6 W E S T W O R D T h e E d g e W i n t e r G u i d e 2 0 2 3 - 2 4 westword.com Snowtime! HOP ON BOARD FOR A QUICK TRIP THROUGH RECENT RESORT CHANGES. BY A BIG AIL B L IS S Colorado ski resorts are expecting — and hoping — to receive above-average snowfall this season. Although there’s no guarantee, El Niño weather patterns forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- istration seem promising. Good powder pre- dictions aside, though, there are many more reasons to snag a pass and plan a trip to the high country, including several remodels and expansions. Most notably, Steamboat Ski Resort will wrap up its $220 million Full Steam Ahead redevelopment project, extending the Wild Blue Gondola from the Greenhorn Ranch learning center to the top of Sunshine Peak. Every hour, it can transport up to 10,000 guests from the base to the summit, a thir- teen-minute commute across 3.16 miles. Once complete, it will claim fame as North America’s fastest and longest ten-passenger gondola. In addition, Steamboat will open the Ma- hogany Ridge Express quad chairlift, offering access to 655 more acres of advanced and expert terrain. Featured on its updated trail map and now considered in-bounds, Fish Creek Canyon and the area previously known as Pioneer Ridge will make Steamboat the second-largest ski resort in Colorado. “To now be in the fi nal phase and see Full Steam Ahead become a reality is beyond words. Winter 2023-’24 will be a new era for the resort, but we’ll always be the same Steamboat at our roots,” says Rob Perlman, president and COO of Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. Aspen Mountain is also making a signifi - cant addition this season, its largest since 1985. The Hero’s high-speed quad will provide access to 153 acres, increasing lift-served terrain by over 20 percent. It eliminates the hike out at the base of Walsh’s, Hyrup’s and Kristi runs, and lengthens their vertical drop to 1,220 feet. Along with these established routes, Hero’s will premiere sixteen new double-black diamond chutes, three gladed areas and four intermediate cut trails. The six-person Bergman Express lift is Keystone Resort’s latest project. With its installation, no longer will skiers and riders need to earn their turns down the Bergman and Erickson bowls. The expansion covers more than 550 acres and features sixteen fresh trails for all skill levels. More good news for Epic pass holders: Breckenridge Ski Resort has updated its two- seater 5-Chair into a high-speed quad, now called Five SuperChair. The improvement will better support traffi c below Peak 8, the resort’s busiest base area, and will also pro- vide access to its large terrain park, which is moving one run over, to Freeway. Freestyle skiers will also want to head to Peak 9 this season — Breck’s medium-sized park will be set on Lower American, while its small park will remain on Eldorado, at the bottom of the Mercury Superchair. Wolf Creek Ski Area is expanding its be- ginner terrain by constructing Tumbler, a new quad lift. It will add to the Beginner Lifts package, which includes the existing Nova Chair and Lynx Lift and costs just $44 on non-peak dates. Similarly, Granby Ranch is increasing its beginner terrain via the new SunKid Covered Carpet, located between the Milestone and Conquest lifts. Two covered carpets will service the green, blue and black runs at Hoedown Hill, Colorado’s newest ski area, which is part of the Water Valley Company in Windsor. Spanning twelve acres and having a 130-foot vertical drop, Hoedown will largely cater to novice skiers and riders local to northern Colorado — an audience that back in the ’70s and ’80s frequented Greeley’s now-defunct Sharktooth Ski Area. Martin Lind, CEO of the Water Valley Company, grew up going to Sharktooth, and its accessibility inspired the new project. “Hoedown Hill will provide fun and adven- ture at an affordable price for the entire family of all ages,” he says. Also this season, Winter Park Resort will debut its six-person Wild Spur Express lift, formerly a four-passenger lift known as Pio- neer Express. When it opens in late November or early December, it will increase uphill ca- pacity by more than 40 percent, transporting 2,800 guests per hour. It also features a new mid-point loading zone, meaning more laps on Vasquez Ridge’s intermediate and advanced upper trails. Even better, the top of the Wild Spur Express lift will feature on-mountain dining from four new pop-ups serving grilled cheese, Philly cheesesteaks, walking tacos and quesa- dillas. These dining spots will also appear at the top of the Super Gauge lift, the Mary Jane base area and the bottom of the Olympia lift. Copper Mountain is introducing a mid-mountain, full-service restaurant: Forage and Feast. Its Colorado-inspired cuisine will be served within the new 25,000-square-foot Aerie lodge, complete with a bar, lounge and private event space. It will replace Solitude Station at the top of the American Eagle lift, which unloads on the Aerie’s second-fl oor deck. Purgatory Resort has also updated its on-mountain eatery, Dante’s Lodge, installing LED lights and Dyson hand dryers that have helped to make the establishment almost entirely paper-free. It has also invested in low-energy solutions to snowmaking, ef- Winter Guide is published by Westword, 1278 Lincoln Street, Denver, CO 80203; the contents are copyright 2023 by Voice Media Group. CURTIS DEVORE FOR COPPER MOUNTAIN continued on page 8 Off the Slopes EIGHT WAYS TO ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS. BY ABIGAIL BLISS PAGE 14 Cold Comforts EIGHT WAYS TO CHILL IN METRO DENVER. BY ABIGAIL BLISS PAGE 16 ’Tis the Season DOZENS OF HOLIDAY EVENTS AND MARKETS TO EXPLORE. PAGE 18
