2018.02.11 Loveland

Loveland is a local’s destination. People from out of state go to Breck or Vail, many to Copper (like us). But Loveland is known as a site to see along I-70. It spans both sides of the highway, with a tunnel to ski back from the other side. It’s right on top of the tunnel. Very cool to see, but not a mega-resort. In fact, good old-fashioned Colorado skiing is part of its charm. Until recently, they had zero high-speed lifts (all the old-fashioned fixed-grip style. I think they’ve added a high-speed in recent years)

But what Loveland lacks in lift tech, it more than makes up for with cat rides. This is the only Colorado destination where one can get over 13k ft without hiking. Nearby-by mega-resort Breckenridge has high-speed Imperial lift up to 12,840 ft.

The Loveland bowls offer some of the most accessible terrain above the tree-line, and some of the most vertical rise above the tree-line. One can go this high at A-Basin with a hella strenuous up-hill hike, with nothing but hazardous rocky chutes to get back down. But Loveland has many acres of wide-open blue and single-diamond terrain high above the tree-line, even when the cats are not running.

Even the cats at Copper don’t go this high, leaving a significant hike to the peak.

The downside: because it rises to high along the spine of the divide, there are not many near-by peaks to block the wind. High points at Loveland are often blown-off hard pack. Like a pig in mud for an eastern skier

N.B. get in line early to sign the waiver and get the pass to board the cat (not necessary at Copper)