PLANETSKI HITS WINTER PARK
28th February 2018 | James Cove, Winter Park
Last modified on November 10th, 2021
Resorts are offering alternatives to skiing & snowboarding. In Winter Park, Colorado, we’ve been ski-dooing and a few other things besides.
Usually I spend my days in ski resorts, er, skiing.
Not today.
I’m going for a ride on a ski-doo first and then a couple of other activities.
Pardon?
But it is not on any old skidoo and it is not to any old place.
It is a 604 stroke Bombadier ski-doo thay sell for more than $12,000.
And the destination?
The top of the Continental Divide in the Rockies in Colorado, along a disused rail track high above Winter Park.
Fittingly it was along a disused rail track as I had just arrived by the track that made it obsolete and wrote about the journey here as I arrived:
I was shown how to work the beast and it was surprisingly simple.
A throttle to accelerate, no gears and a single brake.
“Most people crash going round corners, so take it easy and stay in control,” said my guide for day, Bret.
“‘Remember we have your credit card and these babies don’t come cheap.”
It was a thought I kept with me as we set off.
Winter Park, Colorado. Image © PlanetSKI
The runs of Winter Park were in the distance but I knew where I would rather be.
Winter Park, Colorado
On a disused rail track heading up to 3,500m.
Winter Park, Colorado
There was evidence of the rail road.
Winter Park, Colorado
Winter Park, Colorado
Construction of the line from Denver to Winter Park over the Corona Pass started in 1904.
On our ski-doos we made it to near the top.
But by 1928 the line was was closed – the 6.5 mile Moffat tunnel was started in 1923 and completed in 1927.
It had been dug deep through the Rockies so the long slow climb up and over, with countless switchbacks, was a thing of the past.
The Moffat Tunnel, Colorado
On our ski-doo journey down we hit the single tracks through the trees.
It was almost as much fun as skiing.
Winter Park, Colorado
Winter Park, Colorado. Image © PlanetSKI
Winter Park, Colorado. Image © PlanetSKI
And 2-hours later we were back at Winter Park Village.
What a day so far.
And what views from the top:
Winter Park, Colorado. Image © PlanetSKI
Winter Park, Colorado. Image © PlanetSKI
But jumping on to a ski-doo rather than a pair of skis?
Next thing you know I’ll be………. 
And after tubing (I made it to Lane 3 BTW) it was clearly time for some après ski, Winter Park-style.
A drink (hot chocolate) and live music (acoustic) by the fire.
Winter Park, Colorado. Image © PlanetSKI
The resort offers such activites for free each day of the week.
Coming up…Image © PlanetSKI
I will be writing a full PlanetSKI resort review of Winter Park later this week, so do check back if you want my observations.
Suffice to say if you want to know where to buy beer help is on hand from the Resort Hosts.
Where’s the beer shop? Image © PlanetSKI
“Just over there….”
And, er, there is some tricky skiing to be had… but more of that later.
EX is beyond doube-black diamond.
Double black diamond and beyond…Image © PlanetSKI
So, what have I made of my first visit to Winter Park?
Love it.
Check back to find out why
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