Breck vs A-Basin on Windy Day

[Evergreen]

So if you know there are going to be major wind in Summit County, which would be better (less wind),... Breck or A-Basin?

 

[abc]

A-basin can be pretty windy even on a "normal" day...

 

[pinto]

I'm not positive, but I think the plus with Breck is that there is a lot more terrain where you can escape the wind (relatively speaking) than there is at ABasin. Someone with better knowledge about Breck could chime in on that ... but that's my initial thought.

 

[marge]

Oh gad. I've been to Breck when it's beautiful and when it's windy? It's miserable. I don't know what those winds do around there but it's awful. I can't speak for A-basin as I've never skied there. There IS a reason they call it Breckenfridge though.

 

[Robyn]

I'm with Marge on Breck and honestly if it was a very windy day I would choose neither. If I was limited to Vail Resorts for pass/ticket reasons and Summit County this would be a time to choose Keystone. If I wasn't limited to Vail Resorts I would choose Copper. And that's if I had to ski. Sometimes it's just not worth it and while cold temps will very rarely keep me away high wind will.

 

[KatyPerrey]

Keystone!!!

 

[Evergreen]

Keystone? Really? Every time I've been there during wind the slopes are a sheet of ice. We're going today and this is my one day to ski this week so we are going no matter what. I think we'll try peak 9 a Break. I'll let you guys know how it goes!

 

[Robyn]

My guess is those sheets of ice are related to other weather conditions in the days leading up to that day.

 

[merrydog]

This season I've had the opportunity to spend a few days at Breck through various conditions and my observations are that the lower lifts on peak 8 are pretty well protected from the wind except for the last few towers on the Colorado Super Chair.

The chairs on peak 9 start getting wind half way up the chair. Everything under the E-chair (which isn't running yet as of this posting but the runs are open) tends to be protected from sun and wind.

 

[Little Lightning]

We were at Keystone yesterday and today, mostly in the Outback, and really didn't experience much wind. Conditions at Keystone are unusually good, they're not doing a lot of grooming on the frontside which I think contributes to the icy, hard pack conditions.

I'm in agreement with Robyn, Copper or Keystone. If it's bad at Copper you can ski the Alpine or Timberline lifts to avoid the wind, Keystone you have the gondola. I don't mind the wind on Sierra as most of the lift stays pretty sheltered.

 

[Evergreen]

Hey guys! Just got back and we had a great day! We went to Breck and skied peak 8 and 9. It snowed all day and the wind ended up being not that bad. The soft conditions more then made up for it. Thanks for all of the advice!

 

[bounceswoosh]

I guess I'm late to the party, but between the two, I would ski Breck and stick to the trees =) I hear peak 7 is opening on Friday. <3 Ore Bucket.

 

[SkiNurse]

I'm with Marge on Breck and honestly if it was a very windy day I would choose neither. If I was limited to Vail Resorts for pass/ticket reasons and Summit County this would be a time to choose Keystone. If I wasn't limited to Vail Resorts I would choose Copper. And that's if I had to ski. Sometimes it's just not worth it and while cold temps will very rarely keep me away high wind will.

I would agree with this. Both places are MISERABLE when it is windy..Abasin more so than Breck. Breck at least you can escape into treeline to avoid the wiind...even though on the lifts...you can't.