March 27th, Breck, A-basin, keystone!

[rfarren]

That's right, 3 resorts in one day!

We headed up to Breck first thing in the morning. They were reporting 8 inches over night , and saying they were going to open up peak 8 once the clouds cleared. Surprisingly, the sun showed up early so while we were warming up on peak 7 you could hear the avy control bombing.

We then started the long trek up to the top of peak 8 via the t-bar and the imperial lift. The line at the imperial was ridiculous, but there was plenty of snow and many lines available. Once on top I managed to get a few shots off.

We then headed down George's thumb, which was wonderful.

Having decided that it wasn't going to get much better at breck: the crowds were starting to get ridiculous, we went off to A-basin.

Sadly, by the time we arrived at A-basin the clouds arrived. IMHO A-basin is not a great resort to ski when the light is flat.

Oddly enough, the snow also was worse there than at Breck. They had reported less, but being as it is so high we just figured it would be great. It seemed to have been sun baked a little bit, and certainly wind scoured in other places. We stayed there till the closing bell, when miraculously the sun came out. :x

Afterwards, we headed over to keystone and cruised the groomers till the sun went down. It was a fun way to end the day before hitting the hot tub.

 

[EMSC]

Always interesting to get 'fresh' eyes point of view of your local hills.

so while we were warming up on peak 7

Actually Peak 8. Looking back at the T-Bar as you head toward Horseshoe bowl specifically. The background hump of white to the right side, behind the most right of the t-bar riders is Peak 7. Easy to get confused on the numbering the first few times you go to Breck.

IMHO A-basin is not a great resort to ski when the light is flat.

Understatement. Even worse in Late Dec or Early Jan when sun is really dim/low.

Oddly enough, the snow also was worse there than at Breck. They had reported less, but being as it is so high we just figured it would be great.

The Basin has generically not been getting anywhere near the same snowfalls as just barely further west at Breck/Copper/Vail. Totally unusual IMO. The Basin normally gets roughly same as Breck from normal storms + better from upslope storms + better spring time snows. But not really this year... kind of odd.

Good stuff. Sounds like you had fun.

 

[rfarren]

It was a great trip! I'm jealous of those who live right around there.

 

[Tony Crocker]

The Basin has generically not been getting anywhere near the same snowfalls as just barely further west at Breck/Copper/Vail. Totally unusual IMO.

Even more extreme difference last season. Loveland and A-Basin were 90% of normal while Vail was 120%.

 

[rfarren]

You would think that A-basin and Loveland would get more snow than Breckenridge as they are right up on the pass. Also, both of them have the same type of horse shoe topography that helps Alta pick up so much snow. A-basin had the worst snow of the trip by far. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't like the other mountains. Keystone is a groomers paradise so they don't need the same quantity or quality that A-basin does. I guess at this time of year Montezuma bowl is probably not the best to ski as it is southern facing. However, the previous 2 days had been huge snow days with cold weather and cloud cover. I was surprised to find that the snow there felt like a combination of wind scoured powder that had been sun baked. It was very much upside down snow.

I suppose A-basin like Loveland really excel once they get into a corn cycle.

 

[EMSC]

I suppose A-basin like Loveland really excel once they get into a corn cycle.

Yes. Though the basin is also known for powder and mid-winter conditions on the front side steeps through about the end of April (esp Pali area and North Pole chutes). Though this year not looking too good for the North Pole as it is usually open by at least a month ago...

 

[Tony Crocker]

I suppose A-basin like Loveland really excel once they get into a corn cycle.

I would be suspicious, because as in Utah in April it continues to snow a lot, and often the snow does not settle into corn before the next storm hits. But I've skied A-Basin last weekend in April twice, both with majority winter conditions. I thus recommend April highly for A-Basin, particularly since its modest snowpack normally peaks then. Once you get into May Loveland is closed and unfortunately the marquee Pali terrain at A-Basin often also. I would find it hard to justify a fly-in trip once Pali is closed.

If you want corn Bachelor and Mammoth are the best bets.