EMSC
Well-known member
Bitterly cold ski race. Jr doing his first ever away race (though we are skipping a couple of races too). Temps probably near or just above 0F to start and light snow flurries. Officially 1" new but that was generous, though enough to tell if things had been skied yet. And with such low skier density very easy to ski 3-4" on edges of trails and in trees.
Terrain is super mellow with "black" trails that would easily be blue most everywhere else. It has been 9 years since I was here regularly on the ski race circuit. The big improvement seems to be a warming yurt up top.
Given the normal non-crowding, cheap tix and easy terrain in a spectacular setting I still think this has to be the best place to learn in Colo for newby's.
Just avoid the craziness of ski race days
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The sun did slowly come out by late afternoon to warm things into the teens. After a big hike day at Copper, my legs needed a day like this anyway.
They also run Chicago Ridge snowcats right from the base lodge. I think it's just one cat per day. High altitudes (12.7K) but all south facing. There are huge bowls on the back side of the ridgeline and I have no idea if it is in protected area or something but they would do themselves a huge boost in business if they could add that terrain to the portfolio, imho...
Pics shortly.
Terrain is super mellow with "black" trails that would easily be blue most everywhere else. It has been 9 years since I was here regularly on the ski race circuit. The big improvement seems to be a warming yurt up top.
Given the normal non-crowding, cheap tix and easy terrain in a spectacular setting I still think this has to be the best place to learn in Colo for newby's.
Just avoid the craziness of ski race days
.The sun did slowly come out by late afternoon to warm things into the teens. After a big hike day at Copper, my legs needed a day like this anyway.
They also run Chicago Ridge snowcats right from the base lodge. I think it's just one cat per day. High altitudes (12.7K) but all south facing. There are huge bowls on the back side of the ridgeline and I have no idea if it is in protected area or something but they would do themselves a huge boost in business if they could add that terrain to the portfolio, imho...
Pics shortly.
