Loveland and A-Basin have been open for almost a week. Yes, there’s limited terrain, but this week’s cold weather means more snow is on the way. Here are 10 reasons to get your gear together and head up for a day (or even a half-day) of skiing or riding:
10Because if you wait until December, youll wish youd gone earlier. (Trust us on this one.)
9If you start now, you can ski or ride yourself into shape. (Of course, making regular trips to the gym, going trail running a few times a week and laying off the donuts also helps.)
8You dont really need to rake those leaves and the really important football games dont begin until December anyway.
7The conditions are actually pretty good for October. Seriously. Plenty of coverage, no rocks, and lots of sunshine. (You dont even need rock skis any more.)
6Fall skiing is like spring skiing only on the other side of winter and no lift lines!
5Taking a vacation day to go skiing in the fall is much cheaper and much more practical than wasting one on a one-day trip to Hawaii.
4Because you dont have to wait in line to get your first chili-in-a-bread-bowl.
3Youve seen all the political commercials you can handle for one election season, but you can never get enough snow.
2Because resorts have been open for six days (as of today) and that means there are a gaggle of die-hards from Summit County who have already logged four or five days. Time to catch up!
1Seriously, do you need 9 other reasons? Theres snow on the slopes! Its Colorado! Winter is coming, baby!
Brian Metzler is a freelance writer from Boulder. His work has appeared in Best Life, Mens Journal, Outside, Ski, Skiing, Freeze (RIP!), Runners World, Freeze and the Rocky Mountain News.