I hope I'm not breaking any rules by posting trip reports in this fashion, but since I live in Colorado I go skiing to a different resort/area almost every weekend. I thought it would be easiest for me to continue updating this thread with my opinions and experiences since I don't go on "ski trips." This report will include what traffic was like to and from Denver, dates, weather, snow/trail condition, and any other advice I deem pertinent.
If there are any suggestions to improve this trip report thread, please let me know.
** Please note, this is my first season ever skiing and I am a beginner, but I'll do my best to accomodate to what all skiiers might want to know **
January 12 - 13 - Winter Park, CO/Winter Park Resort
Traffic: We left on at 9:30 AM from Denver, no issues. The trip home was made on Saturday at 3:00 PM, no issues.
Weather: Snowed on and off the entire time. It was very cold this weekend for Colorado, it was in the high teens to low 20's.
Snow/Trail condition: My expert friend mentioned that the snow was glorious this weekend, mostly due to no wind and general non-blowing powder.
My experience: I took a lesson which was a waste of money. The guide didn't even teach us the essentials of turning, which maybe he didn't have to, but he basically taught us how to snow plow to a stop, set us free down a very easy green, made us stop once, and then said - "you guys are good... bye!" and took off skiing by himself. I was miserable inside of my boots, and had to remove a pair of socks, and he took the class and left without me. I asked him to just wait a moment, and he mentioned, "If you don't want to ski, then I can't help you." In response, "How does removing a pair of socks to make my boots more comfortable constitute to you that I don't want to ski?" My friend from the midwest (of all places) taught me how to turn. The nightlife in Winter Park was wonderful... beginning with Apres Ski at the derailer bar, we ended up at this bar called "buckets" which was awesome. We got home at 3 Am, which probably didn't help my Saturday of skiing. I fell a lot... even breaking my cell phone on a fall, but by the end of the day my turns were parallel. Way worth it!
Jan 19 - Loveland Ski Area (Loveland Valley)
Traffic to and from the area was a breeze. Left at 7 AM, Left the ski area at 3 PM.
Weather - sunny, beautiful, people in t-shirts
snow/trail condition - no new snow, the trails got a bit slushy by the end of the day.
My experience: taught myself to ski here basically... went up lift 7 expecting to unload, which required you to jump off the lift. very scary. continued on up and ended up on a blue that i couldn't handle. fell. walked a bit down-hill. no one was there so no one saw :D Overall a great day - about 20 lift rides.
Feb 10 - Copper Mountain Ski Resort
Traffic to Copper was HORRENDOUS. This was a Saturday, we left at 7:30 AM. We didn't arrive until 10:00 AM. Traffic back to Denver wasn't quite as bad, but still gummy.
Weather - period of sun and snow... nice.
snow/trail - packed with people... i haven't seen this many people since i got stuck in the denver airport during the blizzard of 2006. very uncomfortable.
My experience - Other than having to ski around hundreds on every run, I did my first blue here... was very happy with that and went home happy.
Feb 21 - Winter Park Ski resort
Traffic was fine to and from because it was a Wednesday.
Weather - beautiful sun and visibility for miles... great views of the divide. the entire trip was worth the views. got windy in the afternoon blowing all the fresh snow off.
snow/trail - trails were icy in spots... no new snow... as soon as afternoon hit the snow had blown off leaving very icy spots.
my experience: I didn't have a great day skiing, but got in some good greens and blues. I got fatigued very early this day due to having to wait for someone even less experienced with me - bummer.
Feb 25 - Loveland Ski Area - the basin this time
Traffic - We left at 9:00 AM (sunday) got there at 10.. perfect. Coming home was a different story.... yikes. We left around 4 PM and I didn't get back to my house in Denver until 6.
Weather - snowed fresh power all day long.
snow/trail - best snow I've had yet in my life... deep, nice easy turns, soft soft soft.
my experience - I love loveland... I've had great experiences here... not crowded... lift lines are good... but, the lifts are dicey and move really fast. if you don't know how to load/unload they don't care... get out of the way. i bent a pole on a lift it was moving so fast and low to the ground. yikes!
more to come....
If there are any suggestions to improve this trip report thread, please let me know.
** Please note, this is my first season ever skiing and I am a beginner, but I'll do my best to accomodate to what all skiiers might want to know **
January 12 - 13 - Winter Park, CO/Winter Park Resort
Traffic: We left on at 9:30 AM from Denver, no issues. The trip home was made on Saturday at 3:00 PM, no issues.
Weather: Snowed on and off the entire time. It was very cold this weekend for Colorado, it was in the high teens to low 20's.
Snow/Trail condition: My expert friend mentioned that the snow was glorious this weekend, mostly due to no wind and general non-blowing powder.
My experience: I took a lesson which was a waste of money. The guide didn't even teach us the essentials of turning, which maybe he didn't have to, but he basically taught us how to snow plow to a stop, set us free down a very easy green, made us stop once, and then said - "you guys are good... bye!" and took off skiing by himself. I was miserable inside of my boots, and had to remove a pair of socks, and he took the class and left without me. I asked him to just wait a moment, and he mentioned, "If you don't want to ski, then I can't help you." In response, "How does removing a pair of socks to make my boots more comfortable constitute to you that I don't want to ski?" My friend from the midwest (of all places) taught me how to turn. The nightlife in Winter Park was wonderful... beginning with Apres Ski at the derailer bar, we ended up at this bar called "buckets" which was awesome. We got home at 3 Am, which probably didn't help my Saturday of skiing. I fell a lot... even breaking my cell phone on a fall, but by the end of the day my turns were parallel. Way worth it!
Jan 19 - Loveland Ski Area (Loveland Valley)
Traffic to and from the area was a breeze. Left at 7 AM, Left the ski area at 3 PM.
Weather - sunny, beautiful, people in t-shirts
snow/trail condition - no new snow, the trails got a bit slushy by the end of the day.
My experience: taught myself to ski here basically... went up lift 7 expecting to unload, which required you to jump off the lift. very scary. continued on up and ended up on a blue that i couldn't handle. fell. walked a bit down-hill. no one was there so no one saw :D Overall a great day - about 20 lift rides.
Feb 10 - Copper Mountain Ski Resort
Traffic to Copper was HORRENDOUS. This was a Saturday, we left at 7:30 AM. We didn't arrive until 10:00 AM. Traffic back to Denver wasn't quite as bad, but still gummy.
Weather - period of sun and snow... nice.
snow/trail - packed with people... i haven't seen this many people since i got stuck in the denver airport during the blizzard of 2006. very uncomfortable.
My experience - Other than having to ski around hundreds on every run, I did my first blue here... was very happy with that and went home happy.
Feb 21 - Winter Park Ski resort
Traffic was fine to and from because it was a Wednesday.
Weather - beautiful sun and visibility for miles... great views of the divide. the entire trip was worth the views. got windy in the afternoon blowing all the fresh snow off.
snow/trail - trails were icy in spots... no new snow... as soon as afternoon hit the snow had blown off leaving very icy spots.
my experience: I didn't have a great day skiing, but got in some good greens and blues. I got fatigued very early this day due to having to wait for someone even less experienced with me - bummer.
Feb 25 - Loveland Ski Area - the basin this time
Traffic - We left at 9:00 AM (sunday) got there at 10.. perfect. Coming home was a different story.... yikes. We left around 4 PM and I didn't get back to my house in Denver until 6.
Weather - snowed fresh power all day long.
snow/trail - best snow I've had yet in my life... deep, nice easy turns, soft soft soft.
my experience - I love loveland... I've had great experiences here... not crowded... lift lines are good... but, the lifts are dicey and move really fast. if you don't know how to load/unload they don't care... get out of the way. i bent a pole on a lift it was moving so fast and low to the ground. yikes!
more to come....
burnt my legs out and headed in for some lunch... i ate at the resort. 10.50 for a sammij and gatorade... gotta love resort prices. i'll bring my lunch next time.
