Where is the best skiing in Summit County right now? - Page 2

bigboater · 11-10-2005

For the love of God...golfing sucks! Go Mountain biking. No.. wait, I mean go golfing. Mountain biking sucks. Don't miss your 10AM tee time.

Honestly though he's right. There is not good reasson to go in bounds before Christmas - unless you have a pass and absolutely nothing else to do.

chadmckenzie26 · 11-10-2005

First off I have a pass and I want to get my ski legs under me. I am going Friday so it shouldnt be to-to crowded. I know what early season is like. Its usually one groomed run with a bazilian people on it. I might get lucky and run into some fresh rain too. I dont care as long as Im up there getting exercise which I sorely need. Its all about fresh air, trees, and some nice scenery. I really just want to get out of Denver for a day. I cant think of a better way to do it. As far as backcountry goes, the last time I went BC I hiked three hours for a thirty minute run. I could have taken six runs in that amount of time. The only reason we went was because Crested Butte was closed (it was October).Plus, I am inexperienced and dont have the proper equipment to go BC. Even being experienced doesnt mean that your accident proof. It is not my idea of a good time to buried in ten feet of snow thats harder than cement.

This is as Im try to get that little bit of soft powder in an avalanche shoot. I could be in a safe controlled environment where all I have to watch out for occasional gaper and maybe a tree here or there. If back country was all that great they wouldnt have built ski areas.

ColoradoCrazy · 11-10-2005

with keystone/breck opening and copper in session, the crowds at a-basin should slacken, along with the opening of the upper mountain. its early, so come with a good attitude and reasonable expectations. if your going to pay and think you might get uptight about it, go to loveland and escape the colorado pass holders and their propensity toward obnoxiousnes.

i would strongly discourage backcountry travel unless you have solid skills and local knowledge of where you're going. the unfortunate circumstances on berthoud serve to highlight the fragility of the early season snow pack and the penalties for bad line choices. that said, my crew and i will be making some desperate turns over frozen ground off loveland....

yetigonecrazy · 11-11-2005

why would drive halfway across colorado to ski on a 20' wide patch of man made snow when you can just drive to molas or coal bank and do some dank bc riding? and dont give me that shit about "ski legs"- theres plenty upon plenty of low angle runs on both passes that would work just fine. you can do what you want, but if you actually go through with this i will laff in your face.

WhiteLightning · 11-11-2005

I live in Vail and consider it too much a pain in the ass to drive 5 minutes to go skiing until there are at least a bunch of lifts opened up. I will have to this year though because I am working on the hill for a pass.

chadmckenzie26 · 11-11-2005

Give the man a break. It's not his fault that he has a good head on his shoulders. With the avalanche danger as high as it is. It's probably better that he sticks to the ski areas. I went to Breck today and got three runs in. That was enough for me. I stopped and had some beers, used the restroom and ate. I don't see you doing that in the backcountry. Oh and I didn't have to worry about being buried alive.

BastrdSonOfElvis · 11-11-2005

Went to Breck today and they had one run open...kind of fun to dodge the bodies. The sleds were active bringing victims of collisions down the hill and there was at least one pretty large pool of blood in the snow that I saw. Lift lines weren't too bad, though, and they had a pretty good blue grass band playing right there for your waiting pleasure. Free pancakes and hot cocoa/coffee in the morning and barrels of free nature valley bars (I'm now stocked up).

Sure, the conditions weren't great...but maybe you need to be from the east coast to really appreciate how shitty conditions can be. I don't mind the early season...I'd rather get my legs back into shape after a spring and summer of paddling before it's time to hit it hard. And pathetically, after a dozen or so runs down my legs are plenty tired. You can hike and you can run but you really only use your muscles that way when you ride.

chadmckenzie26 · 11-13-2005

From what I observed at A-basin it was relatively carnage free. The advanced skiers did a good job of avoiding kids and gapers. A second lift open helped alleviate the situation a little. The only problem is it did little for the lines. We got the bright and early so we got some runs in before the crowds got too bad.

BillyD · 11-13-2005

FYI Copper is damn good. Didn't go today, but yesterday was pretty damn sweet. Bottom lift line is a bit rough, but once you get up not so bad. 4 or 5 natural snow trails with pretty good pitch. Some of the better Pre-Thanksgiving turns that I have ever seen in summit county. Should be good all week after this snow.

BastrdSonOfElvis · 11-13-2005

Agreed...the lines sucked on Saturday but Copper was sweet. Tomorrow should rock but you should all stay home...I don't want to stand in line again