Lonely Planet Colorado (Travel Guide) by Planet Lonely & McCarthy Carolyn & Benchwick Greg & Pitts Christopher

Author:Planet, Lonely & McCarthy, Carolyn & Benchwick, Greg & Pitts, Christopher [Planet, Lonely]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications
Published: 2014-03-31T21:00:00+00:00

Minturn

Pop 1023 / Elev 7861ft

Squeezed between the burgeoning luxury condominium and resort developments of Vail and Beaver Creek, Minturn is a wonderful respite in Eagle County. This small railroad town along the Eagle River was founded in 1887 and its shops and homes retain the coziness and charm of a place that really has been around for a while. If you prefer real town ambience over faux Tyrolean architecture and fur coats, Minturn makes an excellent base.

THE MINTURN MILE

If you’re itching to head off the grid, consider the Minturn Mile. One of the most famous ‘out-of-bounds’ ski runs in the world, you can access it from the top of chairs 3 or 7 on Vail Mountain.

At the top of the turn on Lost Boy, stay left and hike up to Ptarmigan Ridge. Here you can take the access gate and begin a descent of 3 miles to Minturn. Advanced skills are a must as you’ll encounter a wide range of terrain – starting in a bowl and veering through the trees. At about the midway point you’ll find the ‘beaver ponds,’ a terrific place to take a break and catch your breath before hitting the Luge, an old fire road that gets narrow in spots and will lead you the rest of the way down.

Know that you’ll be skiing into an area beyond the resort boundaries; it is not patrolled. If you get injured, you’ll be on your own, and if you require rescue it will come at considerable expense. It’s best to ski along with someone who has prior knowledge of the terrain and route, and be sure to have proper gear, equipment and an updated report on conditions (if you go too early in the season the thin coverage could be a nightmare). Of course, it is, by all accounts, a magnificent experience – one of the best in the Vail swirl – and requires a toast at the Minturn Saloon upon arrival.

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