Day trip to other mountains?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Shannon on September 10, 2009 at 2:37pm

Hey Tampadude,

I live here in steamboat but spend a lot of the season at other mountains throughout the season. I've done the day trips to the other mountains, depends on the weather it is easier to plan a overnight stay, ride two days and then come back. But that's my own personal preference since driving back and forth in one day after riding all day can be tiring and the drive does require attention on the road conditions.

If weather is accomodating, it's usually a 2 hour drive to summit county resorts (Breck, Keystone, A-Basin) and 2 hours and 20 minutes to Loveland or Copper.

It's about 2 hours to Winter Park as well from Steamboat mostly from the towns you go through along the way, slower speed limits.

If you take 131, you can make it to Vail/Beaver Creek and generally that's a 2 hour drive.

Basically anytime I leave Steamboat I plan on 2 hours to I-70, give or take. If the weather is bad I've had it take 3-4 hours from summit county to get home, white-out driving, bad drivers and going really slow to make it home.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by skisteamboat on September 10, 2009 at 5:11pm

Done it many times. About the only thing to worry about besides the weather is the Elk, Deer, etc on the roads early in the morning and late in the afternoon. I once hit a cow elk and survived to tell the tale. The Jeep Grand Cherokee needed some significant repair but managed to get me back to Steamboat.

Shannon is right. It can be tiring for a one day trip but it is doable if you pace yourself and minimize apres ski until back in the 'boat. Two hours is a good estimate from Parking to Parking.

Cheers

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cary on September 27, 2009 at 12:43pm

If you want a different experience - take the morning off and have a late breakfast. Then go ski Howelsen in downtown Steamboat in the afternoon. It is only good for about two to three hours sking for most people, but then the lift tickets are like $18. Some of the smaller blacks (like Wither Chute) can actually test you. Beware of the Face. They use it for alpine race training and it can get icy. If you have kids, they will find plenty to entertain themselves. If nothing else the visit is worth the history. This has been a ski area since 1914 (I may be off a year or two), then go upstairs and visit Olympian Hall. This little ski area was and still is one of the premier training grounds for Olympic athletes. If you watch the Nordic combined events in the Olympics this year, a couple of Steamboat athletes will be among the favorites for gold.

http://steamboatsprings.net/sites/default/files/2008/01/01/howelsen...

▶ Reply to This