Loveland loves to be the first resort each season to offer lift-served terrain daily, and they lay claim to that fairly frequently. Credit a 10,600 foot base elevation and a snowmaking system devoted to covering 160 acres of early-season terrain at Loveland Valley.

Loveland is more like two areas, Loveland Valley and Loveland Basin, connected by a lift and shuttle system. The Valley is perfect for beginners and those just making the transition to intermediate terrain. Once this area, which has all the services you'll need, is mastered, ride the free shuttle or, on weekends and holidays, Chair 5 to Loveland Basin. Here, where I-70 disappears into the Eisenhower Tunnel, you'll find more challenging intermediate terrain and, way up high, Loveland's choice double diamonds. There are also several long green cruising runs, best for confident beginners with some mileage under their boards.

The Basin's groomed blue square trails are found off Chairs 4 and 6. But there's a real treat for intermediates off Chair 2: Take Fire Bowl down to a series of intermediate chutes which are perfect for practicing for the day when you head into the steep stuff.

The steep stuff at Loveland is available by riding Chair 9, a fixed-grip quad, to the 12,700 foot elevation mark, or by hiking from there along the ridge. Patrol and Primer Bowls await you to the left off the chair; climb from here through Super Bowl to Porcupine Saddle to Porcupine Ridge. The elevation gain to the highest point on the ridge is 310 feet-a lot or a little depending on how well you've acclimated to the high altitude.

Perched as it is on the Continental Divide and obviously at a very high elevation, weather-related closures of this terrain are to be expected, and respected.