Monarch terrain expansion

[cmsummit]

Monarch is officially opening the Merkwood area on March 3. This is going to totally change the Monarch ski experience. Merkwood is an area that was previously only available to cat skiing. It is some super sick terrain with steep chutes and rock drops/cliff bands. The only downfall to this area is the general E-SE aspect, as it can get hammered by the sun. This terrain expansion is going to take one of the best areas in CO for consistent snow quality and add some legitimate terrain. My brother lives in Salida and he did 7 super-deep laps through there this past weekend and saw nobody else. Since I live in Alma, I'm seriously considering getting a pass there next year to get away from the crowded I-70 areas on the weekends. This is great news.

[lemon boy]

NOICE!!!!!!

[Below Zero]

Sweet. Gonna have to stop there on the way back from Crested Butte this year!

[Lane Meyer]

Any pictures?? (That are not from TOPOZone.com)

[cmsummit]

Any pictures?? (That are not from TOPOZone.com)

Negative.

[shera]

Monarch is officially opening the Merkwood area on March 3. This is going to totally change the Monarch ski experience. Merkwood is an area that was previously only available to cat skiing. It is some super sick terrain with steep chutes and rock drops/cliff bands. The only downfall to this area is the general E-SE aspect, as it can get hammered by the sun. This terrain expansion is going to take one of the best areas in CO for consistent snow quality and add some legitimate terrain. My brother lives in Salida and he did 7 super-deep laps through there this past weekend and saw nobody else. Since I live in Alma, I'm seriously considering getting a pass there next year to get away from the crowded I-70 areas on the weekends. This is great news.

Very good news - I've had such incredible cold blower pow there. And the whole place is deserted. Tried my only 360 ever off the cornice by the power lines.

Hey, I didn't know you lived in Alma. Haven't paying enough attention, I guess. I used to have a couple of acres a little to the north, just short of hoosier pass. Also skied for weeks and weeks out of Alma last year. Really good days.

[cmsummit]

Hey, I didn't know you lived in Alma. Haven't paying enough attention, I guess. I used to have a couple of acres a little to the north, just short of hoosier pass. Also skied for weeks and weeks out of Alma last year. Really good days.

Placer Valley is where you had your land? Lived in summit for 9 years, then bought a house in Alma a couple years ago, right in town. You skiing up Buckskin Gulch? Bross? Lincoln? There are some burly lines to be had up Buckskin Gulch.

[INDY GS]

to continue the thread hijack here, how is the drive thru hoosier pass and breck if one were to live in ALma/fairplay? I've been contemplating buying some land down that way, but am concerned about the traffic in Breck. thoughts, opinions? this would be for a full time residence.

Thanks,

INDY

[ScottG]

Sweet. always wanted to stop by, but kept on driving.
Beautiful and scenic area.
Seems like a great (quiet) day for a pow dump.
Next time I'll stop

[shera]

Placer Valley is where you had your land? Lived in summit for 9 years, then bought a house in Alma a couple years ago, right in town. You skiing up Buckskin Gulch? Bross? Lincoln? There are some burly lines to be had up Buckskin Gulch.

Yup, Placer Valley. My land was on the last county road before the pass - leads to Montgomery Reservoir. Up that drainage is the north aspect of Democrat, which I skied. Is that one called Buckskin?

Most days were up Mosquito Gulch - just drive up there and look around. I couldn't even tell you all the mountains. Then skied up in the next drainage to the north - the one with Kite Lake. Again, I'd have to go and look it all up on topozone...

Very cool shiz out of Alma. You're in a great spot for BC. One thing I will definitely do up there this spring is the Russian Coulior.

[cmsummit]

to continue the thread hijack here, how is the drive thru hoosier pass and breck if one were to live in ALma/fairplay? I've been contemplating buying some land down that way, but am concerned about the traffic in Breck. thoughts, opinions? this would be for a full time residence.

Thanks,

INDY

The drive over Hoosier is a piece of cake, it only takes me 20 minutes to get to work in Breck when the roads are clear; and there are no traffic lights. It take my co-workers who live in Keystone and Silverthorne longer to get to work than myself. If the roads are messy and people are driving slow, then it might take me 25-30 minutes. The pass never shuts down, because there are no slide zones that cross it and it is pretty sheltered from the wind. It's really just a winding road with little exposure.
Sat. mornings can be busy with ski traffic coming from CO Springs, but it's never that bad. It's a walk in the park compared to the I-70 cluster-fuck.
Buy soon, if you decide to; prices are only rising.

Driving through Breck can be a pain in the ass. Gotta take the side roads through.

[shera]

to continue the thread hijack here, how is the drive thru hoosier pass and breck if one were to live in ALma/fairplay? I've been contemplating buying some land down that way, but am concerned about the traffic in Breck. thoughts, opinions? this would be for a full time residence.

Thanks,

INDY

Since I lived in Blue River for over a year, I'll tell you that I got annoyed sometimes going through Breck. You learn to go around Main Street during the day.

I heard something about them changing the traffic routes through Breck. Maybe somebody's got details on that.

As for buying land down that way, I think that's awesome. Good prices, no tourons, beautiful mountains. Be careful to stay out of the wind...

[cmsummit]

Then skied up in the next drainage to the north - the one with Kite Lake.

That's Buckskin.

[INDY GS]

The drive thru breck is what has me concerned, but if there are ways around. then should be no problem. Thanks for the advice. It truly is a beautiful area.

INDY

[kchri]

I heard something about them changing the traffic routes through Breck. Maybe somebody's got details on that.

Breckenridge is in the process of converting Main St. into a "real" downtown area and the highway now is officially diverted to Park Avenue. This was effective the beginning of this year I believe...

[robokill1981]

I believe they are considering (or possibly have finalized) plans to close off Main Street and divert traffic to Park. At the moment though nothing has changed and no traffic is being diverted. The traffic in Breck really isn't that bad unless you're driving through town on a weekend or Friday afternoon and take Main or Park. One hint that I'm sure a lot of locals already know is that Wellington curves around to French Gulch. It's not faster than Main by a long shot, but if traffic is really bad or you live on Baldy it can save you a ton of time.