The coveted Opening Day: some live for it while others try their hardest to avoid it.
Whichever way you lean, something about that first spin of the chair holds a certain mystique. It also brings the people. So after I saw photos of the lift lines at Arapahoe Basin’s opener in October, I was a bit nervous driving to Breckenridge for their’s a couple weeks ago. But after a few hours, I remembered something. Being a die-hard and claiming first-day honors on the hill—and at the après scene—is usually worth the crowds and limited trail selection.
At Breck, the sun matched the stoke, and the lines never got too long. Even better, the snow was pretty ideal! A small storm over the weekend softened things up, and cold air kept the fresh snow around through the week.
With a higher capacity chair than most of the other resorts open, Breck managed to keep lines short and manageable. The trails definitely got a little bit crowded at times, but with two trails open that comes with the territory. This time of year, mornings are often frenzies, but the crowds die out in the afternoon. So if you don’t mind a little slush and ice, the late day excursion provides tons of laps with minimal wait times.
If you find yourself heading up to Breck early season, maybe stop off at Daylight Donuts or the Columbine Cafe for some breakfast. Let the lines die down as you quench your hunger at these go-to breakfast spots. If you’d rather grab some coffee, Cabin Coffee is always a great option. And a hint for next year: if you happen to make the trip before November 15, you can park for free in the Gondola Lots.
Although early-season skiing is not quite face-shots and steep chutes, it’s still skiing. Making turns keeps us coming back, and November skiing is all about rewiring those connections between brain and ski legs. Add autumn sun and the last bits of warm weather, and it’s downright bliss. Do yourself a favor. Shake off the rust, and get out to slide some snow this fall. You won’t regret it!
