Silverton Mountain

Looking for information about Silverton Mountain.
Thinking about booking a guided trip. Wondering if anyone has any input.

Thanks
Ed

I enjoyed it, and would recommend guided unless you go with someone who knows the layout, as a few of the nice open runs end in nasty cliff outs.

The have just one 2-seater chair lift with ~2K of vert, and then a boot pack that can add another 1K (fun hike from  12.4-13.4 K) up to the top of billboard.  Only a couple of the chair accessed runs come back tot he base, the rest require a shuttle bus pick up. They break you out into groups based on ability, ie intermediate, advanced, expert. Opting for the expert group meant more hiking mostly, as all of the terrain is considered advanced/expert.

At $139/day it's sort of like less expensive cat skiing, our groups typically got 5 runs/day guided and it's hard to get more than 6 but some people end up with less due to the high altitude and their conditioning. An element of snow farming to contend with if it's an extended dry forecast but game on with the storm skiing.

Thanks for the info MoFro.

I am considering Silverton, as well as White Grizzly Cat Skiing. I have done the Monashees a few years back, could also be on the list.

Ed

Do it.

Wear AT boots, depending on your group you can put some mileage in on the bootpack.

gaper pro vid from a day last march: vimeo.com/88621992

It is an experience unlike any ski area I've ever skied. Unique.  A really good time, great terrain, great vertical, hike up the hillary step weeds out the uninitiated, and top to bottom skiing every run.

Go check it out.

Thanks for the feedback and reply. All is appreciated.

I would be riding the snowboard if I go.

I run, workout and waterski 3X week (summer), but I am still a little weary of the altitude. Sure, I probably need to buck up and go....you know, quit being such a p*ssy and go snowboard!

Combine Silverton with Telluride?

Ed

Yes. Absolutely. Posh and Poverty in the same trip. Be sure to STAY in Silverton, it's a great town. But soak in the hot tub at Telluride first perhaps.

I snowboarded both trips to silverton, it's a down-mountain ski to shuttles so no traverses. And yes, altitude can be an issue. It is 13,000+ off the top. So the stay in Telluride will get you acclimated.

Do it! I highly recommend 2-3 days there.

Here's my trip report: blog.mattgoyer.com/archives/2010/03/06/h...-silverton-mountain/

Happy to answer any questions you might have...

I did Silverton on my yearly bro trip two years ago.

Silverton is real hidden gem, both the town and the mountain. Very cool operation up there. The snow was subpar, it had been really warm the previous couple days. Still found some good hidden goods. Yes, serious elevation (coming from the PNW), be ready for some 12k-13k bootpacking. We had been splitting/hiking around Summit County the precious week to get ready but were still destroyed by the elevation. We also sis the infamous rope rappel on our ski out on one line. Craziness. Truly a unique place.

I do have some gripes though..... our guide was very impersonal and kind of a dick. I've heard great stories about having awesome guides, so it may have been just bad luck for our group. He was a 1st year guide I think. The other gripe is the serious "powder farming." The guides will set the line and if you don't 's' his turns, you'll get a talking to. No room for creativity at all. I understand the idea behind the powder farming, as they need to conserve snow for customers in the following days. Part of this could be the guide too. I dunno, just made it a bit constricting.

Overall, it was a great experience and one item I could check off my bucket list.

The Brills are nice people but
I wouldn't spend the $$ again.
For a hundred something dollars I think
We took like 3 or 4 runs, guided. Guide
Was not cool, and talk about farming, wow!
Our group of 8 was allowed 18 feet of space !
We toured the rest of our trip in the area
And had a great time. Continental snowpack
And all that.

I am moving away from the Silverton idea (although it looks sweet).

Back to cat and heli options here in the PNW/BC vicinity.