Skiing

Keystone is one of Colorado's premiere ski resorts, offering some of the best skiing in the Rocky Mountains. In addition to its spectacular setting and miles of ski terrain that ranges from easy (Green) to extremely challenging (Black Diamond, plus its OutBack Bowls which offer near-wilderness skiing), Keystone has two major advantages over its Colorado competitors: its extensive snow-making equipment, and its lighted slopes for nighttime skiing (unfortunately, nighttime skiing won't be open until Thanksgiving). Most ski areas in Colorado aim for an opening day by Thanksgiving (November 22nd this year), so Keystone is usually able to open a full month earlier than its competitors, although the type and number of runs are limited.

Keystone takes extraordinary efforts to be the first ski area in the U.S.A. to open for skiing each year, having invested a great deal of money in its state-of-the-art, computer controlled snowmaking equipment. Although ski areas in New England often "open" earlier and grab the headlines, they usually open only briefly, then close again until there is sufficient snow to sustain the ski season. When Keystone opens, it stays open for the remainder of the skiing season, and it does not open until it has good snow that it can sustain from that day forward.

If you are thinking "bone-chilling temperatures and heavy snow," you are thinking of December and later. The weather in the Keystone area during late October through early November is usually mild and warm during the day (shirt-sleeve weather at mid-day is typical), with very cold nights (the temperature plummets as soon as the sun goes down).

Significant snowfall does not usually begin until later in November; however, there was enough snow (natural and man-made) during our 1997 – 2001 conferences that they were able to open a few runs. Keystone depends only on those cold nighttime temperatures (and its snow-making equipment) for early opening; it does not need to rely on either natural snowfall or cold daytime temperatures.

The snow guns are aimed to deposit their snow into huge rolled piles called "whales." These whales remain "beached" along the side of ski runs, where they are shaded by trees. Obviously a big pile of snow melts much more slowly than a shallow layer spread across the entire run. Keystone keeps adding to these piles until there is enough snow to cover a run from top to bottom. All they need is nighttime temperatures in the range of 28 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 2 Celsius) – these low temperatures are not needed to preserve the snow after it has been made, but rather to have the snow guns operate properly to produce a high-quality snow. Daytime temperatures are not much of a worry unless we get unseasonably warm weather, such as temperatures in the range of 70 degrees Fahrenheit or greater (21 degrees Celsius); temperatures in those ranges would be unusual, but not at all rare, at this time of year.

Colorado weather is famously unpredictable, and no one can say what the weather holds in store for the week of Colorado Software Summit. However, based on recent years there is an excellent chance to get in some skiing while you are here. I personally would not bring my own skis, however; I would prefer to rent for this "get a jump on the ski season" opportunity.