Colorado skiing in mid-November?

That's really going to depend on what happens between now and then. That is pretty early to expect good conditions, but if you get a two-foot storm while you're there, it won't really matter. There's never any guarantees on a ski trip, and that's doubly true at the very beginning or end of the season.

Since you're already going to Denver you have the luxury of waiting until the last minute to decide if it's skiing or mountain biking in Fruita (or whatever other activities you had in mind). That's going to be better than anything anyone can tell you here.

     Skiing should be OK,  Man Made base unless someting big comes along. Might be a little thick on weekends with more people then runs open. Loveland or Abasin would be your best pick. Loveland would be the less crowded, pm you address if you plan on Loveland & were sure we could send a discount your way.

I'm going to say man made. Probably won't be much terrain open either. Anything can happen though.

If it's like last year you could be in luck, but chances are it'll be mostly man made. Watch wolf creek for a big dump while you're here and it could be fun. Abasin and loveland will both be open for a month by that point and depending on the temps and snowfall til then should have 4 or more runs open. But like everyone said it really just depends on what happens for the next 3-4weeks. 

Breckenridge and Keystone should also be open. My bêtise that there will be no more than a few runs open at any of these resorts, all white river of death skiing.  Ya never know; we might get a storm cycle though. Coloradopowderforecast.com, however, is predicting a slow start.

Mike

If the Storm all the News Reports claim, happens in the next few day, it will change things BIG TIME! Stay Tuned!

My son who lives in Summit County , Co . , skied Arapahoe Basin today and said the limited skiing is great as it also is at Loveland Basin . They expect 1-2 feet of snow  in the next couple days along with a string of cold weather which will allow more snow making . It should be real good skiing in Nov.

For this time of year you should also consider Keystone, which is right next to A-basin.  The good news is a 12" + storm is hitting that area right now, so that bodes well for mid November conditions (at least that's what I'm told by friends/family who live there).

Also, both Vail and Breck are slated to open on November 11th.

Yep, those are pretty much the two go to sites. Now that the other vail resorts are open, i'd go to abasin. only one speed lift and that's only to mid mountain but i just love the place. 

I would be worried about Breck, just because it's going to be windy as hell?   Snowmass if opening top to bottom with mostly natural up high, but the wind has me worried there too. 

Hopefully Rich just opens Aspen Mountain!

You might be best off going to Vail?  At least you'd be on a covered chair or a gondola, skiing snow that hasn't already been beaten up?

Only if they get some fresh, in which case it'll be more like a 6.5hr drive. And your car should be an suv or awd car.

I can't really comment on Wolf Creek, other than to say it is my impression that it is a very short hill.  It's purportedly really great when they get a dump, but otherwise, pretty ho hum.

I've skied Loveland and Copper.  Both are skiing very well, particularly for how early in the season it is.  I'll be skiing Breck tomorrow.  You have to realize it is very early.  When I was a kid, we never got to ski before Thanksgiving, and we were really lucky if we got to ski then.  There's a good base of man made snow at the Summit County resorts.  Yes, the terrain is limited, but the skiing is good.

If I were you, I'd head to Copper and stay in the resort lodging.  That'll give you a Secret Pass, which means you get to cut the lift lines.  While there's only one run open, it's a long one with lots of different aspects to it depending on whether you go right, left or center.  It's got some pitch here and there.  And with your Secret Pass, it's quite easy to get 20,000+ vertical in a short time.

I doubt it is worth it to drive further to Vail or Aspen.  Vail will likely be slammed with opening weekend traffic.  Aspen is a long haul for limited terrain, although I suspect there will be far less people there.

Mike

Quote:

Originally Posted by habacomike 

I can't really comment on Wolf Creek, other than to say it is my impression that it is a very short hill.  It's purportedly really great when they get a dump, but otherwise, pretty ho hum.

 

I've skied Loveland and Copper.  Both are skiing very well, particularly for how early in the season it is.  I'll be skiing Breck tomorrow.  You have to realize it is very early.  When I was a kid, we never got to ski before Thanksgiving, and we were really lucky if we got to ski then.  There's a good base of man made snow at the Summit County resorts.  Yes, the terrain is limited, but the skiing is good.

 

If I were you, I'd head to Copper and stay in the resort lodging.  That'll give you a Secret Pass, which means you get to cut the lift lines.  While there's only one run open, it's a long one with lots of different aspects to it depending on whether you go right, left or center.  It's got some pitch here and there.  And with your Secret Pass, it's quite easy to get 20,000+ vertical in a short time.

 

I

They are opening Flyer today, so Loverly and High Point runs (green skiing) will be open, too. Should spread things out a little bit.  

But Wolf Creek is 100% open ... it might be worth it to you, I can't say.