Mid-May Trip to Denver, CO - Where to Ride?

[Bluewing]

One of the guys I ride with asked me this weekend what resorts near Denver might be still open in mid-May when he is there on business. He is a good skier but his experience is resort skiing only. I immediately said A-Basin. Any other places within driving distance to Denver that would still be open at that time? Any thoughts on the type of terrain that is typically open, conditions to expect, etc?

Thanks

[Wookie]

I would have to think A-Basin is your best, if not the only option. I know that Vail and Beaver Creek will close in early April regardless of snow conditions (park service requirements).

We are headed out for two weeks in March and I am nervous about the conditions. Looks like it's been cold this year but not much natural snow. Would love to hear some feedback from locals as to their feel for the spring condition forecast around Denver.

[sempai]

I would have to think A-Basin is your best, if not the only option. I know that Vail and Beaver Creek will close in early April regardless of snow conditions (park service requirements).

We are headed out for two weeks in March and I am nervous about the conditions. Looks like it's been cold this year but not much natural snow. Would love to hear some feedback from locals as to their feel for the spring condition forecast around Denver.

If you haven't committed to resorts around Denver, you could try Wolf Creek and Monarch Mountain. Wolf has plenty of snow. I can get three free days at Monarch this season, so I'm considering a possible March trip myself.

[Wookie]

If you haven't committed to resorts around Denver, you could try Wolf Creek and Monarch Mountain. Wolf has plenty of snow. I can get three free days at Monarch this season, so I'm considering a possible March trip myself.

I am locked in. I have a client in Avon, CO and we scheduled a business trip adjacent to the kids' spring break to defray the cost of travel. We do a little business and then our families ski/ride together. We skied Beaver Creek in mid April last year in 60 deg weather and the conditions were great. Not perfect by any means but the groomers that work Beaver Creek are snow artists that can make beautiful corduroy out of mashed potatoes.

To Bluewing's orginal question I am still assuming A-Basin is the closest thing to a sure thing in May unless someone local chimes in.

[Dave Bloom]

The only resort in all of Colorado that is open in mid-May is Arapahoe Basin, and that's if the snow holds up. Last season Spring Steez was held over Cinco De Mayo weekend and that was the last weekend that A-Basin was open. If the winter keep up at the poor rate it has been going this year there will be nothing to ride but backcountry in the middle of May.

[Wookie]

The only resort in all of Colorado that is open in mid-May is Arapahoe Basin, and that's if the snow holds up. Last season Spring Steez was held over Cinco De Mayo weekend and that was the last weekend that A-Basin was open. If the winter keep up at the poor rate it has been going this year there will be nothing to ride but backcountry in the middle of May.

Dave -- how would you rate this year vs. last year in your section of CO?? We rode Vail and Beaver Creek the first week of April last year and the locals were telling me that it was the worse season they could recall. While we were there anything that wasn't high elevation, facing north, with snowmaking was closed. What was open looked more like the East Coast than the Rockies. We are coming out in again in late March and I was hoping it might be a little better. It looks like it has been cold. Is it just a lack of natural snowfall?

[enouf24]

Summit County has no snow. A-Basin wont see mid May.


bnuf

[Bad Wolf]

Summit County has no snow. A-Basin wont see mid May.


bnuf

You guys should be happy with Snowbowl this weekend. They have had a reported 43 new inches of snow there since Friday evening.