Author Topic: Suggestions for Loveland on Thursday (Read 379 times)

Perry · « **on:** March 22, 2009, 07:43:20 pm »

Will be arriving Denver at 10am and hoping to play at Loveland for a 1/2 day. Any suggestions regarding North vs South side? Any don't miss runs? How about easy tree runs?

thanks in advance and by the way................ ..it's snowing

Perry

ToddW · « **Reply #1 on:** March 22, 2009, 10:08:07 pm »

Perry,

Lynn fell in love with the relatively easy trees leading down to lift 8 at Loveland back in February.? If she'd had to choose between those trees and us, there would have been no contest?

so Jim and I played it safe and skied trees too.? If you're looking for something gentle after a few days of hard skiing or to regain your ski legs at the beginning of a trip, then chair 6 is your area ... flatter, but still fun.? The runs to skiers right have a few trees and can be fun in light powder.? And if you "accidentally" keep skiing down past the 6 lift, you can hop on the 4 and take the traverse over to 8 and Lynn's excellent trees.? It's a simple enough navigational error:? anyone could? make it?

If the sky is blue and the winds are light, consider riding to the top of chair 9 for a spectacular view and take Rookie Road back down.?

And about that fresh snow ... you can keep it?

? "Morning snow showers" morphed into the midday blizzard in Vermont today, so I've had my fill?

Actually, that's some dump forecast for tomorrow with the possibility of daily refreshes throughout the week.? Okay, now I am jealous.? Enjoy the freshies and let us know how the magnums compare with your RX-8's and the supershapes you demoed.

-todd

PS? On a typical day, many of the blues at Loveland are not groomed.? If there's a skier in your party who greatly prefers groomers, take note of the grooming report posted next to the ticket window.? Or ask a local about the trails you're interested in.

jbotti · « **Reply #2 on:** March 22, 2009, 10:08:52 pm »

I have skied Loveland a few times in late March and into April. I have always found it spectacular this time of year. It usually snows quite a bit at Loveland in April and there are very few people on the slopes. I have had powder days there in April when we skied fresh lines all day!!. I don't know the names of the lifts at Loveland (I know it by sight) but if you get some fresh snow, take the lift the drops you off at Patrol Bowl. From there you can traverse back along the ridge and pick where you wnat to drop in. With fresh snow this whole ridge is amazing, and at this time of year you won't have a lot of competition for the lines!!

Personally, if I was in Colorado at this time of year, with fresh snow I would only ski Loveland!! Maybe a day at A-basin. Great terrain, highest altitude and therefore the best quailty snow, and the fewest people. If it snowed, I wouldn't go anywhere near Vail. Just my $.02. Enjoy!!

jim-ratliff · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2009, 08:11:55 am »

What Todd said.? In fact, if memory serves me correctly, she ran Todd down (well, actually 'skied' Todd down) getting to the trees.?

Chair 8 is on the North side, and it was virtually deserted over there all day (just check the map and make sure you know the trails to use to get back, they don't connect at the base).? It is actually above the tree line, so half of the run is just open slopes, and then at the bottom you have a couple of tree areas to consider.

And I believe that Chair 9 that Todd talked about is the one that drops you into Patrol Bowl that John talked about (we didn't go up there because of wind and low clouds and lack of visibility).

I too would ski there more than just half a day given the opportunity.? The place was really an eye-opener for me, I enjoyed it very much and will ski there again.

Perry · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2009, 04:24:34 pm »

Very helpful and thanks. I will send in my report on return.

Perry

Perry · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2009, 04:29:40 pm »

it's interesting that everyone mentioned runs on the north side. It should be better this time of year too. Correct me if I am wrong.

thx

jim-ratliff · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2009, 07:04:02 pm »

North side is the north side of the I-70 tunnel, not north facing..? If my bearings are correct it faces east and a bit south.

Loveland is somewhat U-shaped around the bowl that I-70 comes up through and the ridgeline (and Continental Divide) that the Eisenhower tunnel goes under.
Also, the lodge and main parking lots are on the South side, so the easy way is just to ski the easy groomers on the South side of I-70. Actually, now that I think of it some of the South side is actually North facing.

Perry · « **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2009, 10:33:55 am »

Jim - Aha!! I was trying to make it work in my mind and it just wouldn't fit. If you look at the website, it looks like opposite sides of I 70. I was wondering how you could get to a Patrol Bowl with that arrangement or why they would use that name twice.

So - my guess is that the thing to do is to drive up from Denver and get off and go to the South side and start there as you suggested.

Thx

jim-ratliff · « **Reply #8 on:** March 24, 2009, 10:54:19 am »

Quote from: Perry on March 24, 2009, 10:33:55 am

go to the South side and start there as you suggested.

Yes.? Just follow the signs for Loveland and you will wind up on the south side of I-70.? There are actually two base areas, Loveland Valley and Loveland Basin (both are on the South side).? Head for Loveland Basin.? Take Lift 2 up from the Basin lodge, then ski half-way down to the vicinity of Lift 6 and you can work yourself across to the north side.

If you note, Lift 9 goes to Patrol Bowl on both maps, that is the overlap point between the two maps (I think Lift 4 may be on both maps as well).

Perry · « **Reply #9 on:** March 24, 2009, 11:07:49 am »

It is all starting to make sense

Fresh snow!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gary · « **Reply #10 on:** March 24, 2009, 11:28:28 am »

Perry...ski Patrol Bowl if you can....great views from the top and some awesome long runs. Enjoy and hope you get awesome snow conditions...lookin g pretty good.
Best,
Gary

SnowHot · « **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2009, 10:45:22 am »

I'm sorry I missed this. We did a ton of great skiing at Loveland last week.
Tons of great stuff off Chair 8. Far off to skiers left is some sweet skiing!

Gary · « **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2009, 01:35:05 pm »

Great to know...3 so far are heading up there 4-11 to 4-15.

Hoping the conditions remain good even if that means soft spring snow. Haven 't been there in 4 years or so myself so any thoughts on fun terrain or glades to ski would be nice

thanks....we'll be looking for Chair 8. SHould be able to find time to ski A basin as well...just down the road.

G

SnowHot · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2009, 02:18:37 pm »

I believe it was chair nine that goes to the top. There are some nice cornices to the left and right that have some incredible snow, even in marginal conditions, I can imagine that good conditions like they're having now would serve up some amazing fun!

If you're looking for moguls, the runs off of Chair one by the lodge have some serious fun to serve up too!
If you want the experience of going under I70 through the tunnel to the other side, then go ahead but other wise the terrain over on the other side from the main area is really not worth while.
As always, JMHO and YMMV.

Ron · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2009, 07:53:13 am »

Gotta find somthing to test the HB's out in.....

realskiers

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