CO 3/26-4/1 Plans for comments and ideas

tseeb

tseeb

Well-known member
Frontier was again running $199 round trip non-stop to Denver from San Jose that expire tonight so after getting our vacations approved I booked.

Some reasons we are going so late in the season are:
1. It overlaps our son's school break so we only need to find somebody to get him up for school two days instead of 4 or 5.
2. We went to CO two years ago President's week and Utah MLK week last year and had very cold temps most days which my wife doesn't handle very well.
3. It will be nice to have some daylight after skiing.
4. I'm hoping they are getting dumped on again at end of season like last year.
5. I've never spring skied anywhere but CA and Rockies seem like they could be good.

We arrive Denver late and plan to get rental car and stay somewhere between airport and Frisco that can handle arrival that could be way after midnight. Does anyone have ideas where to stay as we don't want to deal with traffic leaving Denver Thursday morning.

Thursday: I would ski Breckenridge as one of our three free days at Vail CO resort from Heavenly pass. My wife may prefer Keystone. I realize either could be hard on people from sea level on their first day. We would stay that night in Frisco, where I can get a free room or Vail, if I find something reasonable. Any other ideas for skiing or lodging?

Friday: May try Beaver Creek as I have never skied there and then stay in Vail even if it's expensive.

Saturday: Ski Vail and then stay Glenwood or with friend in Basalt.

Sunday: Ski Snowmass. My wife has never been there and I have not been there for 20 years. Stay in Snowmass or Aspen or with friend.

Monday: Ski Highlands or go backcountry snowmobile skiing with friend. Wife may check out Aspen and take day off from skiing. Start drive back to Denver by going at least as far as Glenwood, if we haven't stayed there yet, or Frisco.

Tuesday: Ski Arapahoe AM and get to Denver for 5:30 PM flight. Copper is also an alternative although I'm not sure if they do morning half day. I have never been to either of these places. Or it could be after 5 days in a row, we take it easy and try to look around Summit County or Denver .

I'd appreciate any ideas, tips for lodging and things not to miss like skiing to Minturn.
 
Hi tseeb,

I ain't in any way a local or expert although I have done a couple of trips in recent years and will again be in the area in early April towards the end of my 4 week vacation.

I skied for a couple weeks around Keystone et al 2 years back while staying with a friend in Keystone. I skied Cooper, Copper, Loveland, A-Basin, Winter Park, Eldora, Echo Mtn along with a few overnighter stays to CB and Telluride. On our way through to Utah we skied a day at Snowmass.

Last winter I finished my trip by skiing Sunlight, the 3 Aspen mountains, Vail, Breck, Keystone and Loveland.

I'd ski Keystone over Breck any day of the week. Lapping the Outback and a few shots of the cat perhaps. I just don't like Breck and the fact that half of the UK go to it is enough to put me off but thats just a personal preference. I found the skiing fairly dull and uninspiring and the worst burger in 4 weeks :lol:

I'm with you on Beaver Creek along with Silverton the only place left on my CO hitlist.

Although I am surprised to admit it I actually enjoyed most if not all the Aspen areas and Snowmass was certainly worth it but it was only when we got to the Cirque and Hanging Valley area that we really began to like it.

Had the best meal of my trip, albeit expensive, in 2006 at the Alpenglow Stube at Keystone and although I would do it every trip it is certainly IMO worth a visit for pure indulgence and I'd imagine your wife would be suitably impressed!

When I skied at Aspen last winter I stayed in my normal motel of choice in Glenwood Springs, the Frontier Lodge and drove up and down to Aspen. Spent my evenings in Doc Holliday's bar which was nice enough.

To finish off I would ski A-Basin rather than Copper. 1/2 day, dont think I'd pay the $ for not seeing much of Copper compared to at least having a good blast around a good proportion of the mountain at a good bit less $.

Sounds like a nice trip anyway, it had better snow then as I am out in Frisco around that time!

Q
 
Q, Thanks for the ideas and tip on the Frontier in Glenwood. To stay at Hotel Colorado or Denver with pool package or at Hot Springs Hotel with with world's largest pool is about twice the price. On my trip two years ago, I skied Solvista (free night skiing when we arrived and we stayed nearby), Loveland, Keystone, Winter Park (-15 in the morning), Breckenridge (then spent night in Frisco) and Vail (drove back afterward to near Winter Park where our timeshare was located).

My son and I did get led into and find on our own some good powder in the trees on Outback at Keystone, but the snow was thinner there as I've heard is typical. I liked Breck and didn't feel like I skied the whole place in the day I was there as I didn't make it to Peak 7 and snow was too thin on E-Chair, which looks supersteep. I did hit good powder in Contest and Horseshoe Bowls, off Imperial chair and on Peak 10.

How is Scotland skiing this year? I skied Glencoe and Aviemore in March 1980 when I was living in Northern England.
 
I doubt I'll be too much help for your lodging questions. I just know too many folks where I can crash at their place... But you probably want to look at Idaho Springs for your first night. Gets you up part way into the mtns (also is a Super 8 in Georgetown right off the exit). Frisco & Dillion have multiple national chains available as well if you are looking for that type of lodging...

I've never spring skied anywhere but CA and Rockies seem like they could be good.
Click to expand...

On average March & April are the 2 snowiest months in Colo. That said, bring all your ski stuff as you can hit warm spring temps or full-on winter conditions or even both during a week long trip (I've skied mid-winter conditions at A-Basin into early May in a few years). Or can even get mid-winter at upper elevations and warm lower down or etc... All depends on the year and particular days/week of that year what it will be like.

For final half day, I also say A-Basin over Copper (can park near lifts & get to good stuff right away and also places you closer to Denver, etc...)
 
I would ski Vail Friday and Beaver Creek Saturday to minimize crowds, but otherwise the plan looks right to me. And ESMC is right, you have as good a chance for full-on winter and powder at that time as any.
 
Tony, Thanks for the tip of avoiding Vail on Sat. even that late in the season We may consider skiing Vail both Thurs and Fri and then Beaver Creek on Sat. if we can find reasonable accomodations. It would be nice to stay the same place two or three nights and to be in Vail or close enough to easily shuttle and avoid parking fees and hike. So far I have not found much as I'm not paying over $200 per night let alone $800 or $1100 plus tax.
 
I booked 4-5 star ski in/ski out at Vail for Thu/Fri for $199 plus tax, 6% resort fee and parking. That is higher than I wanted to spend, but their web site starts at $399 if you don't know the code and goes up to $1500 per night. I also found a 1 Bedroom timeshare a couple of miles away for Friday-Friday at $135 a night if someone is looking for a whole week for the end of March.

Next I booked highly rated place across the street from the St. Regis in Aspen on Sat/Sun for $135 plus tax. At Aspen I was able to include two-day pass for $102 each since our trip will be a day of two into late season rates. I wasn't sure if my wife would commit to skiing both days in Aspen, but she said that she wouldn't miss it and will do her shopping in the afternoon and evening.

The ony leaves our first and last night which I will try to book with Best Western points. I'm thinking about Best Western in Lakewood (SW Denver) on our way in Wed. night since we arrive late and I think I'd rather drive into the Rockies in the morning than after midnight.
 
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