April in Colorado?

Still trying to figure out a Spring vacation. Someone here suggested going to Moab to hike and SLC to ski and that sounded like a great idea. Air fares are reasonable, but it turns out you can't rent a car in SLC and leave it in Moab. It is long and expensive to fly from SLC to Moab because all the flights go through Denver.
So that brings up the idea of April in Colorado. I suppose I could ski someplace near Denver, fly to Moab, hike, and fly home. That is rather more reasonable.
Is there anyplace near Denver with decent snow in April. Please bear in mind that I am not really looking for powder; just a decent vertical covered with something other than the ice we laughably call snow in WNY.

On Saturday, November 2, 2013 2:54:58 PM UTC-6, Toller wrote:



It's a 5 hour drive to Moab. And it's a nice one once you leave Provo. Go through Price and Green River. You could ski 3/4 day and be in Moab for late dinner. Spend a couple of days and be back in SLV for a few more ski days. Or go to Zion NP and ski Brianhead?

On 11/02/2013 05:54 PM, pigo wrote:

It's a 5 hour drive to Moab. And it's a nice one once you leave
Provo. Go through Price and Green River. You could ski 3/4 day and be
in Moab for late dinner. Spend a couple of days and be back in SLV
for a few more ski days. Or go to Zion NP and ski Brianhead?

I love Brian Head.

I heartily recommend the drive from Mexican Hat (261) -- Moki-Dugway
-- Left on 95 -- Left on 24 to Capitol Reef. Google says under 4
hours, but it deserves a whole day at least. There's so much beautiful
stuff in Utah it's not possible to pick the best places. "It's all
good" is the perfect description.

--
Cheers, Bev
Sign on restroom hand-dryer:
"Push button for a message from your congressman."

On Sunday, November 3, 2013 9:23:55 AM UTC-7, The Real Bev wrote:

There's a back way through Capitol Reef near Bullfrog Marina at Lake Powell too. Great area! Most of it is just dirt road. But there is one switchback section that I wouldn't want to do without 4x4 if wet.

On 11/04/2013 08:42 AM, pigo wrote:

On Sunday, November 3, 2013 9:23:55 AM UTC-7, The Real Bev wrote:
There's a back way through Capitol Reef near Bullfrog Marina at Lake
Powell too. Great area! Most of it is just dirt road. But there is
one switchback section that I wouldn't want to do without 4x4 if
wet.

I think Moki-Dugway was dirt when we decided NOT to take the motorhome
down; we wanted to do that drive on motorcycles anyway. So there's a
real road that's nastier than that?

I nearly ran out of gas coming back and stopped at the campground where
the road crosses the river/lake to try to buy gas. A boater gave me a
couple of gallons and wouldn't take money for it. Sometimes people are
nice.

Somewhere east of Capitol Reef I remember a real paved road so steep we
had to unload the motorcycles from the trailer and dump the water tanks
on the monsterhome to get to the top. Theretofore I had thought that a
big engine with an automatic could go up anything reasonable, just
slower. I was wrong.

--
Cheers, Bev
---------------------------------
aibohphobia - fear of palindromes

On Monday, November 4, 2013 11:18:24 AM UTC-7, The Real Bev wrote:

Moki is different I think. I'm talking about the Burr trail. Not one of the main roads the last time I took it. There is a hiway that goes through the park too.

On Monday, November 4, 2013 10:18:24 AM UTC-8, The Real Bev wrote:
On 11/04/2013 08:42 AM, pigo wrote:



On Sunday, November 3, 2013 9:23:55 AM UTC-7, The Real Bev wrote:

There's a back way through Capitol Reef near Bullfrog Marina at Lake

Powell too. Great area! Most of it is just dirt road. But there is

one switchback section that I wouldn't want to do without 4x4 if

wet.



I think Moki-Dugway was dirt when we decided NOT to take the motorhome

down; we wanted to do that drive on motorcycles anyway. So there's a

real road that's nastier than that?



I nearly ran out of gas coming back and stopped at the campground where

the road crosses the river/lake to try to buy gas. A boater gave me a

couple of gallons and wouldn't take money for it. Sometimes people are

nice.



Somewhere east of Capitol Reef I remember a real paved road so steep we

had to unload the motorcycles from the trailer and dump the water tanks

on the monsterhome to get to the top. Theretofore I had thought that a

big engine with an automatic could go up anything reasonable, just

slower. I was wrong.



--

Cheers, Bev

---------------------------------

aibohphobia - fear of palindromes

Back in the 80's, I bought a used Chevy delivery van and converted it myself into a pauper's motorhome - sleeping platform (that perfectly fit the mattress from a convertible sofa), a 20-gallon watertank with a handpump over a sink sunk into a butcherboard counter top, but not much else. The walls and ceiling were paneled and insulated, but it didn't cut the winter cold or summer heat much.

On one of our first trips, I took it down to San Felipe in Baja, and while out exploring one day I followed what looked like a well-traveled road - it was actually a section of the Baja off-road race course that year, which soon ran into a sand wallow in a dry creek bed. I spent most of the afternoon digging out of that, in the middle of which I would have given the keys to anyone who gave me a ride back to the border.

On Saturday, November 2, 2013 2:54:58 PM UTC-6, Toller wrote:
Still trying to figure out a Spring vacation. Someone here suggested going to Moab to hike and SLC to ski and that sounded like a great idea. Air fares are reasonable, but it turns out you can't rent a car in SLC and leave it in Moab. It is long and expensive to fly from SLC to Moab because all the flights go through Denver.

So that brings up the idea of April in Colorado. I suppose I could ski someplace near Denver, fly to Moab, hike, and fly home. That is rather more reasonable.

Is there anyplace near Denver with decent snow in April. Please bear in mind that I am not really looking for powder; just a decent vertical covered with something other than the ice we laughably call snow in WNY.

All the ski areas in Summit County Colorado are about an hour and a half from Denver and most close around mid April. Loveland and A-Basin both stay open later and they usually all have good coverage that time of year. You can drive to Moab from there but you may want to consider someplace closer like Frutia on the Utah/Colorado line. They have lots of great hiking and biking trails and it's only about a 3 to 4 hour drive from Summit County.

On Sunday, November 3, 2013 11:27:58 AM UTC-5, wrote:

All the ski areas in Summit County Colorado are about an hour and a half from Denver and most close around mid April. Loveland and A-Basin both stay open later and they usually all have good coverage that time of year.

A key advantage of the Summit Co areas for spring is their high elevation, which delays the arrival of spring conditions. Breckenridge and Copper are good bets also, but if you're in the area, I'd definitely do a day at A-Basin.

Dave

Turns out a one way rental is absurdly expensive, so I guess that leaves flying into SLC, renting a car, skiing, driving to Moab, and back to SLC.

I will have more questions in a months or two.

I appreciate (almost) everyone's help.