Boulder skiing??

[BurnHard]

Sorry for another absolute newbie post and possibly repeat ... It's just really hard for me to find this kind of information without exactly knowing what to look for.

So I was inquiring about skiing in the Denver area around Thanksgiving. So I'm still flying to Denver but I'm most likely going to go to Boulder for a job opportunity.

What's the skiing like around Boulder, how far are the resorts, how far do I have to drive to start a ski tour? On Google Earth it seems like the mountains are right around the corner in Boulder ... Can I just walk out of a hotel with my skiis on my back and start hiking some peak?

... getting ready for the flaming about to start,
thanks, Bernardo

[robokill1981]

I just skinned over Red Rocks pass and Mt. Sanitas is going off right now!

You can't really get to any good skiing right out of your hotel in Boulder. You could walk to the bus station, ride to Eldora, and tour from there though. I'd buy the book Front Range Descents if I was you, choose a route or five, and look for partners/advice on routes on this site. Honestly though if you don't know anyone or anywhere to go then tours off of Berthoud, Loveland, and Jones pass might be your best bet.

[warthog]

From one Florida Jong to another, your answer is no. There are many outdoor activities you can do right outside your hotel room in Boulder, skiing is not one of them. Those mountains you see on google are foothills. Eldora is the closest, but questionable during Thanksgiving. A-Basin is about an hour 15 or so away, Loveland is a bit closer. Both of those should have good snow at that time of year. Especially this year, it would appear.

Boulder (Eldora) skiing is like Melbourne surfing. Not good most of the year, but excellent in small windows throughout the season. A-Basin was my main mountain while living there. The drive is not bad at all, especially if you know the back roads.

[Ireallyliketoski2]

... Can I just walk out of a hotel with my skiis on my back and start hiking some peak?

Definitely, that would actually be pretty core.

[huck4bucks]

Can I just walk out of a hotel with my skiis on my back and start hiking some peak?

Bernardo (if that's even your real name),
There are some sick lines off the Flatirons. Take the Broadway bus to Baseline and start hiking towards Chautauqua, you can't miss them.

[hev]

[Alpine Dreams]

... Can I just walk out of a hotel with my skiis on my back and start hiking some peak?...

God, I wish!

[iskibc]

I dropped the second flatiron yesterday. Skied right back to my hotel on Pearl St.

[grskier]

I dropped the second flatiron yesterday. Skied right back to my hotel on Pearl St.

Yeah, but I dropped the third one and rode it back to my hotel in North Boulder...........................





switch.

[icanseeformiles(andmiles)]

Where's the pic from two hours later, when it was 60° outside and the snow was gone.

Here's one for you....there was a rope tow at Chataqua in the mid 70's.

[BurnHard]

Thanks a bunch for the help guys! This forum's gotta be the most helpful I've ever come across!

Yes, Bernardo is my real name. No, I won't hike straight out of Boulder, now that I know better. I'll try to get a car, somehow. Or take the bus into the mountains. Or catch a ride. Rentals for under-25 are ridiculously expensive.

I will get that book Front Range Descents, plus I just got the "10th Mountain Division Hut Map" by mail so I'll check that out, too. Darn I wish this shit was simpler. Can't wait to move to Co for good.

[jpcski]

Here's one for you....there was a rope tow at Chataqua in the mid 70's.

You can still see the trail cut from the ski jump run that was there. There is a trail named Ski Jump Trail or something like that in the middle of the meadow heading west.

If you are coming from Florida any skiing is better than none. I am sure Eldora will be fine if you are limited in transportation. They have been making snow for a week or so and go 24" or so last week. Check out their webcam for current conditions www.eldora.com.

[smitchell333]

ELBORA? - nah unless its an upslope dump not worth it.

Loveland for lift served

Berthoud Pass for the sidecountry - throw a rock and you'll hit a mag from this board.

[bsideindy]

U obviously don't know eldora. upslope good, but not needed. i've had many weekday powder sessions off corona lift. Just me, some trees and the lifties shaking there head as I do laps with a shiteating grin.
I guess it get repetitious after a couple hours, but by that time I'm back in the car on my way to work.

[icanseeformiles(andmiles)]

I do wish eldo would bring back the lights (for something other than Wednesday night racing).

OK, I admit it, I work there. Once the season gets past about January, there's great trees everywhere.

[Deep Days]

Bernardo:

When will you be here? I'll be gone most of the Thanksgiving week, but if you happen to be here when I am, I'd be happy to give you a ride to Loveland. www.skiloveland.com for a 4-pack for $99 or something. No picture needed for the pass.

Drop me a PM as the time gets closer.

[LaBelle23]

ELBORA? - nah unless its an upslope dump not worth it.

Bsideindy, This is what we want people to think . At least the ones that will steal our lines in the trees. No need to defend.

ELBORA IS LAME.

[jrbd]

Here's one for you....there was a rope tow at Chataqua in the mid 70's.

I noticed the other day that Heritage Square, on the west edge of Golden, has a chairlift for their alpine slide. It looks kind of out-of-place on the bone-dry mountainside.

[tommyvee]

Playing straightman to all the sarcasm.

Bernardo,
You can access reasonable touring from the RTD bus to Eldora ski area, by following the Forest Service access trail behind Eldora and going either to the Guin Mtn Cabin (free overnite/rustic), along the ridge towards Rollins Pass, or into Jenny Creek. Thanksgiving can have heinous windblown crud, bottomless hoar, or powder in those areas, but it's always fun to get out in the mountains and usually some aspect/elevation will have good turns.

I live in Boulder and plan to be around Thanksgiving time, so send me a private message and I can help point you right and maybe ski a day or two with you.

(And I have skiied some good lines on Sanitas and Chatuaqua over the years. If the storm is big enuf you can ski the Boulder streets, since they aren't plowed {once every decade or so})

[LaBelle23]

In addition to Guinn Mt, there is the Tennessee Mt Cabin which is rented out by Eldora. This one has easier access (via Eldora nordic trails), but is still a nice getaway. Since Guinn has no reservations it may be a little crowded for T-day weekend.

Eldora would be your best bet with no car (the bus drops you right at the lift and runs every 2 hrs to/from Boulder). They got 2 ft last week, and are suppossed to open Nov 17. There will probably not be too much terrain open though. You have to buy a lift ticket if you want to access the BC gate (to Guinn) out the backside of the area.

[DJMingus]

I do wish eldo would bring back the lights (for something other than Wednesday night racing).

OK, I admit it, I work there. Once the season gets past about January, there's great trees everywhere.

Damn right - just one night a week would be cool.

[icanseeformiles(andmiles)]

I noticed the other day that Heritage Square, on the west edge of Golden, has a chairlift for their alpine slide. It looks kind of out-of-place on the bone-dry mountainside.

There was skiing there, but probably about 30 or 40 years ago. Not to mention Arapahoe East and Fun Valley in Lakewood

[jpcski]

[QUOTE=icanseeformiles(andmiles);967323]I do wish eldo would bring back the lights (for something other than Wednesday night racing).QUOTE]

I agree. I had a great powder day there one night back in the day. Even got busted for poaching a closed run without lights with knee deep freshies.

Maybe we should start a petition.

[huttrip]

What's the skiing like around Boulder, how far are the resorts, how far do I have to drive to start a ski tour?

My personal favorite day trip from Boulder is to skin up to the Guinn Mtn Hut (or the Arestua Hut). The trailhead is about 20 miles from Boulder. Huttrip.com has a great writeup about how to get there. There is also links to the reservation area if you plan on spending the night. Depending on your route, you can even skin back to the top of Eldora and find some great skiing, but, of course, cutting lines is illegal there.

Another option is to drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park, which has some great backcountry skiing areas, including a now closed ski resort! This is a bit further, about 40 miles. Depending on your abilities, Flat top Mountain and the Banana Bowls offer extreme Couloirs to some pretty easy and safe terrain.

[durangotang]

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....... yeah