resort skiing early season

[JaredJohnson]

I'm thinking about coming from KS on November 5 to ski a-basin or loveland, before I cimb on the 6th. I've been to both in mid to late winter and can ski blue and black groomers but still have a lot of trouble with moguls. I have done some fairly icy conditions in the northeast and night skiing in CO. I'm very committed to improving albeit slowly, with the goal of eventually moving to AT and skiing peaks someday.

I've never tried "early season snow" and there's a warning on liftopia for a-basin that only "more advanced" runs will be open this early in the season. Is there any indication by now what to expect in early November that high up at the resorts? Should I be worried about encountering conditions above my skill level and not getting a lot of good experience / enjoyment out of skiing that early?

I hope it's not too off-topic to discuss resort skiing in this section but I figure this would be a perfect place to find some locals that know the score. Thanks!

[aleugers]

A Basin will have an icy blue run with way too many people open on that weekend. It’ll be groomed, I think the “advanced” level would be due more to avoiding crashing into everyone.

Keystone and Copper are usually open that weekend also. They will have a longer run open but also icy and crowded. It’s usually all blue runs around the first weekend of November. The challenge is that it will be very crowded and only one run open so the run will be scraped down to ice in many spots.

[HikesInGeologicTime]

Loveland will also be open. It will have a crowded catwalk open and maybe one or two icy, packed blue runs splitting off from it.

A-Basin might have its crowded catwalk open by then as well.

[JaredJohnson]

I think the “advanced” level would be due more to avoiding crashing into everyone.

The 5th is a monday, should I still expect insanity

[SkaredShtles]

If the skiing is decent, the climbing will suck. If the climbing is decent, the skiing will suck.

Way better chance of the skiing sucking.

HTH

[powhound]

Early season = the White Ribbon Of Death. Increase your chance of survival by learning to ski a very tight line. Then stay on the edge of the run. You'll find better snow to make turns on, as that's where the loose stuff accumulates - and you'll only have to protect and look over one shoulder to avoid getting run over from behind.

[aleugers]

I’d assume a Monday would be much better crowd wise.

[bergsteigen]

Monday will be much better than the weekend. I had good luck at Loveland early season last year. Ski early, not late

[glenmiz]

Tough place and time to improve your skills. Don't get discouraged if you don't make a lot of progress. Come back in January or February; master the blues and you can start to take on the bumps on a full mountain and good snow.

[SkaredShtles]

Yes - there will be nobody there on a Monday around that time if the skiing sucks.

If the skiing doesn't suck, there might be 12 other people.