CO Cat Ski Recco

[Tads]

Searched and found good info, but wondered if anyone had any recent insight to share on San Juan, Chicago Ridge, Steamboat or Monarch. Terrain, snow, guides, etc.

Worth looking at Vail? Others I missed?

Is San Juan that much better than the rest? Would love to stay closer to Front Range if possible, but might be able to convince the crew.

Won't be filling a cat, but like everyone on this forum, we're awesome riders

Late Jan too variable? (likely for San Juans during La Nina I'd guess) Go for Feb/Mar?

Thx for any help!

[millfiger]

CS Irwin is a place to check out, north of Crested Butte.

[~mikey b]

Vail Powder Guides is worth checking out. Ben and Jenna are friends of mine. Terrain is not super-extreme, but you'll have a lot of fun. Great guides, yurt with woodstove for your tasty lunch.

http://www.vailsnowcat.com/

[Shredhead]

I've been to Aspen, Chicago Ridge and Monarch.

Of those, Aspen's the best IMHO. Bob, the head guide, won't go unless it's good.

Chicago Ridge didn't follow the same rule, it was wind blown death crust.

Monarch was good, but the runs were short.

One of my bud's started this place.

http://www.powderaddiction.com/

He's a good guy, but I haven't been yet.

[stevesmith7]

Chicago Ridge didn't follow the same rule, it was wind blown death crust.

We has six inches of soft snow when I went. That was it, six inches total on a zero base.

[JoeStrummer]

2nd Perl at Aspen Powder Tours. They will charge you based on how good the snow is, sometimes.

[Tads]

Thanks all. Great info.

Most of the crew is pushing for Chicago Ridge. A little scary based on some of the stories above, but we all know it's a crapshoot snow & weather-wise wherever we go.

Gonna try to suggest Aspen based on the info here.

We're a little restricted cuz it's partially a 40th b-day (1/18) surprise for one of the crew.

A little early in the season for my tastes, but at least we've got more than 6" on the ground already!

[summit]

Too bad Berthoud Powder Guides doesn't still exist. They were awesome.

San Juan is great. I've heard good about Aspen and Monarch. If you want to stay in the Front Range, have you considered the new Powder Addiction op on Jones Pass? I've heard good about them.

I've yet to see a positive post on this forum about Chicago. I know they have competent people, but that doesn't change the terrain.

[NashBoarder]

I've been twice with the Steamboat crew. Not the narliest terrain, but the snow was fantastic both times. Buffalo pass gets a lot more snow than Steamboat, I'd go back in a heartbeat.

[Kai]

Searched and found good info, but wondered if anyone had any recent insight to share on San Juan, Chicago Ridge, Steamboat or Monarch. Terrain, snow, guides, etc.

Worth looking at Vail? Others I missed?

Is San Juan that much better than the rest? Would love to stay closer to Front Range if possible, but might be able to convince the crew.

Won't be filling a cat, but like everyone on this forum, we're awesome riders

Late Jan too variable? (likely for San Juans during La Nina I'd guess) Go for Feb/Mar?

Thx for any help!

I have skied Steamboat and Chicago Ridge.

I really like Chicago Ridge. Less $$ than Steamboat, and I prefer the terrain. Nice thing about Chicago Ridge is that if the snow sucks, they cancel the trip and give you a refund. At Steamboat, if the snow sucks, you just ski sucky snow. Steamboat provides skis for you to use. Chicago Ridge is bring your own skis.

[Tads]

Kai - that's great to hear about CR refunding. The posts above about Aspen are what had me leaning that way.

[stevesmith7]

I have skied Steamboat and Chicago Ridge.

I really like Chicago Ridge. Less $$ than Steamboat, and I prefer the terrain. Nice thing about Chicago Ridge is that if the snow sucks, they cancel the trip and give you a refund. At Steamboat, if the snow sucks, you just ski sucky snow. Steamboat provides skis for you to use. Chicago Ridge is bring your own skis.

I guess 6" on nothing didn't constitute sucking enough to cancel the trip. I do remember 100yds in a gully where I didn't hit bottom.

I agree that the terrain at CR is way more interesting than Steamboat. Done both.