Mountains High, Après Low

If one of skiing and riding’s biggest draws is its inherent sense of community, there’s no better way to further the power of coming together than raising a collective glass after the lifts close. That could be a cold beer, a Dram sparkling water, or a craft cocktail. What’s in the glass hardly matters. What’s memorable is being together on the slopes and celebrating the conquests.

Of course, the key to après lies in its very definition: “after.” Imbibing after putting your skis or board up for the day still allows you to be in compliance with Point 9 of Your Responsibility Code: Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs. And you’ll still want to be mindful of the altitude and getting home safely.

In this series, we’re exploring the many ways one can après, and especially the kinds of impromptu festivities that are low-key, casual, and on-a-budget. In many ways you could call these buzzy tailgate scenes mountain-high DIY.

Parking lot vibes

The Beach, Arapahoe Basin’s famous dirt lot at the resort’s base, is the king of the tailgate every day of the week, but on the weekends, Loveland Ski Area and Howelson Hill get in on the action too.

The way to do it right is to start the day off with the skier’s breakfast (scrambled eggs, potatoes, and a biscuit) at A-Basin, the stacked biscuits and gravy at Loveland Grill, or the breakfast sammy at Howelson’s Outrun Snack Bar. Add a pocket granola bar or PB&J, and you’ll be fueled until the end of the day. That’s when the tailgate comes down and the chips, snacks, and coolers come out. Bring a few chairs (just make sure cars can still pass by) and turn up the tunes. Soon you’ll be swapping stories and taking tailgate notes from neighboring parties (cue the charcuterski).

Bang for your buck

Should you choose to forgo the parking lot festivities (or want to bolster them), the resorts are full of ways to maximize your day without emptying your wallet. Check out these insider-y amenities:

• Nothing beats Howelsen Hill’s ski free Sundays. Every Sunday throughout the season, the oldest operating ski area in North America, opens its lifts and Nordic trails gratis just for the pure love of the sport.
• The best way to refuel at Monarch is either bring a sack lunch and buy a beverage or stop by the Fly by Burritos food truck parked right off the deck of the main lodge. The burritos (and bowls) are massive and easily shared, and they’ll keep you energized until the end of the day.
• Did you know that A-Basin’s legendary Bacon Bloody Mary comes with a $1 Coors sidecar? Talk about a steal! The brunch cocktail is the Basin’s most famous, and they sell more than 30,000 a season—some might even consider it Colorado’s signature drink. Also look for a hot chocolate and DIY cookie bar pop-up at Legends Cafe and an ice bar at Black Mountain Lodge in March.

• Loveland is also sporting a gourmet hot chocolate bar this season. Queue up for different cocoa flavors and toppings inside the Loveland Basin Lodge. Skiers and riders in the know make the most of the ski area’s slopeside cabins, which are free to use and are stocked with propane grills. Pack a picnic (hot dogs, brats, burger patties, you name it) and enjoy some high-alpine grilling. In case you don’t want to pack it all in, a couple of the huts have beverage and/or food service.

If you’re making the trek to Silverton, you’ll want to stuff your pack with snacks and sign up for a box lunch. The resort is famously no frills, and the same goes for the vittles. You can purchase drinks and a handful of candy and snacks but, given the demands of skiing this terrain (Silverton is the highest and steepest ski area in North American), you’re better off bringing your own.