Plan for a Ski Trip to Colorado



Going on a ski trip to the Rocky Mountains can be an exciting, fun adventure. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a rookie, this how to will help you plan your trip correctly and hopefully help you avoid any problems.

Steps

  1. Decide who will be going with you and invite them along on the trip you are planning.
  2. Decide how long of a trip that you want. This can be influenced by how much money you are willing to spend and the availability of those going on the trip.
  3. Choose in season dates for the trip which will work for everyone who is going on the trip. The ski season ranges from mid-October to July 1st.
  4. Decide how many days you want to be gone on the trip.
  5. Consider what kind of ski resort you and your party want to ski at.
      • The big resorts offer many accommodations to their guests and have more trails that are longer and usually have faster lifts than smaller resorts. There is a good selection of groomed and non-groomed ski runs as well as multiple mountains for those looking for more variety in their skiing experience.
      • The smaller resorts often are less busy than large resorts such as Monarch and Ski Cooper. Smaller resorts may be considered if you are looking for a calmer, more relaxing atmosphere and fewer crowds while skiing.
  6. Find what specific resort or resorts you will be skiing at. After considering the following, you should have the resort or resorts that work best for you picked out.
    1. Look at the different locations of the ski resorts you are considering on a map to see if any are near each other. For instance, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Copper mountain ski resorts are only about 20 minutes from each other.
    2. It helps to look at resort websites to see what they have to offer and if there are any special deals. Follow one of the external links below to look at particular ski resorts.
    3. Choose a resort that fits you and your plans. If there are beginners in the group you may want to make sure the ski school lessons fit into your schedule and budget.
    4. Check out the vertical drop of the resort. Many resorts post this on their website. Vertical drop indicates, in general, how long your ski runs will be.
    5. After considering all of these things, you should have a resort or some specific resorts that you want to ski at
  7. Make reservations for your lodging. You and your party need to decide where you are staying during your ski trip. Choose between the following.
      • Staying at the ski resort is a great option and advantages are numerous. After a day of skiing all you have to do is go back to your place and relax. You can leave some of your gear at the condo and can stop back there for breaks, such as lunch. You will be able to go to the condo at your convenience.
      • Staying further from the ski resort will usually save you money. You might also be closer to entertainment and shopping centers or perhaps you could be in a more secluded area. The disadvantages of staying further away is that you will be further from the resort, which will add the hassle of getting to the ski slope with all of your equipment and you will need to have a car, or be near a bus station to get to the resort.
  8. Find a hotel or condo location and book a reservation, either online or on the phone.
      • If you want lodging at the slope, you will usually have to go through the resort to book the reservations. Find the website for the resort and look at different lodging options. When you are happy with what you found, book it with a credit card and make sure it gets paid for in full when it is due.
      • If you chose to stay off the slope you should go through a company that will rent you a condo or hotel. Go on the internet, then move to a search engine and type the “Ski resort name” followed by “lodging.” When you look through the results look at several of the links that you have. Pick any options that you like and call about them. When you are happy with something you found, book it with a credit card and make sure it gets paid for in full when it is due.
  9. Make any other reservations you feel that you need to make for your trip.
  10. Two weeks before the trip,
      • Decide on what vehicles will be taken.
      • Decide at approximately what time you will be leaving.
  11. One night or two before leaving on the trip, pack your clothes and equipment. Remember to pack enough clothes for two days more than you plan to be on the trip. A list of some of the equipment and clothes you might need to bring is listed in the Things You'll Need section below.
  12. load vehicle.
    1. Load the skis, in the vehicle, or attach them to the top of the vehicle on a roof/carriage rack.
    2. Load the poles into the vehicle.
    3. Load largest suitcases in vehicle.
    4. Load the ski boots.
    5. Load smaller more expendable suitcases around larger ones.
    6. On very top, store smaller coolers that would contain food/snacks that might be needed along the road trip.
  13. On the day of the trip before you leave do one last check to make sure you're not missing anything, then enjoy your trip!



Tips

  • If you make other reservations in advance, such as ski school reservations, ski rental reservations and lift ticket reservations, you may be able to save some money!
  • If you book through a company, make sure that they seem trustworthy and reliable
  • 2 weeks before the trip, make sure that your reservations to your destination are still correct.
  • If you are going to a higher altitude be sure to drink plenty of water to help avoid altitude sickness.
  • Make sure you have extra money with you. Who knows when you will need it.
  • Remember to pack with others in mind. You don’t want to take up the entire vehicle with all of your gear.
  • Remember to have directions and a map to the ski resort before you leave on your trip.
  • Make sure you bring a little extra gear such as two hats, or two sets of gloves in case you lose something.
  • Make absolutely sure to pack any sort of health related essential items (braces, medication, first aid, etc.)

Warnings

  • Know where you are supposed to check in before you leave on the trip!
  • Allow for a little extra road time, sometimes weather in the mountains is rough and you may need to take extra time to get to your destination. (Contact the local DOT most areas have road closure reports in real time.)

Things You'll Need

  • Remember to bring the following
    • Ski Socks and essential undergarments
    • Long Underwear (pants and shirt)
    • Ski Pants
    • Ski Jacket
    • Turtle neck
    • Gator (Protection for you neck and chin from the elements)
    • Stocking cap/gloves
    • helmet
    • Ski goggles/glasses
    • Sweatshirts
    • Casual lounge around clothing
    • All toiletries
    • Ski Boots
    • Skis
    • Poles
    • Essential medicines or braces.
    • Sunscreen and Lip balm
    • Reservation confirmation

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Sources and Citations

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