Keystone’s new lift opens high mountain to skiers of all levels

For twenty years, the gorgeous terrain above timberline in Keystone’s Bergman and Erickson bowls was reserved for snowcat excursions and hearty souls prepared to hike for it. That modified three weeks in the past with the grand opening of a elevate that takes skiers excessive into the alpine setting at 12,282 ft, treating them to among the most opulent views in Colorado snowboarding.

Not solely does the new Bergman Express lift make those bowls easily accessible, however it additionally serves terrain appropriate for knowledgeable inexperienced persons and intermediates. That’s uncommon for high-alpine snowboarding.

“I get so excited to have the ability to deliver these novice skiers into the excessive alpine,” stated Kolina Coe, Keystone’s director of mountain operations. “So usually, newbie terrain or intermediate terrain is snowboarding to the parking zone. This chance to get them into the mountains and have that sense of exploration is what drove me every single day to finish this venture.”

Bergman Bowl has a dozen blue runs and one inexperienced path, which resort officers say is without doubt one of the highest inexperienced runs within the U.S. Subsequent to Bergman is Erickson Bowl, which is rated black with a few of Keystone’s steepest terrain together with rock drops and in depth glades.

Glenn Schultz, who splits time between properties in Dallas and Breckenridge, adopted the development of the elevate final summer season from 9 miles away with a recognizing scope. He skied Bergman Bowl with a pal final week.

“It was a whole lot of enjoyable,” Schultz stated. “It’s actually huge open. We’ll positively come again over. It’s good intermediate terrain. It’s good that you could get the bowl expertise with out having to do breakneck cliff jumps.”

Schultz’s pal, Kevin McGlensey, lives in Southern California and has a rental in Breckenridge.

“I believe it’s nice that they opened up that entry,” McGlensey stated. “Straightforward to get to, but it’s terrain that intermediate skiers usually wouldn’t be snowboarding.”

The views are spectacular. To the west are 14,266-foot Quandary Peak, Breckenridge Resort, the peaks of the Tenmile Vary, Lake Dillon — eight miles northwest and three,000 ft beneath — and the Mount of the Holy Cross, an iconic fourteener 10 miles southwest of Vail.

“It actually does really feel such as you’re on prime of the world,” Coe stated.

Bergman and Erickson bowls are positioned on Keystone Peak, which isn’t to be confused with the “entrance aspect” of Keystone. That’s generally known as Dercum Mountain, which tops out at 11,640 ft. The summit of Keystone Peak is 2 miles farther southeast and almost 600 ft greater than Dercum Mountain.

Skiers can hike the ultimate 125 ft from the highest of the brand new elevate to the summit of Keystone Peak, which reveals a 360-degree view that features the Continental Divide and two fourteeners — Grays and Torreys — within the japanese panorama.

A mile and a half north of Keystone Peak is Independence Mountain. Beneath its 12,600-foot summit lies the huge expanse of Independence Bowl, which is accessible from the Bergman Categorical with a brief traverse. Snowboarding that requires a hike out of the bowl to get again to the Bergman Categorical, although.

Lest inexperienced persons fret about snowboarding ungroomed snow, the inexperienced path from the highest of the elevate to the underside will probably be groomed commonly.

“I believe that’s what’s going to get them hooked on this sport, to make them wish to come again and have that feeling they get after they see (the views),” Coe stated. “That feeling you get of pleasure, whereas being on a inexperienced path, is what’s going to maintain them coming again. It’s going to make them lifelong skiers.”