>>Telluride and Jackson Hole in the 80s were pretty nice. The vertical at JH was pretty impressive and they made a big deal out of it giving you a card you could use to keep track of the vertical for each run and when you hit 50,000 and 100,000 ft you got a pin and a belt buckle at 300,000.
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>Do I sense a hesitant / hidden "but" ?
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>>I was there with skiiers way better than I was ( some of them became the first official US freestyle team ) so I probably did as many vertical feet without my skis as with them but it was an awesome place.
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>Well, I consider myself a pretty good skier for being a flatlander. Still wondering if I turned chicken in my old age or just my brain got mature enough as I fell only 2 times in 7 days. So perhaps a good time to check out your slopes, before all muscles atrophy. Did you try out "our" areas having many difficult routes ?
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>>Telluride in those days had the air of a little cowboy town. Crested Butte nice too. All very kicked back.
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>If I can keep at least partly in shape, those senior passes for >70 are really cheap in Crested Butte. My father skied till he was 74, so there is some hope - but I should try it in the next 2 or 3 years at least once. Not sure I fully grok the last part... kicked back as in "not layed back", out of current time or prone to mafia-like exchanges ?
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>regards
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>thomas

Found this (it's probably still pretty accurate):

If you're coming to ski, the best conditions are usually in February/March, although the snow may be good as early as mid-November. Between Christmas/New Years the rates are jacked up, sometimes doubled. The absolute best day of the year to ski is Super Bowl Sunday - IF the Broncos are playing. When that happens, you will have the whole mountain to yourself.

About some of the Ski Areas: If you want the whole experience, try Vail, Aspen or Steamboat Springs. Each has it all, packaged a little differently. Vail offers European flavor. It is now the largest ski area in America, and it's legendary back bowls drop forever. Steamboat has a western charm to it, a little less pretentious, tons of powder - bring your cowboy hat. Aspen is famous for it's skiing and people watching. A spectacular town, great skiing for every level.

No less great is Summit County: Copper Mountain has great skiing, a Club Med and is a local favorite. It has no nightlife, but Breckenridge and Vail are close. Breckenridge is a beautiful Victorian town with plenty of great restaurants & bars, but it's cold to ski. Keystone has everything, it's a great family resort, and has several mountains of all levels. Keystone/Breck & Copper are all within an hour of each other. Some people who ski these stay in Dillon, which is cheaper and central to all three. Arapahoe Basin is the anti-corporate holdout in Summit County. It's often the last resort open in the state, sometimes you can ski there in July. It's the kind of place where some locals sleep in their car. Brrrrrrrr.

Some other favorites: Winter Park/Mary Jane are excellent, Mary Jane being the best bump skiing around, which makes it a difficult place to board. If you're an expert try Telluride or Crested Butte. Steep & deep.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/15f35/4fe/

When I lived on the eastern slope, I always skied the closet runs. When I lived the western slope, I hit Aspen or Telluride the most. By far Telluride is my favorite. However, I just checked with my sister and the busy season is sooooooooooo expensive now! Peak days it is $98 (highest in Colorado?) and lodging around $200. Crazy. There are places for 165/night with one night free though (check the condos)... best to go in a "non-peak" time.... All the restaurants, lodging, and ski prices go up during peak season times....