Need help with a ski trip to Denver

Idaho · Sep 17, 2007

If you do want to go Utah, let me know and I'll set you up with the 'locals' special at Deer Valley. You get a pretty good markdown if you have a Utah DL. And low alcohol beer just means you get to drink more before you're too drunk to drink more.

Big Buckin' agate_monkey · Sep 17, 2007

Jim_Carty said:

Dude, I'm your hookup here. I've skied 20+ days in Colorado and Utah each of the last two years as a Midwesterner, maximizing both my dollars and my days.

First, you want to go to Breckenridge. It's the best combination of town, mountain and - perhaps most importantly - relatively affordable ski-in/ski-out lodging, or close to ski-in/ski out. It's EXACTLY what you're looking for as someone who doesn't ski a ton - lots of long green and blue groomers, plus terrain that's slightly harder than that if you decide you want to challenge yourself. The future Mrs. will love the charming downtown and variety of nightlife.

You can rent a 1BR plus loft condo (sleeps 4-6) for $170 night here: http://www.vrbo.com/76808

I've rented from the dude before. He's very cool. Unit is a short walk if you want to ski in, or you can just take the shuttle. You can also walk to town from here. Pool and hot tub a 2 minute walk from the unit. Only drawback is it's on the third floor and there's no elevator.

If you absolutely need to be on the ground floor, here's a 1BR unit (sleeps 4-5) in the same complex for $175 a night: http://www.vrbo.com/76808

I can give you specific advice on lift tix, rentals, cheap eats and food if you decide to go to Breck. Just PM me. And, if you take no other advice, follow this: Don't even think of going to A-Basin. It's not a what you're looking for. Very, very cold that time of year, really an experts- and high-intermediates destination. You want to go to Breck, Vail or Keystone, in that order. All of them can be done affordably if you know what you're doing.

There's a case to be made for Park City as well, especially from Chicago. Again, exactly what you're looking for as a non-frequent travel skier. Free first day of skiing with your boarding pass at any of the three resorts. Lots of relatively affordable lodging. Great beginner/intermediate terrain. You can also ski all day and be back in Chicago by nightfall on Southwest.

The beer, of course, is a major drawback. Mandated low alcohol by state law.
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Dude, I'm not hooking up with you, but your advice is definitely in the mix.

Big Buckin' agate_monkey · Sep 17, 2007

21 said:

Agree with Idaho (the poster, not the state) about Utah....Deer Valley, Alta, Snowbird, just breathtaking and less crowded than a lot of the Colorado locales. Aspen is my favorite place in the US--especially in the summer--but Boom loves Vail, so we end up in Deer Valley, a win-win compromise. Magnificent and affordable, depending on where you stay.

I know Aspen is pricey, but don't overlook Snowmass, about 10 miles away...same general area, but more affordable in terms of accomodations. You can also stay in Basalt or Glenwood and drive over, not too far.

Be careful about flying into Denver with the intentions of driving to another location...in bad weather, some of those 'easy' drives can take hours, all hairpin turns with icy conditions...sometimes the roads close completely. Better to fly directly to where you're staying, even if you have to connect in Denver and take a whiteknuckler over the mountains.
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That last line scares the hell outta me, but I'm sure it'd be just as well to fly into where ever instead of driving around icy hairpins.

Re. SLC: What we're paying for the two of us to fly Midway to Denver, covers one of us Midway to SLC. We're talking $130 to Denver per person, $270 to SLC per person. Now, if we save that on the ground, we can talk more.

MileHigh · Sep 17, 2007

It depends where you're going in regards to icy hairpins, but really, going to the resorts, CDOT does a great job keeping the roads clear. But if a storm comes in, roads can get shut down, of course. And the cost to fly into the resorts will set you back both arms and a leg.

Idaho · Sep 17, 2007

I'm surprised by that. SLC is a Southwest hub and I would have thought there would be cheaper flights.

Super 8 up the street from me (and 15 miles from Brighton/Solitude/Alta/Snowbird) will cost you about $75 per night, tops. Those four resorts have a shared lift ticket if I recall correctly. Alta is off limits to snowboarders, if that matters.

Jim_Carty · Sep 17, 2007

There's no doubt that driving SLC to Park City is an easy drive.

Denver to the mountains isn't really a bad drive, but it can be a weather crapshoot. I've had beautiful sunny days in mid-February and a white-knuckle snow-covered road trip in late April. It's nothing you won't be able to handle if you're a mature driver who slows down and takes it easy. You'll have tons of notice if it's snowing, since every station in Denver is all over the weather.

Big Buckin' agate_monkey · Sep 17, 2007

Chef said:

Silver Creek, Colorado.

www.innatsilvercreek.com

Thank me later.
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This place is located in Granby, CO. The main road that goes through Granby is called ... wait for it, wait for it ... Agate Avenue.

I shit you not. http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Granby,+Colorado&ie=UTF8&ll=40.08674,-105.941334&spn=0.086154,0.111923&z=13&iwloc=addr&om=1
It's destiny.

MileHigh · Sep 17, 2007

There you go.

When you go home, go east of DIA and hit the little town of .... Agate

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Granby,+Colorado&ie=UTF8&ll=40.08674,-105.941334&spn=0.086154,0.111923&z=13&iwloc=addr&om=1

Big Buckin' agate_monkey · Sep 17, 2007

New thought:
I'm looking up Deer Valley per 21's suggestion (looks beautiful by the way), but the lifts close at 4:15. A place with lights for night-time skiing would be great, unless of course it's just too cold to ski after dark in these areas.

Idaho · Sep 17, 2007

Whereever you end, have a great time.

I'm not a skier. Basketball season alway precluded me from taking up the hobby. But I know it'd be a blast.

BTW, Park City Resort and Brighton both have night skiing with a lighted run or two.

Ace · Sep 17, 2007

Yeah. Why would you want to go there and ski at night?

Big Buckin' agate_monkey · Sep 17, 2007

Ace said:

Yeah. Why would you want to go there and ski at night?
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Afternoon skiing is most likely, but the night-time option would be nice.

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