Home : Blogs : Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson : The vacation home blog

Testing the snow in Colorado, close up and personally!

Summit County has two ski resorts open so far this year. Actually, we only have one as Loveland is not in Summit County, but in Clear Creek County. However, it is just on the other side of the tunnel and sometimes we claim it as our own. On Thursday I skied my first day of the year at Loveland, and the conditions were surprisingly good for this early in the season. The temperatures were almost like spring skiing, and although most of the 18" base was man made snow, it softened up nicely and made for good conditions. Skiing loveland

The first ski day is normally just a testing out of the skis and the legs, but we got in 2 1/2 hours without breaks except while on the chair. Admittedly, the two runs open are not long, but it was nice to know that our pre-season conditioning has been doing some good.

We had hoped to have some video for you, but forgot to take extra batteries, and of course were out of juice. The camera didn't even have enough for a one minute video!

Loveland has a good deal on lift tickets if you order them online, with four lift tickets for $109. They are mailed to you, so you have to order in advance, but they can be used any day of the season and all four can be used on the same day, which is what we did today. You must order by November 23, 2007 as after that, they will not be offered. An even better deal, the 4pak can be bought for $99 at several of the ski shows around town. Loveland has more information on their website.

Copper Mountain is scheduled to open November 2nd, with Breckenridge and Keystone both opening a week later on November 9th. We have had snow a couple of times but this week has been warm enough to melt the snow in my yard and in town. The ski mountains are higher and oriented north which keeps the snow from melting there, plus they are making it fast and furious.

More information on Summit County Colorado season pass prices.

Posted by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson on 10/27/2007 06:15 PM

Comments (24)

ski, copper mountain

This post has been included in Colorado Information Summit County, CO Information

24 Comments on Testing the snow in Colorado, close up and personally!

Oh how I miss the snow in Colorado. I love Fairhope, but I sure miss the skiing. Thanks for the picture!

10/27/2007 06:22 PM

by Heather Augustin (Coldwell Banker Reehl Properties)

Looks like it is going to shape up for a good skiing season! What fun and, hopefully, that will be good for business!

Joeann Fossland

10/27/2007 06:26 PM

by Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group)

You will just have to have a ski trip Heather!

10/27/2007 06:27 PM

by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)

Joeann, we almost always have a good ski season, but back up snow making is in place, just in case! We are doing our snow dances just for insurance. :)

10/27/2007 06:29 PM

by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)

I lived in Colorado in the early1990s. In Ken Caryl Ranch / Littleton which is approx 20 miles southwest of downtown Denver. Can't tell you how much I miss it!

10/27/2007 06:39 PM

by Paul Warner -- Orange County, CA Appraiser (Warner & Associates)

Paul, Ken Caryl is a great neighborhood. I have a friend who used to live there. Time for a winter visit perhaps?

10/27/2007 06:50 PM

by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)

Joanne, Skiing already? I can't imagine that, it is right now so hot here!!!

10/27/2007 07:14 PM

by Camarillo CA Real Estate Agent/ Mana Tulberg (Beach View Real Estate)

It is very early season, but yep, skiing already :)

10/27/2007 07:43 PM

by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)

I use to ski Mammoth and June Mountains for $12-$15 per day and thought that was expensive. Ooops, showing my age......

10/27/2007 11:14 PM

by Dena Stevens ~ Ecobroker ~So. Colorado Realtor (Colorado Western Real Estate)

Dena, I know people who used to ski for $3 a day and if they were military, they got a discount off that price! Today you can easily pay close to $80 a day for holiday season at Vail or Aspen. Of course, look at how much it costs to get into Disneyland for a day, or to go to a football game. They are all pretty comparable, and with some, skiing looks like a bargain!

10/27/2007 11:23 PM

by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)

Joanne, maybe one day I'll stop being a chicken and try skiing. Maybe I'll do it in Loveland!

10/28/2007 06:32 AM

by Palmetto Bay | Redland Real Estate | Maggie Dokic (EWM Realtors)

Joanne - our skiers are jealous I am sure - we are looking at Thanksgiving

10/28/2007 11:59 AM

by Central Oregon Real Estate | Thesa Chambers, Broker (RE/MAX Sunset Realty La Pine)

Loveland is where I learned how to ski, Maggie.

Thesa, Arapahoe Basin opened first in the nation this year and got lots of publicity for it!

10/28/2007 11:05 PM

by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)

Hi Joanne,
I'm not a skier but love to go to the resorts and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

10/30/2007 08:48 AM

by Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist (Kingsbridge Realty, Inc)

Joanne, wow, I'm envious...I'd love to be there skiing this early in the year.

In Ontario we're lucky if we ever get good enough weather for skiing....many winters it doesn't stay cold enough to even maintain the man-made snow on the hills. When I was younger the winters were different and I was able to plan on skiing every winter.

Global warming is really showing here.....

Nice picture !

((-:

10/30/2007 04:39 PM

by Jo-Anne Smith-Belleville, Quinte and Prince Edward Region Real Estate, Ont. (Royal Lepage Proalliance Realty, Brokerage)

Cynthia, we do have lots of beautiful scenery, that is for sure!

Jo, We are lucky to be high enough that we will be the last to be affected by global warming. It will shorten our seasons though I think. I always figured Canada would be cold!! Just goes to show what I know.....

10/30/2007 06:27 PM

by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)

Joeann - I'm very jealous. Over here in the Northeast it is just beginning to get cold. It looks like I'm going to have to take a trip out to Colorado one of these days so I can experience real skiing!

10/30/2007 08:26 PM

by Bergen County Realtor, Sal Poliandro, SRES, ePRO, Short Sale Specialist (RE/MAX Properties)

Sal and Dawn, we have some of the best skiing in the nation! We have supposed to have more snow by morning, but it has been sunny and in the 50s the last few days.

10/30/2007 09:16 PM

by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)

The beautiful-powdery-white SNOW of Winter has arrived...huh? Well, I'll enjoy your pictures and stories as we will not be enjoying your beautiful Colorado Winter this year. It all sounds wonderful...love the idea of skiing but we've pretty much settled for Water Skiing here in the South.

THANK YOU for sending me a daydream of cool-er weather and white capped moutains! Colorado rocks!!

10/31/2007 05:10 AM

by Real Estate Specialist | Brandon, FL | Susie Roscoe (Signature Realty Associates)

Susie, it is snowing right now! We can use it, as we are a little low for ski season, but this time of year is always very variable. That is why they have snow making equipment!

10/31/2007 08:41 AM

by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)

Joanne,

Can't wait to get on the slopes this year. That's pretty good that some resorts are already open over there and it's only early November. Now is a perfect time to ski, too, because the slopes aren't that crowded.

11/01/2007 11:42 PM

by Esko Kiuru - Las Vegas NV Mortgage Consultant (Sinifox Financial)

Esko, both Copper Mountain and Keystone open tomorrow. That just leaves Breckenridge to open next week and all our areas will be open. Vail is lower and therefore opens closer to Thanksgiving.

11/01/2007 11:54 PM

by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)

Joanne,

Thanks for the beautiful picture of snow. We haven't had a good snow in a couple of years here locally. We are considering a trip this winter to the mountains to enjoy some snow. I've never been skiing but I bet it is fun.

11/08/2007 11:32 PM

by Rita Taylor | Sanford NC Real Estate & Homes for Sale in Sanford North Carolina (Strother Real Estate)

HI Rita, I haven't been out again since that day, but I really need to get out there again. We have been having wonderful weather, but we actually wish it would snow more! I much prefer natural snow to man made. Skiing is SO much fun...but take a lesson for your first time. Don't believe anyone who says that you can just go and do it. It is much less scary to have someone show you how to stop and how to turn.

11/08/2007 11:41 PM

by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)