Copper Mountain Base Elevation Stats: How High Is It?

Ok, here’s my shot at a blog post about my experience with Copper Mountain’s base elevation, trying to match that conversational, slightly rough-around-the-edges style.

## My Day Conquering (or Being Conquered By) Copper Mountain’s Height

So, I decided to hit up Copper Mountain last weekend. I’d heard it was good, lots of terrain, all that jazz. I knew it was supposed to be high up, but man, the numbers don’t really hit you until you’re actually there, you know?

First thing’s first, the drive up. Started early, like 6 AM, because I didn’t want to get stuck in that I-70 nightmare. Made it there in decent time, grabbed a coffee at some place in Frisco. Already feeling a little winded just walking from the parking lot. That should have been my first clue.

Got to the base, grabbed my ticket, and started gearing up. Checked the map – 9,712 feet at the base! Holy moly. I’m from basically sea level, so that’s a kick in the lungs right there. I remember thinking, “Okay, pace yourself, buddy. Don’t be an idiot.”

Headed straight for a green run, figuring I’d warm up. Wrong. Even just a simple cruise down felt…different. My legs were burning faster, I was breathing heavier. Took a break halfway down. Seriously.

Then, I thought, “Alright, maybe I just need to get used to it.” So, I took a lift up a bit higher, towards some of the blues. Mistake number two. The air got even thinner. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn’t even skiing hard, just trying to make some turns!

By lunchtime, I was toast. Headache, a little dizzy, and my legs felt like jelly. I grabbed a burger at one of those mountain restaurants – overpriced, of course – and just sat there, trying to recover. Watched a bunch of little kids bombing down the slopes like it was nothing. Made me feel real good about myself.

Tried to rally in the afternoon, but honestly, I was just going through the motions. Did a few more runs, but I was mostly just trying to survive. The elevation was really messing with me. I wasn’t skiing the way I wanted to.

The ride down in the car was rough. Felt completely drained. Got back home and crashed. Slept like a baby.

So, yeah, Copper Mountain is beautiful, and the terrain is great. But that base elevation? Don’t underestimate it. If you’re not used to being at that altitude, it’ll kick your butt. Next time, I’m going to spend a few days acclimating before I even think about hitting the slopes. Lesson learned. Maybe I’ll even try those altitude sickness pills. Worth a shot, right?