DAX

Peaceout: Is Loveland that much better than Eldora? It's windy but less? How far from Boulder?

Gretchen

what level of skiiers are you? I may have given you a "pass" with the Tahoe reference. Eldora or others may "do" for you. If you really like to "ski" I suggest driving another half hour to at least Winter Park, or Keystone. You need to match it up.

DAX

Gretchen: We're advance cruisers, we ski any slope but tend to avoid long tiring deep mogul runs.

Gretchen

I'd still go on a bit further up 70 to the Breckinridge area. Scenic fun good skiing in a "resort" atmosphere that is fun to do. And just not that much further. And any and all terrain that you want.

PeaceOut

DAX, I haven't skied at Loveland or Eldora for many years, so am not a good source. I believe that CU's ski team still trains at Eldora, and it's better than nothing, if you don't want to drive further.

Driving to Loveland from Boulder-- probably 1.5 hours, best case. Probably add another 30 minutes if you are going to Summit County areas, or Winter Park. If you are advanced skiers, I'd recommend Winter Park/Mary Jane.

When you are here, decide based on the weather. Big snowstorm on the I-70 corridor, and you may want to stick with Eldora. Definitely avoid driving I-70 for a day-trip on a weekend: Saturday mornings going West, and Sunday evenings going East are a nightmare of traffic.

fmpden

I never saw your dates of travel. Hope it is not this weekend. We are expecting a foot from Friday through Saturday. It is going up from the south, southwest, which means the foothills will be hammered with a couple of feet.

PeaceOut

Well, we'll believe it when we see it, right? Many times the storms don't actually materialize, especially in Denver. It's impossible to plan around the weather forecasts.

But, I think you said you'd be here the last week in March?

Nelson

The Unisys weather model is showing major moisture in our area Saturday late afternoon and evening, and strong northerly winds. This site seems to be pretty accurate, at least on these short range forecasts.

Might be a good day to hunker down at home, but as you say PeaceOut, guess we'll see!

PeaceOut

You're right, Nelson. We are getting a nice steady snow, with small flakes right now at home in Denver. Now I see it, I believe it! haha. If you live in Denver, you know what I mean. So many storms go around us, or sneak up on us when no one predicted it.

And it is a great day to hunker down, in front of the fireplace, with my laptop. Also plan to clean out my closet and make risotto.

DAX

Hmm, I'll just throw the skiing option to the kids and let them decide if they would rather skip Denver for skiing instead. Thanks for all your help. We'll definitely avoid weekend traffic on 70. . Sorry to hear about your hunkering the bad weather.

Still wondering to myself if 2 day skiing in the summit county is worth giving up Denver for.

fmpden

You can visit Denver anytime. You can only ski a few months. It is beginning to lift but skiing should be great tomorrow. I guess I will go shovel the deck.

PeaceOut

Fmpden, the weathercaster just said not to shovel because it will thaw tomorrow. Yay. Except on our shady driveway. But we only have avout 3" now. I hope it keeps snowing.

DH is at Winter Park and said today's powder was amazing. He is expert/instructor level, and likes to ski through the trees.

DAX, do not discount Winter Park. We much prefer it over Summit.

fmpden

It is hard to tell. We have a lot of drifting both front and back but I would guess we make the 10" or better mark. We are only responsible for the front step and the deck. Someone else shovels the driveway. We can see lights across the gully so it is done or nearly so.

Gretchen

We are also going to be in the mountains the end of the month--and actually it has been our most visited time when our kids were in school. There is more preciptitation in the mountains then--because, as Willy suggested (about the money) THAT is when you WANT the snow.
I have driven to the Denver airport many times in a snowstorm. The colorado highway people do a GREAT job of keeping the highways open. The chain law (and we have travelled wit chains) is often for trucks. Please just keep up with the weather report.

PeaceOut

I love a good snow day!

DAX, I get to spend Easter in SF and Marin, with DS and family.

Fmpden makes a good point about staying in the mountains vs Denver this month. The skiing is good now.

If you plan to ski at Copper or Winter Park, I could probably scare up some discount coupons, which makes your lift ticket price just $69. We have some attached to our season pass at WP.

PeaceOut

PS Gretchen is right that in the CO, the highways are treated and cleared very well, and ASAP.

We have never seen chains required on passenger vehicles, since 1970. Not at all like driving your pass to Tahoe (Donner?).

LSky

I only had one free day to spend in Denver and the art museum was well worth my time. Nice blend of some very modern buildings with the old.

Nelson

As it turned out we only received a trace of snow here in Fort Collins. We had been hoping for a big dump, but it stopped falling by noon. Shows the strange localized nature of these storms, sometimes 10-20 miles can make a huge difference in snowfall amounts.

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/snow-and-ic...od=2&region=05

fmpden

The chain requirement for truck is absolute. In fact you will see areas set aside for trucks to chain up and later to unchain. The requirement for passenger vehicles is chains or adequate snow tires. About the only time that is even enforced is when your are in the ditch and the highway patrol decides that your bald tires were inadequate. That will get you a ticket.

This was a storm out of the SW which the when we get most of our snow along the front range. We are about 15 miles south of downtown Denver and did get more snow than downtown Denver. Rather now it is very sunny and warm and it will be gone, except for the piles, by Thursday when it will hit 60.

PeaceOut

Yes, we have so many micro-climates here. Always more snow south of us than in the city.
My relatives always think we are buried in snow all winter. Uh, no, we are begging for moisture in central Denver most winters.

Gorgeous day today! We are blessed to live here.