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Are you ready to ski Colorado?

Not only is September Emergency Preparedness month, it is also ski preparedness month!

It is time to buy season passes to Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain and Arapahoe Basin. It is also a time when we anxiously await the equipment reviews in Ski magazine, the ski swap announcements, the Labor Day tent sales and Sports Authority's Sniagrab sale. We watch the weather forecast closely, hoping that it will get cold enough to snow, and every morning we check the peaks for traces of white stuff. Snow on Buffalo Mountain

I give my legs an extra workout in my pilates classes in hopes that when the first day of skiing comes I can get more than two hours in and still be able to walk the next day.

Of course, we are still six to eight weeks away from announced opening days. Loveland and Keystone always have a race to see who can open first, somewhere around October 20th. Copper's opening day this year is November 2. Some ski areas don't open until after Thanksgiving, but it depends mostly on the snow gods and the snow making equipment.

I got an email from the Steamboat Powder Cats today. I skied with them a couple of seasons ago, and it was lots of fun. They take you in a snowcat up on a mountain with untracked, ungroomed snow. An awesome experience! Check out this video made by one of their guides. Can you imagine skiing or riding through the trees video taping someone else skiing? We have Cat skiing at Copper Mountain, Keystone and Chicago Ridge near Cooper ski area, but there is nothing quite like the Steamboat Powder Cats and their champagne powder. The day I went, we had not had fresh snow for a while, (unusual up there), but they still found us untracked snow. It was a great day!
I am looking forward to many of them this season.

Woo Hoo! Awesome dude!

Posted by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson on 09/07/2007 10:53 PM

Comments (33)

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33 Comments on Are you ready to ski Colorado?

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2007

Chris Elizabeth Griffith, this one is for you...be sure and watch the video!

Steve Scheer, you will enjoy it too.

Joanne,

There is almost a surreal quality to them skiing through the trees. We haven't had a real snow here the last 3 years - please send some of that Colorado snow our way this year!

Isn't that awesome Rita? I would have liked them to show more skiing! I bought a little low res pocket video camera and maybe I can get some this year!

I've been so terrible about getting up the past few seasons. It's such a shame I'm a native and don't hit the slopes more often. This year everyone in the family is old enough to go and I'm looking forward to it. I have to admit, my board is 13 years old and weighs about 50lbs! I may have to rent this season.... thanks for the great motivational post!

Joanne - This looks like so much fun - I don't ski, but love the snow, the trees and the fun these guys had!

Chrissy, I expect to see you up there! Get yourself two new boards...one for each foot and you will be good to go! (my preferred method!)

Paula, it is never too late! I was 40 when I started skiing. It is a rush, and when your winters are as long as ours, it is nice to be out enjoying them.

Joanne,

That's totally unfair that some of your resorts open as early as around October 20. Lake Tahoe resorts usually get started around Thanksgiving and sometimes even Vegas' own mini-resort Lee Canyon gets going around that time. Let's hope this year is better for snow than last year. Can't wait.

Joanne, Thanks for the mention & you are right, loved the video. However, just so you know, when/if you see me ski you will die laughing. If I did something like that, those trees & I would not get along so well. I am not bad for a recent learner, but I am not sure I am up for that quite yet. But who knows, I have done stranger things. And yes, I'm hoping for early snow too but let's keep those aspens gold until at least the end of Sept, ok?

Great views, but ~WAY~ too cold!!

Esko, you will just have to come to Colorado to ski then!

Steve, I would not die laughing! I admire anyone who starts skiing later in life...I did it! Just keep that tree skiing in mind as a goal. Skiing trees is a bit like life. You have to look at the gap between the trees because if you look at the tree (the obstacle) you run into it! What I really liked about that video was the powder skiing at the end of it. That could have gone on longer!

Maybe we should have an AR ski day!

Yes, I liked the end of it too. I meant to ask, is that photo recent or from a previous year? I am surprised those leaves are turned already.

Debra, you would be surprised! At 11,000 feet you are very close to the sun, and if it is out, you can get very warm very quickly, especially when you are skiing. (and very sunburned, just ask any Texan who forgot to put on sunscreen!) We dress for it, and I dont' really get cold unless the temperature is 10 degrees or less. The normal 20 or 25 degrees is a great temperature for skiing.

LOVE IT! I grew up on Littleton and would spend plenty of time at Keystone (the cheaper alternative to Vail at the time). Oh great memories!!

Steve, and I meant to mention, the leaves are just beginning to turn. I took that photo last year, a little later in the month.

Jason, it sounds like you need to get out here again! Get a little on-snow time in.... (Keystone is still cheaper than Vail).

Glad to hear about the leaves. I was thinking if they are already that color, I am going to miss them.

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2007

Joanne! LOL! Goes back to the old skiier vs. snowboarder conversation. I skiied from the time I was 3 until I was 21 and never found the enjoyment everyone else did. When I switched to snowboarding, I found the Zen I seemed to be missing. Either way - it's great to get out into the open and be on the slopes!

Chrissy, either way you are sliding on the snow, a great feeling!

I also learned to ski after 40 and skied in trees for the first time 2 years ago...what a rush!

Joanne - when I was showing property on Tuesday - I realized that South Sister had it's first overnight snow on it.... wow where did summer go?

Joanne, only a few weeks away ! I never learned to ski, when we first moved to Michigan I was pregnant for the first 8 years, and nursing. Of course I went a few times, but should have taken lessons. My kids all ski and husband. I would really like to try, maybe the bunny hill at Mt. Brighton.

Joanne, how do you feel about visitors? I think we all need to come and see Summit County ourselves!!!

Thesa, we had our first snow on the peaks a week or two ago. We have our fingers crossed for a good snow season!

Missy, being pregnant for 8 years would be tough! I know women who have skied into their 7th month, but they were great skiers who ski a lot and had no fear of falling. Plus they took it a little easier than they normally did. Taking lessons is the only way to learn how to ski. Trial and error is the hard way, and people get discouraged.

Chris, we love visitors! Come up and see us some time.

Joanne, I am with Chris, can we come and visit?

Mana, when can I expect you both? I hope you are not allergic to cats!

Joanne, thanks for this magnificent blog....brought back memories of flying down the slopes. I love skiing...

my three sons were all snowboard instructors all through high school and the oldest two moved out to Kelowna, B.C. to be near 'Big White' so they could indulge their love of snowboarding.

You live in such a beautiful area ...I could imagine living there for the winter months and then coming back to Ontario for April through to November.

Jo, it is amazing how many people we get that do just that, usually from Michigan, Wisconsin, etc. Not too many from Canada!

Hi Joanne, I have never been skiing but I always wanted to. This is great information for skiing in Colorado!

Stephanie, we get lots of Texans here skiing, especially church groups during spring break. Come on up sometime!

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2007

You are a lucky person to live in Summitt County Colorado! I have never skiied in my life but I too have always wanted to. Hope you have a great season both on and off the slopes!!!

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2007

Heeeey...Jealousy! My goodness, for once, you have me missing the snow! Alright, I am ready to book my ski trip for this winter! Oh, and of course stick to my workout schedule so I can survive the slopes! Great information for skiers in Colorado!

Janis, Marty and Mike, you don't know what you are missing! It is lots of fun, especially once you get comfortable on skis.

Leah, when I can book the trip for you? I have a one bedroom condo at Copper that is walk to the lifts!

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2007

Sounds like an Active Rain ski party Summit County style to me! I cant wait to hit the slopes this year. My goal is twice a week! Hope to see you all there!

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