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Historically speaking and from your experience, how much terrain is open the weekend of Nov. 13th? It's Veteran's Day weekend and I have a 4-day weekend. I've never been to Colorado and am intrigued by the idea of heading out there on said weekend w/ the husband due to Jet Blue's obscenely good b.o.g.o.f. deal.
What do you think? Worth it, or wait?
Tanks,
Sprite
How desperate are you?
There won't be that much open - in fact, most resorts still won't have opened I think - but, we do get the occasional pre-Turkey day doozie of a storm...
If you are coming purely for lift-served, I'd say no. If you would do other things in addition to a day or two on the hill, then maybe. If this is in place of a later trip, then wait.
My $.02 anyway.
Copper will be open by then. Winter Park is scheduled to open on the 17th. Copper was looking pretty good (for october) last week, but unless we get a big storm by then, pickings will be slim at both.
edit: Loveland will probably have a few more runs open by then too.
Breck and Skeystoned open that weekend. As was previously posted, Loveland, Winter Park and A-Basin will already be open. Most of the resort (read, lifts) don't really open up a lot until Thanksgiving weekend. Terrain Park isn't usually built up, a lot of the food places are still closed. Lift tickets are really cheap; I have a few Entertainment Book coupons I'd be happy to give to some deserving maggette/maggot (we have a pass and don't use them). If you can head down south you may have better odds (Wolf Creek, silverton...) Where would you fly into?
We're gonna be there just for the fun and partying and the chance to get in some practice skiing switch on the groomers!
Which runs open depends on how much we get dumped on between now and then. It ALWAYS snows near Halloween and a few times in November.
I wouldn't spend a bunch of money getting out here and renting an expensive place, but if you can do it cheap I guarantee you'll have fun. We still will probably have more snow than any other state (crossing fingers and grinning ;) )
Julie, we'd be flying into Denver. Copper is 75 miles away. I am going to do a little digging to figure out which early-openers are closest to Denver.
I would definitely be looking toward a very cheapie hotel...I'm not into the luxury accomodations scene. Would rather spend the money I save on skiing another day. :cool:
I guess I'll have my eye on the weather in the next few weeks. It's an exciting possibility to ponder in any case. I appreciate the advice folks!
Sprite
If you do not mind driving, then Wolf Creek should be kicking. I hit it last year around that time and 100% of their mountain was open.
I may be in CO either that weekend you are there, or the following. I plan on trying to get some turns in.
Sprite,
It is very possible I'll be going out that same weekend(Nov. 13) since I usually go for a long weekend early in the season and pick up my season pass before the rush. So if you need a place to stay, I'll definitely have extra beds. I usally get tickets last minute on United because it usually is the cheapest.($200 leave Sat. return Mon. or Tues. direct LGA to DEN)
Conditions the past five years early season have varied. Great some years and totally worth it. Others years I have felt that Killington early season would have been just as good if not better. One thing I will say is lift lines early season generally suck compared to what they are later in the season.
Close + cheap + fun = Loveland.Quote:
Originally Posted by snowsprite
Find a cheap place to stay in Idaho Springs or Georgetown. Or stay in Denver. It's less than an hour drive if you stay on the west side of town.
http://www.skiloveland.com/Wheretostay.htm
My experience is this:
The only place in CO that reliably offers good skiing in November is Wolf Creek. Six hours or so from Denver.
In Scummit County you most likely will be skiing blue cruisers on icy, rock hard, man made snow. Since only 25% of the mountains will be available to ski, the skiing tends to get a bit crowded. You could get lucky. Good conditions in November sometimes happen, but not always.
Ugh. I try not to go to resorts until after thanksgiving sometime... crowded with lots of gapers running into each other on long narrow ice rinks. If I were you, I'd save the trip for sometime when there's more snow... prez day, maybe? still crowded but more mountain available. If it's possible, that is. If not, well, it's pretty out here right now anyways. Might be worth it if you really want to go somewhere. :) have fun whatever you decide!
Last season we had a great day when Mary Jane opened (think it was the week before Thanksgiving?). Midweek, no real lines to speak of and boot deep fresh (got tracked out, but it's Nov.). Went to Copper on a wknd earlier in the month, dealt with 30-40min. lines to ski the one open run.
Wait a little and check out the JetBlue deal going on (two for the price of one before Dec 15th) - I was quoted $300 for two people NYC-DEN in the beginning of Dec...or go to Utah for about the same price.
CO's early season is not the least bit reliable.
you should still be able to get a good deal in FEB adn MAR.
Oddly, Breck's pre-Turkey Day weather was an average of -35 windchill last year. :rolleyes:
Really?Quote:
Originally Posted by skiingjulie
not to put the jinx in, but this Fall is like the days of old......betting it'll be sweet.
Thanks for chiming in all. I hadn't figured on huge crowds, that is something to consider. I think I will go into wait-and-see mode...and perhaps it is best to go later season if the Jet Blue special comes up again.
Anyway I'm going to Utah in Dec. for the mini so that's keeping me happy enough for now!
:cool:
Sprite
FWIW, Wolf Creek had a higher base on 11/14 last season than Summit or Eagle County resorts had all season. Worth every second of the drive.
Hey SSprite,
I'd also check into flying into Colorado Springs,& going to Wolf Creek,it's around 4 or so hours from there,depending on your speed.They usually open with lots of snow & I've had my best early season powder days there.There's plenty of cheap accomodations within 15 miles of the hill ,$35-$50 a night with kitchenette.I prefer to stay on the east side of the pass,but the west side also has hot springs.Lift tickets when the resort is 100% open are $43 last I checked,& it usually opens at 100%.
Summit Co is hit or miss this time of year.This year looks great so far,but previous one have sucked !
Good luck if you choose to accept this assignment,this email will self destruct 5 minutes after reading it.
As everybody else here is indicating, head to Wolf Creek. In three of the last four winters I've skied Wolf Creek around the first week of Nov. and the dumps have been big with 100% of the mountain open. The early season at Wolf Creek can't be beat.
no worries it'll be epic, I'm not involed in this oneQuote:
Originally Posted by BlurredElevens
Wolf Creek is sounding like the place to be. I scoped out some of the little cabins and motels in the area & can't believe how cheap they are! It seems like a really laid-back area too, kinda like the Gore Mtn area in upstate NY where there is no commercial "strip" and it is very relaxed. I like that.
Regarding the drive Wolf Creek site says it's 192 miles to S. Fork from the CO Springs airport. Definitely better than the 244 miles from Denver International! However no Jet Blue dealy-o at CO Springs. Guess I gotta buck up and drive if I'm gonna do this.
Sprite
The drive from DIA to the Springs is all highway. E-470 (the world's most overpriced piece of pavement) would save a little time, but bring $5 at least for the tolls.Quote:
Originally Posted by snowsprite