![]() The aptly named narrow ridge has a 50-degree drop off both sides and an impressive view of New Mexico to the south. ![]() Leaving time to take photos (which you’ll definitely want to do), it takes about 25 minutes to climb the bootpack and stairs to the top. New this season, the Charity Jane Express quad lets skiers do laps on the area’s challenging runs without having to hike back to the Alberta lift.ĭespite the ease of access and abundant snow on the lift-accessed runs, my FOMO (fear of missing out) demanded I hike up “The Knife.” For example, we skied the 13 numbered chutes off Alberta lift that afternoon and much of the next day without ever taking, or even seeing, the same line. In Wolf Creek, where they average about 1,000 skiers on a weekday and max out at about 3,000 skiers on a busy holiday, “less crowded” means having run after run to yourself.įor the skilled skier, the exploration possibilities at Wolf Creek are mind-boggling. After a similar run in Glory Hole, we head over to the “less crowded” advanced and expert terrain on the resort’s eastern end. We skate a minute, maybe two, to Bonanza Bowl, where we make first tracks in knee-deep powder. The deep is everywhere at Wolf Creek, but you have to work at least a little bit for most of the steep. This run is the easiest black to access, with no uphill travel required. Nearing the summit, the first crisscross of tracks comes into view on Alberta Face. Snowboarders sail through powder beneath us to our right, a group of students from the local elementary school line up behind their instructor. ![]() This main mountain from the base is home to the resort’s intermediate (35 percent of terrain) and beginner (20 percent of terrain) trails. During our visit, the resort’s base was pushing 80 inches, while the state’s other resorts were nearing the 50-inch mark. Wolf Creek gets the most snow in Colorado with an average of 430 inches a year. Although it only snowed 6 inches overnight and 8 the night before that, feet of freshies are stacked up everywhere but the center of the groomed runs. In mid-January, my husband and I (who as natives with a collective century of skiing between us regularly weave tales beginning with, “I remember when … “) took a trip back to our early days of skiing.Īs we ride the Treasure lift up to the 11,775-foot summit, I see untracked snow everywhere. You can head down to Wolf Creek and experience for yourself how skiing in Colorado used to be.Ībout four hours southwest of Denver is the ski resort time forgot - and it’s awesome. Well, I’ve got good news for all you Colorado newbies: You don’t have to listen to us golden-agers any longer. ![]() Speaking of snow, we even gloat that in this winter wonderland of years gone by, there was a lot more of it.Īfter skiing, there were more bubbling hot pools than sore muscles to soothe and birds sang from every treetop. If you moved to Colorado anytime after Stapleton was converted from runways to suburban streets, you’re probably tired of hearing about how skiing in Colorado “used to be.”Ĭurmudgeonly old-timers such as myself will tell you tales of a time when lift tickets and food were cheap and there were so few people on the hill that parking was close, lines were short and snow stashes lasted for days after a storm. Tuesday, October 10th 2023 Home Page Close Menu
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |