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As I was sifting through the internet tubes, I happened to notice that Loveland HAS OPENED! I could not have guessed any resort would be open this early in the season. Loveland, you have bested me again. Touche.

So if you need to get your ski freak on early, get your freak up to Loveland.

Great article about their opening over at westword:
With five inches of snow last night on top of the snowmaking operation they’ve been running all month, opening day is tomorrow, Sunday October 24. Loveland’s staking their claim as the first ski area open in Colorado for the second year in a row (Maine’s Sunday River got the jump on them yesterday on the East coast). Better yet, they’re predicting a powder day: It’s still snowing up on the pass today.

Or check out this cool video, where the snow actually does like quite enticing:
Alday Productions went up to loveland for the opening day of the 2010 season! so stoked.

http://snowboarding.transworld.net/1000136271/ugc/ugc-videos/opening-day-at-loveland-ski-area-colorado-10242010-2/

Loveland opened today at 9am. They’ve been making snow since Spetember 21, but I’m sure they’ll get plenty more soon! The base on opening day will be 18 inches, which is pretty good. With 3 trails and more than a mile of ski-worthy terrain, it looks like a pretty exciting start to the season.

I frequently end up on the slopes Copper Mountain just two hours or so before they close. Why would anyone want to ski for just two hours? Well first off, sometimes it’s all I can do. I’ve found the perfect ski day to be too elusive. But work until noon, then make the drive? Much simpler. I also don’t have to wait for the perfect roads, perfect weather, etc. Just 2 hours – maybe 5 if you could driving roundtrip from Denver – is all it takes. Some other reasons you might want to try the 2 hour ski:

1. A 2 hour ski makes you thankful. Every twist and turn of your skis / snowboard are so very precious. For every run you take, you might consider whether you’ll have time – or sacrifice the time – to come back through. Each run takes on new meaning. There are no second chances.

2. Everyone is already enjoying Apre Ski, or just worn out. Less crowded hills and lift lines make it feel like the mountain is all yours.

I plan another 2 or 3 hour trip next week. I might ski loveland just to have another hour more or so on the slopes. I’ll let you know how it goes!

I just got back to Thornton from Breckenridge. How Cow – there was a bunch of snow. We BARELY made it back over the continental divide. Many cars – including ours – were spinning their wheels trying deperately to get over the pass. I had better traction on the side of the road, but found our short little car could easily bottom out it I wan’t careful. Through careful twisting of the wheel back and forth, the occasional grain of sand(hey, I’ll take what I can get), and a lot of luck, we made it back over the pass and through the Eisenhower tunnel.

Even after the tunnel it was slick. It’s rare for me to see weather on both sides of the tunnel, but we saw it today. Some cars were exiting the tunnel way too fast, and one nearly went off of the road to the left! I got behind a nice dark horsetrailer with blinking lights and we made the white knuckle journey down the other side of the mountain. I was surprised to see SUVs behind me moving at the same snail’s pace. Maybe we all had a little more excitement than we needed that day. Snow is WONDERFUL to ski on, but horrible to drive through. Visibility was pretty minimal for a good part of the journey down the mountain. From Georgetown onward, it was clear sailing.

I have met the snow of the 2007 Colorado season, and I have this to say:

• It’s slick
• It’s fluffy
• It’s wonderful
• It makes me giddy
• I miss it already

Copper Mountain Ski Resort opens November 2. As many visitors to this blog know, Copper Mountain is one of my favorite local ski resorts. Skiing during the week is especially nice. I can’t wait for the season to start! Their website says “the snow guns are blowin’”. November seems way too far away, so I might have to steal away to loveland or A-basin.

Oh crap: CBS 4′s Stacy Donaldosn just mentioned in passing a “warming trend” coming up. I’m going to call them and see if that can be canceled. Will keep you posted.

Yes, closed due to SNOW. Snow in September isn’t strange for Colorado. It’s normal here. It signals that soon we will be skiing, snowboarding, and throwing the fluffy stuff at each other. Sweet sweet snow.

Apparently westbound I-70 was closed at the tunnel due to “Quick, Heavy snowfall”.

In other – very related news – Loveland and A-basin have begun making snow. I love this guy in charge of snowmaking, quoted in the news:
"We'll have 30 guns going tonight...We go and we don't stop from this point,” said Marc Abrahamson, Loveland's Snow Making Manager.

Typically, it takes 14 days from this point for Loveland to open for skiers and riders.

Yes, love is a strong word. And yes, you heard me correctly.