Day 53
Location: Keystone, CO
Resorts: 26 out of 50
I used to work at Keystone way back in the day as a valet, so lots of memories as we rolled into the Montzeuma lot (free parking!) at River Run. I was curious to see how the mountain has changed in the last eight years.
The big news is that Keystone has expanded…a lot. They opened up a bunch of backcountry ridges for hiking. Or you can save your legs and catch a ride with the Outback Shuttle Snow Cat for five dollars. Make sure to bring cash. We couldn’t find an ATM anywhere on the mountain…I mean, it was such a nice day that we decided to hike.
We found the best untracked turns down in the South Bowl. It’s a gentle twenty minute hike from the top of the Outpost Express. While the walk up is pleasant, the run out seems to last forever. Our next destination was to take a much longer hike to the Erickson Bowl, but patrollers close the hiking areas at a much too early 1:30pm. They only let us go as high as The Stadium on the North Bowl.
Not ready for those wide open bowls, but still want to get a workout? Then check out The Windows. We took a quick hot lap through Wild Card, a densely gladed tree run that is reached by a cat groomed 15 minute hike.
And this only covers about half of the hiking areas. Independence Bowl and more of The Windows are on the list for our next visit. Keystone is frequently tagged as a tourist/family mountain, but with these new additions, there’s certainly some entertaining terrain for all skill levels.
There are loads of package deals for Keystone and you can scoop night tickets up on Liftopia, but honestly, if you were planning a trip to Summit County this winter and didn’t pick up the Epic Pass, that’s your loss. For $599, you get an unlimited pass to Breckenridge, Keystone, A-Basin, Vail, Beaver Creek, and Heavenly. It’s simply the best deal of the winter.
Apres-Ski Report:
Swing into the the super-chill Inxspot in the River Run Village. $3.00 bottles of beer during happy hour. They are cozy couches on the inside or a sunny patio if it’s a nice day. Lots of treats and coffee drinks along with free wi-fi.
The Cheat Sheet
Keystone Resort
U.S. 6, Keystone, CO