Breckenridge is moving forward with its expansion plans for Peak 6, which they claim will be open for skiing and riding next season, while Copper is planning for new beginner, Copper Bowl, and terrain park lifts, improved connector trails, and two wind turbines. Peak 6 will add 543 new acres of terrain including Breck's first intermediate above-treeline runs, 100 acres of hike-to terrain, and a fixed quad and a high-speed six-pack that will climb to over 12,000 feet. Breck's first expansion in over a decade has many in town bummed, as 10 trails will be cut through healthy forest that's already been beat up hard by the pine beetle epidemic.
Meanwhile, Copper's planning to replace the Kokomo lift with a new one that will bring beginners to and from two magic carpets at the top on a gentler slope. A ropetow will be added alongside the Catalyst terrain park that will especially benefit the Woodward at Copper action sports camp as they run their own terrain park during the spring and summer months after the resort has officially closed. They'll hoping to cut a few new trails to eliminate long flat spots and runouts, add a surface lift to the West of the current Sierra poma lift so people can access Copper Bowl without hiking, and add two 24-foot wind turbines near the Union Creek ski patrol hut to offset some of the mountain's energy use. Woodward at Copper is also planning a $500,000 renovation and expansion of its facility at the base of the mountain.
· Breckenridge Ski Resort's Peak 6 to open for 2013-2014 ski season [Summit Daily News]
· Copper Mountain keeping up with Breckenridge [Summit Daily News]