LOCAL SKI RESORTS

With four interconnected mountains, Breckenridge Ski Area serves up more than 2,000 acres of terrain striped with nearly 150 trails, from beginner slopes to grueling expert chutes. Rising from 9,600 feet at its base to 12,988 feet at its summit, the area is covered with 300 inches of snow each year and receives a trail rating of 15% beginner, 33% intermediate, 20% advanced and 32% expert. The first ski area to open its arms to snowboarders, Breckenridge boasts an extensive 25-acre terrain park that regularly hosts major competitions, including the Vans Triple Crown and the Chevy Truck US Grand Prix. The terrain park is home to a huge super-pipe with 17-foot transitions and 21-foot walls, built and maintained by the SUPERpipe DRAGON 2000 machine, one of three of its kind on the continent. In 2005 Breckenridge plans to open the Imperial Express SuperChair, a high-speed quad that will grant access to more than 400 acres of double-black-diamond terrain at the summit of Peak 8, an area formerly accessible only via a 45-minute hike. The Imperial Express will be the highest chairlift in North America, dropping skiers at an astronomical 12,840-ft. altitude. Plus Breckenridge just added a new gondola to their mountain!

Keystone Ski Area offers access to three mountains, encompassing 2,227 acres of terrain serviced by 19 lifts. All three mountains are accessible from the Keystone Village Base area. Arapahoe Basin is also just a short 10-minute shuttle ride up Loveland Pass. Keystone Mountain is known for its expert terrain, but it also offers wide trails and designated slow skiing areas, perfect for families and beginners. Rising from a base elevation of 9,280 feet to the summit at 12,200 feet, Keystone is blanketed in an average yearly snowfall of 230 inches, and receives a trail ranking of 12% beginner, 31% intermediate, 6% advanced and 51% expert. North Peak boasts steep mogul-covered runs and smooth cruisers that cater to the more-advanced skier. The Outback features gladed tree skiing to offer the adventurous intermediate and advanced skiers powder skiing long after the main runs turn to packed powder.

The oldest continually operated ski area in Colorado, Loveland is known for low lift prices, free parking, smaller crowds and Poma -- one of the highest lifts in North America. From its base at 10,600 feet to its summit at 13,010 feet, the mountain offers 60 trails on 1,365 skiable acres. With a trail rating of 17% beginner, 42% intermediate and 41% advanced, along with 400 inches of snowfall each year, Loveland offers legendary powder and thrilling runs for every ability. Riders take advantage of an extensive terrain park, as well as the aggressive steeps, bumps, glades and wide-open bowls at Loveland Basin.

Known locally as "Colorado's Perfect Ski Mountain," Copper Mountain offers 2,433 acres of terrain almost equally divided to suit skiers of every ability. Rising 9,712 feet from its base, to its summit at 12,313 feet, the mountain offers 125 trails rated 21% beginner, 25% intermediate, 36% advanced, and 18% expert. Serviced by 22 lifts, the ski area also boasts serious snowboarding terrain, known for its consistently well-maintained conditions. Copper's main terrain park Catalyst has everything from a beginner track with mini-kickers and small rails, to medium-sized kickers and jumps. Other features include giant tabletops, an 18-foot Quarter pipe, and a number of rail sections with a variety of flat, kinked and rainbow trails and boxes. Copper's mighty Superpipe weighs in at 430 feet long with 18-foot-high walls set on a 16-degree pitch. The resort also boasts a New Zaugg Pipe Monster and snowcats dedicated for use in the pipe and terrain parks only, allowing for nightly grooming if needed. Copper Mountain's FREE cat skiing on Tucker Mountain: Copper's FREE Tucker Mountain Snowcat Access is as close to a backcountry, big-mountain experience as you'll find in-bounds at any resort. During the winter season, snowcats run from 10 am – 1:30 pm daily, and Tucker Mountain closes at 2:00 pm. Cat operations, terrain openings and conditions may vary and are subject to change.