Silverton Mountain - Skiing the Steepest Resort in Colorado
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ค. 2024
- Silverton Mountain is a hidden gem in Colorado - an "experts only" single lift ski resort with some of the most extreme terrain in the country!
Welcome to another episode of Tips Up. We are actually still in the San Juan Mountains. We are just coming off our OPUS Hut trip, which was the previous week's episode, and we are now in Silverton, Colorado. Silverton is a totally unique place. If you've never heard of it, that's probably for good reason. It's a bit of an underground ski resort. I think even using the ski resort term isn't totally accurate. It's essentially, a lift service, back country ski area, so in terms of the type of skiing and the type of training you have here, it's really like nothing else in the U.S.
It's really steep terrain. They actually market it as an expert only resort. I think you could probably get away with being an intermediate skier here. However, the terrain is completely unpatrolled. It's completely ungroomed. You actually need a full set of Abbey gear to even get on the lift. They will do a beacon check for you before you get on the lift, because really, there's no facilities here. It's really a special place. If you're a hardcore skier and you really like an untamed ski experience, then Silverton is the place for you. They do get a ton of snowfall. I think they get about 400 inches a year, which is far more than we get in Bracken, more than most of Colorado, actually.
If I was to summarize Silverton and summarize the experience of this mountain, it is super rad. The snow here is amazing. The terrain is some of the most challenging in the whole state, probably, and I think if you're a real expert skier, looking for some really good ski conditions, Silverton is 100% the place that you should come to. That said, the conditions suck right now, so we're in the parking lot drinking a beer.
What does the snow quality feel like under your feet?
Chalky, not quite spring-like, I would say. On the precipice.
Then on the other side?
Re-frozen chunder bullshit.
The ski area is unique, in the sense that it's actually only one lift. It's one fixed grip, double lift that was actually hand dug by the founder of the mountain. The guy who started this back in 2002, I believe it was, it was 20 years ago now, he basically had a vision for a back country oriented ski resort. This Silverton resort is what has come of that. There is no running water here. There is no lodge facility. There is basically nothing here. There's zero facilities, so it's certainly not a place to take families. It's certainly not a place to have a full on resort-like experience.
They might have a good place, because I think would not many people have hit it, so it was really .
You can see the shuttle bus pulling up behind me right now, but that's another cool thing about the mountain, is that there's a full suite of transportation options to get you to and from places on the mountain. Once you do get up to the lift, most of the time, you'll be hiking anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. Most of the fun terrain you want to ski is a hike away. Then, you'll ski into another basin and the shuttle bus will pick you up and bring you back to the base.
Another cool thing about Silverton, and perhaps the most unique and most special, is the fact that it is a heli-operated mountain as well. It's the only place in the USA you can buy a single heli drop, like an ad hoc, to add onto your ski day, so if you wanted to, you could come here, ski two or three runs and then take a lift to the top. The helicopter will actually pick you up. You can hear it and see it coming over right now. It will take you from the top, across the base and access some newer terrain.
It's really Plains, Trains & Automobiles up here.
Yeah.
Oh, my god.
Putting my skis on my back, so we can go on a nice, long hike and find some fun terrain, but this pack actually has a shitty ski carry.
Yeah. The sound of the heli's pretty smooth. - กีฬา
“Conditions suck, so we’re in the parking lot drinking beer.” Best laugh! Thank you!
I met the owner at the trade show in Vegas like 20 years ago when he was just getting it started. I always wondered exactly what was going on there. Thx!
Great video. I love Silverton, we stay at the Avon hotel which is an experience in itself
Very cool, moving to CS in June, looking to really get into skiing/MTB once there. I'll drive the camperVan up and ski a couple days when snow hits, kinda a long drive for a 2 days trip. PS, got an Epic pass, so maybe we will ski a run together :)))
It's worth it! You're decently close to Monarch, Breck, Loveland, A Basin, etc. from CS...
Cool video. I live over against the east San Juans which are the la Garitas. Been exploring alot and grew up skiing wolf Creek. I did alot of back country up in Jones pass which was steep and sweet. Used a sled to drop off at the top. I see I need to make it here..
Silverton is awesome! Though the steepest skiing in Colorado is in Crested Butte. I rode that Silverton lift when it was in Mammoth CA. Fun note; they held speed skiing comps in Velocity Basin, way before the ski area was there.
That Silverton lift is from Mammoth? That's so funny, Mammoth is my favorite mountain.
Looks amazing!
It's worth the trip!
Snow conditions aside, sum bitch this looks amazing! On the checklist. Thanks for the info. Good vid✌
Mountain bikers have a certain way of skiing. Fewer mogul makers make it better for wild souls - right? All the best, frever!
it's funny to here Silverton referred to as a "resort". It's a ski area, yes, but not so sure it's a ski "resort"
Ha, fair point. Definitely not a resort in the traditional sense!
What vest were you all using? Whatvest?
Yes, exactly! The Side Hustle. Great for short tours and lift accessed OB.
Im from oklahoma, been skiing a dozen times or so, 60ish days of experience. Im skiing silverton this year, so help me!
how was it
When you say some runs could be intermediate, do mean like east coast single diamonds or actual squares? Signed, East coastie. Really would love to experience this place but damn it’s intimidating. BTW, I just ordered a set of Adapts today after trying a buddy’s last weekend. Look forward to the nice designs.
There is beginner terrain for sure!
Having skied 6 inches of powder there this last week I'm trying to think of a green or blue run and nothing comes to mind.
It's a different place. There arent really any children and very few women even. Just a lot of committed dudes with facial hair, radios, beacons and then the heli drops are another world.
can I ski will yall please?
Anytime.
Careful agreeing to randos asking to ski with you, you may end up with magic carpet folks like me showing up😂