Hit the road to bring in the new year on high
For Colorado skiers with a heart for adventure, this could be a very special New Year’s Eve if the weather cooperates because it falls two days before the first full moon of 2018. That means the moon will be 97 percent full, rising shortly before 4 p.m., and it will be directly overhead a little after 11 p.m. It could be a perfect night for celebrating on skis or snowshoes at a place like the Boreas Pass trail above Breckenridge, Vail Pass or Rabbit Ears Pass near Steamboat.
That big moon could also enhance some of the celebrations Colorado resorts will be offering. Here are some intriguing options in the high country:
Copper Mountain: The New Year’s Moonlight Dine & Ski starts with taking the American Eagle chairlift up to midmountain for a gourmet meal with live music at 6:30 p.m. at Solitude Station. You can ski back down to the base after a sumptuous meal. The menu includes hors d’oeuvres with bruschetta tarts, meatballs and seafood
sampler. Entrees include panseared salmon, beef Wellington and pan-seared parma wrapped chicken. Guests over 21 receive two free cocktails and champagne for toasting the New Year. Cost: $150 for adults, $125 for children. Reservations: 866-841-2481, coppercolorado.com
Purgatory Resort: Fivecourse gourmet meal with wine pairings, champagne toast and live music at the on-mountain Powderhouse Restaurant with transportation via heated snowcat. $375 per person. Reservations required. 800-525-0892, purgatoryresort.com
Steamboat Springs: There are choices for families with kids and grown-ups only here. The Steamboat Grand will host a Family Fun New Year’s Eve celebration featuring buffet dinner, magic tricks, juggling acts and live comedians along with a disc jockey, face painting and other activities for kids. For adults without kids, there will be a Korbel champagne celebration at the Thunderhead Lodge, which is at the upper terminus of the gondola. There they will find dance music via a DJ, a dessert bar and appetizers. Tickets are $50 per person and include the gondola ride. 877-783-2628, steamboat.com Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort and Spa: There are a couple of nice options here. There will be a four-course dinner at the Ranch House Restaurant from 5-10 p.m. ($72 for adults, half price for children) and a New Year’s Eve Grand Buffet at the High Lonesome Barn from 7-10 p.m. ($110 for adults, children half price) with an open bar. devilsthumbranch.com Winter Park: Blues lovers, check out the Grand County Blues Society’s New Year’s Eve Bash at Smokin’ Joe’s Ribhouse & Saloon with music by Too Slim & the Taildraggers starting at 9 p.m. ($20 in advance, $25 at the door). And if it’s not too cold, head to Grand Lake for midnight fireworks over the lake. grandblues.org
Crested Butte: For those who want to burn a few calories with their revelry, you can skin or snowshoe up the mountain to the Umbrella Bar — a mile in distance and 800 feet in elevation gain — for appetizers, champagne and dessert while watching fireworks the fireworks show at 5:30 p.m. You do have to ski or snowshoe back down (bring a headlamp in case it’s a cloudy night). Tickets are $50. skicb.com
Ski Cooper: This modest but historic ski area, once the domain 10th Mountain Division troops training for mountain warfare during World War II, will celebrate its 75th birthday on New Year’s Eve. They will have live music from 3-6 p.m. along with cake and balloons, followed by a torchlight parade. skicooper.com
Aspen: Here’s a way to splurge and save in Aspen: Huddle by the bonfire or dance to the beats of the DJ in Wagner Park — either way, you’re warm and not spending a dime — then head to dinner at one of the town’s many noteworthy restaurants. Fireworks over Aspen Mountain are at 8 p.m. and midnight. aspenchamber.org/NewYears-Eve
Elsewhere around Colorado: Many resorts will have the obligatory torchlight parades with fireworks, including Telluride, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Breckenridge, Steamboat, Vail, Beaver Creek, Snowmass, Monarch and Crested Butte.