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7 Reasons This is Going to Be the Best Winter Ever

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It’s a divisive time in this country, but there’s one thing we can all agree on: The winter of 2020/21 was one emotional roller coaster of a ski season. Closed resorts. Crazy-competitive reservation systems. Trying to maintain six feet of distance in lift-lines and at crowded trailheads. No snow, then too much snow. Our heads are still spinning.

But despite it all, we at Bluebird Backcountry have to say it’s been one of our favorite seasons yet. It’s been amazing to see the Bluebird community grow over the past year. There’s been a real sense of camaraderie on the mountain, and nothing has gotten us through this year like watching skiers and riders come down the hill with ear-to-ear grins on their faces.

All that said, we sure are stoked for the 2021/22. If we were betting types, we’d bet a brand new pair of Helio Recons that this upcoming season is going to be the best we’ve ever seen. Here’s why.

 

Ain’t no party like a post-COVID party. We can’t wait. Photo: Kathryn Ciamaichelo

1. The parties are going to be awesome.

We love solitude and quiet backcountry tours as much as the next person, but there’s something special about really celebrating when the turns call for it. Post-pandemic, we’re stoked to be able celebrate more—and with everyone we can think of. Aprés beers at the Dean West? Go ahead—invite friends. Disco Friday conga line? Hell yes, you can touch my shoulders. Want to help me shotgun this summit beer? Don’t mind if I do.

 

We just read your palms: There’s definitely love in your future. Photo: Justin Wilhelm

2. You’ll actually be able to see your date’s face.

This Valentine’s Day, we launched our first ever Lovebirds Ski Dating Event. It was a huge success, but, man, are we looking forward to the end of pandemic dating. You heard it from us: 21/22 is the season to find love.

 

Make this your year of self-improvement: Save when you bundle AIARE courses with a season pass. Photo: Erik Lambert

3. There will be even better deals on passes.

This past year saw a boom in backcountry skiing interest. Next season, we’re stoked to keep serving all those amazing, curious new athletes with even better deals on passes, including a Weekday Season Pass and a Next Gen Season Pass for skiers and riders aged 26 or under. (Included: buddy codes, a free guest pass, five nights of free camping, and more.) We’re also offering all-inclusive packages for great deals when you combine passes, lessons, and/or avalanche courses.

 

Time to pack up the van and crank up the volume. Photo: Justin Wilhelm

4. Carpooling will be officially back in style.

As a human-powered ski area run on solar energy, we pride ourselves on being a low-impact operation. We’re stoked to boost our personal sustainability cred even further by carpooling to the mountain, which will get way easier post-pandemic. Plus, there’s nothing like jamming out in a packed car to make the drive go by fast.

 

Do you roll deep? Post-pandemic, you can invite literally everyone you know to come crash at your place. #partyhouse. Photo: Justin Wilhelm

5. You can really pack out the Air BnB.

Let the reunions begin! Save money and revel in the slumber-party vibes by making your place the ski pad of the century. Post-pandemic, inviting your friends to crash with you will be just as easy as asking to try a sip of their beer (oh, the good ol’ days). Pro tip: The quirky Eastin Hotel in Kremmling is one of our favorite spots.

 

Test-drive some brand-new skis next winter. Photo: Justin Wilhelm

6. You’ll get to shred on brand-new rental skis and boards.

There’s nothing like making the first turns of winter in a glossy, snappy, playful new set of planks. To start the 2021/22 season off right, we’re bringing in a shiny new set of rental skis and splitboards. (Grab a Season Pass now to lock in discounts on rentals all season long.)

 

We’re proud to call Bear Mountain our home, sweet, home. Photo: Justin Wilhelm

7. We’ve finally got a mountain that feels like home.

Maybe you’ve already heard the good news? After a few seasons of trying out different locations, Bluebird Backcountry is officially returning to Bear Mountain next year! (*Cue fireworks.*) With 4,200 acres of gentle glades, steep chutes, and quad-burning ascents to explore, Bear Mountain is the perfect home for Bluebird Backcountry.

Haven’t been? Come one, come all—we can’t wait to show you around.

 

Bluebird Snow Report: 3/31/21

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Base Depth: 45″
Past 7-Day Snow Total: 8″
Current Conditions: Melt–Freeze, Corn Snow, Mashed Potatoes, Slush, Soup, Glop, Spring Skiing!

Skin Tracks 100% Open: West Bowl, Lost in the Woodwards, Meat Hill, Elkhide Uptrack, Ruder’s Ridge, Continental Divide, Wapiti Way.

Downhill Zones: West Bowl, the Hundred Acre Woods, the Whumphing Willows, Meat Hill, the Bearclaw Meadows, Ursa Major, Ruder’s Ridge, Skyline, Krem de la Krem, Cow Call, Plume.

Last week’s Thursday / Friday storm brought a surprise powder day to Bear Mountain: 8″ of fresh with soft turns and big smiles.

This weekend will be closing weekend for Bluebird Backcountry’s first full season, and we’re going out with a bang! Warm temps and spring skiing will be in full swing Friday, continuing through to Saturday and Sunday. Expect full-on “beach conditions” with highs in the mid 50s, dipping just below freezing with clear skies at night. Hopefully with this weather pattern, the snowpack will set up just enough at night to be supportable in the morning, and ripe with corn by 10:30.

Friday and Saturday will be relatively calm, with a slight westerly breeze on Sunday. Watch out for variable snow and sub-snow hazards as our snowpack begins to melt.

Bring out the sunscreen, gaper outfits, apres attitude, and let’s finish the season strong! We’re open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. After that, see you next year!

Photos: Erik Lambert

Bluebird Snow Report: 3/24/21

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Base Depth: 47″
Past 7-Day Snow Total: 3″
Current Conditions: Spring Skiing! Melt-Freeze, Corn

Skin Tracks 100% Open: West Bowl, Lost in the Woodwards, Meat Hill, Elkhide Uptrack, Ruder’s Ridge, Continental Divide, Wapiti Way.

Downhill Zones: West Bowl, the Hundred Acre Woods, the Whumphing Willows, Meat Hill, the Bearclaw Meadows, Ursa Major, Ruder’s Ridge, Skyline, Krem de la Krem, Cow Call, Plume.

Last week, spring was in full swing at Bear Mountain! With soft riding conditions in the afternoon, and a poppin’ apres scene at the base + lots of live music, the vibes were high.

Thursday and Friday will bring a short blast of winter back to the Northern mountains, with lower temps and a 80% chance of snow showers. Bluebird may pick up 2–4 inches of fresh snow before the weekend brings back the sunshine and warm afternoons.

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday will be sunny spring riding conditions: firm in the morning and a full-on corn harvest in the afternoon!

Highs for the weekend look to be in low- to mid-40s, with steady winds out of the west blowing 7–10mph, gusting higher at times.

This is our final full week before one last 3-day run April 2–4. Lots of music, events, Friends of CAIC fundraisers, education, and of course skiing on the calendar! See you out there.

Photo: Rob McLennan

Photo: Emily Simmons

Photo: Justin Wilhelm

Bluebird Snow Report: 3/17/21

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Here’s the latest from the mountain!

Base Depth: 55″
Past 7-Day Snow Total: 8″
Current Conditions: Powder, Wind Drift, Corn

Skin Tracks 100% Open: West Bowl, Lost in the Woodwards, Meat Hill, Elkhide Uptrack, Ruder’s Ridge, Continental Divide, Wapiti Way.

Downhill Zones 100% Open: West Bowl, the Hundred Acre Woods, the Whumphing Willows, Meat Hill, the Bearclaw Meadows, Ursa Major, Ruder’s Ridge, Skyline, Hammerdown, Krem de la Krem, Cow Call, Plume.

While last week’s upslope event favored the Front Range, Bear Mountain picked up another 8 inches of new snow between Saturday and Sunday. High winds on Sunday blew this snow around, drifting 1-2 feet in places with plenty of soft riding conditions.

Thursday and Friday look to be beautiful spring days on the mountain. With highs near and above 40, and calm conditions, get ready to break out your Hawaiian shirts and sunscreen!

Winds will pick up over the weekend, bringing chances of snow Saturday, Sunday, and into Monday. Bear Mountain is expecting 3-6 inches from this system.

Highs for the weekend look to be in the mid 30s, with stiff westerly winds gusting up to 25mph on Saturday afternoon.

Snow, sun, or stars, we are finding every week packed with fun:

Photo: Justin Wilhelm

Photo: Erik Lambert

Photo: Erik Lambert

Photo: Justin Wilhelm

Bluebird Snow Report: 3/10/21

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Here’s the latest from the mountain!

Base Depth: 48″
Past 7-Day Snow Total: 6″
Current Conditions: Melt Freeze, Wind Drift, Corn

Skin Tracks 100% Open: West Bowl, Lost in the Woodwards, Meat Hill, Elkhide Uptrack, Ruder’s Ridge, Continental Divide Skin Track, Wapiti Way.

Downhill Zones 100% Open: West Bowl, the Hundred Acre Woods, the Whumphing Willows, Meat Hill, the Bearclaw Meadows, Ursa Major, Ruder’s Ridge, Skyline, Hammerdown, Krem de la Krem, Cow Call, Plume.

Last week, Thursday morning brought us 6 inches of fresh snow at Bear Mountain. This storm passed quickly, leaving a sunny and warm Saturday and Sunday filled with great spring skiing.

This week, a low pressure system approaches from the southwest, bringing lots of moisture our way. While it’s shaping up to be a large upslope event, Bear Mountain can hope to pick up another 6 inches from Wednesday through Thursday.

Friday–Monday, winter moves back into Northern Colorado, with chances of snow every day.

Daytime temperatures will sit in the mid-20s, and nights dipping into the low teens. Calm winds will come from the south and east, gusting up to 12mph.

Ski the sun path this weekend, starting with more solar aspects in the morning (think West Bowl and The Far Side), and moving to the predominantly northern aspects as they warm in the afternoon.

A slice of our spring conditions last week:

Photo: Doug McLennan

Photo: Justin Wilhelm

Photo: Doug McLennan

Photo: Justin Wilhelm

Photo: Justin Wilhelm

Bluebird Snow Report: 3/3/21

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Here’s the latest from the mountain!

Base Depth: 52″
Past 7-Day Snow Total: 4″
Current Conditions: Packed Powder, Wind Drift, Corn

NEW Skin Tracks Open: Wapiti Way. All skin tracks now open!

NEW Downhill Zones Open: Cow Call, Hammerdown, Krem de la Krem, The Plume. All runs now open!

 

We have a good chance of a small storm coming in tomorrow morning. The storm’s southern track won’t hit us directly, but is expected to drop 4–6″ in the rabbit ears range, a nice refresh for our warming snowpack.

After that, a ridge of high pressure will persist into early next week, bringing clear and warm days with daytime temps creeping into the high 30s and low 40s, and nights dropping back into the teens.

The skiing and riding on northern and eastern slopes remains cold and wintery, with more solar aspects beginning to see the melt-freeze cycle we associate with the transition to spring conditions.

In typical Colorado fashion, it looks like we’re gonna get a chance to break out the leis and gaper outfits early this year, before hopefully being plunged back into winter by late March storms.

Here are a few photos from The Far Side, which just opened last week:

Photos: Erik Lambert

Bluebird Snow Report: 2/24/21

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Here’s the latest from the mountain!

Base Depth: 58″
Past 7-Day Snow Total: 6″
Current Conditions: Packed Powder, Wind Drift

Skin Tracks Open: Continental Divide, Elkhide Uptrack, Lost in the Woodwards, Meat Hill, Ruder’s Ridge, West Bowl

Downhill Zones Open: The Bearclaw Meadows, Hundred Acre Woods, Meat Hill, Ruder’s Ridge, Skyline, Ursa Major, West Bowl, The Whumphing Willows

Last week, Bear Mountain saw flurries of snow almost every day, but did not pick up the accumulation we were hoping for. The cloudy skies and blowing winds kept the snow fluffy and light however, with endless refills on leeward slopes and in the trees.

After a relatively calm, clear Wednesday and Thursday, low pressure moves back in for the weekend with chances of snow Friday – Sunday. With the active weather pattern will come consistent westerly winds, gusting up to 30mph at times. Daytime highs will be in the mid 20s, with nights dropping into the single digits.

Thanks to our Ski Patrol, Operations Team, and recent snowfall, look for new terrain openings on The Far Side this weekend!

Photo: Jeff Woodward

Bluebird Snow Report: 2/17/21

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Here’s the latest from the mountain!

Base Depth: 58″
Past 7-Day Snow Total: 27″
Current Conditions: Powder, Wind Drift

Skin Tracks Open: Continental Divide, Elkhide Uptrack, Lost in the Woodwards, Meat Hill, Ruder’s Ridge, West Bowl

Downhill Zones Open: The Bearclaw Meadows, Hundred Acre Woods, Meat Hill, Ruder’s Ridge, Skyline, Ursa Major, West Bowl, The Whumphing Willows

It seems like winter is finally here to stay at Bear Mountain, and let us tell you, it’s DEEP!

Last week’s storm system came in warm with lots of moisture, greatly improving skiing and riding conditions especially in the trees. The storm departed on a colder note, only after leaving a fluffy layer of northern Colorado’s finest powder on top of the wetter snow.

Through Friday looks chilly, with lows in the single digits and highs not topping 20 degrees during the day. Saturday and Sunday will see slightly higher temps, reaching into the mid 20s. Winds from the southwest and west will pick back up on Thursday a.m., and continue to gust up to 30mph through the weekend, though the trees are holding snow nicely.

The active weather pattern looks to keep up into the weekend, with steady flurries through Sunday. Bear Mountain should pick up another 5–8 inches, and hopefully the new snow will bring us closer to opening the entire mountain. See you out there!

Photos: Brendan McCue

Bluebird Snow Report: 2/10/21

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Here’s the latest from the mountain!

Base Depth: 45″
Past 7-Day Snow Total: 40″
Current Conditions: Powder

NEW Skin Tracks Open: Continental Divide, Elkhide Uptrack, Ruder’s Ridge

NEW Downhill Zones Open: The Bearclaw Meadows, Ruder’s Ridge, Skyline, Ursa Major

Hello February! We had a great week of snow at Bluebird. Thursday and Friday we saw 6″ each day and woke up to 15 light fluffy inches on Saturday. Plus another 13 inches on Sunday, for a storm total of 40″ — perhaps the most of any ski area in the state.

With good skier compaction and snow falling most of the weekend, the mountain is well-covered and riding great. We were able to treat our guests to new lines and fresh pow on directed tours of the north face of Bear Mountain on Monday. This new zone doubles our open acreage and adds far more challenging terrain. The north face is expected to be fully open starting tomorrow, Thursday 2/11 and through most of the season. Wind on Sunday night stiffened some north-facing slopes, but the trees have preserved the snow quite nicely in this area.

The forecast is smiling at us again this coming week. Snow started falling Tuesday afternoon, and we expect a nice fresh coat before opening again on Thursday. The weather pattern that has been benefiting the southern mountains in January is giving the Northern mountains its due. The forecast gets even better for the weekend with mild temps and snow Friday and Saturday. Hallelujah.

Bluebird Snow Report: 2/3/21

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Here’s the latest from the mountain!

Base Depth: 33″
Past 7-Day Snow Total: 9″
Current Conditions: Powder

Skin Tracks Open: Lost in the Woodwards, Meat Hill, West Bowl

Downhill Zones Open: The Hundred Acre Woods, Meat Hill, The Shire, Slumpy Ridge, The Whumphing Willows (New!)

February is here, and here comes the snow! We have been anxiously awaiting the next storm, forecasted to hit the state and especially our Northern Mountains. The storm should arrive today and ramp up Thursday night. After the initial blast, the storm continues over the Northern Mountains all the way through Sunday.

The storm is forecasted to come in rather warm and exit cold , just the way we like it (right side up!). Wednesday’s high is forecasted to be in the low 30s while Thursday’s high temp will hover around 15 degrees. Snow is in the forecast every day with impressive numbers accumulating over the duration of the storm. Yay!

Last week Bluebird Backcountry’s guests were treated to a great mix of powder, sunshine, and great riding. We are constantly evaluating new terrain in an effort to provide the very best experience possible.

Photo: Doug McLennan

Photo: Danielle Maxey

Photo: Jeff Woodward