Alpine phlox in Frisco, Colorado.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — This year’s early snowmelt does have an upside. High Country golf courses should be in prime playing condition by Memorial Day, the boating season is under way, hiking trails are dry and the wildflower season has started, with forget-me-not blooming high on the Alpine tundra and blue violets along local forest trails.

To explore wildflowers, check out a new interactive online map published by the U.S. Forest Service, with links to specific national forests like the White River.

Tundra wildflowers in Summit County, Colorado.

“This updated map provides visitors a quick guide to find locations and best viewing times for the spectacular natural beauty of wildflowers on national forests,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.  “This is one more way folks can experience the bounty of natural surroundings.”

For many rural communities, the tourist revenue generated by thousands of wildflower festivals and events held each year helps support local economies.  According to recent research, viewing and photographing wildflowers and trees is the fastest growing nature-based outdoor activity.

A narrative for each location describes the viewing area’s botanical habitat, the types of wildflowers that can be found by season, and recommendations for the best time of year to visit.  Information on safety advisories such as animal habitats, clothing recommendations, insect or plant cautions, and traffic and parking tips are included.  Directions to the site, the closest town and contacts for more information are also offered.

The map is part of the agency’s Celebrating Wildflowers web site which includes more than 10,000 plant images and information about the aesthetic, recreational, biological, medicinal, and economic values of native plants. Feature sections focus on the role of pollinators, overviews of flower types, and spotlights on rare and interesting plant communities.  An ethnobotany page highlights how people of particular cultures and regions make use of indigenous plants.  Educational activities for kids and resources for teachers also are available.

Purple avens, sometimes called prairie smoke for its wispy seed pods.

The historic mining district of Mayflower Gulch, now preserved as open space by Summit County, is just a short drive away from Copper. The four-wheel drive road into the gulch offers easy access to the west side of the Tenmile Range.

COPPER MOUNTAIN — There aren’t too many places in the world where you can start the day with a hike to a historic goldmine and end up listening to a world-class music act, but Copper offers all that and more.  Popular music fests like Copper Country, Sunsation and Guitar Town  bring renowned musicians to play in a spectacular mountain setting. Before the concerts begin, play a round of disc golf at the new course,  take a spin on the extensive Summit County recpath system or visit some of the hundreds of miles of high country hiking trails. Summer in the high country is short and sweet, so make the most of it.

Relaxing at the base area in Copper Mountain Village.

The summer festival scene at Copper Mountain.

America plays during the 2010 Copper Country event.

Zydeco at 9,000 feet in the Rockies, thanks to Copper Mountain's summer music scene.

Late summer llight in the Tenmile Range near Copper Mountain.

South- and west-facing windows overlooking Tenmile Creek and the ski runs make this West Lake Lodge unit’s living room especially bright.

*CURRENT SPECIALS:

1) April 15 – June 15: All nights 50% off when a minimum of 4 nights booked. Tax and cleaning extra.

New addition: Three flat-panel TVs with DVD players. There is a 37″ with an RCA surround sound system and DVD player in the living room, and a 32″ with DVD player in both bedrooms.Inside this spacious condo, you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, large open living room and dining room, 2 full bathrooms, 2 bedrooms – each with 2 queen beds and plenty of closet space. And two more people can sleep on the sofa-bed in the living room.

Take in the beauty of the mountains with fantastic views of Ten Mile Creek and Copper’s ski mountain out the kitchen and living room windows. Relax on the two enclosed balconies – one off the living room and one off the master bedroom. Have your morning coffee on the balcony as you watch the day begin in the village and on the slopes.

After a fabulous day skiing, riding or snowshoeing, warm up in front of the gas fireplace, and relax with a movie on the HD flat panel TV with DVD/VCR in the living room. Catch up on your emails with our free highspeed WiFi service, or watch movies on either of the bedroom TV/VCR/DVD setups. Cook your meals in the full-sized, completely equipped kitchen with lots of counter space, or walk to a nearby restaurant for a night out. Use the convenient laundry room in the building.

You’ll store your skis and snowboards in ski lockers just inside the front door of the building. Parking is under the building with elevator access. West Lake Lodge is ideal for anyone who enjoys the convenience and après environment of slope side accommodations! This condo is not ski-in, ski-out, but it’s just a short, less than 5-minute walk to the American Flyer lift in the center village.

Transportation: In addition to the existing free Copper shuttles, the Copper Free Ride provides door-to-door, on-demand, transportation for skiers and riders, and is an open-air electric cart, holding 6 passengers. It is available from 8:30 to 11am and 3 to 5:30pm. The vehicle can be flagged down by guests desiring a ride, or the service can be requested by calling 970 556-8687.
Riders should call 15 to 20 minutes prior to the desired pick-up time.

Also enjoy the on-site gym equipped with treadmill, elliptical trainer, cycle, universal weight machine, and TV, all adjacent to a hot tub, sauna and shower facilities. Or, if you’re ready for some swimming, head over to the Copper Mountain Athletic Club, where you’ll have free access as our guest.

Please Note: Pets are no longer allowed in this building. There will be a $300 fine for anyone bringing a pet into this condo.

Please email us with any other questions you have, or if you want to book a reservation. We will respond right away and look forward to helping you with your vacation plans!

Copper Mountain resort is conveniently located off Highway 70 and is just 25 minutes from Vail, 15 minutes from Breckenridge, 20 minutes from Keystone, and five minutes from the town of Frisco. The Summit Stage is a free shuttle service around Copper Mountain, Frisco, and the Summit County Resorts.

RATES:
CURRENT SPECIAL: April 15 – June 15 is 50% off. 4 night minimum stay required. Tax & Cleaning extra.

Summer:      April Close – Nov Open    … $125/nt  (Mon-Thurs)/ $150/nt  (Fri-Sun)

Early Ski:   Nov Open    – Dec 22      … $225/nt (Mon-Thurs)/ $250/nt(Fri-Sun)

Holiday:     December 23 – January 2   … $475/nt (Mon-Thurs)/ $500/nt (Fri-Sun)

Brrrr Ski:   January 3 – February 10   … $250/nt (Mon-Thurs)/ $275/nt (Fri-Sun)

High Ski:    February 11 – April 10    … $375/nt (Mon-Thurs)/ $400/nt (Fri-Sun)

Late Ski:    April 11 – April Close    … $200/nt (Mon-Thurs)/ $225/nt (Fri-Sun)

Catching some powder in the trees at Copper Mountain after the Jan. 22 storm. PHOTO COURTESY CSCUSA.TRIPP FAY.

COPPER MOUNTAIN — With 9 inches of fresh powder and a 45-inch base, Copper is reporting mid-winter conditions and some epic powder skiing after a slow start to the season. snowfall was widespread across Colorado during the latest storm, with anywhere from 4 to 11 inches reported at resorts around the state.

The new snow will likely enable Copper to open additional terrain this weekend, so check in with the mountain’s conditions report for the latest updates.

The forecast calls for snow showers to linger Friday, followed by a clear and cold night and a gorgeous weekend, sunny and warming temperatures. Another storm is forecast to hit the area Monday night, bringing another chance of snow.

Every snow day is a holiday!

Yeah, baby!

Comet and Ringo, meet Frosty!

Fresh snow coats the mountains between Frisco and Copper Mountain.

COPPER MOUNTAIN — After several weeks of lackluster weather, winter is making a strong comeback in Colorado with a weekend storm that dumped 4 inches at Copper Mountain. Ski areas statewide picked up fresh snow, with 19 inches at Silverton Mountain, 18 inches at Wolf Creek and 15 inches at Crested Butte.

At Copper, the Alpine Lift has opened for the season, serving Formidable and Triple Treat, and the ski patrol is trying to open parts of the upper mountain for directed skiing, with limited access to steeper terrain. Copper is reporting 8 inches of snow in the past week with a 32-inch base and 68 inches for the season so far. The best conditions of the season are just ahead.

The forecast for the rest of the week calls for high winds over the higher elevations Tuesday night and Wednesday as the jet stream noses into the northern Rockies, then a spell of stormy weather lasting through next weekend, as several storms barrel into the area on a northwest flow. With plenty of moisture riding the jet stream, Copper and the rest of the mountains around Summit County could pick more than a foot of snow by late in the weekend.

The new snow and winds have upped the avalanche danger in the backcountry, where triggered slides are likely the next few days. More details here …

Winter storm clears over the Continental Divide in Summit County, Colorado.

Full moon sets over Frisco, Colorado.

SUMMIT COUNTY — A pair of storms have delivered about six inches of new snow to Copper Mountain the past few days, and the medium-range forecast calls for a storm track that should bring a bit more powder love to Summit County and northern Colorado.

Season snowfall at Copper so far totals 62 inches, or about 5 feet, and the resort is reporting a 30-inch base, with more than 800 acres of terrain open on 78 trails served by 15 lifts. The full snow and trails report is online here.

A bit more snow is expected through Wednesday evening, with a return to dry and cool conditions Thursday and Friday. The holiday weekend looks to be dry and mild for January, before a moist westerly flow develops next week.

A few more wintry scenes from Summit County:

Sunset over the Continental Divide in Frisco, Colorado.

First light near Copper Mountain, Colorado.

Winter!

A forecast storm rolled into Summit County a bit earlier than expected Saturday morning.

COPPER MOUNTAIN — After a sunny and mild spell of weather, Ullr is back in the house, delivering a dose of powder to freshen up the slopes at Copper Mountain. A National Weather Service winter advisory is predicting anywhere from 3 to 6 inches of snow, with higher amounts possible in some favored locations. Snowfall will taper off Sunday.

A short warmup follows Monday with the chance for a cold clipper system to deliver some more snow Tuesday night into Wednesday.

Pre-storm Mt Royal sunset, Frisco, Colorado.

Snow starts piling up Saturday morning in Frisco, Colorado.

Fresh snow!

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — The U.S. Ski Team, already a dominant force in World Cup speed events, could get even better in coming seasons, with an opportunity to practice on Copper Mountain’s new full-length training course.

Resort and ski team officials, along with racers, gathered Tuesday at the Summit County ski area to cut the ribbon at the course near the base of the Super Bee chair, where team members will practice on outstanding snow conditions through Dec, 10, before the terrain is opened to the public.

Copper chief Gary Rodgers said his crews, working together with the U.S. Ski Team, were able to put together the logistics for the training area in just a few short months after the agreement was finalized in late July.

“This is a long-term relationship, and one that we hope to grow on in the coming years and months and we hope to see the next generation of Olympians training right here at Copper Mountain,” Rodgers said.

“I just can’t imagine what it would have been like to have a facility like this to get myself ready for my seasons,” said 1998 Olympic Super G gold medalist Picabo Street. “I think that one of the things we’re going to see for sure out of this facility is some cameraderie within the U.S. team from the A team down to the junior team,” Street said.

“I feel really fortunate to be involved in an industry that does so much for families … we try at Powdr to do whatever little bit we can to perpetuate that lifestyle,” said Powdr Corp CEO John Cummings.

The training course is located in the Super Bee area of East Village, which includes Rosi’s Run, Andy’s Encore and Oh No. The steep, north facing slopes, high base elevation and early season temperatures will provide a much needed continuation from summer training in Chile and New Zealand.

Powdr Corp CEO John Cummings speaks at the ribbon-cutting for the new U.S. Ski Team speed center at Copper Mountain.

Olympic champion Picabo Street at the ribbon-cutting for the U.S. Ski Team's new speed center at Copper Mountain, Colorado.

U.S. Ski Team racer Ted Ligety said the new speed center at Copper will be a boon to U.S. racers.

Skiers and snowboarders took to the snow -- and air at Copper Mountain's opening day, Nov. 4, 2011, with plenty of big hits available on the lower mountain.

COPPER MOUNTAIN — Another season is under way at Copper Mountain, as the Summit County resort celebrated opening day with the traditional Lift Off festivities, including the local premier of “The Art of Flight,” a film produced by Red Bull Media House in association with Brain Farm Digital Cinema. The Blu-ray TM viewing will be in Bighorn Ballroom located in Conference Center, right in the middle of the Village on a 7-by-12 foot High-Definition screen.

Early season events continue with the Colorado Demo Days (Nov. 19-20), the opening of the Superpipe (Nov. 24, conditions permitting) and the popular Thanksgiving events, including theLeftover Yam Jam (first rail jam of the year, Nov. 25), followed by the Gobbler Snowshoe Race and the first En Fuego (Both on Nov. 26. Check the Copper Mountain Calendar for more details.

Copper Mountain currently has 3 lifts open (American Eagle and Easy Rider Surface Lift, while the Excelerator Lift is open for race training only), 4 trails (Rhapsody to Main Vein and the Woodward at Copper Bouncer Terrain Par, and once again Copperopolis is only open for race training) and 49.7 acres of skiable terrain, with an 18 inch base.

Good snow conditions on opening day at Copper Mountain.

Here’s what @CopperMtn was tweeting on opening day:

@CopperMtn Savers is perfect way 2 avoid the traffic & get yourself an extra Snow Day.Savings up to 44% OFF bit.ly/szcA2l—
Copper Mountain (@CopperMtn) November 04, 2011

Nice! Old-school tip grab.

Scary tricks were thrown down @WoodwardCopper Tricks For Treats Rail & Sk8 Jam.Check it out the video & photo: bit.ly/sx8pcd—
Copper Mountain (@CopperMtn) November 03, 2011

Some video:

Copper Mountain, Colorado.

Family fun at Copper Mountain.

Stay in one of our platinum-rated Cirque Units when you visit Copper Mountain.

It's looking snowy in Summit County, Colorado.

Opening day is just a week away!

By Copper Condos

SUMMIT COUNTY — The late-October storm that hit Colorado pasted the Front Range but also dumped significant amounts of snow on the high country. According to the official National Weather Service stats, Copper Mountain picked up the most snow, with 18 inches reported at the MESO West weather station. Get all the snowfall totals from the storm at this interactive National Weather Service map.

Along with Ullr’s gift, Copper’s snowmaking crews have been hard at work. On the upper part of the mountain, ski teams are already carving practice turns, and down near the base, groomers are pushing huge whales of machine-made snow into place, preparing to shape the halfpipe and put down a base for the ski area’s opening day, Nov. 4. Check out the video to see the work in progress.

The forecast is calling for fair weather through Tuesday, with a progressive weather pattern bringing a series of Pacific storms through the area next week, though the exact timing and strength of those systems is not clear yet. Think snow!