Hopefully you didn’t come to Boulder only to do chemistry, because if you did, you would be wasting some of the best recreation opportunities in the US. If you like to ski, Colorado has something for everyone, and there is plenty to go around. For those who prefer the comforts of lift-service skiing, there are the well-known resorts up in the mountains, an hour and a half to two hours from Boulder, that usually require a full day outing. There are various yearly passes available for these resorts with the most common being the Colorado Pass, which gives you unlimited skiing at Keystone, Breckinridge, A-Basin, and 10 days at Vail or Beaver Creek for $320. Information about these passes can be found on www.snow.com.
However, if you value your time, and are more interested in skiing than driving, Eldora Resort is only 35 minutes from Boulder. Although Eldora is considerably smaller than the larger resorts, it is also considerably cheaper (year pass for $99), and considerably less crowded, and caters to a local crowd more concerned with skiing than parading down the mountain in the latest ski fashions. For more information about Eldora Resort you can check out their website at www.eldora.com.
If you like to cross-country ski, or backcountry ski, there are plenty of opportunities for all levels and interests. Eldora has the closest groomed tracks that is home to many Nordic races during the winter, and is a popular spot on the weekends for the casual Nordic skier. The Nordic center at Eldora rents cross-country, telemark, and backcountry ski equipment, as well as lessons for anyone looking to learn to travel on skis. With 45 km of groomed trails, and 650 acres of backcountry to explore, Eldora has a lot to offer close to Boulder. There are also good cross-country ski areas up I-70, namely the Frisco Nordic Center, Devil’s Thumb and the Snow Mountain Ranch, but these will require most of the day, as they are around 2 hours from Boulder. These places charge around $15/day to Nordic ski, while the season-pass at Eldora includes the Nordic trails. There are also numerous backcountry trails in the Indian Peaks area within an hour drive of Boulder.
Some students find that it is not a good idea to get a pass in your first year, unless you are a diehard skier and/or are willing to brave the weekend crowds. Since most of your time as a first year is spent teaching and taking classes, you will not be able to get away during the week very easily. An alternative to a pass is to instead buy ticket packs (before ski season starts) for about $15-20 per lift ticket and use them when you have time. Then, if you can hold out for one year, you will definitely enjoy your 2nd year and beyond as most students can frequently slip out of the lab to go catch the fresh powder on a weekday when it’s not that busy.
