It's All About The Mountain at Copper

Those who have been to Copper know, it's all about the mountain. One sure thing both couch surfing ski bums and ski in-ski out condo owners can agree on, is that Copper is a mountain unlike any other. It has personality. It has soul. And like an "all-you-can-eat" buffet, it has something for everyone. This distinction is credited in part to an award-winning trail system that enhances the mountain's unique geographic features and high alpine environment. Naturally divided terrain actually separates snowriders by their ability levels. Moving from west to east, the mountain offers increasingly steeper and more challenging terrain, facilitating easier access to desired areas and reducing the "traffic jam" effect that is common on some ski mountains.

For never-evers and beginners less comfortable on the slopes, specially designated Family Ski Zones are in place across the mountain, allowing guests to ski and ride together at their own comfortable speed. Family Ski Zones are designated areas located on beginner and intermediate terrain on the West Side of Copper Mountain. These areas, in addition to what Ski Magazine readers have dubbed Copper's "Gold Medal" grooming capabilities, provide a perfect environment for families and more mellow skiers and riders.

For intermediates, the center is the place to be. Two high-speed quad lifts fan out from The Village at Copper servicing a variety of mid-level runs. As skiers and snowboarders gain confidence, they can slowly head east towards Copper Station and the Super Bee lift - Copper's high-speed six-passenger chair lift. On this side of the mountain you'll find world-renowned intermediate and advanced trails such as Andy's Encore, boasting 2,400 vertical feet of cruising and Copperopolis, the site of the 2001 women's World Cup Giant Slalom competition.

More adventurous skiers and riders will enjoy Copper's four high alpine bowls. World-class glades, steeps and bumps will challenge even the most experienced athletes. From the top of the Super Bee, skiers can drop off the back side to Resolution Bowl or head up the Storm King surface lift. This option takes skiers and riders to over 12,300 feet and drops them off on what feels like the top of the world - Copper Peak. From here, two more of Copper's four high alpine bowls, Spaulding Bowl and Copper Bowl are accessible. The fourth, Union Bowl, home of the infamous "Onion Roll"- a huge kicker that forms in early season by the settling of avalanche debris, can be reached from either Copper Bowl via the Mountain Chief lift or by the Sierra chair on the front side of the mountain.

Perhaps Copper's best-kept secret, a free snowcat is operated by the resort from the base of Copper Bowl to the top of Tucker Mountain. An area of the mountain previously available only to those willing to make the 45-minute hike, a snowcat now brings guests to the mountain's 12,337-foot peak. From the peak, Fremont Glades, The Nacho and The Taco all possess steep, consistent pitches, providing a perfect canvas for an epic powder session. Copper offers these free snowcat trips on a first-come, first-served basis Wednesday through Sunday when conditions permit. Because of a number of factors, there is no guarantee that the snowcat operation will be running on any given day.

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