Plenty of Downhill Opportunities Still Abound Until Mid-May
Rick Langenberg
It’s now down to the Final Five.
The booming ski, record-breaking 2023/2024 ski season in the Colorado High County came to a semi-conclusion and mini-celebration party last weekend, with the closure of another slew of mountains of play.
The latest closure list included some of the big players, such as the likes of Vail, Aspen/Snowmass and Steamboat; the latter of which nearly hit the 400-inch snow championship club, when it comes to total accumulation. Monarch also called it a year, but not before nearly stocking up nearly 300 inches of snow and boasting a 64-inch base.
Fret not, local Snow Children, as plenty of good runs are left in the remaining stock of ski survivors, for at least a couple of more weeks. In fact, some regard spring skiing as the real treat and one of the best-kept secrets for the season in Colorado, capped by great, sunny weather (well, most of the time) and some super deals.
We are now left to enjoy the paradise lands of A-Basin, Loveland, Copper Mountain, Breckenridge and Winter Park. Out of these, Winter Park is boasting the most impressive statistics, as throughout the season the Park hills were a close second to the record-boasting snow track recorded by Steamboat. By the latest reported count, the Park slopes were boasting 343 inches of total accumulation, a base of 73 inches and 130 runs to play in.
The most recent statewide report, filed just prior to last weekend’s closings, noted that the Ski Country still abounded with 29 percent of ski lifts remaining open, along with 37 percent of available trails and runs. Not too shabby for the end of April.
Conditions, in fact, are still ripe in Ski Country, even though the most recent report probably yielded the mildest bombardments of snow accumulation in some time. Our big golf winner of the week was Copper Mountain.
As a result, some outdoor and sports fanatics are not quite ready to yank out those golf clubs and attempt to unsuccessfully mimic the swing of 2024 Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler. Nope, in case you didn’t know, you don’t swing like Scottie, so consider a springtime excursion to the High Country before hitting the links.
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 has turned into a real paradise gem on the Colorado slopes.
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 ski reports while folks are still trekking down the mountain. 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 and is offering some great deals. Talk to Eric and 315 Survival and then hit the slopes;
Enjoy our remaining Power Days.
Ski Updates
The following is the most updated ski information we have received regarding the remaining mountains still open for the 2024 season, based on the Colorado Ski Country, Colorado Ski Central and On the Snow websites, along with our own analysis. Enjoy.
*We have also included recent snow totals, based on the time of this reporting, and projected closing dates.
Arapahoe Basin: Snow Base-56 Inches, Runs Open 130, Percentage of Terrain Open 90
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. 4 Inches on April 6. Closing Date: June 2
Loveland: Snow Base-54-56 Inches, Runs Open 86, Percentage of Terrain Open 91
Comments: Another great local gem, pounded with considerable snow and like A-Basin, stays open well longer than other mountains. 1 Inch in past 5 days. Snow total for year: 251 Inches; Closing Date: May 5
Breckenridge: Snow Base-57 Inches, Runs Open 105, Percentage of Terrain Open 56
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. 1 Inch in past 5 days. Snow total for year: 285 Inches; Closing Date: May 12
Copper Mountain: Snow Base-56 Inches, Runs Open 119, Percentage of Terrain Open 76
Comments: Probably the best laid-out mountain; great back bowls, although access is sometimes tricky. 3 in past 5 days. Closing Date: May 5
Winter Park: Snow Base- 80 Inches, Runs Open 158, Percentage of Terrain Open 94
Comments: A great mountain and easy drive from Denver if ever up that way. 8 Inches on Aprill 7. Total snow count: 343 Inches; Closing Date: May 19
If anyone has information they would like to submit for our ski reports, contact us at editor@mountainjackpot.com.
