Colorado - Feb 9-12 - Where To Ride?

I

Iristyle

New member
Hello all -- I'm a long time lurker here, and I was hoping for some assistance from board members regarding an upcoming CO trip.

I have a trip booked for Colorado next month from the 8th through 13th, and my buddy and I will be flying into Denver. I'm trying to develop a game plan for the 4 days we'll have to ride -- where to stay, what mountains to hit up in what order, etc.

Based on feedback from friends, we're considering staying in Dillon, but I'm not sure that that's ideal given the short list of mountains to hit and how spread out they are. From a fair bit of research that I've done, I've got the impression that the best steeps / chutes / difficult terrain will be found at Telluride, Crested Butte, Aspen Highlands, A-Basin and Vail in about that order. Can any locals comment on this?

We'll be getting into Denver 8:30PM on Friday (really 10:30 EST time), so we're probably not going to be able to drive more than 2:30 hours or so to our destination that night. Our flights back to the East Coast take off early-ish on Wednesday, so we're not going to want an excessive drive in to the Denver airport that AM either.

So... our main goal is to hit the most difficult [resort / resort hikable / side-country] terrain in the most efficient manner possible, without going bonkers and over-doing it driving all over the state. For this reason, I think Telluride is out... and CB is pretty questionable. I'd really like to make it there, but I have a feeling I'm going to have a tough time convincing my buddy to go that route. Staying at multiple hotels is not totally out of the question, but that would pose some logistical problems and might also be a tough sell. I'm concerned about basing a plan around a lot of driving, because I know a number of the passes up there are prone to close during heavy snowfall, etc. But some local advice would really help us out with that.

I apologize for the totally open-ended questions, but... CO locals... what would you do? Given 4 days to ride, what wouldn't you miss? Are there any spots which should be avoided on the weekends due to crowds? Is my short list a tad unreasonable given how spread out these mountains are? I am missing something that's really worth checking out (Copper? Keystone?).

I at least want to nail down a basic plan or two, and adjust based on weather as that may restrict where we can physically travel, etc. I also welcome any tips on places to stay (both towns and actual hotels), any possible discounts for lift tickets and that sort of thing.

I've been going out west for the last 5 or 6 years now once a winter -- Jackson Hole / Targhee, Baker / Whistler / Blackcomb, Wasatch, Tahoe -- and usually I've been pretty good at gameplanning and doing my homework. But this time I've had a tougher time finding local info that could really put it all together, so thanks in advance to anyone with any tips. I appreciate it!
 
Well, you're right, CB and Telluride are VERY far from Denver. In the summer, on a good day, it'll be about 8 hours to get to those locales. On a bad day in the winter it could take... your whole vacation. I personally wouldn't drive out there from Denver given your time frame.

Now, Vail is a great resort... if you are on skis. Those back bowls are a tad less fun on a board as there's a lot of traversing involved most of the time.

Aspen, I haven't been there, but I've never heard anyone complain about it.

Dillon is a fun little town and is well located. Make sure you eat a meal and get a beer at Pug Ryan's (one of the best brew pubs in the nation). The Dam Brewery is also good, but not nearly as good as Pug's.

A-basin is a great, low-key spot full of more locals than anywhere else in Summit County. It is also small though (or was... See the report on this website about Montezuma Bowl). I still think you can get what you want out of A-basin in a day.

Most other resorts in CO I think need 2 days to really get full value out of. The first day you'll be wandering around lost pretty much. I feel like I have a lot more fun my 2nd day at any resort.

I think you could have a pretty fantastic vacation staying in Dillon and skiing A-basin, Breck, and Keystone, maybe Copper if you have some more time. All those are pretty close and will limit your drive time. Driving in CO on a winter weekend can be more frustrating than one would hope for on a vacation. The roads get packed with people and with snow pretty regularly. Whatever you do, don't get on I-70 heading East on a Sunday between 2 pm and 9 pm.
 
As mentioned, telluride is way too far for your trip.

Though, in general the farther west you go this season (so far) the better the snow. CB is hit and miss with good snow years which they seem to have this year. In my opinion CB has best steeps in Colorado - when it has snow. So, if you want true steeps with cliffs, etc... that would be on my list. However as you've noted it adds driving as it is 4+ hrs from Denver. You'd have to do 2 days there to justify the driving. I heard that Vail was pretty 'epic' last weekend with 14" of new and I find the snow surface frequently softer there than Summit County places. Vail is huge - tough to figure out in one day and also expensive ($20 just to park in a garage for day trippers). Not that Summit County is bad either. Breck skied pretty well last weekend and has some better steep options with the new Imperial chair. Abasin is OK right now but several of the best areas are not yet open. Highlands is small but good steeps and Snowmass has some sections of good steeps (cirque, hanging wall - you'll need to check websites to see if they are all open though most likely as they have had good snow or at least claim to have had a really good year so far)

Also if the weather looks iffy/snowy, a number of the passes can close pretty quick - Vail pass included - in spite of being an interstate. Though the Eisenhower tunnel/pass closes the least (by quite a bit). So you might want to make your last night in summit county area (or not if you want to get bragging rights of 'snowed in' back at work).

Obviously a ton of options and possible recommendations, but tough to tell you more than the sort of laundry list above based on the wide open itinerary....
 
Uggh... just made a post and the board ate it.

I'll try to remember what I said ;0

First off, thanks for the information -- I'll definitely take into consideration what you guys have mentioned.

I took a look at Independence Bowl at Keystone b/c of it's proximity to Dillon, and it looks kind of tame. Plus the hike up before the run and back to the lift after the run would seem to eat up around an hour for each run if you're not going to pay the $200 for the snowcat trip. I'm going say that it's probably not worth it. I could see the $200 going to waste too based on the fact that you have to wait on a whole snowcat full of people to finish runs, etc.

I think Highland Bowl at Aspen looks really good -- steep, fairly easy 20 minute hike up. I assume the ridge is all groomed down to make the hiking the ridge easier, right?. We're both in good shape, but we will be making a 10k vertical adjustment, so I'm hoping for no waist deep snow to trek through ;0 How bad / long is the traverse out to Temerity?

I'm thinking a good plan might be to drive out to Aspen from the airport the first night and crash there for 2 nights. We could manage to hit Highlands + either Ajax or Snowmass (probably Ajax or Snowmass on the first day with the late arrival). Of course, if there are any road closures along the way, that could turn into a major disaster which is really my only major concern. 3rd day, we could drive back towards Vail, crash in Dillon, and then hit up A-Basin before heading back to the airport the following day. I'm not totally sold on Vail at this point, but then again, on our third day, it might be more of a relaxing place to hit (assuming we don't get stuck traversing all over the place accidentally) and that might be a good thing.

I guess an alternative would be to drive an extra hour to CB that first night and do that and maybe Silverton before heading back to Dillon. But I think the Aspen plan is a bit more reasonable, even if it is pushing it a little.
 
Silverton is as far as Telluride, and not recommended IMHO if you're not altitude acclimated no matter what shape you're in.

I would think seriously about Crested Butte because it's so rare that the North Face has good cover and now is one of those times. I did that drive last year and it's 4 1/2 hours.

Aspen has had the same good snow year as CB, and that plan is more reasonable in logistics. I think that quality of skiing (and snow this year) is sufficiently superior to Summit County to justify the extra driving.

I think Highland Bowl at Aspen looks really good -- steep, fairly easy 20 minute hike up.
Click to expand...
Not easy at 12,000 feet if you've only been in Colorado a day or two.
 
Tony -

Thanks for the info. I clearly got the Silverton location mixed up there... I was going from memory, and had thought it was near CB. Whoops ;0

In any event, I am less worried about the altitude, which hasn't ever caused either of us any issues on previous trips to similar height mountains (albeit a little shorter at around 11k), and I'm more concerned with getting ourselves stranded due to road conditions, etc. I'll be packing a laptop so that we can keep tabs on driving conditions.

I would love to make it out to CB, but the more I think about it, the more I think it's just pushing it a little too much with all that could potentially go wrong. I'll probably try to book something for the first 3 nights somewhere close to Aspen. Of course, based on what I've seen so far, finding reasonably priced accomodations near Aspen is going to be quite the chore in itself!
 
Aspen does make the most logistical sense. I don't have much trouble with high altitude skiing either. Climbing is a different animal. If you do it too early you may ski like crap after that unless you take a day off. And on a 4 1/2 day trip that's a big risk IMHO.

I'd recommend Snowmass the first day out there. Hanging Valley has about a 5 minute hike, which I've done on the first day without consequence, but you may still notice it. The Highlands Bowl hike will be 30-45 minutes for a flatlander.
 
Agreed. Distances in the mountains sound a lot shorter than they are and can be in weather. You do not want to get stuck on the wrong side of a pass.

A-Basin has a lot of tough terrain. I would second Cat skiing suggestions @ Copper and Keystone. Probably should resist going further west than Vail or Aspen.

Enjoy it, drink lots of water to adjust to the Altitude.
 
loveland, overlooked, get's more snow than most, is less crowded because it's too obvious driving by on 70, "hey joe, is that a ski area, it sure looks like one? nah johnny, that's not a ski area but, looks like some beautiful bowls and not a soul around. nah, let's keep driving and hit up breck. rad"

if ya don't wanna drive too far take na look at loveland. i've skied pow there for a week with never a need to go any further. some great deals also. nice hike to stuff.

rog
 
Loveland and A-Basin are below average on snow this year and not yet fully open. It doesn't make much sense for an out-of-state visitor to stop there when the conditions are so much better farther west. This is not the normal state of affairs, just the way it's happening so far this season.

If you're worried about costs at Aspen, you can always stay downvalley, even at Glenwood Springs with the big outdoor pool.
 
I think Crested Butte has the best expert terrain in Colorado. (followed by Silverton and Telluride in my opinion).

Silverton is a great option too - but it is only open 2-4 days/week and costs $129+safety gear rental. Plus hiking. Plus a bus. Therefore, I hesitate to recommend it tom too many. It's a pretty unique animal and paying $150 in fees to hike at 12k for 1 hr/day does not suit every expert skier.


If you really wanted to make it to Crested Butte, you could do the following:
2 days summit county
2 days crested butte
You can easily make the drive back to Denver easily if you have a night and a day from Crested Butte.

However, Crested Butte requires you to really utilize the 2 surface lifts to get to the goods. If you stay on the HS quads, it only has some


The Aspen area has some very good expert terrain.
Aspen Mountain is mostly tree-lined bumps - not much open natural terrain. Similar to bumps anywhere.

Aspen Highlands is a narrow-ridge of a mountain. However, the Temerity lift and Bowl are some really good terrain. The issue with the bowl is the hiking component - few runs due to 30 min hike.

Snowmass is a real sleeper in my opinion. The Hanging Valley area is really exceptional. Glades/chutes/open faces, etc. The Cirque is quite good too - but flattens after short headwalls. There are some bumps in the Campground area.
 
Your line of thinking coiincides with mine Tony. When I go out west, I'm looking to track down stuff that is near impossible to find around my home driving / riding area. I'm generally used to driving 4+ hours round-trip on day trips since I live in northern CT -- so I'm fairly used to spending some time in the car ;0

As everyone here knows, the East is pretty flat compared to what's offered out there. The last few years, most of my VT time has been spent at Mt. Snow and Killington with an occasional trip to Jay thrown in. This year, I switched passes with the ASC sale and now have an Okemo / Stratton / Sunapee pass -- fortunately I've also made it to Jay for 1 day in 3+ feet of drifted powder that was amazing and 2 days over NYE at Stowe. In any event, I get to ride tight trees and big booters in the superparks around here, but almost nothing in the way of steeps and natural terrain -- certainly no cornices! So when I trek out west, that's what I go for -- more consistent quality snow, cliffs, chutes, etc. I can get mediocre conditions here almost any time I want -- and mostly when I don't want! ;0

I'm still investigating Aspen lodging options. We might stay in the Basalt area which is a nice in-between spot, without trekking all the way back out to Carbondale or Glenwood Springs. There are positives and negatives to staying in Basalt vs. Aspen when you factor in driving, convenience, various costs, etc -- we're going to have to evaluate what's most important to us and hammer something down. Not sure if there's any way to catch a ride in from Basalt to skip the parking situation. Are there any recommended spots to park at Snowmass or Highlands?
 
Aspen is almost at the tipping point at what is fun.
$87 lift tickets with almost no discount.
Lodging expensive and down valley options limited.
If there was not good snow this year, I would pass.

Iristyle":3638s2y1 said:
I'm still investigating Aspen lodging options. We might stay in the Basalt area which is a nice in-between spot, without trekking all the way back out to Carbondale or Glenwood Springs. There are positives and negatives to staying in Basalt vs. Aspen when you factor in driving, convenience, various costs, etc -- we're going to have to evaluate what's most important to us and hammer something down. Not sure if there's any way to catch a ride in from Basalt to skip the parking situation. Are there any recommended spots to park at Snowmass or Highlands?
Click to expand...

The road to Aspen has all the joys of any urban location. Except as a bonus - it has a bizarre setup for HOV lanes. Faster traffic does not know where to go.

The HOV lane exists on Highway 82 between Basalt and Buttermilk, on the outskirts of Aspen. It uses the right lane, rather than the left, so that Roaring Fork Transportation Authority buses can more easily slip in and out of traffic at bus stops. The lane set-up has been a steady source of irritation for critics.

The lane is used for three hours each weekday morning in the upvalley or Aspen-bound lanes, and for three hours each weekday afternoon for downvalley or westbound traffic. So, between 6 and 9 a.m., buses, vans and other vehicles with two or more passengers can use the HOV lane during the commute to Aspen. The same goes for downvalley traffic between 3 and 6 p.m.

Somehow over the years, owners of hybrids got the idea that they could use the HOV lanes even if they were driving alone. Cops go along with that interpretation. (A CDOT website for Highway 82 says motorcycles and “alternative fuel vehicles” can use the HOV lanes. CDOT officials said hybrids, which use electric and gas power, aren’t considered alternative fuel.)
Click to expand...

Pay-to-park is becoming pretty standard in Colorado. Or a shuttle bus from a far lot.

Snowmass
FREE Parking: Town Park Station (formerly Rodeo Lot), shuttles depart starting at 6:40 a.m. every twenty min. until 7:20 a.m. for the ski area. 10 minute service 7:20 a.m. – 5:10 p.m. HOV (four or more) park free in lots C.

Paid Parking: Lots C, E, and Two Creeks $13 per day. Permits (winter only) can be purchased from the parking attendant from 7:30 a.m. until noon daily in Lot C. Two Creeks permits can be purchased from the parking attendant from 8 a.m. until noon daily.
Click to expand...

Even a bigger pain at Highlands - no free spots. Free parking at Buttermilk and in town. However, these fees are cheaper than the Ritz at the base of Highlands sitting in the former parking lot.

Parking: High Occupancy Vehicles (4 or more people) park for FREE at Aspen Highlands. Paid parking is enforced from 7:30 a.m. to noon daily. No charge for vehicles arriving after noon, space available. Daily parking fee is $12; 10-pass punch card available for $85.

FREE Bus Service: Highlands skier shuttle runs every 15-20 min. from Rubey Park. The Castle/Maroon bus is FREE and runs every 20 min. The free Maroon Creek Road shuttle runs every 30 min.

FREE ASC Shuttle: A van runs from the designated Highlands parking lot at Buttermilk to Highlands beginning at 7 a.m. The shuttle runs every 15 min. to 11:30 a.m. From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. the shuttle runs every 30 min. Shuttle resumes every 15 min. schedule at 2:30 p.m. at Highlands until the last run from Highlands to Buttermilk at 5:30 p.m. Pocket cards with times are available at the Highlands Guest Service desk.
Click to expand...
 
ChrisC -

Thanks for the info. You swayed us -- we've decided to stay at Snowmass instead of Basalt. It was a bit pricier per person for the 3 nights, but it will make our first morning easy, and we'll get our bearings in the area after our first day of riding. We'll shuttle over to Highlands on day 2, and spend our third night in Snowmass.

Hopefully road conditions play nice on our drive out Friday night... and that it bombs snow for the 2 days following ;0

Monday AM we'll be road-bound back to Vail for an easy day... and then to Dillon at the end of the day. Our last day will, in all likelihood be A-Basin.

Thanks for all the useful info you guys provided.


I should be hauling my 30D + pocket-cam around, so I'll try to post some pics when we get back.
 
Is there a Snowmass-to-Highlands direct shuttle, or do you have to go into Aspen and change buses? This is one reason I would be more inclined to stay in Aspen than Snowmass.

I agree that Cirque/Hanging Valley terrain is good, but it's a PITA to get multiple runs in. You drain out to lower lifts and have to take at least 2 to get back up there. This can be a virtue on powder days as the fresh snow lasts longer. But if you're mainly interested in getting in lots of runs in steep terrain, Snowmass is not the best place for that.
 
Yeah, the lift layout makes access difficult to those areas. Although I was able to ski fresh lines almost to early afternoon at Snowmass in the Hanging Valley area.

Cirque. It's a little ridiculous that the Sheer Bliss is never open any more - yet is still on the trail map. This would ease access. Especially given ticket costs.
 
With 3 days I'd do one each at Ajax, Highlands and Snowmass. If there's powder maybe consider dropping the day at Aspen Mt (good terrain but intense competition) for a second at Snowmass.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top