Lots of Snow = Early Openings

Normally, ski resorts don’t open until right around Thanksgiving.  But, here in Colorado we have already been blessed with tremendous snowfall.  Accordingly, several resorts are already open, and a few more start running their lifts this week.  I enjoyed a great day at Breckenridge resort yesterday.   Also open are Keystone, A-Basin, and Loveland.  Tomorrow, Vail and Beaver Creek open.   Telluride follows on November 22.  Vail already boasts 4 feet of snow.  Breckenridge currently has a base of 30″.  My friend and I headed up yesterday to check it out.

A Cold Day at Breck

We enjoyed a cold but sunny Veteran’s Day on the hill.   Mondays are usually pretty quiet days to ski, but the holiday and great snow brought big crowds.  We waited about in lines that took about 10 minutes to reach the front when taking both the Colorado SuperChair and Rocky Mountain SuperChair.  Almost all of Peak 8 was open, with ample options for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skiing.  As temps were in the single digits, I actually bundled up with more layers than I normally wear:  a Daehlie merino/mesh top and tights, a cute Krimson Klover half-zip, my new NILS jacket, and of course ample sunscreen (I’ve been using a blend of ThinkSport and Supergoop sunscreen), goggles, helmet, and face mask to protect my skin.   Other than the ten minutes I spent gloveless at the top of Colorado Superchair lift texting my friend trying to figure out where he was, I stayed pretty warm during the day.

With this much snow at the beginning of the season, I am optimistic that the snow will continue and skiing will be great this winter.  A pass, whether it’s a 4 pack or something more comprehensive, will almost always be the most economical way to hit the slopes.  You can still get an Epic Pass and others.