SKIING/ SNOWBOARDING

Daily during the ski season, you can check the snow conditions in the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post newspapers. The snow depth, new snow, etc. are listed in the sports section of each paper. You might also explore Ski Colorado for information about the conditions at the various resorts.

Information about road conditions for major highways in the state may be learned by calling 639-1234 or for those roads within a two-hour driving time from Denver by calling 639-1111. To find door-to-door directions between your home and any of these ski resorts or any place in the country for that matter, check out Mapquest. They'll find the safest, fastest, or easiest way to get wherever you're going.

HINT: to save money, buy your ski lift tickets at Safeway, King Soopers, or sporting good stores such as Sports Authority or Larson Ski and Surf before you go to the ski areas. Also rent your skis or snow boards in the Denver metro area ( like Larsons or Sports Authority) instead of at the ski area, to save money. Look in the Interlink office for discount ski coupons. Costs are not listed but every ski area charges for skiing.. BEGINNERS SHOULD TAKE A LESSON FROM THE EXPERTS instead of learning from your friends. You will learn faster and it will be safer. Look for special discount "packages" which include ski rental, lesson, and lift ticket; you can often get your lesson for very little money. The ski season is usually from October through mid-April.

Ski Areas Nearest Golden:

1. Loveland, about a one-hour drive. Take I-70 west, exit at the signs for the Loveland Basin ski area. 10 lifts. Ski lessons, ski rentals. Slopes appropriate for beginners to experts. Inexpensive . Loveland can be cold and windy. Advantage: closest to Golden, cheaper than most places.

2. Eldora, near Boulder. This is about a 1-1 1/2 hour drive from Golden but there are steep, two-lane roads to get there. Good for beginners; experts find it too easy. 9 lifts. Ski lessons, rentals available. Inexpensive. Directions: Take Highway 93 north out of Golden, take highway 72 to Nederland. Before the town of Nederland, follow the signs and turn left toward the ski area. Advantage: not crowded, not a lot of tourists. Good for beginners. RTD bus goes to Eldora from Boulder. "N" bus leaves Boulder Station, 14th and Walnut, at 8:10 a.m. on Sat. and Sun. and leaves Eldora at 3:15 or 5:05. (Hours may change. Check the website for hours and fees.)

WITHIN 2 hours of GOLDEN: All these ski areas have ski rentals and lessons. All roads to these ski areas are well marked.

1. Arapahoe Basin: Phone. Better known by local skiers than by tourists; often not as crowded as more popular areas. Beginning to advanced though only 10% of area is for beginners. FEE. Most A-Basin tickets can be used at Keystone too. A-Basin is one of the last ski areas to close in the spring, with the season often lasting until June. Directions: I-70 west to Dillon. Take Highway 6 south, go past the Keystone ski area.
2. Breckenridge: The Breckenridge Ski area is outside the town of Breckenridge, which has hotels, condos, restaurants, and shopping. Ski area, is suitable for beginners through advanced. Popular tourist area. Directions: Take I-70 west to the town of Frisco. Exit I-70 and head south on highway 9. FEE
3. Copper Mountain: skiing from beginner to advanced.. Hotels, condos, restaurants, ski shop. Popular tourist area. Directions: follow I-70 west, past Frisco. Turn south on highway 91. FEE
4. Keystone: Beginner to advanced. Popular tourist area, with hotels, condos, restaurants, shops. Night skiing. Directions: I-70 west to Dillon. Exit at Dillon and take Highway 6 south. FEE
5. Winter Park/Mary Jane: The town of Winter Park has hotels, condos, restaurants, shops, etc. 24 ski lifts. Popular tourist area. Directions: I-70 west past Idaho Springs. Take the Highway 40 exit to Winter Park, over Berthoud Pass. FEE
A train goes from Denver to Winter Park. Leave Union Station in Denver, 17th and Wynkoop. Take Colfax east into Denver. Turn left on 17th, then right on Wynkoop. Reservations required: Sat. and Sun., may purchase food on train. Train fare. 7:15 a.m. departure, arrive 9:15. Leave Winter Park at 4:15, arriving about 6:30. Fee for parking at station. Discount lift tickets available on train.

More than 2 hours from Golden:

1. Aspen. Very popular and well-known, full of tourists and celebrities, expensive. . Aspen is an old mining town, with restaurants, condos, hotels, shops, etc. Take I-70 west, past Vail, exit at Glenwood Springs and take Highway 82 south to Aspen. Aspen has four ski areas: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Tiehack, and Snowmass. 3-4 hour drive.
2. Beaver Creek.. FEE Take I-70 west, past Vail. 2 1/2-3 hour drive. This is a relatively new area. Limited shopping, hotels, condos, restaurants.
3. Vail: Many hotels, condos, restaurants, shops. Popular area for tourists and some celebrities. The back bowls are for advanced skiers. Vail is well known for hosting ski competitions. Rated as among the best ski areas in the world.
4. Sunlight, Glenwood Springs.. Inexpensive, good for beginners. 4 lifts. Take I-70 west, exit at the town of Glenwood Springs and follow signs. Glenwood Springs has a world famous hot springs (two pools ) FEE. Town has hotels, condos, restaurants, shops. 3 or 3 1/2 hour drive.
Other areas of the state:
1. Steamboat I-70 west; exit at Empire north onto Highway 40, go past Winter Park; turn west staying on highway 40 at Granby, heading northwest. About a 4 hour drive. Steamboat Springs is an old western town with shops, restaurants, hotels, condos. (Fun to visit in the summer too.) FEE.
2. Telluride, 5-6 hour drive minimum. Take I-70 west to Grand Junction, take highway 50 south through Delta and Montrose, and before Ouray take highway 62 to Placerville, turning east and south on highway 145 to Telluride. Not a good trip for a weekend; too far. Telluride is becoming well known and popular for celebrities. It is an old mining town with lots of history, plus hotels, condos, restaurants, shops. 3. Purgatory Ski Area: near the town of Durango. 970-247-9000. 9 lifts. Out of the way place, few tourists. I-25 south. Turn east at Walsenburg, highway 160. approximately 6 hour drive.
4. Monarch: south central Colorado. About 4 hours from Denver. Not well known; few tourists. Good powder. I-70 west; south on highway 24 at Dowd or Minturn. Go south to Poncha Springs; turn west on highway 50 to Garfield.
5. Wolf Creek:. I-70 east, exit onto I-25 south; west on 160 at Walsenberg; past Monte Vista, exit south at town of Wolf Creek. 5-6 hrs
6. Crested Butte: C. Butte is a small mountain town, with shopping, hotels, condos. restaurants, At least a 5 hour drive from Golden. I-70 east, exit to I-25; south to Colorado Springs. Head southwest on highway 50 to Gunnison, then turn north on Hwy. 135 to Crested Butte.
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OTHER WINTER SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES

Snowmobiling: Snowmobiles (like motorcycles, on skis) are motorized vehicles. Rent the snowmobiles and take tours with guides. Favorite places: the town of Winter Park, Fraser, Granby, Grand Lake (near Rocky Mountain National Park), Steamboat Springs, Lake City, etc.
Telemark or cross country skiing. Available at most alpine ski areas. Colorado has a "hut" system, where the skier skis in to a cabin, spends the night, and skis back out or on to another cabin. Check the website for the State of Colorado Parks system.
Ice fishing: South Park (Eleven Mile Reservoir), Lake Granby, Taylor Reservoir, Cherry Creek and Chatfield State Parks and Palmer Lake in Douglas county, Pueblo, Dillon and Green Mountain Reservoirs in Summit county and Dowdy and Twin Lakes in Larimer county. Call 291-7525 for conditions in the Denver metro area. Special equipment, warm clothes, fishing licenses needed.
Ice climbing: information and rental equipment at The Bent Gate, 1313 Washington, Golden.
Other winter activities:

1. National Western Stock Show, 12 days in mid January every year. Rodeo and stock show; 90 year tradition in Denver. Held at the Denver Coliseum and Stock Show Complex. Fees charged; rodeo tickets fee usually includes the gate admission. Stock Show Complex is east on I-70, past the intersection with I-25. Exit just after Washington Street; exit is well marked. BUS: transfer from #16 to #38 and head north to Brighton Blvd. at 38th.
2. Denver Nuggets Basketball: professional basketball team plays at Pepsi Center. Nov.-April season. I-70 east, exit onto I-25. Exit off I-25 is well marked; it is the Speer St. exit... There are some inexpensive seats available.
3. Denver Avalanche Hockey: international hockey league. Expensive. Call 1-800-444-SEAT (7328) or King Soopers stores. Or buy in Avalanche/Pepsi Center box office. The season is from October through mid-April. Games are played at Pepsi Center. . I-70 east, exit onto I-25. Exit off I-25 is well marked; it is the Speer St. exit.
The following are annual happenings; check the newspapers for dates and details.
4. Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships, January.
5. International Sled Dog Pull, Estes Park, February
6. Denver: Parade of Lights, early December, lighting of Christmas decorations on the Denver City Hall steps, outdoor evening parade.
7. First Night celebration, downtown Denver, Dec. 31.
8. March: Denver Pow Wow, gathering of Native Americans
Most ski resorts have special activities, such as snow sculptures and winter carnivals. Check the Friday editions of both the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News at any time of the year to see what is happening.