GreyDragon

I leave on Saturday for a week in Colorado.
Staying at Keystone for the week.
Lift pass is good for 2 days at Vail, and the rest can be used at Keystone, Breckenridge, and Arapahoe Basin.

Just curious if I should check out A-Basin or use that day at one of the other resorts.
I know nothing about them (first trip to Colorado) and it seems that A-Basin is the smallest of the bunch.

Thoughts?

Weipim

at this time you should just go check out breck/key and vail. a-basin to me is more like a pre-season/ post season resort

miles1717

I just got back from my first CO trip last week. We got 6 total days on the snow-- we hit Vail, Keystone, Beaver Creek, and A-Basin.

Vail was a blast with fresh snow, but wasn't great without it. Lucky for us, we had a local buddy who took us to some of his favorite stashes in the Back/Blue Sky. We found great tree runs at Blue Sky that stayed fresh for a couple days.

Beaver Creek was a total waste of time. It was a pain in the ass to get around the mountain, the conditions sucked, and the whole feel of the mountain was wack. It's a whole 'nother level of rich people.

Keystone's groomers were a ton of fun. Long, fast, bomb-able. And you can actually ride fun trails between the areas of the mountain, as opposed to being on a cat track. I had a lot of fun on that mountain.

A-Basin was our favorite day of the trip. They had just gotten 8" the night before, and it was empty on the hill (it was a Tuesday). We lapped untouched powder for hours. It feels like a small mountain when it comes to lifts, facilities, etc., but the terrain itself was pretty great. Montezuma Bowl has fun stuff to explore if you're up for some walking/traversing.

I'm obviously no expert on Colorado terrain, but I would say it all depends on the weather. Without fresh snow, I'd personally stay at Keystone and tear up the groomers. With new snow, A-Basin is excellent, not so sure how it would be without it. Vail is so huge that you can always find something fun to do. Stay away from Beaver Creek.

Have fun!

BurtonAvenger

A basin> Keystone any day of the week. If we get the snow they're calling for go to the Basin you will be pleased but only if visibility is good if you can't see shit that place is le suck.

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Angry Snowboarder Because someone has to call it how they see it!

GreyDragon

Wow, I'm glad I asked!
Okay, I"ll make sure I hit up A-basin then.

Thanks for the advice!

sponger606

always love A-basin. just bear in mind its a different experience than vail resorts. I always find it empty even on the good days. The riding here is more technical, if thats your thing.

Chef Jer

Abasin has some fun terrain. Definitely worth checking if you have time.

Bretfred

I like a basin. I think its worth hitting one day. Easy to figure out and has some fun trails.

snowklinger

All you need to know. (unless there is no snow and it's only park laps, a51 I do enjoy lapping even if it is stacked on a giant turd)

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is it late october yet?

RockyMTNsteeze

Beaver Creek normally is good. However I was there on Monday and the conditions where terrible. It is a lower elevation than the other mountains and it was warm before Monday. The snow melted and it froze. It may even be raining over there since it is barely cold enough to snow in Keystone right now. The snow is very wet. I live very close to Keystone and it's snowing big wet flakes right now. The roads were soaked.

That type of condition can happen anytime in the spring. I have experienced it a lot at Arapahoe Basin during the late season. It's called fluff on crust. Beaver Creek is a great mountain otherwise and has fabulous aspen glades. I don't care if a bunch of people in fur coats hang around there, they don't go in the trees. I had my best days there this season. I feel like a wolf at Beaver Creek, all the sheeple stay out of my forest.

Keystone, Beaver Creek, Arapahoe Basin, Vail > Breckenridge

That is in order. Beaver Creek conditions have deteriorated a lot. Of course people's opinions of certain mountains is based on their own experiences. I am experienced with the Summit mountains.

Oh, ya Arapahoe Basin is a cool mountain. You can park right up on the slopes if you get there early enough or pull up after some of the early birds leave. They call it the beach. You can get drunk there and there's parties. The terrain is cool, except I hate the Montezuma chair because it is long and slow. Is there a reason it's an attached lift? It's sooo slow and windy. I can only stand it in the spring.

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