DrGreeNThumB420

^^^nice thanks for info!

killclimbz

Here is a shot of the Monarch Ski area from the other side of the highway.

If you look to the far right of the pic you can start to see some of the steep stuff. That is the beginning of the Mirkwood area. It's a short hike from the lift on that side of the mountain. Definitely looks good, and that spot gets some of the best snow in the state imho.

DrGreeNThumB420

nice pic.....so monarch has lot of backcountry type of terrain? how far is monarch from evergreen area??

killclimbz

That shot is from the last ridge of a 5-6 hour tour we do starting from the top of Monarch Pass. The hike to stuff at the resort starts from the peak with the obvious ski runs down it. Hike over lookers right and pick your line.
Monarch is about a 3 hour drive from the Metro area.

DrGreeNThumB420

yo kill or anyone from CO i was readin another post form different forum and they said loveland is extremely windy all the time?? is that true? if so is it alot more windy then most other resorts?

killclimbz

Loveland or A-Basin can be extremely windy. The problem is those resorts start just below treeline. So a large portion of them is pretty wide open terrain with no to small trees. Nothing to cut the wind. It's not an everyday thing, but both places sit on the divide so they see more than their fair share of windy days. Breck from what I remember is a cup of suck when it's windy there too. Keystone, Copper, and Winterpark have plenty of quality below treeline runs where you can get away from it to some degree. Winterpark being the place where I gravitate to if it's windy as hell.

So yeah, wind can be a serious factor at either A-Basin or Loveland. If one is suffering so is the other. I've been at the parking lot of either place and could barely see the lift (20yards away) due to high winds and blowing snow. I went somewhere else...

DrGreeNThumB420

damn oh well as long as abasin n loveland both have same problem....cause this person was saying to get a pass at abasin because loveland is always windy....winter park ill have to look at prices for season pass.....its seems the 259$ at loveland n abasin is hard to beat

killclimbz

Dude for around $100 more you get both Winterpark and Copper mtn. 4x the terrain, plus I hang at those resorts and know them better than most of the locals. Well especially true for Winterpark.

DrGreeNThumB420

i would love to get that pass but im going to be broke by the time im done with my move to CO....i dont know how im affording lovelands pass but i need something!

Mr. Right

I've had passes to A-basin and Loveland. I'm going with Loveland this year. Loveland just doesn't get boring to me, A-basin tends to get old towards the mid-end of the season but I cry when Loveland closes down. Also for the quiet you can hike Berthoud pass for some good riding and you can also ride Loveland pass. My friend and I used to take sleds up on Guanella pass to go ride the closed down ski resort up there. You are on actual ski runs and there is NEVER a crowd, you just need a sled to really enjoy it.