Fresh Snow Extends Colorado Ski Season

If you’re a skier or snowboarder who is reluctant to see the season come to an end, I’ve got good news for you. April snow showers have continued to dump fresh powder across the state of Colorado and as a result, several of the resorts there have either extended their seasons or elected to re-open for the weekend. That means that even though the calendar now says it’s spring, there is still time to hit the slopes for a bit longer.

This past week saw a big snowstorm sweep across the Rocky Mountains, depositing quite a bit of snow on some of Colorado’s most popular resorts. For instance, Aspen Highlands received 13 inches of fresh powder, while nearby Snowmass recorded 14 inches, as did Silverton Mountain. Monarch picked up more than 11 inches as well, while Arapahoe Basin, Winter Park and a host of others all received several inches too.

This late season snowfall has been a boon to the resorts, many of which have reopened for the weekend. The following destinations are still offering skiers and snowboarders a chance to hit the slopes through tomorrow: Aspen Mountain, Copper Mountain, Eldora, Monarch, Silverton, Snowmass and Steamboat. Additionally, Aspen Highlands and Winter Park will remain open through April 21, while Loveland’s season extends to May 5. A-Basin, which always has one of the longest seasons in North America, will remain open until June 2.

If you’re not quite done playing in the snow just yet and would like to use those skies or that snowboard one more time, then get yourself to Colorado where there is still some powder to shred.

[Photo Credit: Arapahoe Basin]

More Colorado Ski Resorts Open In Time For Thanksgiving

Hoping to hit the slopes for the upcoming long holiday weekend? If you’re heading to Colorado then you’re in luck, as many of the ski resorts will soon be opening for the season. Better yet, much of the state received fresh powder over the past few days, which means there should be some great conditions heading into Thanksgiving.

Keeping with tradition, Arapahoe Basin was amongst the first resorts in the nation to open back in mid-October. They were later joined by both Loveland and Copper Mountain a few weeks later. Today, Winter Park and Wolf Creek open their doors and on Friday of this week Eldora Mountain Resort will get in on the fun, firing up its lifts for the first skiers and snowboarders of the season.

But next week things get really interesting with Crested Butte, Monarch Mountain and Steamboat all opening on Wednesday, November 21. On Thanksgiving Day, Aspen, Cooper, Snowmass and Telluride will welcome their first visitors as well, while Purgatory joins the party on Friday, November 23.

Those hills provide plenty of options for skiers and riders looking to take their first turns of the year, but December brings more choices as winter looms ever nearer. Howelsen and Silverton Mountain both kick off the season on the first of the month, while Sunlight and Aspen Highlands will open their slopes on December 7 and 8 respectively. The following week, Granby Ranch (Dec. 12), Powderhorn (Dec. 13) and Buttermilk (Dec. 15) will round out the schedule.

If you’re itching to hit the slopes then you should have plenty of opportunities very soon. Even if you’re not in Colorado, other resorts are now opening across the U.S.

[Photo Credit: Powderhorn Mountain Resort]

Ski Season Officially Begins, Arapahoe Basin Opens Today

It may be hard to believe, but the North American ski season officially begins today. Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin fires up the chairlifts this morning at 9 a.m. local time and soon there after, skiers and snowboarders will be making their first runs of the year. The resort has announced that its Black Mountain Express lift will be the first in operation, taking guests to the start of the High Noon trail at mid-mountain.

Although the calendar may say that it is only the middle of October, colder weather and snow showers have already begun across parts of Colorado. A-Basin, which is traditionally amongst the first resorts to open each year, receives an average of 350 inches of powder on an annual basis. They’re not even close to that much just yet of course, but they still have a solid base to get things started.

New for 2013, A-Basin will open Pika Place Learning Area in November, giving young skiers and riders a place to hone their skills. Older and more experienced skiers will want to test their abilities at the Rossignol Experience Center, which will give them the chance to build more advanced techniques.

For those planning to ski Arapahoe Basin this year, the resort has a host of different passes available, including their Double Down option. For just $499, that pass gives unlimited and unrestricted access to the mountain for not just this season but all of next season too. If you’re someone who loves to ski or snowboard, that is an incredibly great deal.

Over the course of the next few weeks, more ski resorts across the western United States will start to open their doors for the 2012-2013 season. If you’re getting antsy to hit the slopes, chances are you’ll get the opportunity very soon.

[Photo credit: Casey Day]

Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin Offers Two-Season Double Down Ski Pass

It may be hard to believe but a new ski season is closer than you think. The mountaintops of Colorado have already started to receive light snow and ski resorts across the Western states are already busy preparing for opening day. One of those resorts is the legendary Arapahoe Basin, which is generally amongst the first hills to open each year and the last to close as well. That long season makes A-Basin an extremely popular destination for avid skiers and snowboarders who have become accustomed to getting their moneys worth out of their season pass.

This year, the folks at the resort have actually made it even easier for us to cash in on the savings. Until the end of the year, they’re offering their new Double Down 2-Season Pass for just $499. The pass grants unlimited and unrestricted access to Arapahoe Basin for the entire 2012/2013 season as well as all of the 2013/2014 season. Yep, just as the name implies, the pass will take care of all your skiing needs for the next two years.

But that’s not all. The pass also entitles the holder to 10 percent discounts on food and beverages, with the same discount applying to any retail items bought in the ski shop. It also allows for reduced ticket prices for any friends and family members who happen to tag along, not to mention special pricing on lessons and performance tuning of skis or snowboards too.

Last year wasn’t a particularly good one for snow at most of the Colorado resorts. But A-Basin averages 350 inches of fresh powder each winter, which means even on a down year it’s still a pretty good place to hit the slopes. The mountain features 900 skiable acres with 108 total trails, the longest of which is more than 1.5 miles in length. With that much room to roam, there are enough runs for everyone to explore no matter if they’re a beginner or an expert.

Arapahoe Basin is expected to open in mid-October and typically doesn’t close until May, giving it one of the longest ski seasons of any place in North America.

Ski season is officially open!

It may be hard to believe, considering its only the middle of October, but ski season has officially begun in Colorado. Yesterday, the Arapahoe Basin Ski Area opened for business and today skiers will hit the slopes at Loveland for the first time as well.

Early fall snowfalls have already been dumping fresh powder across the Rocky Mountains, and when combined with the artificial snow-making machines, both ski areas have a good base for the start of the season. Loveland began the week with roughly six inches of snow already on the ground, and more has fallen over the past few days, and when A-Basin kicked off the season yesterday, it was covered in 18 inches of powder.

Last year’s ski season was one for the record books, with heavy snows falling across much of the western United States. Those snowfalls continued well into the spring, which extended the season into July. That has made for a very short off-season for Arapahoe, which was closed for just 100 days this year. Long term forecasts are predicting similar weather patterns for this winter, which is good news for skiers and snowboarders.

Over the course of the next few weeks, other ski resorts will begin to open throughout the U.S. as the new season gets into full swing. For now, those of us not lucky enough to live close enough to one of these hills, is going to have to sit and wait.