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Are you ready to ski Colorado?

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate

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! 

 

Jason Romrell
Business Attorney and Success Advisor - Los Angeles, CA
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!!
Sep 07, 2007 04:42 PM
Joanne Hanson
Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Frisco, CO
Summit County, Colorado Realtor

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).

Sep 07, 2007 04:52 PM
Steve Scheer
Realty Oasis - Metro Brokers - Highlands Ranch, CO
Highlands Ranch Real Estate - Denver Real Estate

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

Sep 07, 2007 04:57 PM
Chrissy Harrison
Referral Only Realty - Longmont, CO
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!
Sep 07, 2007 05:12 PM
Joanne Hanson
Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Frisco, CO
Summit County, Colorado Realtor
Chrissy, either way you are sliding on the snow, a great feeling! 
Sep 07, 2007 05:27 PM
Jim Gideon
Prudential First Realty - Des Moines, IA
REALTOR, e-PRO, Des Moines Area Realtor
I also learned to ski after 40 and skied in trees for the first time 2 years ago...what a rush!
Sep 07, 2007 06:46 PM
Thesa Chambers
West + Main - Bend, OR
Principal Broker - Licensed in Oregon
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?
Sep 07, 2007 07:44 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
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.
Sep 08, 2007 01:16 AM
Chris Tesch
RE/MAX Bryan-College Station - College Station, TX
College Station, Texas Real Estate
Joanne, how do you feel about visitors?  I think we all need to come and see Summit County ourselves!!!
Sep 08, 2007 04:02 AM
Joanne Hanson
Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Frisco, CO
Summit County, Colorado Realtor

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. 

Sep 08, 2007 04:10 AM
Mana Tulberg
805 County Real Estate - Camarillo, CA
Real Estate Agent - Camarillo CA
Joanne, I am with Chris, can we come and visit?
Sep 08, 2007 04:48 AM
Joanne Hanson
Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Frisco, CO
Summit County, Colorado Realtor

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

Sep 08, 2007 04:53 AM
Jo-Anne Smith
Oakville, ON

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 

Sep 08, 2007 09:49 AM
Joanne Hanson
Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Frisco, CO
Summit County, Colorado Realtor
Jo, it is amazing how many people we get that do just that, usually from Michigan, Wisconsin, etc.  Not too many from Canada!
Sep 08, 2007 11:22 AM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP
Hi Joanne,  I have never been skiing but I always wanted to.  This is great information for skiing in Colorado!
Sep 08, 2007 01:51 PM
Joanne Hanson
Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Frisco, CO
Summit County, Colorado Realtor
Stephanie, we get lots of Texans here skiing, especially church groups during spring break.  Come on up sometime!
Sep 08, 2007 02:25 PM
Team Gagliardi Daytona Beach Real Estate
Re/Max Signature - Daytona Beach, FL
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!!!
Sep 09, 2007 05:25 AM
Leah Ross
Your Tampa Bay Mortgage Source - Tampa, FL
Tampa, Florida Mortgage
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!
Sep 10, 2007 12:47 PM
Joanne Hanson
Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Frisco, CO
Summit County, Colorado Realtor

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!

Sep 10, 2007 03:30 PM
Jason Adams
Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Dillon, CO
Realtor - Summit County, Colorado
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!
Sep 11, 2007 10:39 AM