I am planning a ski trip the first week of December. I've heard great things about Keystone and I wanted to see if anyone knew how decent the skiing was (generally) early in December there. The stats for the mountain seem to show only an avg of 250 which seems kind of low compared to other resorts.

Also, I am coming with a couple of non-skiers who are more interested in nightlife, shopping, etc. Is there plenty of that to be found at Keystone?

Keystone has extensive snowmaking and is known to open earlier than any of the Summit County Resorts.

As to this year, hard to predict what will be? We have had great early season conditions in the past but last year was not as good. That said Nov is typically a very snowy month so you may hit it just right.

As to shopping and nightlife, not so much as Breck but more than Copper. Vail would be my first choice if that were important.

Coskier, I see you know quite a bit about Keystone. Can you tell me if they have any true ski in and ski out property. I am trying to make reservations for 16 people and we want to stay in a true ski in and out for once. I tried on the Keystone website and I can't get pictures of any of the lodges on the site. I am used to seeing rooms and insides of properties, and I can't find anything like that on the site. Do you really prefer Keystone way more than Copper? I am getting lousy airfare rates from New Orleans to Denver for March like $467 a person and that's a group rate! I have a lady that has booked premium property ski in ski out at Copper and I get a nonstop flight which I can't get on my own and 5 days of premium lodging ski in and out with 5 days of skiing plus air fair, bus from airport, all taxes and tips for $885 a person. That rate I can't get near in Keystone. What do you think? Does that sound good? I appreciate all your expertise. Karen

Karen One thing that bugs me about Keystone is that they adv ski in but in reality very little of that. Most are walk to lifts. The only true ski in is Lone Eagle, but it is very exspensive. I think you will find the same at Copper there is some but most are in the Village.

I know you are thinking about Summit but since your flying you might try Snowmass. There are lots of true ski in ski out properties. You can take the shuttle to Aspen for nightlife and Buttermilk is a great learning mtn. Snowmass tends to be less costly than Aspen. The airport is VERY close by so you would not need a car or shuttle costs keep that in mind. just a thought. that said your price at copper sounds good.

PS. some condos at keystone that are very close to lifts are:


Chateau Du Mont, Ironwood, Key Condo. There is another one I THINK its Ski Inn but are only studios and one bedrooms. These are all at Mountain House Base.

realized I was wrong about one of the condos, gasp, Ski Inn is not the one I was thinking of, not sure of the name of the complex that has only studios and one bedrooms but it is NOT Ski Inn. Ski Inn BTW is NOT a ski in ski out property, go figure.