Flying into CO this week! Hitting Breck/Vail/Keystone. - Snowboarding Forum

Triple8Sol · 01-13-2010, 12:42 AM

Celebrating MLK weekend (lol) in CO! Flying into Denver this Fri. and staying in Breck 'til Tues. We're planning to ride 3 consecutive days, although not sure exactly where yet. With the package deal I booked, we can do as many days as we want at Breck/A-Basin/Keystone, and then only 1 day at either Vail or Beaver Creek.

I read up on alot of threads on here, so I'm pushing for Breck, Keystone where we can do some snowcat runs, and Vail. Does that sound like a good plan?

We get in early on Fri., so any must-dos or must-sees or can't miss restaurants around Denver, before making the drive into Breck?

linvillegorge · 01-13-2010, 01:23 AM

There isn't going to be shit for snowcat runs. There isn't shit for snow. The Front Range resorts have been getting the damn shaft this season. There's nothing in Denver worth hanging around for. Head west ASAP!

Triple8Sol · 01-13-2010, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linvillegorge

There isn't going to be shit for snowcat runs. There isn't shit for snow. The Front Range resorts have been getting the damn shaft this season. There's nothing in Denver worth hanging around for. Head west ASAP!

Trust me, we've checked the reports a few times, but not much can be done about it since all our plans are already in place. Fingers still crossed lol...

I've only researched the resorts in Summit County based on our original plans. In case there is some way we could get out of the lift ticket packages, what Front Range resorts would you guys suggest then (taking into account that we're sleeping in Breck)?

BurtonAvenger · 01-13-2010, 08:20 AM

Hope you like riding park or slushy groomers it's spring time conditions. Past two days we've hit highs in the mid 40's and it's not going to end. Pretty sure the cats have stopped running cause the snowpack has melted off drastically.

kri$han · 01-13-2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurtonAvenger

Hope you like riding park or slushy groomers it's spring time conditions. Past two days we've hit highs in the mid 40's and it's not going to end. Pretty sure the cats have stopped running cause the snowpack has melted off drastically.

WOW what a change!... when i was there over the christmas break, it was bitterly cold.

I've decided that I'm not a big fan of CO, mostly cue to the elevation... it's just killer on my lungs. Whistler for me

Milo303 · 01-13-2010, 09:05 AM

Not much for recommendations for a hill because of the lack of snow but you gotta eat chili cheese fries with chicharone from chubbys in Denver.

**killclimbz** · 01-13-2010, 09:05 AM

Yeah, I don't know what to tell you. This is the first real skunk year we've had in 15 years. Snowfall is pretty reliable in this state, but so far El Nino has been screwing us. Spring could be fantastic but January is looking to be a push at best.

Monarch has the best conditions close to Summit County. Probably a 2-2 1/2 hour drive from Breck. You just take Highway 9 over Hoosier Pass to 285 South to 50 West. Should be an easy drive and they have 100% of the mountain open. Then again, they haven't seen snow in awhile either. That's about all I got. It's so crappy that I am flipping the bird to Ullr and going rock climbing this weekend. Maybe he'll change his mind about snow if he sees we are just going to do something else. You're welcome to join in on the climbing if you want...

Tarzanman · 01-13-2010, 09:30 AM

I just got back from Breckenridge exactly one week ago. Do yourself a favor and take it easy your first day there. The altitude will sap your strength and make you feel a bit ill if you push it too hard.

How early are you getting in? Whatever you do, I wouldn't leave Denver any later than ~2:30PM. Breck gets dark around 4:30PM this time of year, and you'd definitely rather make the drive down I-70 in daylight if its your first time. BRING SUNGLASSES because you'll be driving straight at the sun.

In Friday traffic, Keystone will probably be ~20-30 min drive... I didn't ride it at night but my roommate said it was hella cold when he went.

The weather wasn't *too* bad when I was there over the Holiday weekend. Noon highs got up to like 35ºF or so on the days it was sunny (just enough to start melting the slush at the lodges on the base of the peaks), but only stayed that warm for about 45 min. We got a bit of snow our 3rd day which put some powder on the upper half of the peaks, but the wind blew it away the next day (wtf!) I agree with BurtonAvenger and Killclimbz when they say that the snowfall hasn't been anything special (as far as the mid west goes). My roommate went out to copper mtn last week monday and said it was all icy hardpack (glad I skipped the trip!).

There's nothing in Denver I can think of that wouldn't end up with you driving through rush hour (or later) traffic to get to Breck.... maybe a local will have some suggestions.

**killclimbz** · 01-13-2010, 10:14 AM

Yeah, we are something like 15ft behind on snow fall this season. I have seen a year like this that when March hit it snowed like hell. At the first week of April we were 160% of average snow fall. So it can turn around. I've also just seen it suck all (98) year too...

tekniq33 · 01-13-2010, 10:16 AM

Please let it turn around prior to the end of Feb. Finally made it out west last year and had high temps and no new snow in Utah. Now I head to Colorado in their worst season in a decade. Based on my luck next year I will let you all know when and where I am going so you can avoid it.

01-13-2010, 12:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
Triple8Sol Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 3,686 Blog Entries: 1	Flying into CO this week! Hitting Breck/Vail/Keystone. Celebrating MLK weekend (lol) in CO! Flying into Denver this Fri. and staying in Breck 'til Tues. We're planning to ride 3 consecutive days, although not sure exactly where yet. With the package deal I booked, we can do as many days as we want at Breck/A-Basin/Keystone, and then only 1 day at either Vail or Beaver Creek. I read up on alot of threads on here, so I'm pushing for Breck, Keystone where we can do some snowcat runs, and Vail. Does that sound like a good plan? We get in early on Fri., so any must-dos or must-sees or can't miss restaurants around Denver, before making the drive into Breck? __________________ 14 NeverSummer Proto HD . 13 Never Summer Cobra . 12 Gnu Rider's Choice C2PTX 14 Now Drive . 13 Now IPO 13 NB x 686 580

01-13-2010, 08:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
BurtonAvenger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mountains Posts: 8,058	Hope you like riding park or slushy groomers it's spring time conditions. Past two days we've hit highs in the mid 40's and it's not going to end. Pretty sure the cats have stopped running cause the snowpack has melted off drastically. __________________ Angry Snowboarder Because someone has to call it how they see it!

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01-13-2010, 01:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
linvillegorge Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Evergreen, CO Posts: 4,501	There isn't going to be shit for snowcat runs. There isn't shit for snow. The Front Range resorts have been getting the damn shaft this season. There's nothing in Denver worth hanging around for. Head west ASAP!

01-13-2010, 09:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
killclimbz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Front Range Posts: 9,179	Yeah, I don't know what to tell you. This is the first real skunk year we've had in 15 years. Snowfall is pretty reliable in this state, but so far El Nino has been screwing us. Spring could be fantastic but January is looking to be a push at best. Monarch has the best conditions close to Summit County. Probably a 2-2 1/2 hour drive from Breck. You just take Highway 9 over Hoosier Pass to 285 South to 50 West. Should be an easy drive and they have 100% of the mountain open. Then again, they haven't seen snow in awhile either. That's about all I got. It's so crappy that I am flipping the bird to Ullr and going rock climbing this weekend. Maybe he'll change his mind about snow if he sees we are just going to do something else. You're welcome to join in on the climbing if you want...

01-13-2010, 09:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
Tarzanman Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,394	I just got back from Breckenridge exactly one week ago. Do yourself a favor and take it easy your first day there. The altitude will sap your strength and make you feel a bit ill if you push it too hard. How early are you getting in? Whatever you do, I wouldn't leave Denver any later than ~2:30PM. Breck gets dark around 4:30PM this time of year, and you'd definitely rather make the drive down I-70 in daylight if its your first time. BRING SUNGLASSES because you'll be driving straight at the sun. In Friday traffic, Keystone will probably be ~20-30 min drive... I didn't ride it at night but my roommate said it was hella cold when he went. The weather wasn't too bad when I was there over the Holiday weekend. Noon highs got up to like 35ºF or so on the days it was sunny (just enough to start melting the slush at the lodges on the base of the peaks), but only stayed that warm for about 45 min. We got a bit of snow our 3rd day which put some powder on the upper half of the peaks, but the wind blew it away the next day (wtf!) I agree with BurtonAvenger and Killclimbz when they say that the snowfall hasn't been anything special (as far as the mid west goes). My roommate went out to copper mtn last week monday and said it was all icy hardpack (glad I skipped the trip!). There's nothing in Denver I can think of that wouldn't end up with you driving through rush hour (or later) traffic to get to Breck.... maybe a local will have some suggestions.

01-13-2010, 10:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
killclimbz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Front Range Posts: 9,179	Yeah, we are something like 15ft behind on snow fall this season. I have seen a year like this that when March hit it snowed like hell. At the first week of April we were 160% of average snow fall. So it can turn around. I've also just seen it suck all (98) year too...

01-13-2010, 10:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
tekniq33 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 723	Please let it turn around prior to the end of Feb. Finally made it out west last year and had high temps and no new snow in Utah. Now I head to Colorado in their worst season in a decade. Based on my luck next year I will let you all know when and where I am going so you can avoid it.