re: 2020-2021 ski thread

Read through this thread and there is definitely good info. I’m looking to take my wife skiing in February or March and she’s never been. Never even seen a mountain, never been out west. I’ve been many times growing up with my family but have never planned (or paid for!) a trip myself.

I’ve read various reviews online trying to research but it’s so hard to tell what’s legit. What do y’all recommend that’s a good place but “affordable” and good for a new skier to learn and get hooked? I’ve been to Breckenridge, steamboat and telluride. Those are probably not in the “affordable” range

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I’ve read various reviews online trying to research but it’s so hard to tell what’s legit. What do y’all recommend that’s a good place but “affordable” and good for a new skier to learn and get hooked? I’ve been to Breckenridge, steamboat and telluride. Those are probably not in the “affordable” range 

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Breck is beginner central. Not sure where may be more in the budget category. Maybe Taos, NM?

Beginner friendly with good access I say keystone or breck. More affordable between those goes to keystone.

This is not an affordable vacation, so just keep that in mind. Meals at your condo and sandwiches in your pocket on the mountain go a long way if you’re on a budget.

Thanks for the responses, I’ve been researching more this morning based on what y’all said.

Fake powder day here at crystal, really coming down now

Did Crested Butte add some trails this year? This year it list 160 trails on webpage, and I counted 160 different trails. In the past, it's only been around 120 I believe.

While I found the 20-21 winter trail map, I do not see any new territory.

Going later this week!

It does seem like they opened access to a new bowl area, but I don’t think there are any new trails per se.

Great weekend up there. Powder was real.

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CB is worth the trip, no question.

Personally for me I find it to be a total package. It’s not ritzy summit county. It’s a legit mountain town with a legit mountain.

Mountain wise I put it more balanced than any other mountain really. In a sense that the beginner areas are legit beginner and the expert areas are expert through and through.

For example, I consider myself advanced, and I can ski basically everything on keystone without issue. That said, CB has some shite I won’t even look at.

Crowds are fairly tame at CB. Lift lines can get backed up but just like the others in my opinion. Places to eat are only a handful, but all incredibly reasonably priced compared to bigger resorts.

I really enjoy CB because of its off the grid nature. Take the bus into the town, hit the saloon and public house for drinks and dinner. Grab some mini donuts and head back up the mountain on the bus. I think bigger resorts like Keystone, Breck, Vail etc leave much to be desired if you’re looking for an off radar low key weekend. Yea, you have great spa options and tapas restaurants if that’s your thing, but I like coming down the mountain and slamming 2 PBRs with a shot of bourbon with some tacos and only spending $25.

We already booked a bigger place for later this season to go back to CB with a bigger group.

+1 for CB. It’s a true hidden gem that hasn’t been built up with a huge infrastructure yet. True mountain town.