Woke-up to frigid Temps and an unproductive cloud-cover today. Original considerations were to go to Copper Mountain. Unfortunately, despite weather reports hinting at some sort of snowfall over Colorado, radar wasn’t showing any love for the upper-elevations. I bailed on Copper and made a mid-day trek to Keystone. This was a good opportunity to use my Epic pass. I have a tendency to be a little lackadaisical when it comes to getting to resorts where I don’t have to pay for the day. I did need to check out Keystone as it is the only Vail resort that I haven’t experienced, so I made for a 1:00 arrival.
The conditions were less than perfect, but having had 115 inches of snow for the year and a snow base that rivals big bad Blue Knob, PA, I knew what I was getting myself into. After taking the Gondola to the Top I decided to jump right into the trees off of the Mozart Trail. Ugh! Silly silly silly mistake. The lack of coverage provided plenty of opportunities for the trees, branches, and rocks to make their presence known. Eventually I made my way to the Outback and took a few laps. Conditions were a little healthier back there, but I wasn’t content. I am missing my grand Powder Day.
Keystone, as a resort is a decent little place. It is a full-on, family oriented resort. The Village is very Vail-esque; tourist-based in the middle of nowhere. The mountain does have some good sections of fun in the Outback, but unless the snow is healthy, its just not entertaining. With an annual snowfall average of 235, the snow isn’t too healthy too often. However, if you’re looking for a laid-back family get-away, Keystone is something to consider. The mountain is surprisingly large. With 3100 feet of elevation and 3100 acres of play-area, Keystone is a much less crowded option than her bigger sister, Breckenridge. Shopping and Dining options were plenty.
Tomorrow=Steamboat !
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