With Colorado ski resorts now closed for the season – except for Loveland and Arapahoe Basin, which like to stretch out their ski days well into spring – I figured it might be a good time to look back at some of the state’s highlights of the 2012-13 ski season.
Skiers and snowboarders were big winners at Colorado ski resorts this year, with a variety of mountain enhancements unveiled at the outset of the season. In my neck of the woods, Snowmass added 230 acres on Burnt Mountain. Accessed via a short hike, this terrain has some awesome glades and tree skiing – it was a huge hit among Snowmass’ frequent visitors (it’s always nice to have something brand new to ski at a favorite mountain). Also new at Snowmass, and highly recommended: the spacious Restaurant at Elk Camp, with its fresh pizzas, rotisserie chicken and awesome salad bar.
Photo Credit: Aspen/Snowmass
A-Basin added a new conveyor lift in its learning area, as well as an adjacent beginner-level terrain park. Many resorts (Steamboat, Crested Butte, Telluride and Wolf Creek, to name a few) improved their snowmaking and grooming operations. Off the ski trails, Winter Park debuted its fun Coca-Cola tubing hill, and Copper Mountain continued to operate its Alpine Rush Zip Line through the winter months.
Snow-wise, Colorado’s ski season certainly had its ups and downs – dry spells suddenly punctuated by big snow dumps. Most recently, attendees at the annual ski-industry event, Mountain Travel Symposium – held in Aspen/Snowmass this year – were treated to an amazing Spring storm that brought more than a foot of snow to local mountains. (Who could blame attendees for hitting the fresh powder instead of sitting inside conducting business in meeting rooms?)
Mid-November, mid-December and pre-Christmas storms coated Colorado’s mountains with snow in preparation for welcoming holiday skiers. Another big storm hit the state just as many schools were celebrating Spring break. In fact, all of these Spring storms brought so much snow at the end of the ski season, some Colorado resorts — including Breckenridge and Vail – re-opened a couple of weekends ago after their original closing days in mid-April. Aspen Highlands also re-opened for a bonus weekend April 27 and 28.
Here’s hoping you had a great season. See you next year!
Leave a Reply