Mountains get worse each year :( (Loveland: costs, moving, transit)

[Colorado Rambler]

It takes me an hour and a half to drive from Cortez to Telluride. I hate having to wake up by noon to make it out to the slopes. There otta be a law!

Seriously, after reading through this thread, I am never ever going to move back to the Front Range even if the housing prices there ever become affordable again. Even if I end up dying an early death due to lack of access to quality medical care. I-70 would take even more time off my life. The entire stretch of I-70 from Denver to Vail should be torn up and replaced with a hiking trail, complete with helpful Sherpa's to guide travelers to the places with the best powder/packed powder. It would be much faster and far more soothing than the current nightmare with the name I-70. When I lived in Colorado Springs, I'd drive a hundred miles out of my way on Highway 50 to avoid 10 miles on I-70.

[Careerist]

Originally Posted by SkyDog77

Skied at Loveland today with the kids. We left the house at 7:35am. It took 1:15 to get to Loveland, so an extra 15 minutes vs no traffic.

We left for home at noon. I took the toll lane and saved a few minutes, but traffic wasn't bad at all with the exception of a little slow down at Georgetown.

I don't have a lot of experience driving up there in the winter, as this is my first ever ski-season. But from what I have seen, it's usually not bad unless there is precipitation. That's about the only time I've seen it slow down quite a bit.

[MN_Ski]

Originally Posted by Careerist

I don't have a lot of experience driving up there in the winter, as this is my first ever ski-season. But from what I have seen, it's usually not bad unless there is precipitation. That's about the only time I've seen it slow down quite a bit.

So true.

I was reading something a few weeks back (I have no source but I'm sure someone knows where to find this if I'm wrong), but it was saying that skiing traffic/guests has only increased 11% since the 90s. Now, I'm not sure if that means per day, per season, per pass, etc...I'm guessing there are more weekly EPIC pass skiers today than in the past.

There really isn't an issue with the volume of cars and number of lanes. Traffic only happens when there are car accidents or when snow is falling. On a clear day with no accidents, the traffic is fine, and you will only see a 5-10 min delay near Idaho Springs.

The one thing that DOES suck however is Westbound in the mornings, where it goes from 3 to 2 lanes. It seems like if you don't clear Idaho Springs before 615am, you will get stuck behind that massive bottle neck. It also seems like every Sat and Sun, there are slow semis barely making it up the initial incline just adding to the congestion and aggressive drivers trying to race each other.

[himain]

Originally Posted by MN_Ski

So true.

I was reading something a few weeks back (I have no source but I'm sure someone knows where to find this if I'm wrong), but it was saying that skiing traffic/guests has only increased 11% since the 90s. Now, I'm not sure if that means per day, per season, per pass, etc...I'm guessing there are more weekly EPIC pass skiers today than in the past.

There really isn't an issue with the volume of cars and number of lanes. Traffic only happens when there are car accidents or when snow is falling. On a clear day with no accidents, the traffic is fine, and you will only see a 5-10 min delay near Idaho Springs.

The one thing that DOES suck however is Westbound in the mornings, where it goes from 3 to 2 lanes. It seems like if you don't clear Idaho Springs before 615am, you will get stuck behind that massive bottle neck. It also seems like every Sat and Sun, there are slow semis barely making it up the initial incline just adding to the congestion and aggressive drivers trying to race each other.

It really depends on what time you get on the road. If you leave around 6 you'll be fine. If you leave after 8 you will hit traffic

[Timmyy]

Shameless plug to lighten up the mood. If you need a break from the traffic stop at the Silverthorne Dunkin Donuts. My buddy owns it.

[Careerist]

Originally Posted by Timmyy

Shameless plug to lighten up the mood. If you need a break from the traffic stop at the Silverthorne Dunkin Donuts. My buddy owns it.

We go to a place in Frisco called Silverheels. I don't know the person who owns it, but it has some of the best food I've had in the state of Colorado. Happy hour is between 4pm-6pm, so it's a perfect layover if you're leaving the ski resorts at the end of the day.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by Careerist

We go to a place in Frisco called Silverheels. I don't know the person who owns it, but it has some of the best food I've had in the state of Colorado. Happy hour is between 4pm-6pm, so it's a perfect layover if you're leaving the ski resorts at the end of the day.

I swear there was a place in the heart of Golden called Silverheels when we visited in 1995, but didn't find it when we moved to Colorado in 2005 and our wait person said she'd never heard of it. We made a trip to Golden to go back to it as it was that good but it wasn't there....

[Careerist]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

I swear there was a place in the heart of Golden called Silverheels when we visited in 1995, but didn't find it when we moved to Colorado in 2005 and our wait person said she'd never heard of it. We made a trip to Golden to go back to it as it was that good but it wasn't there....

Interesting. It doesn't appear that they relocated to Frisco from Golden. Their website is linked below. I usually get their chicken wings on happy hour. I kid you not, they are like baby back ribs; they are not like any other chicken wings I've had, and I've had a bunch.

Silverheels Bar & Grill - Frisco, CO Restaurant

[Timmyy]

Originally Posted by Careerist

Interesting. It doesn't appear that they relocated to Frisco from Golden. Their website is linked below. I usually get their chicken wings on happy hour. I kid you not, they are like baby back ribs; they are not like any other chicken wings I've had, and I've had a bunch.

Silverheels Bar & Grill - Frisco, CO Restaurant

There is a place in Littleton called The Shack that has giant buffalo chicken wings. I wonder how similar they are.

Now back to the topic. I haven't been up to the mountains in a while so I don't have much to offer. I see my friends facebook photos of the drive up and back and it doesn't look fun. They have a condo in Dillon so they stay up there on the weekends.

[Phil P]

Originally Posted by PetiteMinette1

We left Keystone on Sunday at 3:50 and got home (east Denver) at 5:50. We probably spent 30 minutes on I-70 just getting to the tunnel. We took the toll lane.

Originally Posted by SkyDog77

Skied at Loveland today with the kids. We left the house at 7:35am. It took 1:15 to get to Loveland, so an extra 15 minutes vs no traffic.

We left for home at noon. I took the toll lane and saved a few minutes, but traffic wasn't bad at all with the exception of a little slow down at Georgetown.

I think the first few weekends this year were exceptionally bad (when I made this thread), but it seems to be more normal now, from what I've heard. I should have just waited and counted that as the exception.

Still haven't made it up 70 though cause Monarch has so much snow I had to go there instead. It was gorgeous. Trees had feet of snow still hanging on the branches.