Chicago Ridge
Chicago Ridge Colorado Snowcat Skiing
The Ski Cooper alpine resort offers an opportunity to get away from the flurry of activity that is found at nearby high profile ski resorts such as
Vail,
Keystone and
Breckenridge. You don’t have to stand in long lift queues, and fresh lines last much longer than just a nanosecond.
However if you
really want to get away from any crowds to ride abundant fresh powder lines, head outside the Ski Cooper resort boundaries with Chicago Ridge Snowcat Tours. You’ll only have to share the powder with a maximum of 11 other guests.
Check out our overview of the joys of
cat skiing if you want more information on why a powderhound would want to go snowcat skiing – it’s fabulous! Better yet, Chicago Ridge is amongst the cheapest cat skiing in North America, so that should get you grinning like a Cheshire cat skier or boarder!
Chicago Ridge Snowcat Tours
Chicago Ridge offers one day snowcat tours from 8:30am to 4pm. The package includes the guided cat skiing, use of an avalanche beacon for the day, and lunch.
Fat powder skis and deep powder snowboards are required by all guests. If you don’t have your own you can rent them for a very reasonable rate from the ski and snowboard rental shop at Ski Cooper.
Where is Chicago Ridge Cat Skiing Located?
The snowcat tours leave from Ski Cooper which is located 10 miles north of Leadville and 29 miles south of
Vail Colorado. Other nearby ski resorts includes
Copper Mountain,
Beaver Creek and
Breckenridge.
The closest accommodation for Ski Cooper is in Leadville where there are reasonably inexpensive hotels and motels. Alternatively there is a raft of
Vail lodging options, although these tend to be more expensive.
Cat Skiing Terrain
The cat skiing terrain is reasonably sizeable at 2,460 acres (996 hectares); 6 times greater than the size of the lift serviced terrain at Ski Cooper, and a similar size to Breckenridge or
Copper Mountain.
The top elevation is nice and high at 12,600 feet (3,840 metres), and the slopes vary in length from 3,000 to 10,000 feet, with vertical drops of approximately 1,500 feet per run. The average day consists of about 10-12 runs, but this is somewhat dependent on the speed of the group.
The terrain consists of open bowls and glades that are largely low angle. The cat skiing is suited to advanced riders who are comfortable skiing or snowboarding on a variety of backcountry snow conditions.
More Reasons to Cat with Ski Cooper
Cat skiing is a fabulous way to access backcountry terrain, and the Chicago Ridge snowcat is heated and delightfully plush so you can sit back in comfort. Considering the relatively inexpensive rates for the Chicago Ridge cat skiing, it seems criminal not to try it out.
The other benefits of snowcat skiing with Chicago Ridge are related to Ski Cooper. In addition to the affordable accommodation in Leadville, the ski resort pretty much has the cheapest lift tickets in Colorado. This is a local’s no-frills hill that is super friendly.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY: Scott DW Smith & Casey Day