Spring Break Ski Trip
 

We have a break from March 25- April 3 and are considering a ski trip possibly to Breckenridge CO. Could anyone suggest what the conditions might be like? Also we might take our 10 y/o niece, any comments or suggestions for lesson and programs for children. Thanks to all!

Breck is a great family ski area...great beginning trails, great for your niece. The conditions should be pretty great, the Rockies just got a ton of snow. I wouldn't go too much later...but, that time of year should be great. I have family in Colorado and must confess, Breckenridge is not really my favorite--Keystone Mountain is a little bit better, a littles less touristy---Vail is my favorite by far. however, if you want a "good deal" and a fun town, Breck is your choice =0

I suggest you look at Snowmass(www.aspensnowmass.com), just 8 miles from Aspen (great food and fun window shopping) and with a well respected ski school. The conditions should be good as there has been much snow in recent weeks.

We ski at Aspen, Snowmass, and Buttermilk every Christmas for two weeks and this year I decided to branch out and try someplace new. We skied Aspen and Snowmass for a week (stayed in Aspen and drove each day to Snowmass and parked in the practically deserted parking lot at Two Creeks as opposed to parking at Snowmass Village which is always crowded) then we stayed at Keystone and skied Keystone and Breckenridge for a week.

After Aspen and Snowmass the whole family (mid 40s couple and 2 teen boys)was pretty dissappointed in Breck and Keystone. We had planned to ski Keystone all week as we were staying on the mountain but were disappointed (my kids actually hated it) in the mountain so we drove to Breckenridge a couple of days also.

I'm not trying to offend those who love Summit Co. skiing and go often. My brother lives in Denver and loves Keystone. Just offering my perspective. And I must admit that I know Aspen well and have only spent two weeks in Summit Co. so I don't claim to be an expert there.

The Summit Co. mountains were very crowded which I expected as it was a peak holiday season but the crowds in Aspen by comparison are never large, even on holidays weeks. In Aspen/Snowmass there are only as many people on the mountain as there are staying in the very small towns nearby- no daytrippers from a large city. In Summit Co. there is a far larger local population and many Denver day skiers in addition to those that are on vacation.

At Breck and Keystone we weren't prepared for the number of beginning skiers falling all over the mountain, stopping at the top of every little ridge to check it out and build courage(sometimes there was such a line of them that we couldn't pass safely), falling when getting on/off the lift, and not understanding the simple etiquette of alternating lines when getting on the lift. From the lifts we watched many beginners attempting runs they had no business being on- like they were too ignorant to even know what they should fear. In the Aspen area we see very few beginners on the mountain, not because they aren't there but because they are on the beginning runs and are escorted by ski instructors who won't let them get in over their heads.

We thought that there was a big discrepency in what constituted a "blue" run at Keystone. Some seemed closer to greens and others should have been rated black diamond. I don't care for moguls anymore as my knees don't like them. My husband and I got on Porcupine, a blue run that was nothing but moguls top to bottom with no "easier way down". We ended up skiing through the trees to the next run which was another blue that was nothing but moguls. It wasn't just my opinion that it should have been marked black (not the grade, just the moguls made them seem like black so if groomed I can see them being blue)as I overheard another couple complaining of the very same runs when I was on a lift at Breckenridge the following day. At Snowmass and Buttermilk there is always an "easier way down" on green or blue runs, such as a strip or "corduroy" (freshly groomed by a snowcat) or a strip free of moguls.

We love the wide open spaces at Elkcamp on Snowmass. We tried all week long at Breck/Keystone and couldn't find any similar superwide runs. Most seemed more like the width of roads. Even the runs on Peak 7 on Breck don't compare.

We love the food in Aspen and were disappointed with the food at Keystone in comparison. I know I don't know all the places to go that locals go in Summit Co but I tried to research ahead of time. We ate at Keystone Ranch (Zagat #1 in Colorado) and at Ski Tip Lodge (rec on fodors) and at Pug Ryan's (rec from a lifelong local). And it was good at those places but we can get similar meals in Aspen every night of the week without trying. Range, Rustique, Cache Cache, Jimmy's, Syzygy, the Century Room, Pacifica and a dozen other fine restaurants are all walking distance when staying in Aspen.

The food on the mountain at Snowmass and Buttermilk is uniformly good- from Up For Pizza at the top of Snowmass (and amazing freshly baked cookies, thick and gooey), to the French food at Cafe Suzanne midmountain, to the Mongolian Grill and Ahi tuna sandwiches at the Cliffhouse on Buttermilk. We didn't find that the food at Summit Co. compared favorably. There is one very nice restaurant on Keystone- but for daily lunch food on the mountain we didn't find it to be as good.

Sounding nitpicky, I know but even the people who work in Aspen were nicer than those we encountered in Breck/Keystone. In Aspen there are many college students from Argentina, Peru, South Africa, and Australia who are on their college break and always make a point to talk to everyone. It appears that most are avid skiers who came to work in Aspen so they can ski there. After a week of skiing West Buttermilk and talking to the same young lady from South Africa as she got on the lift each day my 70 yr old mom got a hug and a very nice "goodbye" from her at the end of the week. A month later she still recalls that fondly. In Summit Co. no one was rude, they all did their job but they didn't make a point of being friendly.

Finally, and I know this can happen anywhere, but we witnessed a massive hit and run in the parking lot at Breckenridge one day. A truck backed into a Lexus and my kids started to walk over to see if they could be of help. The guys in the truck got out, pushed the truck off of the Lexus, jumped in the truck and took off fast. We stood there with our mouths open and not expecting that from them we didn't get a plate number. Major damage.

We are the kind of skiers that are the first ones on the mountain before the posted opening time and the last ones off but on the last day we were at Keystone we just blew off skiing. My husband, who hates to waste money went in the morning as we had already paid for the lift tickets and had the skis rented for the day, but he called it a day before lunch due to the number of people falling in front of him on his first couple of runs.

I forgot- the downside to Snowmass is that it is about a four hr drive from the Denver airport but well worth the extra couple of hours and the ride through Glenwood Canyon is awesome. We usually stop at the posh resort of Beavercreek for lunch and people watching.

I agree, Breckenridge is a great choice. You'll be able to access a variety of other activities as well - including ice skating, tubing, etc. Breck has a great selection of restaurants and shopping as well. And it's also within reasonable driving distance to other resorts such as Keystone and Copper Mountain if you want to mix it up.

I have to agree with the recommendation for Aspen/Snowmass, if you don't mind the extra travel from DIA. We love Aspen; we go there most summers; and I learned to ski at Snowmass. If you go, stay in Aspen itself, to be able to walk around that very nice little town. Try The Gant for very nice condos in town, or Aspen Square.

www.aspensnowmass.com will get you started on looking at accomadations as well as checking out the towns, ski schools and restaurants. You can also find lots of Aspen condos at www.frias.com

I'm more familiar with Summit Co. and Vail skiing than Aspen/Snowmass, but I'd say the main difference for you is the distance to Aspen/Snowmass and the probability that prices will be higher. Also, based on my recollection of Aspen nightlife at the restaurants, you might find more suitable restaurants with a 10-yr-old in Summit Co. And yes, of course, Summit Co. does get more day skiiers from Denver, but that shouldn't be an issue for you mid-week, and given the time of year that you're going, it shouldn't be real crowded on the weekends either.

The time period you're talking about is what we call (everywhere in Colorado) Spring skiing. The days are warm (and sunny, of course); you might be able to ski in windbreakers. You'll definitely be able to eat lunch outside! The sun softens the snow, which makes it great mid-day, but a bit frozen in the morning and slushy by the end of the day. You should enjoy the conditions, though.

Most of the resorts, including Breckenridge, have very good lesson programs for kids. Breck has them from the base at Peak 8 and from Peak 9. We have a slight preference for Peak 8, but if your lodging is closer to Peak 9, do the lesson program there. You can do half-day or all-day lessons.