What's the skiing like in April in Colorado?

[fuzzybabybunny]

I've been living in Lake Tahoe for the ski season and I have a pass to Vail, Breckenridge, Arapaho, and Keystone. But it's already so late and I'm not sure if it's worth it to drive all the way to Colorado from California and ski for 3 weeks until the season ends on the 14th.

What is late season skiing like in CO? In Tahoe it's sticky, wet, heavy snow that gets chunky on the slopes and downright sluggish on the flat areas. When it isn't snowing it is usually hardpack and icy in some spots, allowing lots of high speed runs.

I've got narrow cambered skis that do very very badly in the wet powder/slush that we have in Tahoe. I much prefer smooth hardpack or ice. Never tried real fluffy powder since that doesn't really exist in Tahoe.

 

[Markbnj]

Usually, I'd say it's getting late, and you'll have corn in the morning and mush in the afternoon... but I haven't checked conditions this year. I think they got a lot of snow but it really depends on the afternoon and overnight temps. Late spring skiing in the Rockies can be pretty crazy, guys in shorts, girls in bikinis, and whatnot.

 

[BoomerD]

living in your car in Tahoe during the winter?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Usually, I'd say it's getting late, and you'll have corn in the morning and mush in the afternoon... but I haven't checked conditions this year. I think they got a lot of snow but it really depends on the afternoon and overnight temps. Late spring skiing in the Rockies can be pretty crazy, guys in shorts, girls in bikinis, and whatnot.

Hmmm... so it might still be worth it to go? I think I'm ok with skiing corn. I don't think I've skied corn that has lost its adhesion though - Loose Granular (LSGR). Even when groomed there's still this stuff?

Mush, eh. I hate it but I guess I can deal with it. Honestly I'm looking ideally for hardpack.

living in your car in Tahoe during the winter?

Yup! Been at it for a couple months now.

 

[ndmrpwr]

Not a skier but look here http://www.grandtarghee.com/the-mountain/conditions/index.php

 

[EagleKeeper]

References
http://www.vail.com/

Last updated 03/21/2013 at 04:51 AM
NEW SNOW
1"24 HRS 1"48 HRS 6"7 Days 1"Overnight
SNOW DEPTH
43" MID 226" TOTAL
CURRENT CONDITIONS
Packed Powder
TERRAIN REPORT
Open Runs190/193
Open Lifts31/31
Open Acres5163/5289
Blue Sky Basin Open

http://www.keystoneresort.com/

NEW SNOW
1"24 HRS 1"48 HRS 10"7 Days 1"Overnight
SNOW DEPTH
45" MID 149" TOTAL
CURRENT CONDITIONS
Packed Powder
TERRAIN REPORT
Open Runs118/135
Open Lifts19/20
Open Acres2942/3148
Beginner Terrain100%
Intermediate Terrain99%
Expert Terrain92%
Lift Serviced Terrain98%
Hiking Terrain91%

A Basin

SKI PATROL COMMENTS3/21/2013 at 5:48 am
Snow in the forecast for the day. Westerly winds at 15-25 mph and a high of 27F.
Sign up for snow reports to be notified when the Basin receives significant snowfall.

Today's Grooming Map (PDF) Uphill AccessOpenSnow Weather Report
NEW SNOWFALL

2.00" in the Last 24 Hours
6.0" in the Last 3 Days
BASE

49" Midway Snow Depth
P/PP Conditions
(Powder/Packed Powder)
WEATHER

20°F at 5:00 AM on 3/21/2013

Snow

TRAILS

90% of Terrain Open
94 Trails Open
857/960 Acres Open
7/8 Lifts Open
East Wall is CLOSED
Montezuma Bowl is OPEN
GROOMED RUNS

Upper Chisholm Trail
Sundance
Molly Hogan
High Noon
Lenawee Face
Norway Mountain Run
Humbug
West Wall
Grizzly Road
Ramrod
Dercum's Gulch
Norway Face
Cornice Run
West Gully
Knolls
Larkspur
Independence
Columbine
Shining Light
Treeline

A Basin is open usually into June. Earliest and latest because of the location - massive bowl complex just on the west side of the divide.


When at Keystone, if in an emergency; your life is in my hands.
Put in the emergency lift drive systems

 

[BudAshes]

Bad year for snow in tahoe.

 

[Printer Bandit]

aren't you sore from all that skiiing?

 

[zinfamous]

A-Basin is the best--and highest. They will even try to push it to July 4th on some years. Keystone is around the corner but the conditions are random. Skiing is either really good there, or horrible.

Also, please stay off the slopes. You are a maniac on skis, if your previous threads are to be believed.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

References
http://www.vail.com/


http://www.keystoneresort.com/


A Basin


A Basin is open usually into June. Earliest and latest because of the location - massive bowl complex just on the west side of the divide.


When at Keystone, if in an emergency; your life is in my hands.
Put in the emergency lift drive systems

Awesome! I think I'll go then. Hit up Breckenridge and Vail and Keystone first probably. A Basin last. I'll definitely be using the emergency lift system.

Bad year for snow in tahoe.

I don't like snowing. It gets wet and lumpy and hard to turn. My skis just happen to be too narrow for powder so it cuts into our wet powder here in Tahoe. I want ice and hardpack, which can happen without too much snowing.

aren't you sore from all that skiiing?

Yup.

A-Basin is the best--and highest. They will even try to push it to July 4th on some years. Keystone is around the corner but the conditions are random. Skiing is either really good there, or horrible.

Also, please stay off the slopes. You are a maniac on skis, if your previous threads are to be believed.

It's cool. I always endeavor to stay out of control, use the SLOW signs as suggestions, and hug trees whenever I can.

 

[gorcorps]

I was never a huge skier, but March is usually a pretty high snow month for CO so April should be pretty solid up in the hills for skiing.