You wake up, look out the windows and see the majestic Rockies in your backyard. A fresh layer of powder has fallen overnight. You ask yourself,
”Well, what ski area should I try today?”
Nestled in the Rockies is Colorado`s Summit County, about 75 miles west of Denver via Int. Hwy. 70. With an interesting mixture of quaint mining towns and ski areas, Summit County makes a wonderful ski vacation.
Ski the Summit, as the slogan says, contains the ski areas of the Araphoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and Keystone. These four ski areas feature skiing for beginners through experts.
You can stay at the resorts or in one of the old mining towns. The ski areas are a 10- to 20-minute ride from each other and from the mining towns. While shuttle bus service is available to take you from the airport to your ski destination, it`s also possible to rent a car at Denver`s Stapleton International Airport. However, shuttle bus services include Resort Express, 800-334-7433; Schuss, 303-453-1967; and Summit Taxi, 800-321-5246.
You don`t necessarily need a car once you arrive at your accommodation. Summit County offers free shuttle service that runs from Thanksgiving to early April, and connects the ski resorts and towns within the county.
Four- and six-day lift coupons are available for skiing at the four areas. The four-day lift pass is good for four of five consecutive days, and the six-day pass is good for six of seven consecutive days.
Breckenridge
Breckenridge ski resort is set in a 130-year-old Victorian village. Skiing is available on three interconnected mountains with a total of 1,519 acres of skiable terrain. Longest run is three miles, and the highest peak is 12,213 feet.
Breckenridge has 21 percent of its slopes for beginners, 32 percent for intermediates and 47 percent for experts.
There are on-mountain restaurants and picnic tables on the slopes. Possibilities include the Bergenhof restaurant at the base of Peak 8, which serves breakfast, lunch and snacks. At Peak 9`s base Maggie`s restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch.
In town, restaurants feature just about everything from fast food to fine dining, and to find the places, dining directories are placed in the hotels, condos and shops. You can also visit the Summit County Chamber of Commerce on Main Street in Frisco, or call 303-668-5800 for additional information.
Every year Breckenridge celebrates Ullr Fest, a winter carnival, during the last week of January. The fest honors Ullr, the Scandinavian God of Snow and Winter. Activities include moonlight cross-country ski tours, wine and cheese parties, torchlight ski display (where people bring their old skis to place in the bonfire), fireworks, a parade, ball and a 30-km. Nordic Ski Race.
Copper Mountain
Copper Mountain`s elevation ranges from 9,600 to 12,360 feet, and it has 20 lifts, including the American Flyer lift, a super high-speed chair lift. The skiing is broken down into 25 percent for beginners, 40 percent for intermediate skiers and 35 percent for advanced. The longest run is 2.8 miles, and out of the 1,180 skiable acres, 270 of is equipped with smowmaking capabilities.
The area has a wide range of choices for skier`s on-mountain dining. The Center, at the base of F-lift, features cafeteria-style breakfasts and lunches, and offers daily apres-ski entertainment. Jacques` Loft is on the third floor and offers a quick pasta buffet, including deli-style sandwiches, soups, salads, hot entrees and beverages.
The Solitude Station is at the top of F-lift and serves continental breakfasts and cafeteria-style lunches. There`s also an outdoor grill and two decks for scenic and eating pleasures.
The Flyers, at the top of the American Flyer and I-lifts, features gourmet sandwiches, snacks, beverages and patio dining. Union Creek is at the base of H-lift and K-lift and offers continental breakfasts and cafeteria-style lunches. When the weather permits, a barbecue lunch is served on the outdoor deck. The Clubhouse, at the base of B-lift, features a breakfast buffet and lunch.
Copper Mountain Resort was planned for pedestrian with shops, restaurants, ice skating and apres-ski entertainment within walking distance.
Keystone
Keystone offers a varied collection of bars, lounges, shops and restaurants nestled in a modern three-level village of buildings. There are more than 30 restaurants in the immediate area.
Keystone offers two diverse ski areas in one: Keystone Mountain and North Peak. Keystone Mountain`s elevation ranges from 9,300 to 11,640 feet, and annual snowfall is about 200 inches. Keystone Mountain`s 39 trails-longest run is three miles-are served by 12 lifts. Twenty percent of the runs are for beginners, 65 percent for intermediates and 15 percent for experts.
On the back side of Keystone Mountain is North Peak with 78 percent of its slopes devoted to advanced skiing. Runs tend to be steeper and filled with more moguls than Keystone Mountain. This is no area for the beginning skier. Elevation ranges from 10,040 to 11,660 feet and the longest run is 1 3/4 miles. The 10 trails are reachable via two triple chair lifts.
Mountain dining includes Gassy`s Restaurant, Mountain House Cafeteria, Last Lift Bar and Nice Dreams Ice Cream. In the Keystone Summit House you can dine at Soup`s On, High Noon Cafe, Barbecue at the Summit, der Fondue Chessel. If you have skied all day and still haven`t had enough of the slopes, Keystone offers night skiing. Thirteen trails-including the three-mile run-are lit for night skiing and serviced by three lifts. Forty percent of the night trails are for beginners, 55 percent for intermediates and five percent for advanced skiers.
Arapahoe Basin
Arapahoe Basin is the smallest of the four ski areas and the most challenging. It receives an annual snowfall of 360 inches and has 350 skiable acres. Elevation ranges from 10,780 to 12,450 feet with the longest of the 27 trails 1.5 miles. Ten percent of the skiing is for beginners, 50 percent for intermediates and 40 percent for experts.
Cuisine at the mountain includes the Alpenglow Cafeteria, Alpenglow Bar, and the Alpine Hut at Midway.
There is a direct shuttle service between Arapahoe Basin and Keystone Mountain every 20 minutes.
Accommodations
You can stay in a hotel or rent a condominium or townhome. Breckenridge offers three popular accommodations: Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center, the Breckenridge Hilton and the Village at Breckenridge.
Copper Mountain Resort is a AAA Motor Club Four-Diamond approved area. Keystone Resort is rated Five Diamonds by the AAA Motor Club.
You can make your base in Frisco, Silverthorne or Dillion, just a short trip from the resorts. Each of these mining towns offers hotel, condos and townhome accommodations and shops and restaurants. For instance, Frisco is a 10-minute ride to Copper Mountain, 15 minutes to Keystone and approximately 20 minutes to Copper Mountain.
Most condos, townhomes, and hotels offer swimming pools and many have hot tubs. Other activities include racquetball courts, snowmobiles, sleigh rides, ice skating rinks, horseback riding and cross-country skiing.
Children`s programs and day-care facilities are provided at each of the ski areas. These are divided into several categories of ages and abilities. It`s a good idea to make reservations for the children`s programs when booking your lodging reservations.
The ski areas also have excellent ski schools.
