Winter Park End of Season Ski Pass

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Chris

photo by Scott Hefel

Ski April for $99 at Winter Park Resort

Winter Park Resort is offering an end of season ski pass from April 9th till end of ski season for $99. Now that is a screaming deal.

Planned closing of Winter Park and Mary Jane Ski Resort is April 22nd this year (and don’t forget Winter Park Spring Splash is that day). So for $99 you can ski 13 days at a total price of $7.62 per day. Now that is a grand ski bargain price.

Check out the Last Blast Pass on the Winter Park Resort website.

Last Blast Pass valid for all-day lift access April, 9-22, 2012. No blackout dates, photo pass, non-transferable. Advance purchase 48 hours in advance of first day of use required.

ADDED BENEFIT: Free garage season pass with purchase of Last Blast Pass, good from date of purchase through 4/22. Show purchase receipt at the parking hut to redeem.

Weather has been very warm this ski season and the skiing should be classic blue sky mashed potato turns through April 22. Winter Park Resort Lodging is at the best price of the year now and it is a great time to be on the slopes of Winter Park and Mary Jane.

If you are wanting to get the last turns of the year in with great weather the Last Blast Pass is a perfect way to get on the slopes and not break the bank.

Here is to spring skiing at Winter Park and Mary Jane!

Winter Park Resort Ski Hill Hours

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Chris

New Spring Skiing Hours Winter Park

Starting April 9th, Winter Park Resort will have new hours of operation. In order to use Mother Nature to our fullest advantage, the lifts will start and end one hour later in the day, providing the best ski experience possible for the rest of the ski season.

New Winter Park and Mary Jane Lift Operation Hours (effective 4/9/12):
Monday – Friday: Open 10:00 AM and Close 5:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: Open 9:30 AM and Close 5:00 pm

Why is Winter Park making this change?

Snow Conditions and Guest Experience! Given the range of temperatures between day and night and thaw/freeze conditions, Winter Park is making this shift to allow an extra hour in the morning for snow to soften, and an extra hour in the afternoon when the light is good and snow is softer. By taking advantage of afternoon light provided by daylight savings time, this will improve the on-snow experience.

Telluride Ski Resort initiated a later start and later close a couple of weeks ago and it has been a very popular decision according to Telluride.

In addition, this will allow us an extra hour to sleep in and enjoy the benefits of daylight savings time – including enjoying a leisurely breakfast and some nice late-day snacks and beverages at one of the many bars with sunny deck seating at Winter Park and Mary Jane!

With new spring hours and great weather you should book your Winter Park ski lodging now for some great spring skiing! Check out the best Winter Park Vacation Rentals with Winter Park Lodging Company.

Winter Park CO Spring Skiing

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Chris

Winter Park Mary Jane spring skiing deals

Photo by Scott Hefel

Spring Skiing Winter Park Mary Jane

The weather is starting to warm up some here Winter Park and we are in our snowiest month of the year, March. This means that the famous Colorado spring skiing is knocking at the door.

With the slow start of the snow falling this year this should can we will be getting great snow from mid March thru the very end of April and probably beyond into May. Not a great thing to hear for a mountain bike perspective but it should make for some of the best spring skiing conditions in years.

Spring is the best time of year to visit Winter Park Mary Jane Resort. The skies are blue and there is nothing more fun than Après on the patio of Lunch Rock or Club Car on the Jane side.

Lodging at Winter Park Resort is a great deal come April and most of the crowds are staying down in the lowlands. For those wanting to get the best skiing of the year spring is the time to head up to Winter Park.

The Winter Park Spring Splash is April 22 this year of 2012 and that is a day not to be missed. Usually great skiing and some of the best snow of the year should be around if things go as they have the last few years. March is the snowiest month here in WP and April is usually the third snowiest month of the year so there is always plenty of good skiing come springtime.

Check out the Winter Park Resort Lodging Lodging Deals and book now to get your first pick on your Mary Jane spring skiing vacation lodging digs.

Winter Park Resort #14 in Ski Magazine

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Chris

Top 15 Ski North American Ski Resorts: Winter Park

The Ski Magazine ski resort rankings are out and Winter Park Resort was one of the big winners. Ski magazine does their yearly resort rankings each October and this years rankings has Deer Valley, Utah as #1 and Vail as #2.

Winter Park Resort came in at #14 this year. Winter Park/Mary Jane jumped 8 spots in SKI Mag’s rankings to #14! The most moves out of all the North American ski resorts.

Down-to-earth feel. Nicely quiet at night. Serious skiing in the day! Winter Park Lodging Company couldn’t have said it better. With pluses of, Local favorite with a neighborly feel. And minuses of, Village and town lacking in dining and après ski.

On the minus notes we are getting new and better restaurants here in Winter Park. No, it is not Vail but who really wants that? As Ski Magazine said, Serious skiing in the day! Friendly locals and skiing that is what Winter Park, Colorado is about. Ski goes on about this a little bit: You still won’t find the dining or shopping that other Colorado resorts are known for, but there’s a sense of community here that you won’t find at those resorts either. Employees eagerly point you in the right direction or grab a wagon to haul your gear around the base— not because they have to, but because they want to.

Well sign me up, all skiing no pretension and friendly locals…. that sounds like a ski vacation. And yes this is Winter Park/Mary Jane, the #1 Colorado destination resort for snowfall. You can have the fur coats, the snooty lifties and all the shenanigans that Vail and Breckenridge throw at you. Give me my bumps, powder and tree skiing at Mary Jane and I will leave with a smile on my face.

So thank you Ski Magazine, finally someone is seeing the light, Winter Park Resort: a gem of a ski vacation destination.

Check out the complete top 20 North American Ski Resorts from Ski Magazine.

Best Bars in Winter Park, CO

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park Resort Area Best Bars

Beers and skiing go hand in hand like ski condos and hot tubs. We have finished, finally, the best burgers review for Winter Park, CO and since ski season is just about here we thought we would do what are the best bars here in Winter Park and the surrounding Fraser Valley.

There as many kinds of bars as there are beers and there is a place for each and every one of them. Local pub, restaurant bar, shot bar at the ski slope, sports bar, bar at the pizza place, the night club bar …. lotsa bars and we have them all here in WP.

What is your favorite and why is the question? Is it the selection of beers on tap, great location and view, the hotty slinging the swill, the bartender hooks you up with with free suds, great people watching (both sexes), what gets you to head out and plop your dollars on that bar?

I did a best place to get a beer in Winter Park a couple of years ago and all those places are still around but they are places to get a beer not necessarily bars (splitting hairs maybe?). So we are doing this top five bars for the start of this ski season. Remember we have some new places here in WP so lets not leave them out of the competition. Emilie’s wine bar, The Library Sports and Grill are two of the newbies that should be in consideration. We also have an older list of best patio to get a beer in Winter Park, CO. Lets not leave these, mostly, Winter Park Resort watering holes out of the equation either.

So here is how this works, I will post this blog on the Winter Park Facebook page and you all can recommend away either on the FB page or in the comments below this blog. I will take the top five and give those top five the old college try.

So here goes: What are the best bars in Winter Park, CO?

Winter Park Resort First Snow Contest Winner

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Chris

First Snow Winter Park, Colorado

We have a winner to our first snow contest here in Winter Park, CO. It has taken a little while to get around to announcing this but yes we have had a couple of snows since the first last week.

There were thirty five entries on our blog and about twenty five more on the Facebook post about the first snow contest and yes there was a lucky soul, ok maybe talented, who hit the first snow date. It was not a huge snow this year as last but it was over an inch and there is no disputing the picture to the left that it was a measurable snow last week.

So our first snow date for 2011 is, drumbeat please ………….. October 6th. Yes that was last Thursday and we have a winner. Stormy the snow predictor this year is Thomas Schneider. And Thomas pretty much hit the snow fall total also. Nice work Thomas! Here is the winning snowfall total post “The ‘dust’ is already at the top, so it won’t be long. That first 1/2 inch will come on Oct 6.”

The fourth Winter Park Resort first snow contest is now concluded and we hope that this relatively early snow and subsequent snow storms means that we are in for some La Nina powder this year. ALl the mountains surrounding Winter PArk and the Fraser Valley are now painted a nice white and it is looking as ski season is almost here. Today up at Berthoud Pass there were three a couple of impatient folk with there planks out looking to find some fresh lines down the hill. That is the spirit.

Well, here is to snow early and often all year long. Put the trail maps in the freezer and do the snow dance…..

LET IT SNOW, LET SNOW, LET IT SNOW

Exercise to Prepare for Ski Season if You Don’t Ski Winter Park Resort

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Chris

Ski Prep for those NOT coming to Winter Park Resort

We have a bit of a comical exercise program for all those that are planning to ski somewhere other than Winter Park Resort. While skiing can be a trying endeavor for all it is much more convenient and easier on the wallet here at Winter Park Resort.

SO if you plan on hitting the hills this year make sure you come to Winter Park, Colorado to avoid the exercise regimen below:

1. Visit your local butcher and pay $30 to sit in the walk-in freezer for a half an hour. Afterwards, burn two $50 dollar bills to warm up.

2. Soak your gloves and store them in the freezer after every use.

3. Fasten a small, wide rubber band around the top half of your head before you go to bed each night.

4. If you wear glasses, begin wearing them with glue smeared on the lenses.

5. Throw a hundred dollar bill away-now.

6. Find the nearest ice rink and walk across the ice 20 times in your ski boots carrying two pairs of skis, accessory bag and poles. Pretend you are looking for your car and sporadically drop things.

7. Place a small but angular pebble in your shoes, line them with crushed ice, and then tighten a C-clamp around your toes.

8. Buy a new pair of gloves and immediately throw one away.

9. Secure one of your ankles to a bed post and ask a friend to run into you at high speed.

10. Go to McDonald’s and insist on paying $13.50 for a hamburger. Be sure you are in the longest line.

11. Clip a lift ticket to the zipper of your jacket and ride a motorcycle fast enough to make the ticket lacerate your face.

12. Drive slowly for five hours – anywhere – as long as it’s in a snowstorm and you’re following an 18 wheeler.

13. Fill a blender with ice, hit the pulse button and let the spray blast your face. Leave the ice on your face until it melts. Let it drip into your clothes.

14. Dress up in as many clothes as you can and then proceed to take them off because you have to go to the bathroom.

15. Slam your thumb in a car door. Don’t go see a doctor.

16. Repeat all of the above every Saturday and Sunday until it’s time for the real thing.

The real thing would be November 16th, 2011 at Winter Park Resort this year. So book your lodging now with Winter Park Lodging Company and avoid the painful exercises above.

La Niña is Back, That little B****!

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Chris

La Niña Ski Season 2011/12 Winter Park Resort

She’s Baaaaack! The National Weather Prediction Center has made an updated outlook on the La Niña weather pattern for fall and winter 2011/2012. Looking like we are in for another strong La Niña weather pattern bring some great snowfall. Come on La Niña, you little b****.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center officially upgraded the La Nina Watch to a La Niña Advisory, which in essence means La Nina conditions are forecast to return for the fall and winter.

During September-November 2011, there is evidence that La Niña favors an increased chance of above-average temperatures across the mid-section of the country, and an increased chance of above-average precipitation for the Central and Northern Rockies.

Forecasters said La Niña contributed to extreme weather around the globe during the first half of this year and then faded, but has now re-emerged and is expected to gradually strengthen and continue into winter.

NOAA says there is a standing 50 percent chance of a secondary La Niña to follow a strong event as we had last winter. Usually the second dip is weaker than the first.

That said, last fall and winter didn’t really follow a typical La Nina script – La Niña didn’t really rev up until February and March. Perhaps this winter could be different since we have a head start now.

So, it’s good news for skiers, snowboarders, and rain lovers. It’s not good news for the south because La Niña has the opposite effect of maintaining very dry weather there. La Niña‘s also typically enhance the hurricane season, as we’ve already seen this year. If the La Niña of last year could be followed by another early one this year we will be looking at some great skiing.

Winter Park Resort had a great snow year last ski season with snow early and late combined a steady flow of storms. We did not have that one huge storm that we have become accustom to but the good flow of storms more than made up for that.

Winter Park Resort Improvements for 2011/2012 Ski Season

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park/Mary Jane Upgrades 2011/12 Ski Season

Winter Park and Mary Jane are making some improvements for this coming ski season. Even with the economy in the doldrums the last few years ski visits in the US and particularly Colorado have been on the upswing.

According to National Ski Areas Association, the United States had more skier visits in 2010-11 than any previous ski season in history, surpassing the 60 million mark. Colorado resorts accounted for more of these visits than any other state in the nation with more than one in five skiers choosing to ski at a Colorado resort.

Winter Park Resort had a good year last year as well and the Resort is plowing the money earned back into the resort to improve the on hill experience. Beginner skiers will see the biggest improvment this year with the Sorenson Trail Bypass. Beginners will now have an easier trail to the Village at Winter Park with the opening of the new Sorensen Trail Bypass.

Winter Park/Mary Jane is also adding a new snowcat for the groomed runs. Other capital at the resort has been re-invested into improving existing infrastructure and services.

This year looks to be a great year in WP. The weather pattern is looking to be neutral or another La Nina year with the same weather pattern as last years epic snow fall.

So lets get ready for November 16th when Winter Park Resort opens for ski season. The summer has been nice but we are ready for some snow.

Spring Skiing Winter Park Resort

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park Colorado April Spring Skiing

The snow has been just unbelievable this spring and the storms keep on coming in. Here is a video of some of the skiing that we have had here in Winter Park this April. It is a good thing that Winter Park/Mary Jane os open a week later than the past few years as the storms look to keep on dropping this fluffy white powder right through closing day and hopefully we will have POW day Winter Park Spring Splash.

The video was shot the first week of April after a nice dump of 11″ of snow that closed Berthoud Pass and left a play day for those that were here. Skiing are some of Winter Park’s finest residents: Nick Meyer, Chas McConnell, Kelly Glancy, Sarah Bradford and one of the not so finest, me. The snow was deep, fresh and untracked and was a great day all around. The whole of Winter Park and Mary Jane were exquisite but we were skiing the front side of Eagle Wind, Bella Fourche and my favorite The Weather Station Cliffs.

April is the unknown ski month here in Colorado. The weather is a little warmer and snow is usually a bit wetter. We can get some very big snow storms moving through and it is a great time to be on the ski hill. April is usually the third snowiest month in Colorado behind March and December. If you are looking to have a good time skiing when the big ski resort prices drop, April is the time to come.

Here is to spring skiing!