Best place to ski in CO for intermediate-experts?
 

My husband and I are going staying in Breckenridge for 2 nights this weekend and will ski Sat and Sun. We are intermediate-expert and love challenges. One of our favorite places to ski is Snowbird, but we also like the bigger resorts like Park City and Tahoe. I was thinking about 1 day at Vail, b/c it's big and it's Vail. Then the other day at a smaller place with a lot of blue-black runs. We really enjoy bowls and going through the trees.

What mountains would you recommend for this weekend?

Go to Arapahoe Basin, tucked away southeast of Breck/Keystone. It's a gorgeous, above-tree-line challenge; real skiers love it.

I definitely second A-basin. The lodge ain't much to look at, but it sounds like the type of skiing you're looking for. You'll also love the back bowls at Vail...and may just end up staying there!

If you are staying at Breck, ski Breck. Peak 10 has some challenging shoots and semi bowls areas off the back side. A new chair will take you to the top of Peak 8 which used to be only accessable by hiking. The north side of Peak 9 also has some nice areas. If challenging slopes with min crowds continue pass Vail to the Beaver Creek complex -- that is about as good as it gets.

Drive two hours further to Aspen.

If staying at Breck and wanting a smaller place with Blue/Black runs, your best option is A-Basin. This area is really for advanced skiers but without the usual amnenties at the bigger resorts.

Aspen is too far. Vail has excellent advanced skiing but you do need to know where to go as the area is huge.
Beaver Creek has the Birds of Prey runs but is certainly not superior to A-Basin.

The Basin is where all the hard-core skiers go and it's close to Breck.

Vail. It has crowds, but it also has more acreage. You'll find what you want there.

A-Basin is great and I second Vail. Vail is my favorite! Don't go all the way to Aspen.

Since you have only 2 nights not sure I would go anyplace else, certainly not all the way to Aspen. If you are planning on driving to Denver on Sunday then I would go with the Basin. You can drive over Loveland Pass and be on your way to Denver. Sun traffic back to Denver can be horrific. Know that the Basin is old time skiing. As others have said few amenities, slow chairs and often very cold due to the elevation.

Vail for two days might be a good choice, if you don't mind driving everyday from Breckenridge. It's such a huge mountain, you won't easily ski it all in one day. (A-Basin isn't a place for "bowls and going through the trees", I don't think.) :)>-

Thanks for all the advice. A-basin sounds great. What is Breck like? How about Copper? Are they basically between (not geographically) big Vail and small a-basin?

For two days, Breck will give you all that you want. I am pretty hard core, but aging, skier and am not a big fan of ABasin. Copper mt is an easier mountain but it does have a couple of challenging bowls. But, it is the weekend, and both places will be crowd. You don't have a lot of choices at this time.

Have to admit my suggestion of Aspen was a bit tongue in cheek in response to the blue/black desire.
The terrain at Breckenridge should keep anyone busy for a couple of days, as has been said. And crowds this week-end will be everywhere.

try looking at the various websites; most have the area ski map, and you can look at runs. A nice thing about Abasin is the parking lot (if you get there early) being right next to the base.

That's free parking, too.

Still like A-Basin for the weekend, but it is challenging. As Maureen said no bowls but there is 'wall' skiing. I refer the wall as a bowl for experts.There are runs with some trees off the Pallavicini lift and another run 'Tree Chutes'. Be warned that this is serious skiing.

I lived at Copper for several years and loved the skiing there. Some good bowls off the back as well as tree skiing, but it will be crowded on the weekend, A-Basin less so.

Looking at the areas ski maps on their websites is a good idea.

Another option would be Loveland, which I personally prefer over the Basin. Similar in "feel" to the Basin. Less crowded though. Bowls and trees. Like the Basin puts in in a better location for the drive back to Denver.

I personally love A-Basin, great skiing above treeline and the east wall is great. DH loves the bowl at top of Breck's peak 8 T-Bar. It has some great steep runs (I just don't like the T-Bar) also the Imperial Express is the highest lift in N. America and has some scary runs off of it.

Enjoy, whereever you go!