Loveland Ski Area

Infobox ski area
name= Loveland Ski Area

picture= Loveland.jpg
caption= View of Loveland Ski Area from above the Eisenhower Tunnel
location= Colorado, USA
nearest_city= Silverthorne, Colorado
lat_degrees= 39
lat_minutes= 40
lat_seconds= 48
lat_direction= N
long_degrees= 105
long_minutes= 53
long_seconds= 49
long_direction= W
vertical= Basin: ft to m|2210|round=0
Valley: ft to m|850|round=0
top_elevation= Basin: ft to m|13010|round=0
Valley: ft to m|11250|round=0
base_elevation= Basin: ft to m|10800|round=0
Valley: ft to m|10400|round=0
skiable_area= 1365 acres (5.52 km²)
number_trails= 77 total
13% beginner
41% intermediate
46% advanced/expert
longest_run= 2 miles (3.2 km)
liftsystem= 11 total (3 quad chairs, 2 triple chairs, 4 double chairs, 2 surface)
lift_capacity= 14,293 people/hour
terrainparks= 1
snowfall= 400 in/yr (1020 cm/yr)
snowmaking= 160 Acres
nightskiing= None
external_link= http://www.skiloveland.com|

The Loveland Ski Area is a ski area located near the town of Georgetown, Colorado. The area is a one of the closest to the Denver metro area and Front Range corridor making it popular with locals [ [http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/dec/31/loveland-ski-area-closed-day/ Rocky Mountain News] ] . It is located within the Arapahoe National Forest.

Description

The Loveland Ski Area is the combination of the Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley Ski areas. The 2 areas, formerly connected by a double chair lift, are now serviced by bus. The Area is one of Colorado’s highest ski areas with a summit of 13,010 ft. and the second highest lift served areas in North America at 12,697 ft. The ski area takes its name from Loveland Pass, which separates it from the Arapahoe Basin ski area.

It is situated on the East side of the Eisenhower Tunnel, through which I-70 crosses the Continental Divide. Because it sits atop the Continental Divide, Loveland is typically one of the first ski areas to open and carried the title for 6 straight seasons until A-Basin won the race in the 2006 season. [ [http://origin.denverpost.com/news/ci_4482864 A-Basin wins opening contest The Denver Post, October 13, 2006] ] . Also due to its location and elevation, it often has shorter lift lines and less-expensive lift tickets, but at the expense fewer trails and on-site amenities. Its unique location atop the Continental Divide and volume of natural snow makes Loveland one of the best places in Colorado to ski powder.

Loveland Basin Ski Area

The Basin is the larger of the 2 areas that comprise of Loveland Ski Area. It features a vertical drop of ft to m|2410|round=0, a base of ft to m|10800|round=0 and a summit of ft to m|13010|round=0 [Loveland Ski Area 07/08 Season TrailMap] . The Basin is home to 6 of the 8 lifts and 85% of the total skiable acres. Another feature of the Basin is the vast amount of terrain which is above timberline.

The Basin is the home to the main lodge of the area as well. Facilities at the lodge consist of the ticket tower, a rental and repair shop, lockers, a retail area, ski patrol, a nursery, and administrative offices. The retail sport shop has been awarded the Gold Medal Shop Award by SKI Magazine ranking it as one of the top 60 shops in North America.

"The Ridge @ Loveland" is the lift served area off chair 9 at an elevation of ft to m|12697|round=0 and is hikeable to the summit at ft to m|13010|round=0. It features almost entirely Black and Double Black runs. It also has 360 degree vistas that stretch across and beyond the Continental Divide.

Loveland Basin also has a Terrain park named "Love Park". It is situated at the top of Lift #6 in the Basin. The Park has terrain for everyone from beginners to advanced riders and includes Rails, Funboxes, Tabletop jumps, Kickers. The Park occasionally hosts competitions like the Vert Alert and the Rail Jams.

Loveland Valley Ski Area

The Valley is geared toward beginners at Loveland. It has only 2 lifts, one serving its intermediate runs and another that exclusively serves its beginner slope, All Smiles. Generally, its slopes are gentler which suits itself well to be the home of Loveland’s Ski and Ride School.

Loveland Valley has a smaller lodge building that consists of the Ski and Ride School office for both adults and children, a ticket office, a rental shop, lockers, a cafeteria and bar, and a retail area.

"Loveland Race Club" is also located within the Valley. The Club practices and races at the upper end of the Valley’s Switchback Trail. Practices are held every afternoon and races are held on the weekend. The Club also has a lodge just below the base of Lift #3. [ [http://www.lovelandracing.com Loveland Racing Club] ]

History

Loveland was first opened as a ski area in 1936 by J.C. Blickensderfer. Mr. Blickensderfer installed a portable tow rope in what is now Loveland Basin. The following year, operations were taken over by Al Bennett who used a modified Model T to power the tow. In 1941 the area was named Loveland Ski Tow Inc. and through the 40’s the area grew to boast 4 tows.

Many changes occurred during the 50s and 60s which made the Ski area much more accessible. In 1955 Loveland Ski Tow Inc. was purchased by stockholders and Peter Seibert, the founder of the Vail Ski Resort, would be hired on as the General Manager. 1955 also brought about Loveland’s first chair lift, Chair 1. Chair 2 was added in 1957 as was the Mambo Café which was situated near the base of what is now Chair 4. Several other General Managers passed through the Loveland Ski Area through the years too. Loveland also saw the construction of the Eisenhower Tunnel in the late 50s into the early 60s and saw it go directly through the area. Chairs 3 and 4 were also constructed during this time period.

The 80s and 90s brought about several upgrades to existing equipment. In 1984 snowmaking capabilities were installed. In 1985 the #2 Chair was upgraded to a high capacity Lift Engineering Yan triple. The late 80’s also saw the construction of expanded lodge facilities at the Valley area. The #8 Chair, a fixed grip quad, was installed to access intermediate and advanced terrain in 1990. In 1995 the Basin’s lodge was remodeled and expanded. Lift #3 was replaced in 1996 with a Poma High Capacity Quad and 1998 saw the installation of Lift #9 which provided access to The Ridge. [ [http://www.coloradoskihistory.com/areahistory/loveland.html Colorado Ski History] ] [ [http://www.lovelandskipatrol.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=4&MMN_position=6:6 Loveland Ski Patrol History] ]

External links

* [http://www.blakeops.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=co06lovelandskiarea Pictures taken at Loveland in Spring 2006]
* [http://www.myspace.com/lovelandskiarea Loveland's MySpace]
* [http://www.skiloveland.com/ Loveland Ski Area]
* [http://www.3dskimaps.com/index.php?path=loveland 3dSkiMap of Loveland Ski Area]
* [http://www.skimap.org/skiarea.php?id=515 Historic and current ski maps of Loveland]

Notes