Vail or Aspen Snowfall question (Colorado Springs, Durango: ski resorts, live, restaurants)

[designerjunkie]

Hello,

My husband and I are planning a trip to either Vail or Aspen this year. We have no intention on skiing. We're just going for the "winter wonderland" type scenery.

We were originally going in late October...but numerous reports have suggested November. What month would you suggest for a nice thick blanket of the "white stuff"?

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by designerjunkie

Hello,

My husband and I are planning a trip to either Vail or Aspen this year. We have no intention on skiing. We're just going for the "winter wonderland" type scenery.

We were originally going in late October...but numerous reports have suggested November. What month would you suggest for a nice thick blanket of the "white stuff"?

IIRC, most of the ski resorts don't really open until sometime in November, though a few will open earlier for the avid fans. IMO, best to come in late November through February, though snow does happen before and after those general dates. Last year there was little heavy snow until the week of Thanksgiving, as we were all over the area of Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Montrose, Somerset, Glenwood Springs, etc. As soon as we got safely back, the week of Thanksgiving, it unleashed up there. It varies from year to year, i.e., YMMV.

[designerjunkie]

Thank you. It's starting to look like sometime in November would be our target date.

[jazzlover]

Don't necessarily expect much snow. Colorado's heavy snow months are from February to April. Quite often, the ski areas do not have enough natural snow to open by Thanksgiving. That is why they have invested huge dollars in snow making equipment--which, of course, only sprays "snow" on the ski runs. Everything else may be brown. Yes, there can be plenty of snow by Thanksgiving or Christmas--but, statistically, November and December are the driest months or second driest months in much of Colorado--including the high country.

[wanneroo]

I lived in Vail for seven years with frequent trips to Aspen for work. November can be sketchy for snow in terms of the white blanket you are looking for at base/town elevation. I have suffered through many snow storms in November and then other times it has been dry and cold.

There is really no guarantee. You'll just have to come and you'll get what you get.

[80skeys]

IT's variable from year to year, but as jazzlover said, the heavy snow months are after the new year. Snow's just starting in october so it hasn't had a chance to pile up.

[Josseppie]

If you can go the first or second week in December you will have a better chance of seeing snow.

[sunsprit]

While both Vail and Aspen have their charm as towns in the winter months ... and can have a lot of snow on the ground by January/February in a good year ....

I can't help but think that if you're not going sking up there, then what's the attraction? Shopping? Some nice restaurants? People watching? (as in you can see the lowest last runs from the decks of a number of places at the base of the hill in Vail ... restaurants, lodging, shops).

IMO, you can head to a lot of other places in the Colorado Mountains where the "scenery" sans ski resort activity is "nicer" and much much less expensive for a snowy mountain town and get-away. For example, Summit county has a number of places that aren't ski resorts ... although skiing isn't very far away ... that will have all the snow you'll need for the "snow" experience.

For some of these towns, the winter season is "off season", and the rates are lower, the pace less frantic, and you may have more of a "winter cabin" type get-away if that's your pleasure.

At first glance, I'd think about Dillon/Silverthorne, Estes Park, Grand Lake, or the hills West of Colorado Springs, perhaps even as far west as Buena Vista. There will be snowmobiling activity around these towns, but it's a whole lot less activity than the major ski resorts ... and there will still be a lot of snow if the season has decent snowfall.

As others have pointed out, each year is it's own season ... I've skiied the Back Bowls at Vail in waist deep powder on opening day some years ago ... and I've also waited for enough snow back there in December/January to risk my good boards on much of the area. Nobody will know where or when the snow is here until it's here .... some resort towns may get dumped on while others may have a very thin cover of snow, and some years, everybody gets dumped on ... and too, some years, nobody has much snow.

As a final thought ... don't expect Kincaid New England type visions of a snowy winter wonderland town in Colorado ski resort towns. The storms blow through, drop their snow, and then the sunshine comes out ... melting a lot of snow from the scenery, or the dry winds sublimate a lot of snow and clear it without you ever seeing it melting. Plus, the snow in the high country here has a much lower moisture content than the NewEngland or Pacific Northwest snowfall ... snow it's not going to build up and stay through a winter like it does in those places.

[whoisjongalt]

Aspen is way more fun than Vail if you aren't skiing. Vail is basically a "planned community" built in the '60's and '70's with a faux Bavarian theme. Aspen was a real historic mining town with a decent sized downtown. Snow is iffy if you visit before the end of November. Also keep in mind the closer you are to Xmas/New Year's, the higher the prices...as much as %100 higher.

[Josseppie]

I agree, Aspen is much better. I go there a few times a year my self and if you want I can give you some resturant ideas as they have some great ones!