Skiing Monarch Mountain - located in South Central Colorado is what you expect from a real Colorado ski area. Abundant natural snow (350 + in.) and friendly people are two of the areas strongest attributes. You walk from your car right to the lifts, prices are reasonable, and the runs flow naturally back to the base area. At Monarch you’ll lose the crowds but not your friends. At the base of Monarch Pass lies the sunny Arkansas River Valley, with everything you need to make your visit complete. The towns of Salida, Poncha Springs, and Buena Vista have great restaurants, galleries, shops, and a variety of accommodations. Greg (San Diego, CA - Nov 06)

Skiing at Monarch - expert - I have not driven through Monarch pass in the winter very many times without stopping to go ski for a number of reasons. The first reason is that it was the first place I ever skied in Colorado and it always holds onto a place deep in my heart as a result- a position it retains by being just like Wolf Creek in that it is made by the powder hound for the powder hound and propelled by smiles and high fives rather than transparent credit cards and unpronounceable ski boutiques. The runs, especially Curecanti and some secret tree stashes, are some of the states finest powder stashes due to the mountain's remote location and high elevation. Also, Monarch opens on powder days at no specific time- just when patrol gives it the go ahead. Add to that equation the lovely town of Salida, blessed by the angel of Shavano (an angel shaped snowfield on 14,229 foot high Mt. Shavano, said to feed the farmers' crops and skiers' parched throats), and I feel as though I have already said too much! Joey Smallwood (March 06)