Help with Copper (Colorado)

[Gina23]

Hi Divas,

Unbelivably, my boss came into my cube last Friday and told me that I was going skiing this Friday to Copper Mountain for free with one of our vendors on their ski bus. I have the Vail resorts pass, so I am excited to get to go to Copper as it is not one of the resorts owned by Vail and hit some new terrain. I did go to Copper just once last year, but I was trying to learn to ski and stayed on the green groomers all day long. Now I'm a solid intermediate that is starting to play in the bumps and non-groomed terrain. I can ski any groomed trail (even blacks), but I still don't think that makes me an expert by any means. What I need help with is from those of you that know the mountain really well. I'm looking for suggestions on how I should move around throughout the day. I'll be looking to warm up on blue groomers and then move straight into working in the bumps. So, to those of you that know your way around, where should I start and can you suggest any trails that you think would be to my liking?

edit: wanted to say that black bumps/non groomed is a little out of my league but i would be interested in trying maybe one or two of these trails if you think they aren't too hairy.

Thanks for your time !

 

[fatoots]

A free trip! How lucky for you! Can I jump in and hijack your thread? And believe it or not, my name is Gina too!

I ask because I might be headed to Copper soon too. I was waiting to post until I found out for sure if my kids had invites to the USASA Nationals. I am interested in the same info as Gina23, but also if I should rent/demo other skis while I am out there. I have never skied CO before, and my skis are the K2 Burnin Luvs, with a 68 waist. Will I need fatter skis? Do they have a lot of groomers? I tend to have trouble with them in lots of soft, pushed around powder. But, if I am spending a lot of my time watching races and may not get off piste will it be a waste and my skis will do?

 

[Gina23]

I have similar skis, k2 true luv's and they are perfect on the groomers out here. just a regular all mountain ski is fine unless you are going to play on a day after a big dump, then you might think about demo-ing something fatter. if it were me, i would bring your burnin' luvs with.

 

[Robyn]

Off the top of my head, warm up on either Super Bee or American Eagle lifts for blue groomers. There are some bumps there that would work but rather than that I think I'd head up to Excelerator and hit Hallelujuah to work on bumps. It is a black diamond but those bumps are usually pretty sweet (and I took my 5-6 year olds on it 2 weeks ago). There are some other barely black bump runs off Excelerator that you can see from the lift and they're pretty short as well. American Flyer has I-Dropper that is a blue bumps run but I don't think they are any easier than those on Excelerator.

 

[mollmeister]

Copper. . . . Great views!

I am thinking you might enjoy the blues off of Timberline Express. It's a nice little *pocket* of blues. Usually some are groomed and at least one is bumpy and there are some little trees to pop in and out of. Definitely a good *warm-up* spot if nothing else.

If you are thinking you might want to try a black or two with some variable conditions, possibly bumps, Gold Digger (above the Timberline area) is very pretty, usually not at all crowded, and can have lots of different kinds of conditions.

Personally I am a big fan of Copper Bowl (hiking out the ridge) and Spaulding Bowl, but some of that's going to be a bit much. However, Copper Bowl on a clear day is gorgeous, so you might give Alicante or Golden Crest a try if you are feeling good and the snow is soft. (Don't head over if it's been warm and then things have refrozen overnight without a chance to soften up again. It'll just bum you out, trying to ski the crud.)

I'm sure someone else has better 4-1-1 than I do, though, as DH and I have a tendency to *just go* at Copper, sans maps, and ski where we end up. So I don't have a lot of data on the names of the trails!

As for skis, for the other Gina. . . I know plenty of people who ski the Burnin' Luv or similar skis out here and are just fine. Particularly people who grew up racing or weekend skiing in and around the NYC and Boston areas. Depending on conditions when you're here, though, you might have a lot of fun demoing a wider ski. I don't know that you said when you're going to be out, but the later it gets, the less true powder. However, some of the fatter skis are really good at slicing through crud and chunks and heavy, wet spring snow. It might be a good time to ski a different ski one day and compare it to the Burnins. . .

 

[mollmeister]

I think I'd head up to Excelerator and hit Hallelujuah to work on bumps. It is a black diamond but those bumps are usually pretty sweet (and I took my 5-6 year olds on it 2 weeks ago). There are some other barely black bump runs off Excelerator that you can see from the lift and they're pretty short as well. .

That's a good call. Hallelujah does usually have pretty soft, even bumps, and the run isn't overly long, which is nice for laps.

 

[bklyn]

https://www.coppercolorado.com/mountain/trail_map/statictrailmap.htm

The best thing about Copper is that the terrain is pretty concentrated:
Green, blue, black... they are all together in the same areas.

 

[mollmeister]

https://www.coppercolorado.com/mountain/trail_map/statictrailmap.htm

The best thing about Copper is that the terrain is pretty concentrated:
Green, blue, black... they are all together in the same areas.

*Naturally Divided Terrain*

Which is awesome for some people, in some cases. . . DH and I think it's a PITA, because it's too hard to get from Resolution to Copper Bowl/Tucker Mountain in a hurry!

 

[Gina23]

yeah, i know it's naturally divided and the trail map (thanks!)... but i'm looking for specific run names... i want some good blue bump runs specifically thanks girls, keep em' coming!

 

[Little Lightning]

I'm planning on coming up on Thurs if this nasty cold goes away. If I do I may come over to Copper on Friday, no promises, however.

Since you're not sure about the mtn., I recommend starting on the American Flyer lift and skiing Timberline. That way if you're not comfortable it's easy to get to Union Creek.

I recommend going to the American Flyer lift and taking a run down American Flyer to the Timberline lift. It's the easiest run to get to without poling. From the top of the Timerline lift you can get to the other runs. If you want a nice green go to Soliloguy. Warning, it's a down and up so you have to get some speed up. It's nice and long and often groomed. Off the right of the downhill to Soliloquy there is a nice run called Jacques Pigue. If it hasn't been groomed the 2 faces will have bumps. It was groomed last Friday so I don't know when it will be groomed again. For blue bumps there is a very nice run that few people know about. It's called Tempo and it's off Copperfields. It doesn't get skied much so the bumps are really nice. It is used by Copper instructors for beginning bump lessons. The snow in Timberline is all natural and pretty good.

If your comfortable in Timberline then go to the Sierra lift. It's hidden so it's tricky to find it. To get there from Timberline you ski over to Highpoint, cross it and start down Coppertone. Stay to the right near the trees. Hang a right as soon as you can and keep your speed up.
If you don't make it you end up polling into the lift line. The terrain looks a little freaky when you get there but there are 2 very nice runs (Golddigger and Retreat) with bumps so it's worth the effort. You will wind up back at Timberline and if you can either take Soliloguy or Jacque's Picque back to Timberline. There is a run off to the left, at the top of Union Bowl called Timber Ridge. It's a blue run so it's an easy way out if you don't want to go down the bowl to Golddigger or Retreat. Actually, the bowl is quite easy, it just looks scary.

To go to the bowls go up the Rendevous lift and over the back side. There is a groomed trail so if your not comfortable you can take mtn chief back to Timberline and access Golddiger, Retreat or Timber Ridge.

In this area there is no food, unless you're willing to eat hot dogs, hamburgers at T-Rex. We go to East Village and eat at Copper Station. They have $5.00 specials that are really good, it's not as crowded because it's harder to get to. To get there take Coppertone, this time go left, to a run called Skid Row. Follow Skid Row all the way to the Super B lift. You will be crossing the bottoms of several runs so be careful. Main Vein has fast skiers coming down and Bouncer is hard to see. You will need speed after crossing Main Vein because it's another down, up.

To get back from East Village take the Super B lift and ski down Copperopolis by the race course. If you're comfortable and want to explore that area Ptargamigan is usually pretty good. For bumps try Hallejuah or CDL. Sometimes CDL is goomed. If you're really confident try Triple Treat, off of Oh No. Runs to avoid off of Super B are Andy's Encore and Rosi's. They get skied off very early.

To get back to Timberline go back down to the American Flyer lift, I prefer Fair Play and Foul Play to Main Vein, they don't get skied as much.

You will not find the perfectly groomed trails that you find at Vail Resorts but I think the snow is better. Last Friday Copper was very crowded. I guess sunshine and freshies brought everyone out. I hope this helps.

I skied with an intermediate skier on Friday and she was very happy in the Timberline area, not so happy around Super B and the Eagle lift.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Skimom]

I want your job! I'm so jealous.

I would totally agree with Little Lightning. I prefer the Timberline area to Super Bee. But...I would definitely give Spaulding Bowl a try. I love that area as well.

Have fun! You lucky Diva!

 

[Little Lightning]

The problem with Spaulding is there is no way out but Crosscut and the Resolution lift. Crosscut used to be called "Widow Maker". It is groomed from time to time and then can be a blue run, but, the bumps can get pretty big. It's another place where the snow can be tricky. Last Wed. we skied Union, the snow was great but in Spaulding the snow was so-so.

 

[Robyn]

Yeah, I think Spaulding could get into something a little scary for Gina. But, if you decide to try it definitely go way skier's left from the top (if entering from the Poma) as that's the least steep of the area. If you drop in right at that entrance it's Parachute Chute which is the steepest spot on the mountain.

I forgot about the bumps on Timberline which are nice because you can get in and out of them pretty easily.

 

[Gina23]

sanks again

now, all i have to do is pray for the snow!!!!!!!!

 

[bklyn]

yeah, i know it's naturally divided and the trail map (thanks!)... but i'm looking for specific run names... i want some good blue bump runs specifically thanks girls, keep em' coming!

Oops - my aim was to show you that you wouldn't easily stumble into something over your head, in the hope that you'd feel more confident about the place. I'm glad you got some specifics as I'm not too good at remembering trail and chair names.

Have fun!

 

[Gina23]

No problem, I'll take anything I can get!!!!!!!! I just re-read everything while looking at the trail map. Decided to head to Timberline and Union Meadows. If I'm feeling spicy I'll head over to the Excelerator lift, but I think that will probably do it. My big thing is that I'm still so new to skiing, I have no reason to go real big as I plan to ski for the rest of my life (well as long as I can that is) and I'll get to the big girl bowls eventually

 

[mollmeister]

I think you'll have fun around Timberline (and if you're feeling really confident, it's no big thing to take a run down Gold Digger). When it was really, really windy a few weeks ago, we started out in Resolution and then headed over to Timberline for some zippy cruisers and small bumps out of the wind, and it was quite lovely.

 

[KatyPerrey]

No problem, I'll take anything I can get!!!!!!!! I just re-read everything while looking at the trail map. Decided to head to Timberline and Union Meadows.

Good choice to head to Timberline. I would stay away from the front east side (Super B). If you decide to go up the "S" lift and do the backside, Retreat is the easier of the 4. Union Meadows is nice at the top but if you don't know where to go you could end up in some very tight trees and on a long road that some call the "waterfall".
Good luck and have fun!
Katy

 

[Gina23]

Hi again girls.

One word - WOW.

I.HAD.SO.MUCH.FUN.

I did one black diamond without too many issues, the Gold Digger... and yes I couldn't help but to have Kanye West's "gold digger" song in my mind... so i'm flying down all like "she a gold diggah......" Ha.

I did a couple good blue bumpers under timberline - Little Burn and Jacque's Peak. And I just want to say - regarding bumps... at the bottom of Little Burn I had that "ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" moment in the bumps... "i can turn on top of that bump or i can go in the trough... ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! i get it!!!!!!!!!" hahah. i feel like "duh" right now that it took me a minute but now i feel like a big girl.

didn't go up super b at all because i met the most awesomest boys ever from denver on the ski bus and we sat up at the top of Sierra lift and talked about how lucky we all were to live in such a beautiful state and spent a lot of time just hanging out and watching the people in the bowls. i'll hit super b next go around.

yes, copper was beautiful, breathtaking. Whoever said that was right on. before i left yesterday i just looked around for a good 10 minutes and took it all in and i cried. i still can't believe i live here.

 

[pinto]

Hi again girls.

One word - WOW.

I.HAD.SO.MUCH.FUN.

I did one black diamond without too many issues, the Gold Digger... and yes I couldn't help but to have Kanye West's "gold digger" song in my mind... so i'm flying down all like "she a gold diggah......" Ha.

I did a couple good blue bumpers under timberline - Little Burn and Jacque's Peak. And I just want to say - regarding bumps... at the bottom of Little Burn I had that "ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" moment in the bumps... "i can turn on top of that bump or i can go in the trough... ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! i get it!!!!!!!!!" hahah. i feel like "duh" right now that it took me a minute but now i feel like a big girl.

didn't go up super b at all because i met the most awesomest boys ever from denver on the ski bus and we sat up at the top of Sierra lift and talked about how lucky we all were to live in such a beautiful state and spent a lot of time just hanging out and watching the people in the bowls. i'll hit super b next go around.

yes, copper was beautiful, breathtaking. Whoever said that was right on. before i left yesterday i just looked around for a good 10 minutes and took it all in and i cried. i still can't believe i live here.

Hooray! Glad you liked it.

And for my money, Little Burn is the best "bump-learning" run I've ever been on. Anyone who wants to work on mogul skiing: go find it.

• It's not steep, so you don't get going too fast while you're figuring out what to do.
• The run is usually shady, so the snow stays nice and soft.
• The moguls are shaped well ... I don't think many boarders travel on it, since there are plenty of alternative runs nearby that are groomed.
• It's pretty long, but not without bailouts.