Tony, would you call this a slow start for Colorado?
- Thread starter ondeadlin
- Start date
No. Most Colorado areas have nearly machine-like reliability February and later, but tend to be slow getting covered with frequent small storms of very dry snow.
I always refer people to this informative website from someone who tracked early season percent of terrain open at many Colorado areas for 13 years: http://people.montana.com/~jbraun/coloearly.htm .
Best bets for early season natural snow are Wolf Creek, Steamboat, Vail and Winter Park in that order. I wouldn't personally advance book anywhere else in the state before mid-January. Durango and Telluride have low skier density and topography that they can ski a little better on the typical Christmas 30-40 inch base than most of the other areas.
I always refer people to this informative website from someone who tracked early season percent of terrain open at many Colorado areas for 13 years: http://people.montana.com/~jbraun/coloearly.htm .
Best bets for early season natural snow are Wolf Creek, Steamboat, Vail and Winter Park in that order. I wouldn't personally advance book anywhere else in the state before mid-January. Durango and Telluride have low skier density and topography that they can ski a little better on the typical Christmas 30-40 inch base than most of the other areas.
Thanks, Tony! That's a really informative link.
My family has skied Colorado the past two years in late February and will be back again this year. But we've also got a chance to go in mid-December for a long weekend at Breck for a crazy-low bottom line.
So we're going then, too, but having never gone in December, I'm watching the early snowfall closely for the first time.
It'll just be three days of skiing, so I'll make the best of whatever they've got an basically look at it as found money (powder? lol) since it wasn't a trip that was in my plans until very recently.
My family has skied Colorado the past two years in late February and will be back again this year. But we've also got a chance to go in mid-December for a long weekend at Breck for a crazy-low bottom line.
So we're going then, too, but having never gone in December, I'm watching the early snowfall closely for the first time.
It'll just be three days of skiing, so I'll make the best of whatever they've got an basically look at it as found money (powder? lol) since it wasn't a trip that was in my plans until very recently.
Everyone has crazy-low bottom lines in mid-December because it's a dead time in the travel business. That's why I advise waiting until late November to see where the snow is. The deals for mid-December will still be there.
SoCal Rider
New member
ondeadlin":1nx4yecy said:
Over a foot Friday and Saturday - maybe Summit is on its way.
The northern Colorado areas have had more snow than normal, but whether it will translate into faster terrain openings as in the PNW it's too early to say. Watch those "percents of area/number of trails open" counts over the next few weeks. I think Colorado Ski Country has required that areas report this for some time, so the info will be readily available on RSN, Snocountry, etc. That's why jbraun was able to compile that website info from 1988-2002. The same info is available on my progress reports after 2002, but not in such organized form.
Killclimbz
New member
We got hit pretty good last weekend. Around 16" at most spots in the front range areas. I was riding knee deep powder in Butler Gulch and having to skin through waste deep snow at times.
Unfortunately we also had our first avy death at Berthoud Pass yesterday. It was not a very good scene to be around.
Unfortunately we also had our first avy death at Berthoud Pass yesterday. It was not a very good scene to be around.
option_ride
New member
killclimbz, good to see your safe. I was worried about you because I know you frequent that area. Very sad deal.
Be careful and wear your gear everyone.
Be careful and wear your gear everyone.
Killclimbz
New member
I always bring my gear. In this poor guys case I don't think it would have made a difference. A first hand account on TGR stated that the person suffered horrible blunt force trauma. Most likely died in the avy. Just as everyone says, sound decision making is the most important thing you can do out there.
Thanks for the concern. I fielded about a half dozen calls from people last night for the very same thing.
Thanks for the concern. I fielded about a half dozen calls from people last night for the very same thing.