Stuck between a rock and a hard place? Not even close. Climbing guide Eric Zerowin sets anchors high above the shores of Lake Dillon as his two guests absorb the views. The late-morning sun shines brightly in the blue sky, and it’s too early in the day for summer’s afternoon showers to begin rolling in. … Read more
Wolf Creek is the snowiest spot in Colorado. No matter how much snow the rest of the state gets, you can bet Wolf Creek has more. Its lucky location at 10,300 feet on top of Wolf Creek Pass takes an easterly dogleg turn on the Continental Divide, catching storms from all directions. Clouds hover above … Read more
Snow – it’s the stuff boarders and skiers dream of – and it has arrived in Colorado’s mountains, where the slopes are getting ready for business. To celebrate the end of Colorado’s snow fast, Copper Mountain ski resort will host its sixth annual Lift Off festival Nov. 5-7 to mark the opening of the 2010-2011 … Read more
Colorado is known for the snow, and to live here and not ski or snowboard must be a sin. But we exist. Outsiders, living on the fringe of Colorado society, who frown at the first snow and don’t know the difference between powder and corn. A day spent tumbling downhill in soggy clothes just doesn’t … Read more
Like diamond dust sprayed on black velvet, shattered particles of light glisten in a crystalline winter sky. Overhead, the Milky Way spills a swath of creamy luminescence that flows through the celestial hemisphere. Stars glimmer with galactic intensity, undimmed by the glare of civilization. I stand mesmerized by the spectacle so seldom seen by city … Read more
Last Dec. 31, the crisp air at the trailhead between Leadville and Vail felt invigorating. I had been looking forward to this day since March when I’d first thrown my name into the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association’s lottery system. Because I simply filled out an application and sent in the $25 membership fee, 16 … Read more
A father with three grown children in tow waits in the ticket office next to Chair No. 20 at the Vail Cascade Resort and Spa. He is seeking ski pass information, and makes his requests with an urgent, almost frantic tone. Only two hours are left to ski that afternoon. The clerk obliges calmly and … Read more
Frisco, a mountain town 70 miles west of Denver, is called Main Street to the Rockies. It’s the gateway to four major Colorado resorts – Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin. During the 1930s’ Great Depression, Frisco nearly became a ghost town, with only 18 residents at one point. It rebounded but, not being … Read more
Packing light for a ski vacation can prove difficult, but packing right has just gotten easier, thanks to those in the know at the Winter Park-Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the obvious ski pants, coats, gloves and gear (unless you want to rent equipment at one of the rental shops in Winter … Read more
Colorado state parks don’t close just because it’s winter. They offer an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities, no matter the season. Vega State Park, about 50 miles east of Grand Junction at the northeast edge of the Grand Mesa National Forest, is one park that serves the needs of winter enthusiasts. At 8,000 feet, the … Read more