CO Trip. Where to go?

[Kevbeau]

Have to do a few days training in Denver next week and was hoping to head up into the mountains Thursday night to get a couple days of riding in. From what I can tell, most of the resorts will be open by next Friday...any recommendations on which resort will have the best early conditions? Also, would like to be somewhere where at least some restaurants and bars are open.

Thanks in advance,
Kevin

[mergs]

Have to do a few days training in Denver next week and was hoping to head up into the mountains Thursday night to get a couple days of riding in. From what I can tell, most of the resorts will be open by next Friday...any recommendations on which resort will have the best early conditions? Also, would like to be somewhere where at least some restaurants and bars are open.

Thanks in advance,
Kevin

I'd recommend Arapahoe Basin as a first choice. I love that place.

http://www.arapahoebasin.com

http://www.arapahoebasin.com/images/11_10_04_upper_mountain_th.jpg

However, the other options for Denver are Breck, Keystone or Vail. I'd go where the snow is best.

[Tantrum]

Where to start? OK, how about Winter Park (http://www.skiwinterpark.com/). They've had 8" in the last 24 hours and more snow is on the way. Terrain is nice but I've never been in the early season so check their website for lifts and trails open. The village is nice but not as hopping as Breck or Vail (but not as expensive!).

Mergs mentioned A-Basin but there is no village so you'll have to stay in Keystone. Keystone (http://keystone.snow.com/) has a nice mountain but probably won't be much open. They have a small village that's OK and the towns of Dillon and Siverthorne are close.

Breck is just around the corner (http://breckenridge.snow.com/). Breck has a huge nightlife and the mountain is pretty good. For the third year in a row, the Breckenridge park and pipe designers have been crowned the best park builders in North America by Snowboarder Magazine so you'll have plenty of fun. You can ride Keystone, Breck, and A-Basin on the same ticket and there is a bus between the three mountains (the KAB bus). But be careful, you must by your ticket at either Keystone or Breck for this to work. If you buy your ticket at A-Basin, it won't be valid at Keystone or Breck.

Copper (http://www.coppercolorado.com/) is not far from Breck and has a nice hill, but I don't get there too often as my pass is for Breck/Keystone/A-basin/Vail/Beaver Creek. Their village is smallish but I hear it rocks.

Then there's Vail/Beaver Creek (http://vail.snow.com/). Nice place to ride mid-season and not on the weekend. Very expensive also with a great village.

If I were to recomemnd something, I'd say stay at Keysotne and use your car to go to A-Basin and Breck and maybe even Copper. Check the wesites for trails and lifts open.

If you want more info, just PM me.

[DrBunda]

Loveland's got the most open from what I've heard. You also won't experience much in the way of lift lines there. Unfortunately, the bar/restaurant scene there isn't too good. It's not too far however from Silverthorne/Frisco/Dillon/Breck/Keystone.

Breck probably won't have much open, but the nightlife in Breck is killer.

A-Basin or Copper probably has the next best stuff open, but once again you'll have to go to Frisco/Silverthorne/Dillon/Breck for nightlife. If you want the best snow and most variety early season, give A-Basin/Loveland a try. If variety and lift lines don't bother you, but you want a "scene" try Breck.

T

[canuck]

[Can you guys not set up separate accounts so I know who the heck is posting!!??!?
:eek:

[Tantrum]

I don't consider Loveland an alternative to the Summit reosrts so it slips my mind.

[Kevbeau]

Thanks for the info guys. I've been to Vail, Loveland and Breck before, so I'll probably make my decision last minute and base it on snow conditions. I'm also heading to Breck Dec28 -Jan 2nd with a large group of friends. I fully expect the place to be a zoo, so anyone have any tips on avoiding crowds. I should have a rental car, so I figure I can head to A-Basin if it gets too crazy.

[Tantrum]

I'm also heading to Breck Dec28 -Jan 2nd with a large group of friends. I fully expect the place to be a zoo, so anyone have any tips on avoiding crowds. I should have a rental car, so I figure I can head to A-Basin if it gets too crazy.During the X-mas break. Instead of a car, maybe you should rent a sled and give the backcountry a shot.:D

[TBone]

Yo, this is is me.

T

[TBone]

We'll probably be up there around New Years--typically head up for the festivities.

Getting away from the crowds? That's funny. ;)

Seriously, A-Basin or Loveland will be your best bets.

T

[Kevbeau]

We'll probably be up there around New Years--typically head up for the festivities.

Getting away from the crowds? That's funny. ;)

Seriously, A-Basin or Loveland will be your best bets.

T

I plan on having a car, so no problem travelling to other slopes. Also hoping the T-Bar keeps the crowds a thin in Breck's top bowls although that may be wishful thinking.

[TBone]

I plan on having a car, so no problem travelling to other slopes. Also hoping the T-Bar keeps the crowds a thin in Breck's top bowls although that may be wishful thinking.

Or, maybe check out Beaver Creek. I haven't been there during the holidays, but when I was there it seemed like a bunch of rich folks who only wanted to be seen on the mountain. (ie. blue runs, etc.) The tough runs weren't crowded at all, and I've heard there's some great tree runs there.

Terry

[beez]

Have to do a few days training in Denver next week and was hoping to head up into the mountains Thursday night to get a couple days of riding in. From what I can tell, most of the resorts will be open by next Friday...any recommendations on which resort will have the best early conditions? Also, would like to be somewhere where at least some restaurants and bars are open.

Thanks in advance,
Kevin

my personal experience.
Avoid Winterpark/MAry Jane like the plague. They open stuff up that has no right to be open inthe early season. Later on they are awesome, but I hate their early season. I have always referred to Keystone as Ski-stone in the early season. I think that says it all right there. Loveland usually has the most snow, but there is definately not a bar scene, etc. A_basin is awesome when they have snow, but untill this year they didn't have snow making and didn't usually open untill December, so I have no experience with their early season., but can only say that they need a lot of snow to cover their fun stuff, and I doubt they have it yet. Copper usually does the best job of making ridable man made snow, and Vail usually has a decent amount open in the early season. I would advise Copper or Vail personally, if you want returaunt, bars, etc.
HAve fun!