I don't do blogs - Colorado last week

[kirbyk48]

Flew from Virginia last Saturday in January and hoped to ski the first day (left at 0600) but an hour at the airport to get skis and an hour at the car rental agency dashed those hopes.

Day 1 - Saturday - still drove to Eldora, a local slope on the Eastern side of the Rockies near Boulder. Winding access road and winds 40mph+. Didn't ski, went to Blackhawk and visited casinos for a couple of hours instead.

Day 2 - Winter Park - took the Ski Train from downtown Denver at 0715. Got there about 9:45. Crazy winds continued, especially at top of lifts. Skied most the greens and a blue. Back to Denver by 1830. Train + lift ticket approx $90

Day 3 - Loveland - going from Denver to Frisco. Perhaps the purest ski area I visited. No lodging and a basic lodge. Began to snow before I arrived. Bowl skiing that even a beginner like me can handle. Cheapest lift ticket @ $43 courtesy of Safeway in Denver.

Day 4- Breckenridge. Based in Frisco a 30 minute bus ride. More new powder and snowing most of the day. Best signage. Glorious wide slopes. Would consider staying here rather than Frisco for the "town" experience.

Day 5 - Beaver Creek. Drove over from Frisco. Traffic rotaries (4) almost the death of me. Another couple inches of powder overnight plus snowing while I was there. Only time I've ever skied through a fog bank (cloud level must have been about 9000 feet). Great long beginner runs. Really pricey food.

Day 6 - Copper Mtn. Another Summit Stage bus ride from Frisco. 9 inches of new powder and still snowing! Having a "green" mountain all by itself was excellent. Probably the best overall experience.

Day 7 - Keystone. Snowed another couple of inches and snowing when I arrived.Should not have taken the Summit Stage as the trip took over an hour. Should not have decided to do rental skis and boots as they never feel right. Should not have gone on Friday - half of Denver was there! They have long greens but the combination of crowd and worn out snow made this the least enjoyable day.

Day 8- back to Denver at 0630 - temperature zero when I left Frisco. Back in Virginia by 2000 and sweltering in the 67 degree heatwave.

Overall: glorious conditions for a ski trip. With this experience behind me I will survive the 95 degree summer ahead.

 

[SoCal Rider]

Flew from Virginia last Saturday in January and hoped to ski the first day (left at 0600) but an hour at the airport to get skis and an hour at the car rental agency dashed those hopes.

Day 1 - Saturday - still drove to Eldora, a local slope on the Eastern side of the Rockies near Boulder. Winding access road and winds 40mph+. Didn't ski, went to Blackhawk and visited casinos for a couple of hours instead.

Day 2 - Winter Park - took the Ski Train from downtown Denver at 0715. Got there about 9:45. Crazy winds continued, especially at top of lifts. Skied most the greens and a blue. Back to Denver by 1830. Train + lift ticket approx $90

Day 3 - Loveland - going from Denver to Frisco. Perhaps the purest ski area I visited. No lodging and a basic lodge. Began to snow before I arrived. Bowl skiing that even a beginner like me can handle. Cheapest lift ticket @ $43 courtesy of Safeway in Denver.

Day 4- Breckenridge. Based in Frisco a 30 minute bus ride. More new powder and snowing most of the day. Best signage. Glorious wide slopes. Would consider staying here rather than Frisco for the "town" experience.

Day 5 - Beaver Creek. Drove over from Frisco. Traffic rotaries (4) almost the death of me. Another couple inches of powder overnight plus snowing while I was there. Only time I've ever skied through a fog bank (cloud level must have been about 9000 feet). Great long beginner runs. Really pricey food.

Day 6 - Copper Mtn. Another Summit Stage bus ride from Frisco. 9 inches of new powder and still snowing! Having a "green" mountain all by itself was excellent. Probably the best overall experience.

Day 7 - Keystone. Snowed another couple of inches and snowing when I arrived.Should not have taken the Summit Stage as the trip took over an hour. Should not have decided to do rental skis and boots as they never feel right. Should not have gone on Friday - half of Denver was there! They have long greens but the combination of crowd and worn out snow made this the least enjoyable day.

Day 8- back to Denver at 0630 - temperature zero when I left Frisco. Back in Virginia by 2000 and sweltering in the 67 degree heatwave.

Overall: glorious conditions for a ski trip. With this experience behind me I will survive the 95 degree summer ahead.

Frisco too slow?

Still riding the greens on 5th day of riding?

 

[kirbyk48]

Frisco has a main street about 6 blocks long that shuts down for the most part around 5PM.

I'm satisfied to be a green rider for the rest of my life. Came to skiing late in life and have miserable technique despite lessons. Coupled with fear of speed and bodily injury, I know my limits. In the final analysis, it's the snow and natural beauty that draws me to the mountains, not the skiing itself.

Maybe that's why I don't buy the Warren Miller videos - it's not me!

 

[Tony Crocker]

My first serious ski season was at age 26. And Extremely Canadian (as an example of quality ski instruction) pushes us 50-somethings to continue improving technique.

I will admit that Virginia is not the easiest place in the world to learn or practice though.

 

[snowave]

Frisco has a main street about 6 blocks long that shuts down for the most part around 5PM.

I'm satisfied to be a green rider for the rest of my life. Came to skiing late in life and have miserable technique despite lessons. Coupled with fear of speed and bodily injury, I know my limits. In the final analysis, it's the snow and natural beauty that draws me to the mountains, not the skiing itself.

Maybe that's why I don't buy the Warren Miller videos - it's not me!

Hey who cares if you ride greens the rest of your life.. You're passionate about being on the mountain and in nature and love snow.. And that you are content with this. Thats all that matters!

Frisco isn't the liviest of ski towns, but it does have its share of several bars and food on main street.. Do they still have "Frisco Disco" or "drinkin with lincoln" at Barkley's on Monday nights? that was scary time a few years ago with $5 cover and free drinks.. :lol:

Nice report !

 

[SoCal Rider]

Frisco has a main street about 6 blocks long that shuts down for the most part around 5PM.

I'm satisfied to be a green rider for the rest of my life. Came to skiing late in life and have miserable technique despite lessons. Coupled with fear of speed and bodily injury, I know my limits. In the final analysis, it's the snow and natural beauty that draws me to the mountains, not the skiing itself.

Maybe that's why I don't buy the Warren Miller videos - it's not me!

Hey, don't get me wrong, ride/ski how you want to. But, riding greens can be more dangerous than blues. Slower speed in no way guarantees fewer falls, and I write this as someone who'll never seek to light up the radar.

And I've seen exactly one Miller vid, and it was on TV.

 

[John@CdnRockies]

Strapped boards to my feet for the 1st time at age 40 and have never looked back - particularly once we moved out to Calgary from Montreal. I appreciate your love of the mountains and wide open spaces as just being on a hill puts a grin on my face. While I may be a "low diamond" fanatic, I also recognize that us late bloomers just never get the hang of things, even after ten years of trying. Ride what you're comfortable with, but just get out there is my motto.

John @ Cdn Rockies