Keystone, CO
Keystone, CO is often in competition with Araphoe Basin (A-Basin) for which is the first ski resort to open for the USA ski season. So with this bold claim of typically opening sometime in October I booked a trip for Late November. The weather gods weren’t shining on me. Twenty-seventeen was possibly the worst snow season Colorado has ever had. I even started planning alternative activities to do while I was there instead of skiing. Luckily enough snow fell in the days before my arrival to continue with the ski trip. My plan was to ski at Keystone for 3 days and A-Basin for 3 days.
The Mountain
My accommodation was at Alpine Slopes Lodge. I selected this due to the cheap price, and proximity to the shuttle bus stops. It’s a long walk, but it’s possible to walk to River Run Gondola. Since there was only 5” of natural snowfall when I arrived, the only two lifts running were River Run Gondola and Montezuma Express. The only run available was Schoomarm to Silver Spoon to Last Chance. At least it was a long run, but the Montezuma lift line was 45 minutes long. The views from Summit House at an elevation of 3,493 m (11,460 ft) were incredible. Sadly I can’t recommend any feedback on the trails here, other than to say don’t take the early season risk and visit in January when it’s fully open instead.
Speaking to people on the lifts that were skiing at A-Basin I determined that it wasn’t worth going over there as they had even less open, and were busier. I used all four of my lift passes at Keystone. Having the Max Pass as well did three days at Copper Mountain.
The Area
The free Summit County bus was a great way to move around without a car. Here I could move between Keystone to Dillon, Silverthorne, Copper and Arapahoe Basin. I did my grocery shopping in Dillon at City Market. Silverthorne has outlet shopping, the prices weren’t that cheap. I needed goggles that didn’t fog and found some cheap ones at Mountain Sport Outlet.
Food and Drink
Eating out in Keystone is slim pickings, but I had a good time at Goat Soup and Whiskey. The first night I went there I carved myself a stool at the bar and enjoyed listening to some early 00’s electronic music. Not something I’d expected in the West. The second time I went I think it was business as usual on the music choice. With the altitude here at 2796 m (9,173 ft), drinking alcohol was frugal. The altitude reduces alcohol tolerance. Not far from Goat is Pizza101. Here I ordered pizzas to take back home to eat, but I remember hearing Goat isn’t fazed if you bring the pizzas in and grab some beers to wash them down. But I could have had too many altitude beers and got that wrong.
November, 2016
