Looking for some insight on Breckenridge, Vail, & Keystone

I'm heading on a trip to Summit County in January and it will be the first time I've skied Breck, Vail, and Keystone.  We'll likely have 2 days at Breck (which is where we're staying), and one day at Vail and Keystone.  I'm looking for some insight on runs/areas that are "can't miss" at each resort.  The guys I'm going with like everything from wide groomers, to glades and bowls.  Although some of the group likes to shy away from the bumps.  Any help is much appreciated.

Head right for the Burn, and cure your friends of groomers forever.

 Avoid Vail like the plague on a weekend day.

Really can't miss at any of those resorts for what you're looking for. 

Here's a report from a trip I made to Keystone a couple years ago:  http://www.dcski.com/articles/view_article.php?article_id=1022&mode=search

Haven't been to Breckenridge, but Imperial Chairlift is supposed to be pretty special: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.luckymountainhome.com/images/Breckenridge-Highest-Ski-Lift-Colorado-USA.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.luckymountainhome.com/Breckenridge-Imperial-Express-Super-Chair.asp&usg=__sWXhYo-uh8uk1oTUPvigBDrGM1c=&h=185&w=370&sz=17&hl=en&start=17&um=1&tbnid=pIaAyKMa5LVi4M:&tbnh=61&tbnw=122&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dimperial%2Blift%2Bbreckenridge%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

You'll feel frustrated with only one day at huge Vail, haven't been there in over 30 years but the trek over to Blue Sky Basin and back is supposed to be special, just watch out for wicked chairlift malfunctions:  http://www.mopo.ca/uploaded_images/ski-vail-773410.jpg

Welcome to epicski.

At Breck, take the Imperial Lift and do the Whale's Tail, Debbie's Alley, Vertigo and if the snow is decent, do the short hike and do the Lake Chutes. On Peak 9, the Windows, Devil's Crotch and Mineshaft are nice.  Depending on the snow, many of the runs off 6 Chair are fun.
Silverthorne is my favorite run of the whole mountain.
 

I love that run!  All those mountains will be fun for you guys.  Bring some layers - it can be cold up there then.

Keystone: Schoolmarm

Where is Silverthorn?

Silverthorn is 10 minutes from Copper, 15 minutes from ABasin, 12 minutes from Keystone, 20 minutes to Breck and 35 minutes to Vail.
Frisco, Dillon and Silverthorn are all in the same radius with countless condos to rent and several Hotels with rooms.

You can find some great condo deals at VRBO.com.

 At Copper, you should definitely ski Spaulding Bowl, Alpine lift, and Copper bowl.  Take the hike to Tucker.  Personally, one of my favorite lines is Sharky's, which goes from the clump of trees skiers left of the lift in Jupiter Bowl.  Some folk like Union Meadows, also off of Sierra lift.

I second Skier31's recomendations for Breck.  At Vail, I Ilike the line just next to Steep and Deep in Blue Sky Basin, Genghis Kahn in China Bowl, North Rim, Prima Cornice, etc. on the front side.  

I don't like much at Keystone, although Bob Barnes has never shown me the goods there.  Instead of Keystone, I'd head to Beaver Creek, where the Talons Challenge awaits.

Mike

 blue sky basin and that whole side of the mountain for sure.  most of the millions of skiers never venture over there.  I've laid first tracks for an hour when i got to the mountain an hour after opening.  and it was after a fresh 8'' of powder had fallen.
that's a picture of that day.

Silverthorne is a town on I-70 and also the name of a run under the Quicksilver six-place lift at Breck.  The run is wide and very gentle.  The "hike" up to the Lake Chutes is about 200 ft vertical up from the top of the Imperial lift which seems like 2000 when you are near the top, which is a couple of feet shy of 13 000 ft.  A great view but not much air (but what there is is of good quality though).  The Lake Chutes are about 50 degrees.  If you blow the first turn you won't get a chance for another. 

Skip Keystone and just hit Breck and Vail. Some good suggestions for both, peak 9 & 10 are fun at Breck. Peak 7 has some of the best wide open groomers you can find. Blue Sky Basin and the back bowls are where I would spend my time at Vail.

Great insight.  Keep it coming.

And a reply:


You're friggin' hilarious.  You trying to off these guys?  If so, why did you leave off Wacky's?

Yeah, I think the Lake Chutes just might kill them....it probably would for me.

What I really like about Breck is there lots of good stuff that doesn't take you back to the base of Peak 8 and 9.  Those lifts in the middle of the day are crazy busy on popular days.  Peak 10 and 7 don't experience that as much although 7 probably is getting worse as that base area is starting to get built out and there is a gondola stop there now.  It however has a dual loading six-pack so the line moves quick.  The groomers down the fall line on 7 are really good and they have a lot of rollers if you like that sort of thing.  I really like the groomers on 10.  No rollers at all, just lots of chances to go fast and carve turns.

For other places, you definitely have to try the burn if you and your friends like glades.  For my skill level it gets narrow and tough at the very bottom but it is a total blast at the top and middle.  I also like everything skiier's right of the 6 chair.  You should have this area to yourself for the most part.  I love the solitude and it is a mixture of wide open spaces and some widely spaced trees.  You can't also go wrong with skiing under the Imperial life and traversing over left from the top to the Whale's Tail as someone mentioned.  Up top there are named runs but it is really just open area so just pick what looks like has good conditions and you feel comfortable about getting around any rocks that are showing.

Skip Keystone unless you want to night ski.