Category Archives: Skiing

Colorado, Skiing, Travel

Four Feet of Snow?!

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We went to Crested Butte to enjoy a ski weekend and got more fresh snow than we could have ever imagined. Back at our house temperatures dipped to frigid sub-zero temperatures, but in the Colorado Mountains epic snow came pouring down. 

Over three days Crested Butte got around four feet of snow. Never have our kids experienced powder like we had at Crested Butte on MLK weekend.

When it was time to leave we actually had a bit of a challenge finding an open route as almost every mountain pass in the state of Colorado was closed due to avalanche danger. We ended up driving on a southerly route after Monarch Pass closed and made it across Cochetopa Pass before it was closed. 

It was a bit stressful but after backtracking several hours and spending a night halfway we made it home.

Colorado, Outdoors, Skiing

Keystone Ski Resort

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Near Silverthorne, Colorado, Keystone is a terrific ski resort with seemingly endless terrain for all ski levels. I went April skiing with my 10-year-old to finish out the season before we transition to summer of hiking, camping, and more.

In this video below we will travel a 3.5 mile green slope from the top of the resort to the base.

In the distance you will be able to see Dillon Reservoir at 2:38 in the distance.

Colorado, Outdoors, Skiing

Loveland Ski Area

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Tango Road at Loveland Ski Area

Our ski and snowboard journey took us to Loveland Ski Area which sits right off the I-70 at the entrance to the Eisenhower/Johnson tunnel at the continental divide. This ski area is more basic with lifts in two areas (Loveland Valley and Loveland Basin), a few eateries, a rental shop and no on-site lodging.

We actually found that the Basin area is much more enjoyable than the Valley area. The Valley area has only a couple lifts and is meant for beginner skiers and snowboarders. Since my kids have progressed tremendously in one season we had no reason to spend much time in this area which was also quite crowded.

After returning by shuttle bus to the Basin area we had more fun on more interesting terrain and it was also less crowded (and the people actually less rude and willing to wait in line to get onto the lifts).

While we enjoyed the nearby Arapahoe Basin area which is just over Loveland Pass when we went to it a few years ago, Loveland was somewhat disappointing overall. We’ll head further on to a larger resort next time we go skiing.

Colorado, Skiing, Travel

Thanksgiving at Crested Butte

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Overall we had a good time spending Thanksgiving weekend at Crested Butte, Colorado. We came primarily to ski, and ski we did.

Since it was only late November not all of the ski runs were open and there was a lack of natural snow except at the higher elevations, but the man-made snow was better than expected (winter is starting late this year).

Also a lot of the resort and the town as a whole wasn’t quite up and running as it would be in the middle of ski season. We were hoping to eat breakfast at our favorite restaurant in the town of Crested Butte (Paradise Cafe), but it was one of many businesses closed during the low season.

We saw a surprising amount of wildlife though. Lots of bighorns, a red fox, and some stellar jays all of which you can see in the photos below.

Overall I don’t think we’d go back at Thanksgiving just because it’s not prime skiing time. But the slopes weren’t busy and it was easy to get the kids practice time on uncrowded lists and runs. Daniel is just starting to learn the snowboard while Evan has a few lessons under his belt and is getting proficient at skiing. Both took lessons at Crested Butte Ski School.

We’ll be skiing again in the next couple months at various resorts.