icy (but not super crowded) the other a zoo of speed-demons and novices weaving around numerous "slow" signs.
Sunday at Keystone was similar. Based on the resort reports, 5 lifts running, (but watch out, they count two magic carpets and the super-short beginner-area chair). We started at 10 am, with a 30 minute wait for the gondola (only lift access from the base) one HS quad was operating, too, accessing one icy run (Schoolmarm, arrgh) full of "slow" signs and plenty of novice skiers. A terrain park at the top of the mtn was chock full of skiers/boarders who enjoy that sort of nonsense, and the one run along the gondola was quite crowded, but with primarily other speedy types. Way more crowded than normal. There's a quad chair paralleling the gondola, not operating- annoying while waiting in line, but would have put way too many people onto one run.
Skiing was actually pretty great due to the extremely low expectations, and I was happy to get out-finally. But in afternoon, crowd size increased to non-fun proportions with the quad chair skiers heading down the only open route to the base, adding to the gondy crowds. Despite the speedy crowds, I didn't note any seriously out-of control skiers or close calls/collisions, but the Ski Patrol seemed very busy.
The MM snow was firm, extremely firm (official snow report: Packed Powder) I should have left my rock skis at home in favor of sharper edges.
Come on, Winter! The next storm, over Thanksgiving is looking to be on the dry side.........
Looks like there'll at least be some more Summit County terrain open by next week, though--
Unfortunately, Vail Resorts marketing of the Epic/Colorado passes to locals brought out enough ski-crazed (and board-crazed) people that the few lifts and runs open were quite crowded. I definitely would have stayed home if not for the pre-purchased pass.
The CO pass, for CO residents, was about $370 for season skiing at A-Basin, Breck and Keystone, plus 10 days at Vail/Beaver Creek. The Epic pass runs about $600-$700 depending on when you buy it, tosses in the rest of the season at Vail/BC (and Heavenly, at Tahoe, CA). I don't usually drive past Vail/BC to ski the crowds in summit county, won't likely go back to Summit County this year. There's lots of other places closer and/or less crowded.
Saturday at Breck, only the two Peak 8 HS quads were running (plus a couple beginner chairs), one Quad serving only one icy run, the other serving two-- one steeply rolling and icy (but not super crowded) the other a zoo of speed-demons and novices weaving around numerous "slow" signs.
Sunday at Keystone was similar. Based on the resort reports, 5 lifts running, (but watch out, they count two magic carpets and the super-short beginner-area chair). We started at 10 am, with a 30 minute wait for the gondola (only lift access from the base) one HS quad was operating, too, accessing one icy run (Schoolmarm, arrgh) full of "slow" signs and plenty of novice skiers. A terrain park at the top of the mtn was chock full of skiers/boarders who enjoy that sort of nonsense, and the one run along the gondola was quite crowded, but with primarily other speedy types. Way more crowded than normal. There's a quad chair paralleling the gondola, not operating- annoying while waiting in line, but would have put way too many people onto one run.
Skiing was actually pretty great due to the extremely low expectations, and I was happy to get out-finally. But in afternoon, crowd size increased to non-fun proportions with the quad chair skiers heading down the only open route to the base, adding to the gondy crowds. Despite the speedy crowds, I didn't note any seriously out-of control skiers or close calls/collisions, but the Ski Patrol seemed very busy.
The MM snow was firm, extremely firm (official snow report: Packed Powder) I should have left my rock skis at home in favor of sharper edges.
Come on, Winter! The next storm, over Thanksgiving is looking to be on the dry side.........
Looks like there'll at least be some more Summit County terrain open by next week, though--
