I have a free southwest flight I need to use. I'm thinking about heading to Colorado in May to ski A-basin for a weekend. Would this be worth it? How crowded does it get after the other resorts close? I know my chances of finding powder are slim to none, but it's still going to be better than anything else, sinc eeverything else is closed, right?
For a number of years a gang of 20-30 peeps from EpicSki (and DCSki) have gathered at A-B for Mother's Day weekend. They always seem to have good time, sometimes only 70% of terrain is open, but that's still pretty good stuff at AB. Don't hear them complain about bad crowds. Loveland is often open too until about end of first week of may. Keep following local weather. I'd go for it if good. Lots of lodging and dining bargains at that time nearby.
IMO it would be worth it. The Basin normally makes it to the end of the second week of June - longer if the snow cooperates. If memory serves me that last time it made it to July 4 was the 10/11 season and it was getting 10 inch snows thru the first week of June. I wouldn't count on that though.
After Loveland closes the first Sunday of May, the Basin is the only show in town. Weekends can get crowded as everyone comes up to party on the beach (the parking lot). Come in May and you can get powder.
Too much powder and it can get crowded if I-70 remains open. My best day in the county happened on May 10, 1993. There was a two foot dump and I-70 was closed. I shared two feet of fresh with about a hundred other people. Fast forward to another dump of two feet about 6-7 years ago. I-70 was open and 15,000 people showed up. I was not one of them.
Edit addition: the expert terrain does not make it to the end. They shut down Palavacini maybe the third weekend of May. They learned from a slush slide death maybe 10-12 years ago. The bowl shuts down before the end also because it is south facing.
Let me give you another option to consider: Labor Day at Timberline, Mt.Hood Oregon. It's crowded by camps durng the summer, but the camps have all ended by Labor Day, and the place is pretty empty.
The lifts start at 7;30 and you'll start out on ice, which then turns to glorious corm and later slush.
Here's our absolute favorite way to spend Labor Day. Start out skiing at Timberline. Quit at maybe 11. Then drive out to the coast, and watch the sun set over the Pacific while you sit on the beach eating dinner. The day is unbeatable.
