Arapahoe and Keystone

[Green Goose]

I'll be going out west this upcoming season and was thinking of going to these two mountains, i've checked out their sites and they look wicked sick. Does anyone regular these mountains or have been to them? Tell me about them.

[kelly]

I live in Denver, so I've ridden these mountains since I was a kid...

Whether or not you'd like 'em depends on what you like... I'm not a big fan of Keystone because it sucks... um, I mean it doesn't have very good backcountry or tree runs, and it seems like it's always icy, rarely powder... it does have a gigantic park though, so if you're a park rat, you might enjoy it. It's also very crowded with tourists, which I guess you would be, but still, they're kinda in the way a lot. In summit county, I prefer Copper, which also has a large park but gets more snow and has funner other stuff, and seems at least slightly less crowded.

A-Basin rocks though... well, unless maybe you're a total park rat, their park isn't huge.... it has fun trees, a steep fall line, and some crazy bowls and cliff drops and stuff. However, I'm not sure I'd go there mid-winter, because you'll freeze your ass off.

For fewer crowds, you might try to ditch summit county and check out Aspen, Steamboat, or Telluride, all very nice mountains that are a bit more remote and don't get the weekend warrior crowd from Denver (me).

That's my 2 Cents.

[no7ah]

yeah but i don't think he want's to pay $70 at places like steamboat. want to get park and trees go to winterpark. crowds at the base are big but not huge. so when you get on the mountain they are pretty scarse

[kelly]

Winter Park isn't that much cheaper than steamboat during peak season... I think it's like $68...

[no7ah]

wouldnt know never payed for a ticket at winterpark

[kelly]

It's pretty much the same at all the resorts here, except a-basin, loveland, and eldora are cheaper, and vail and aspen are a bit out of control... ;)

[no7ah]

this whole state is out of control

[Outlaw Boards]

Copper, A-Basin, Vail or just hike Loveland Pass.

[kelly]

Nooooo! Not Vail! ;)

[no7ah]

from what i here vail has a sick park. i'll have to check it out for my addiction to kickers

[kelly]

I actually tried to go to the park at vail last January, couldn't find it anywhere... no one knew where it was... so we spent the day wandering around to different places that lifties told us to go (after checking out the location on the map and finding nothing)... eventually we found an in-progress park that wasn't nearly done. bleah. Copper and Breck had full parks by that time! wtf?

[no7ah]

copper opens with a park and a giganourmous kicker

[kelly]

Yep... that's why i suggested Copper to the kid, they treat snowboarders well... ;)

[Green Goose]

Mk, thank you :)

[Outlaw Boards]

I would go to Vail for the park. Head to Outer Mongolia bowl & Blue Sky Basin. Lots of snow, nice trees, no gaypers, great natural terrain. For park you can't beat Breck & Copper. Tree runs at Copper are all time too. When your at Copper go get pizza & beer at The Blue Moose. My friend manages that place, very chill, cool place. Good beer, good pizza.

[nikkisixxsburton]

damn i wish i lived in colorado...... ny sucks

[kelly]

I would go to Vail for the park. Head to Outer Mongolia bowl & Blue Sky Basin. Lots of snow, nice trees, no gaypers, great natural terrain. For park you can't beat Breck & Copper. Tree runs at Copper are all time too. When your at Copper go get pizza & beer at The Blue Moose. My friend manages that place, very chill, cool place. Good beer, good pizza.

Haha, no gapers at vail... that's funny....