Mar 16, 2003 11:18 AM
2298 Views
(Updated May 27, 2003 01:34 PM)
Hi all,
Have you done <b>skiing?</b> I gotta tell you that <b>skiing</b> is one great adventure sport, so thrilling and you will enjoy it, whether you are a newbie learning, a beginner skiing in bunny-hills or an expert doing extreme skiing. Can you imagine a 3000-8000 feet stretch being covered by you in 10-12 minutes flat(beginner that is), going at various speeds?? Can you imagine the sheer pleasure of skiing in the cold weather with all the safety gears on and slicing the powdery ice? It is unbelievable.
As work in <b>Colorado</b>, a wonderful state, rightfully called as, <b>“Skiing capital of the world.”</b> I have skied a lot. In the process I learned an adventure sport and am enjoying it every bit of it whenever I am skiing in the soft-powder. Colorado, being amidst the rockies, has so many picturesque and beautiful ski resorts. The Interstate-70 (I-70) , claimed to be one of the most picturesque Interstate highway in USA, hosts most of them.
Some of the most famous ski-resorts in Colorado are as follows.
<b><i>
1.Vail
2.Aspen
3.Arapahoe Basin
4.Keystone
5.Breckenridge
6.Copper Mountain
7.Snowmass
8.Loveland
9.Winter Park
10.And many more…..
</i></b>
Since I’ve been living in Denver for quite sometime now, I’ve skied in all the nine-resorts in the past few years. I gotta tell you, skiing is an enjoyable experience. Although it is a little bit expensive, every cent you spent is really worth it.
As I started writing, I thought of covering this experience by exploring some of the resorts in Colorado. I thought of starting off with <b>Winter Park</b>. Winter Park, one of the fantastic resorts in Colorado, is the ideal place for interesting winter sports. This spectacular valley offers a multitude of winter activities for every type of outdoor enthusiasts, skiers and non-skiers. It is a natural winter playground for <b><i>snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dog-sledging, Snow-cat touring, Snow-tubing</i></b> and much more! Winter Park averages 350 inches of snow per year, higher than any other major Colorado resort. It has various trails for various types of skiers such as beginner/trainee slopes, intermediate and advanced level slopes. Compared to the mammoths like Vail and all, Winterpark has some excellent slopes to ski for all levels of skiers.
<i>Let us go to Winter Park </i>
If you're driving, Winter Park is located 67 miles northwest of Denver, a one and one-half hour drive via I-70 and then taking exit 232 onto U.S. Highway 40. From this exit, it is a 25-mile drive over Berthoud Pass to Winter Park.
Are you worried about driving the traffic rich, icy, mountainous I-70 roads? Then how about other options, where you could sit, relax and safely enjoy the whole ride back and forth?
<b>Greyhound Bus</b>: This 2-hour comfortable bus trip lets you enjoy the Berthoud Pass and all the natural beauty on the way. With approximately $ 30 for a round-trip, you could start from Denver and arrive at Winter Park without much strain.
<b>Ski Train</b>: This scenic journey takes two hours to climb about 4,000 feet above Denver’s already mile-high altitude. It travels through Flatirons, South Boulder Canyon and 29 tunnels. It will definitely leave an indelible impression on your minds.
The Ski train leaves from Denver Union Station and a round-trip ticket costs approximately $ 45. Unlike Amtrak, which stops about 6 miles away from the slopes, the Ski Train drops off its passengers about 500 feet from the ticket windows, lifts, ski rental shop, and the entrance to Winter Park’s ski camp.
<b>Sight-seeing or Skiing </b>
You will feel more thrilled once your reach the base of the Winter Park resort. There are many more interesting activities, which you may like to experience:
<b>Snowcat Tours</b>: This 2-hour sightseeing tour of Winter Park mountain travels across beginner, intermediate, and expert trails, making several stops along the way for capturing sceneries.
<b>Snowmobile Tours</b>: You can drive the Snowmobile on your own to cover this 2-hour sightseeing excursion.
<b>Skiing/Snowboarding</b>: You can equip yourself to ski up and down the valley. There are even free classes for beginners. Interactive reports can be retrieved from https://winterparkresort.com, which holds up-to-date information on Surface snow and Base depth conditions.
I shall review the other wonderful resorts, as I have time in the near future. If you get a chance to ski, please do so. Make sure you learn from the professional and have all the safety gear, before you go on your own. It is an excellent way to enjoy a day and have a wonderful physical work-out while enjoying the day.
Hope that was useful.
Have a nice day!!
Inquizitor