Rick Langenberg
Alright Snow Children, now that the dreaded municipal election is over, it’s time to put the smart phones and I-pads or whatever horrific electronic device you own away and venture onto Colorado’s High Country slopes for a final excursion or two or three.
The calendar may say it’s mid-April, but our hills of Play are not responding to that reality. Snow bombardments continue to pound the Ski Country, a time typically when spring letdowns generally occur. No, that slump is reserved for the bats of the Colorado Rockies, and not for Colorado ski mountains.
Courtesy of an El Nino year, the frequent Pacific storm invasions or whatever gibberish our weather advisers are conjuring up, the winter/spring of 2024 is still turning into a real paradise gem on the Colorado slopes.
The only problem is accessing your favorite hills, as on occasion, you may have to change the timing of your arrival.
Our gold champs for the last week are Vail and Aspen Highlands, which hit paydirt with a combined totals of a whooping 72-plus inches of fresh powder. On the local front, Ski Cooper, the family favorite, just continues to baffle the Big Dog ski experts, and is nearing a 250-inch total for the season. The Cooper mountain, outside Leadville, got hit with a 20-plus inch bombing in the last week. So, it’s party time in Leadville.
And then, there is Steamboat that is edging on entering the 400-inch club for total snow accumulation for the year and a ski base that is nearing 120-inches. Too bad, Steamboat, just outside Steamboat Springs, is so hard to access. But it’s gives us time to dream of a great several-day excursion. Steamboat is one of the last remaining real authentic, Colorado ski towns.
Virtually all of our nearby mountains are netting impressive totals, so you won’t face too many disappointments. A hefty number of our favorites are recording snow totals well past the 250-inch level.
On a purely statistical level, and according to the Colorado Ski Central website, currently 22 ski areas out of 27 ski resorts reporting are open for skiing and snowboarding. Statewide 87 percent of lifts area are open, and 91 percent of trails and runs are still open. Not too shabby for the middle of April.
Throughout the remainder of the season, and with the help of local sponsor 315 Survival, your prime local spot for skin tuning, equipment and needed advice, we will provide regular ski reports. Make sure to pay them (315) a visit, prior to your next trip to the mountain, or for any outdoor adventure. 315 is located in the Safeway shopping center and sports unique outdoor equipment, and right now is doing some prime ski tuning. Talk to Eric and 315 Survival and then hit the slopes; tell your employers you are sick, as mid-week trips are the best.
Enjoy our remaining Power Days.
Ski Updates
The following is the most updated ski information we received regarding some of our favorite mountains, based on the Colorado Ski Country and Colorado Ski Central websites, along with our own analysis. Enjoy.
*We have included recent snow totals, based on the time of this reporting.
Monarch: Snow Base-74 Inches, Runs Open 65, Percentage of Terrain Open 97
Comments: The locals’ favorite place for snow; shorter runs than most places, but very convenient. 18 Inches in past 7 days (of this report). Snow total for season: 273 Inches
Arapahoe Basin: Snow Base-62 Inches, Runs Open 142, Percentage of Terrain Open 98
Comments: Never a bad day at the Basin; parking sometimes a problem. Pick a day, though, with sun, as sometimes gets really cold. Spring is the prime time for the A-World. 5 Inches in past 4 days.
Loveland: Snow Base-57-60 Inches, Runs Open 93, Percentage of Terrain Open 99
Comments: Another great local gem, pounded with considerable snow and like A-Basin, stays open well longer than other mountains. 12 Inches in past 7 days. Snow total for year: 235 Inches
Breckenridge: Snow Base-66 Inches, Runs Open 187, Percentage of Terrain Open 100
Comments: Call in sick during the week; try to avoid Breck on the weekend but can’t beat the close distance from Teller County and their local happenings. 19 Inches in past 7 days. Snow total for year: 274 Inches
Keystone: Snow Base-56 Inches, Runs Open 129 Percentage of Terrain Open 92
Comments: Ideal mountain for families and kids. Underestimated for the great amount of tree runs. 12 Inches in past 7 days. Snow total for year: 214 Inches
Copper Mountain: Snow Base-62Inches, Runs Open 144, Percentage of Terrain Open 92
Comments: Probably the best laid-out mountain; great back bowls, although access is sometimes tricky. 6 Inches in past 3 days. Snow total for year: 271 Inches
Ski Cooper: Snow Base-61 to 67 Inches, Runs Open 64, Percentage of Terrain Open 100.
Comments: Secret gem for telemark skiing; and for advanced intermediates, check out the Snowcat tours. Can’t beat the small, family atmosphere, almost brings back memories of skiing before the big resorts. 22 Inches in past 7 days. Snow Total for Year: 230 Inches
Vail: Snow Base-74 Inches, Runs Open 275, Percentage of Terrain Open 100
Comments: Colorado’s biggest and most well-known mountain resort. Great, but try during the week due to the crowds. 32 Inches in past 7 days. Total snow count for this season: 283 Inches
Aspen: Snow Base-58 to 65 Inches, Runs Open 104 Percentage of Terrain Open 100 25 Inches in past 7 days.
Aspen Highlands: Snow Base-74 to 95 Inches, Runs Open 108, Percentage of Terrain Open 98
Comments: Check out Aspen Highlands for diversion and views from the top. 40 Inches in past 7 days.
Crested Butte: Snow Base-74 Inches, Runs Open 165 Percentage of Terrain Open 100
Comments: The acclaimed T-Bars, access to the Butte’s Extreme Limits Terrain is still open. Tours are often provided to this section, under guided supervision. Worth checking out, if you are an advanced intermediate-plus skier. 19 Inches in past 72 Hours. Total for year: 266 Inches
Telluride: Snow Base-62 Inches, Runs Open 147, Percentage of Terrain Open 100
Comments: Their blacks are definite blacks, so Plunge down the Plunge run with care. No mountain in Colorado rivals the views at Telluride. 3 Inches in past 3 days. Total snow count for season: 249 inches.
Winter Park: Snow Base-78 to 80 Inches, Runs Open 161, Percentage of Terrain Open 96
Comments: A great mountain and easy drive from Denver if ever up that way. 17 Inches in past 7 days. Total snow count: 332 Inches
Steamboat: Snow Base-73 to 117 Inches, Runs Open 181, Percentage of Terrain Open 100
Comments: A great ski town if you want to take a several-day excursion, and unbelievable tree skiing, just don’t take a tree limb with you during a crash. 6 Inches in past 3 days. Total snow count since season started: 368 Inches
If anyone has information they would like to submit for our ski reports, contact us at editor@mountainjackpot.com.
