Colorado’s Ski Season–The Second Half is the Best

Some chairlifts in Colorado start turning in October.

Almost all resorts will have a few up and running by November.

Then, for about 60 days, it's a grab bag. You really never know what kind of snow you'll get in the early parts of the winter. There are usually a few dumps across the state that have sliders thinking that the entire year will be covered with powder. Sometimes, that dream comes true.

Other times, like this year, not so much.

January's average snowfall rates can be high, but I tell people who are thinking of traveling from out of state for a ski trip to Colorado to wait for later months. The second half of the ski season is almost always better.

That is definitely going to be the case this year. There can be great skiing in December and January, and it's an awesome thing when it comes, but for reliably deep snowpack and good chances of large dumps of snow, my money is on February and March.

Make that late February, all of March, and the beginning of April.

Nature seems to be working things out of its system at that point, readying for the transition from winter to spring. You know what they say about March, out like a lion, in a like a lamb.

Even if those hugs dumps don't come (and they will), the cumulative amount of snowfall in the later months opens more of the mountain, makes the snow softer, and the weather, especially in later March, can really bring some amazing days, with or without fresh snow.

This year has been a waiting game for me. Usually, I can't wait to get up there and make turns, and I'll go with or without fresh snow. Toward the end of the season, when fresh dump after fresh dump is pounding the resorts, I often regret the days I took off in December or January to ride groomers. I needed discipline this year, because I'm saving my days off for the birth of my first child.

That's why I'm glad to remember that the best skiing in Colorado really comes after Groundhog Day, and lasts through Good Friday.