We've been skiing in Colorado several times during the winter months but are now planning a trip during spring. How are the conditions? Though we've always enjoyed the fresh powder in Jan/Feb we are looking forward to skiing in warmer weather but aren't sure what the snow will be like. We plan on taking our trip the first week of April. Do we need to be concerned with any particular destination (we're looking at Winter Park, Breck. or Copper). Thanks for your input.

We've skiied at the end of March and do know some ski areas close in early April. Keystone was a great place for spring skiing.

The only sure thing is Arapaho Basin.

The major ski areas (Breck, Vail, Keystone, Steamboat etc,) are open during the first week in April and some years, it can be a glorious time to ski - warm, sunny and good snow. Nevertheless, it's never guaranteed that you'll have the best conditions. This past ski season, for instance, we had record amounts of snow up until March, when it dried out and warmed up in a hurry. April was not fantastic - slushy and rocky. Sure, places like Loveland and Arapahoe Basin are open because they're at very high altitude, but they're not full-blown resorts.

So bottom line is, the ski slopes will be open, and it could be great, but it's not a given.

This promises to be a heavy snow year, but after April 10 you're really taking a chance. Arapahoe is above 13,000 ft. Vail is pretty interesting all the time, and the best bet if the snow isn't good. Idaho often has a longer skiing period, as does Whistler.