Now's the time to hit the slopes! Colorado's newest ski area is back with backcountry terrain for all levels.
If you've ever wanted to try out backcountry skiing but didn't know where to start, Bluebird Backcountry has you covered. Colorado's first backcountry ski area, which opened for a two-week trial last year, moved locations to Bear Mountain and will be opening for its first full season. The new site serves to provide backcountry ski areas for all levels, from beginner to expert.
The new location features about 1,200 acres of inbound terrain continuously monitored for avalanches in addition to 3,000 guided-only acres out of bounds. The highest elevation is just shy of 10,000 feet, a little more than 1,000 feet above the base elevation. There are no lifts up the slopes, so be prepared to climb your way to the top! There are seven marked skin tracks to help skiers hike up.
All the Bluebird Backcountry terrain is ungroomed, so you're in for some of Colorado's best natural skiing conditions. The longest run is 1.4 miles, and the slopes range in difficulty from green (beginner) to double black and extreme (expert). Check out a map of the ski area here.
If you've tried learning backcountry skiing, you know it's hard to master on your own. Bluebird's owners hope the Bear Mountain location will serve as a great spot to learn to backcountry skiing. You won't need a friend or family member to show you the ropes or have to purchase thousands of dollars in gear and classes. Bluebird Backcountry prides itself on offering the basics of backcountry in one place. Beginners can rent the right skis, take lessons, learn avalanche safety, and warm up in one of the several huts on the mountain.
If you're ready to start your foray into backcountry skiing, you can purchase an early bird season pass here. There are only 500 early bird passes available. The season pass gives you:
- Unlimited access to Bluebird's 1,200 acres of private backcountry terrain (no reservations required)
- Five free nights of camping
- One free day pass for a friend, including five 20 percent off day-pass vouchers
- Priority access on reservations for friends, lessons, rentals, and guides
- 10 percent off rentals, food, and merchandise at the mountain
Bluebird Backcountry plans to open December 24 and close March 28. The ski area will be open Thursday through Monday each week.
Bluebird Backcountry has also taken measures to ensure local and state COVID-19 safety guidelines are in effect. They cap the number of guests at 200 to ensure physical distancing and open terrain. The ski area will also have a contactless check-in, limited lesson group sizes, mask requirements, and cleaning procedures. They are also implementing a flexible refund policy. Read more on their guidelines here.
Have you tried backcountry skiing? Tell us in the comments below!
