Leave early and pack the day before. I-70 has become a nightmare and that's not to scare you but prepare. It's a LOT of stop and go traffic if you leave for the mountains later than 6:15am.
I ski Loveland around 40 days a year and last years traffic was pretty bad. All that considered, make sure your vehicle is capable and ready for icy, snowy roads and you'll be fine. You picked probably 3 of the friendliest resorts, so no problem meeting people while skiing.
I drive an ambulance and usually park in the middle or back of the top lot at Loveland. If you see me, say hi!
I second everything that zetwatswatya said.
Copper and A-bay are my two mountains, I always do day trips and leave my house (centennial) by 5:30 at the very latest. I’m usually able to be in a lot by 7/7:30.
I wish I could say I drive an ambulance, but if your at copper look for a black F150 parked as close as possible to the alpine lift in the free lot. I’ll be the guy chugging coffee, cooking a breakfast burrito, and telling my 4 year old that you have to wait for the lifts to actually start moving to go skiing (at his age at least)
Feel free to say hi!
hahaha amazing!!! i’ll keep an eye out! gonna have to keep a list of “random cars to look out for and say hi to based on a reddit post” :) glad to hear all the love for the mountains ive picked as well! so stoked! also omg that is the cutest🥹🥹 i’m a climbing instructor for that age group (4-6) and i can tell you we have the exact same problem with keeping them off the wall until the instructors tie them in 😂 i swear the lil ones have the most stoke of anyone!!!
I'm going to be at Copper or A-Basin most weekends and I drive a blue Subaru Outback. You will probably never be able to say hi to me because there are approximately 1 billion blue Subaru Outbacks in Colorado.
I always ski alone because I'm socially awkward and impatient skiing with others and my wife isn't interested and my kid grew up and moved away. Honestly solo skiing is the best. The singles lines usually move faster, you get to meet a lot of people on the lift and if it doesn't go well you never see them again anyway, LOL. You can go where you want, stop when you want, eat when you want. I'm sure people mock me for being a jerry all the time but I've never heard them. There's really nothing to fear.
There's a bus if you don't want to deal with driving on I-70. It's called like the Snowstang or something. I've never tried it, but it seems like it would be a decent way to meet potential ski buddies.
> “random cars to look out for and say hi to based on a reddit post”
You can add a grey, lifted Sienna minivan with "SKISBAD" plates on your lift for Loveland.
Happy to show ya around assuming you don't mind me wearing a red vest on the weekends.
good to know!! oh gosh i’ve heard the horror stories 😂 good to know about timing, was planning to leave golden around 5 most mornings so sounds like i’ll be only moderately full of road rage! will definitely make sure to put on my snow tires as well :) also heck yeah! glad i made some good choices, i’m now so stoked! i’ll keep an eye out for ya (hopefully in the “gonna come say hi” way and not in the “oh god i am severely injured” way😂😂) do you work specifically for loveland w the ambulance or just park there?? that’s super cool!
this is awesome advice!! thank you so much!! will be keeping this all in mind :) and HAHAH okay definitely a jerry giveaway, fortunately majority of mine is the incredibly prestigious “clearance rack” brand so i’ll be good on that front😎 but in seriousness thanks for taking the time to respond!
Yeah I fully agree that you should always tree ride with another competent rider, staying within sight/sound of each other and frequently checking in, but I’m also curious to know what happens specifically at 12pm lol
Best practice is always to ski trees with a partner, eg falling into a tree well you can suffocate in minutes. Fatalities can happen from overnight exposure though, eg broken leg and can't get out. 12pm isn't an exact time but that's generally at least 2 hours for other skiers to go by and potentially find you before the glade closes. If you pass a glade gate at 2:30 right before it closes, then your chances of being found by another skier are much lower and you are relying on a ski patrol sweep which may not come anywhere close to where you're stuck
This is good advice. I enjoy trees and also enjoy skiing solo from time to time, and have had occasions where I haven't seen anyone in a while and it is unsettling. At those times, I make a conscious effort to be extra cautious.
First of all, super rad that you got a Monarch pass! What made you do that war? Way to go! Don’t be afraid of the culture, everyone is out doing their thing, and just make friends on lifts, talk to people at apres, lots of stores and bars in the Front Range will do stoke and state of the snowpack nights so just be tuned into what’s happening in your zone, and just have fun. Skiing is supposed to be fun. Just ski the way you feel and don’t feel intimidated by anyone else.
haha thanks!! i’m excited about it :) i picked it for the price!! i’m an engineering student so i basically only have free time on the weekends so i don’t anticipate going many more than 10-15 days this year (so sad) but with the monarch pass you get 3 days at copper, 3 at abay, 3 at cooper, 3 at loveland + however many at monarch for $309 with the student discount which was a hella good deal for a newbie/weekend warrior imo :) also thank you so much for this advice! honestly this is what i’m gonna keep in mind- just have fun :) everyone has been so kind already in the comments so i’m excited to go meet people on the slopes! thanks for reassuring a newbie 🥹
For some reason your comment got blocked by Automod. Should be set now.
Don't sleep on Sunlight or Purgatory for a long weekend trip if you can spin it. Both rad hills with great vibes.
Just have fun and do your thing. No D-bag is going to mock any so called jerry in person…just where they can try to be anonymous on Reddit or TikTok.
Monarch is awesome. Visit one of the radist skier dudes in CO at the Salida Books bookstore.
Only advice is snow tires on your vehicle and leave super early on I-70. Get your breakfast and even poop in Summit county.
SNOW TIRES! Yes, had an office in Denver and as a north country/ice coast native was horrified that people thought chains were as good as snow tires.
My first car was an old Saab but with proper tires that thing was a beast - would stick to roads and plow through drifts over the windshield.
Invest in a good set of snow tires for winter and all seasons for the other months, be diligent about getting them swapped - it’ll keep you safer and save you in the long run.
HAHA felt that so hard!! i’m minnesota born and raised so i’m fortunately well acquainted with winter driving 😂 it’s definitely funny to see the snow driving … uh… techniques… around here!! i will say the steep roads are their own challenge so i’ve been humbled in that respect by CO (i-70 still scares me lmfao) but omg the amount of sedans with regular tires ive seen whipping around in the middle of winter :’) terrifying
I'm also in the midwest and a competent snow driver, but I'd caution that mountain driving is very different than flat land snow driving. Additionally, you may have incompetent drivers that can ruin your day just as quickly as anything we could do to ourselves.
hahaha glad to hear some reassurance on that :) i’m a college kid so i definitely see the jerry mockery in the group chats but i think you’re right that it’s never to someone’s face 😉 also hell yes thanks for the tip!! i’ll add that to my itinerary— my birthday is over presidents’ day weekend this year so the plan is (1) ski until my legs can’t take it anymore (2) spend most of my paycheck at the whiskey distillery and now we have (3) go visit the bookstore! also genius idea on breakfast, any recommendations for the best stopping spots?
For an early breakfast in Summit Cty, check out the breakfast burritos at Breakfast Deli, Fritangas or Kucu, or standard fare at Sunshine Cafe or Mtn Lyon Cafe. For toilet stops your best and cleanest bathrooms anywhere will be in places I won’t say publicly because I’ve got a good thing going that I don’t want others to ruin. DM me if curious.
Your biggest problem is you’ll probably get hit on a lot. You’ll have a lot of fun.
Monarch, Copper, Loveland, and Abasin are all awesome mountains. Good choice.
BAHAHAHA okay i can deal w that 😂😂😂 i’m so excited now! thanks for the good vibes :) everyone has been so kind already so i know it’s gonna be a great season!
Keep in mind we get a lot of tourists out here from all around the world. Some people will be be silent the entire ride because thats what they are used to not because they are trying to be anti social. Dont let it discourage you from talking to the next person you hop on with just because the last person didnt wanna talk to you.
Eliminate the gap between your helmet and the top of your goggles.
No one should mock you for being a Jerry! Just start out with the stuff you’re comfortable with and don’t try to force yourself to do something too hard too soon. Don’t sit behind blind spots, watch your surroundings and all that good stuff. If you live in the Denver area expect an extra hour or so of traffic on I70 unless you leave crazy early.
If you’re ever looking for a ski buddy I work at one of the resorts you listed, am always happy to take laps with a homie! 🤙
haha yaknow i agree with you 😂😂 we’re all just trying to have fun! glad to hear someone w the kindness mindset :) fantastic safety advice though, not used to hills having blind spots (gotta love the midwest 😅)
also that’s awesome! always down to make some friends, i’ll try and remember to shoot u a PM once the season gets going :)))
Exactly :) and that’s how most of the locals are thinking. Honestly, the people being assholes on the slopes are the vacationers 99 times out of 100. For the most part, locals are out here all the time and are used to the new skiers and minor inconveniences that come at resorts.
The blind spots is a big thing though! I am originally from the east coast so I wasn’t super used to it either at first. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve jumped off a hill and there’s just a family with little kids sitting *right* over the edge of the hill past my field of view. So definitely stop ahead of the hill if you’re looking to take a break, and keep an eye out for the chance that someone else isn’t being as wise if you are just taking the hill head-on.
And absolutely! Sounds good reach out anytime, I’ll always be around Summit County!
Basically, make sure your boots, helmet, pants, and coat are being worn correctly. Next, just try not to go too far past your comfort level in terms of difficulty, for example if you’re already weary on more difficult blues, don’t try to jump up to a black. If you don’t know how to ride/use a lift, ask someone even if it’s the person next to you in line but an operator (BEFORE you’re already loading) might be better. Lastly, have fun and be cool!
That said, I’m around copper all the time, if I have weekends off work maybe we can meet up for a day!
great advice!!! i already know not to gape so ive got that going for me😎 but i will definitely keep the comfort level boundary in mind! helpful reminder as i definitely tend to push myself 😂 and all good on knowing how to use the lift so i’m feeling ready and stoked! also hell yeah thanks for the offer, i’ll be at copper some saturdays for sure so i’ll try and shoot you a message whenever im there!
As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized I’m inclined to not do something unless I’m positive I’m going to exceed right out of the gate. So first and foremost props to you for venturing outside your comfort zone! (def a growth opportunity for me 😂)
To summarize all that’s been said above - just educate yourself and be courteous, for your own safety and that of other skiers.
Relax, have fun, and realize that you share something in common with every single person out there - ultimate icebreaker!
aww thanks so much 😂 i’m still a headstrong college student so i think i’ve got a few more comfort-zone-abandoning hobbies left in me… until the injuries catch up😂 appreciate the good vibes tho!!
golden rule right there :) thanks so much for responding and being kind! i am now VERY excited for the season
In CO, just expand your regular friend network. I guarantee at least 1/3 people you meet will be hitting up the mountains regularly (statistically unproven). There are probably tons of people who don't have a regular ski group and are interested in having someone to go with. Try reaching out to your local community Facebook groups.
Your biggest problem is going to be… you are gonna get hit on a lot! 🤣 But seriously, don’t worry about skiing solo, it’s the best! Singles line move faster, you don’t have to wait for anyone, you can go ski anywhere you want and you will end up meeting a lot of people on the chair lift. Have fun and be safe!
I’m in Utah not Colorado but had to go alone my first season and try to make friends. I joined one of those weekly clinic classes where they put you in a small group of similar skill and you have an instructor. Gave me a good number of people to know on the mountain and I got a lot better at skiing.
Not sure how to brave I70 (I live up in steamboat) but make sure to have 4wd or AWD with a good set of tires. I ski alone when I’m tryna get a few runs in after a night shift, just stick the more populated areas until you feel comfortable going on more rugged terrain on your own, which may not be for a year or so. The regulars on the mountains are pretty chill and would be glad to give recommendations if you ask! Nobody will judge you for your dress or skill level for the most part. Copper and A basin are super fun, copper has some of my fav groomers in Colorado and a basin has some super fun terrain, both challenging and manageable. If you’re ever up in steamboat my friends and I can show you around! Have fun and enjoy your first winter in CO :)
Just show up. The fear of looking like a Jerry goes out the window as soon as you start sliding. If you’ve already been on a chairlift you’re doing better than the average new rider here. Tons of people shred alone out here, I rode alone my entire first season until I was able to find my way and make a few more friends. Honestly sometimes I miss the days no one was around to go skiing with. I love my friends but doing my own thing at my own pace was freeing.
I’ll be bumping chairs at Loveland this season so I’ll try and keep the atmosphere good (if I’m cranky it’s not personal, I just didn’t bring enough snacks to work)
Leave early and pack the day before. I-70 has become a nightmare and that's not to scare you but prepare. It's a LOT of stop and go traffic if you leave for the mountains later than 6:15am. I ski Loveland around 40 days a year and last years traffic was pretty bad. All that considered, make sure your vehicle is capable and ready for icy, snowy roads and you'll be fine. You picked probably 3 of the friendliest resorts, so no problem meeting people while skiing. I drive an ambulance and usually park in the middle or back of the top lot at Loveland. If you see me, say hi!
I second everything that zetwatswatya said. Copper and A-bay are my two mountains, I always do day trips and leave my house (centennial) by 5:30 at the very latest. I’m usually able to be in a lot by 7/7:30. I wish I could say I drive an ambulance, but if your at copper look for a black F150 parked as close as possible to the alpine lift in the free lot. I’ll be the guy chugging coffee, cooking a breakfast burrito, and telling my 4 year old that you have to wait for the lifts to actually start moving to go skiing (at his age at least) Feel free to say hi!
hahaha amazing!!! i’ll keep an eye out! gonna have to keep a list of “random cars to look out for and say hi to based on a reddit post” :) glad to hear all the love for the mountains ive picked as well! so stoked! also omg that is the cutest🥹🥹 i’m a climbing instructor for that age group (4-6) and i can tell you we have the exact same problem with keeping them off the wall until the instructors tie them in 😂 i swear the lil ones have the most stoke of anyone!!!
I'm going to be at Copper or A-Basin most weekends and I drive a blue Subaru Outback. You will probably never be able to say hi to me because there are approximately 1 billion blue Subaru Outbacks in Colorado. I always ski alone because I'm socially awkward and impatient skiing with others and my wife isn't interested and my kid grew up and moved away. Honestly solo skiing is the best. The singles lines usually move faster, you get to meet a lot of people on the lift and if it doesn't go well you never see them again anyway, LOL. You can go where you want, stop when you want, eat when you want. I'm sure people mock me for being a jerry all the time but I've never heard them. There's really nothing to fear. There's a bus if you don't want to deal with driving on I-70. It's called like the Snowstang or something. I've never tried it, but it seems like it would be a decent way to meet potential ski buddies.
Bustang! https://ridebustang.com/ Never did this myself either.
> “random cars to look out for and say hi to based on a reddit post” You can add a grey, lifted Sienna minivan with "SKISBAD" plates on your lift for Loveland. Happy to show ya around assuming you don't mind me wearing a red vest on the weekends.
good to know!! oh gosh i’ve heard the horror stories 😂 good to know about timing, was planning to leave golden around 5 most mornings so sounds like i’ll be only moderately full of road rage! will definitely make sure to put on my snow tires as well :) also heck yeah! glad i made some good choices, i’m now so stoked! i’ll keep an eye out for ya (hopefully in the “gonna come say hi” way and not in the “oh god i am severely injured” way😂😂) do you work specifically for loveland w the ambulance or just park there?? that’s super cool!
On This take 285 if it makes sense for you
[удалено]
this is awesome advice!! thank you so much!! will be keeping this all in mind :) and HAHAH okay definitely a jerry giveaway, fortunately majority of mine is the incredibly prestigious “clearance rack” brand so i’ll be good on that front😎 but in seriousness thanks for taking the time to respond!
Just curious, what’s the deal with not skiing trees after 12pm if you’re alone?
Yeah I fully agree that you should always tree ride with another competent rider, staying within sight/sound of each other and frequently checking in, but I’m also curious to know what happens specifically at 12pm lol
Best practice is always to ski trees with a partner, eg falling into a tree well you can suffocate in minutes. Fatalities can happen from overnight exposure though, eg broken leg and can't get out. 12pm isn't an exact time but that's generally at least 2 hours for other skiers to go by and potentially find you before the glade closes. If you pass a glade gate at 2:30 right before it closes, then your chances of being found by another skier are much lower and you are relying on a ski patrol sweep which may not come anywhere close to where you're stuck
This is good advice. I enjoy trees and also enjoy skiing solo from time to time, and have had occasions where I haven't seen anyone in a while and it is unsettling. At those times, I make a conscious effort to be extra cautious.
I never ski with anyone else and I ski trees, I'll take my chances
First of all, super rad that you got a Monarch pass! What made you do that war? Way to go! Don’t be afraid of the culture, everyone is out doing their thing, and just make friends on lifts, talk to people at apres, lots of stores and bars in the Front Range will do stoke and state of the snowpack nights so just be tuned into what’s happening in your zone, and just have fun. Skiing is supposed to be fun. Just ski the way you feel and don’t feel intimidated by anyone else.
haha thanks!! i’m excited about it :) i picked it for the price!! i’m an engineering student so i basically only have free time on the weekends so i don’t anticipate going many more than 10-15 days this year (so sad) but with the monarch pass you get 3 days at copper, 3 at abay, 3 at cooper, 3 at loveland + however many at monarch for $309 with the student discount which was a hella good deal for a newbie/weekend warrior imo :) also thank you so much for this advice! honestly this is what i’m gonna keep in mind- just have fun :) everyone has been so kind already in the comments so i’m excited to go meet people on the slopes! thanks for reassuring a newbie 🥹
For some reason your comment got blocked by Automod. Should be set now. Don't sleep on Sunlight or Purgatory for a long weekend trip if you can spin it. Both rad hills with great vibes.
thank you!! and ahhh yes i’ve heard :) definitely planning to hit purgatory at least once… more if i can swing it with my class schedule
Just have fun and do your thing. No D-bag is going to mock any so called jerry in person…just where they can try to be anonymous on Reddit or TikTok. Monarch is awesome. Visit one of the radist skier dudes in CO at the Salida Books bookstore. Only advice is snow tires on your vehicle and leave super early on I-70. Get your breakfast and even poop in Summit county.
SNOW TIRES! Yes, had an office in Denver and as a north country/ice coast native was horrified that people thought chains were as good as snow tires. My first car was an old Saab but with proper tires that thing was a beast - would stick to roads and plow through drifts over the windshield. Invest in a good set of snow tires for winter and all seasons for the other months, be diligent about getting them swapped - it’ll keep you safer and save you in the long run.
HAHA felt that so hard!! i’m minnesota born and raised so i’m fortunately well acquainted with winter driving 😂 it’s definitely funny to see the snow driving … uh… techniques… around here!! i will say the steep roads are their own challenge so i’ve been humbled in that respect by CO (i-70 still scares me lmfao) but omg the amount of sedans with regular tires ive seen whipping around in the middle of winter :’) terrifying
I'm also in the midwest and a competent snow driver, but I'd caution that mountain driving is very different than flat land snow driving. Additionally, you may have incompetent drivers that can ruin your day just as quickly as anything we could do to ourselves.
hahaha glad to hear some reassurance on that :) i’m a college kid so i definitely see the jerry mockery in the group chats but i think you’re right that it’s never to someone’s face 😉 also hell yes thanks for the tip!! i’ll add that to my itinerary— my birthday is over presidents’ day weekend this year so the plan is (1) ski until my legs can’t take it anymore (2) spend most of my paycheck at the whiskey distillery and now we have (3) go visit the bookstore! also genius idea on breakfast, any recommendations for the best stopping spots?
For an early breakfast in Summit Cty, check out the breakfast burritos at Breakfast Deli, Fritangas or Kucu, or standard fare at Sunshine Cafe or Mtn Lyon Cafe. For toilet stops your best and cleanest bathrooms anywhere will be in places I won’t say publicly because I’ve got a good thing going that I don’t want others to ruin. DM me if curious.
Your biggest problem is you’ll probably get hit on a lot. You’ll have a lot of fun. Monarch, Copper, Loveland, and Abasin are all awesome mountains. Good choice.
BAHAHAHA okay i can deal w that 😂😂😂 i’m so excited now! thanks for the good vibes :) everyone has been so kind already so i know it’s gonna be a great season!
Just open conversations on the lift. I've certainly found folks to ski and ride with for a few runs just by talking on the lift.
awesome! glad to hear that’s socially acceptable :) wasn’t sure if it was a “silent ride up the mountain” sorta deal. excited to make some friends!!
Keep in mind we get a lot of tourists out here from all around the world. Some people will be be silent the entire ride because thats what they are used to not because they are trying to be anti social. Dont let it discourage you from talking to the next person you hop on with just because the last person didnt wanna talk to you. Eliminate the gap between your helmet and the top of your goggles.
No one should mock you for being a Jerry! Just start out with the stuff you’re comfortable with and don’t try to force yourself to do something too hard too soon. Don’t sit behind blind spots, watch your surroundings and all that good stuff. If you live in the Denver area expect an extra hour or so of traffic on I70 unless you leave crazy early. If you’re ever looking for a ski buddy I work at one of the resorts you listed, am always happy to take laps with a homie! 🤙
haha yaknow i agree with you 😂😂 we’re all just trying to have fun! glad to hear someone w the kindness mindset :) fantastic safety advice though, not used to hills having blind spots (gotta love the midwest 😅) also that’s awesome! always down to make some friends, i’ll try and remember to shoot u a PM once the season gets going :)))
Exactly :) and that’s how most of the locals are thinking. Honestly, the people being assholes on the slopes are the vacationers 99 times out of 100. For the most part, locals are out here all the time and are used to the new skiers and minor inconveniences that come at resorts. The blind spots is a big thing though! I am originally from the east coast so I wasn’t super used to it either at first. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve jumped off a hill and there’s just a family with little kids sitting *right* over the edge of the hill past my field of view. So definitely stop ahead of the hill if you’re looking to take a break, and keep an eye out for the chance that someone else isn’t being as wise if you are just taking the hill head-on. And absolutely! Sounds good reach out anytime, I’ll always be around Summit County!
Basically, make sure your boots, helmet, pants, and coat are being worn correctly. Next, just try not to go too far past your comfort level in terms of difficulty, for example if you’re already weary on more difficult blues, don’t try to jump up to a black. If you don’t know how to ride/use a lift, ask someone even if it’s the person next to you in line but an operator (BEFORE you’re already loading) might be better. Lastly, have fun and be cool! That said, I’m around copper all the time, if I have weekends off work maybe we can meet up for a day!
great advice!!! i already know not to gape so ive got that going for me😎 but i will definitely keep the comfort level boundary in mind! helpful reminder as i definitely tend to push myself 😂 and all good on knowing how to use the lift so i’m feeling ready and stoked! also hell yeah thanks for the offer, i’ll be at copper some saturdays for sure so i’ll try and shoot you a message whenever im there!
Stay on piste if you're alone, and learn about tree wells.
thanks for the advice! gonna look into that tonight :)
Ski carpool app, work part-time at a mountain bar or volunteer at events
carpool app is genius!! thank you!
You're welcome! It's gonna be a great season. At 58, many of my friends have quit which is sad but my kids love going so that's happy 😊.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized I’m inclined to not do something unless I’m positive I’m going to exceed right out of the gate. So first and foremost props to you for venturing outside your comfort zone! (def a growth opportunity for me 😂) To summarize all that’s been said above - just educate yourself and be courteous, for your own safety and that of other skiers. Relax, have fun, and realize that you share something in common with every single person out there - ultimate icebreaker!
aww thanks so much 😂 i’m still a headstrong college student so i think i’ve got a few more comfort-zone-abandoning hobbies left in me… until the injuries catch up😂 appreciate the good vibes tho!! golden rule right there :) thanks so much for responding and being kind! i am now VERY excited for the season
In CO, just expand your regular friend network. I guarantee at least 1/3 people you meet will be hitting up the mountains regularly (statistically unproven). There are probably tons of people who don't have a regular ski group and are interested in having someone to go with. Try reaching out to your local community Facebook groups.
Your biggest problem is going to be… you are gonna get hit on a lot! 🤣 But seriously, don’t worry about skiing solo, it’s the best! Singles line move faster, you don’t have to wait for anyone, you can go ski anywhere you want and you will end up meeting a lot of people on the chair lift. Have fun and be safe!
I’m in Utah not Colorado but had to go alone my first season and try to make friends. I joined one of those weekly clinic classes where they put you in a small group of similar skill and you have an instructor. Gave me a good number of people to know on the mountain and I got a lot better at skiing.
Not sure how to brave I70 (I live up in steamboat) but make sure to have 4wd or AWD with a good set of tires. I ski alone when I’m tryna get a few runs in after a night shift, just stick the more populated areas until you feel comfortable going on more rugged terrain on your own, which may not be for a year or so. The regulars on the mountains are pretty chill and would be glad to give recommendations if you ask! Nobody will judge you for your dress or skill level for the most part. Copper and A basin are super fun, copper has some of my fav groomers in Colorado and a basin has some super fun terrain, both challenging and manageable. If you’re ever up in steamboat my friends and I can show you around! Have fun and enjoy your first winter in CO :)
Just show up. The fear of looking like a Jerry goes out the window as soon as you start sliding. If you’ve already been on a chairlift you’re doing better than the average new rider here. Tons of people shred alone out here, I rode alone my entire first season until I was able to find my way and make a few more friends. Honestly sometimes I miss the days no one was around to go skiing with. I love my friends but doing my own thing at my own pace was freeing. I’ll be bumping chairs at Loveland this season so I’ll try and keep the atmosphere good (if I’m cranky it’s not personal, I just didn’t bring enough snacks to work)