Photo Credit: Arapahoe Basin
Whoosh! That’s the sound of spring at Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) member resorts, where pond-skimming contests, corn snow and costume parties have given my family and I yet another reason to make the most of the season. And this year, enough snow has fallen to stretch skiing nearly until summer. Here are some of the springtime rites of passage on the bucket list for me, my husband, Carlton, and our two children in 5th and 6th grade:
Skim Ilk: Mark your calendar for April 7, when Telluride closes down with a pond skim at noon at Gorrono Ranch. Steamboat stages the tradition on its closing day of April 14. On April 20, meanwhile, Copper Mountain begins to close out its snow season with the SlopeSoakers, which features skiers and riders not only pond-skimming, but also showing off their tricks on floating rails—on bigger ponds and bigger features than ever before. The same day also features Snowmass throwing its Spring Fling, with pond-skimmers drawing hoots and hollers outside of Elk Camp Restaurant. Or make your way to the Larry Sail Trail Race Course at Winter Park on April 21, when the Spring Splash sees the pond-skimming tradition come to the family-friendly mountain.
Eggscellent Adventures: With Easter falling on April 21, many ski resorts are combining their last-day celebrations with Easter services and egg hunts. Copper boasts the world’s largest egg hunt, laying 65,000 eggs (including 12 golden ones) across part of the 2,500-acre resort. The Easter Bunny also hits Loveland Ski Area with giant eggs worth skis, snowboards and more, while Aspen congregates for a “sunrise” Easter service at 8:30 a.m. Almost every CSCUSA resort marks the holiday in a special way, making a trip to the mountains a must-do on April 21.
Bacon, corn and hot-dogging masqueraders: The only thing better than spring corn snow? Bacon, which Buttermilk goes whole-hog for on its closing day of April 7, with a Fueled By Bacon Sizzle Up uphill event alongside the pork product prepared every which way. And every which way you turn, you’ll see costumes galore—1980s prom-era outfits at Aspen on April 21, dance parties at Telluride on the same day, and a So Much Pow Luau at Powderhorn from April 5 to 7. The sound of spring at CSCUSA is a sweet one indeed, and it’s been the sweetest season for my family.
Sarah Tuff Dunn
Sarah Tuff Dunn recently moved to Louisville, Colorado, with her husband, Carlton, and their two children, Dillon, 12, and Harper, 10. They’re looking forward to exploring the world-class skiing in Colorado, aided by the Colorado Ski Country 5th and 6th Grade Passport Program. Sarah has been writing professionally for nearly 25 years and her work has appeared in The New York Times, SKI, Skiing and Powder, among other publications. Read more of Sarah’s stories here and follow along with her Colorado skiing journey here.
