Colorado
Some of Colorado’s best (and most adventurous) mountaintop meals
Similar to how that smashed peanut butter and jelly sandwich can taste like filet mignon when you eat it on the chairlift, somehow a good meal becomes the greatest of your life when preceded by a blast of fresh air and perhaps a bit of sweating.
Truth be told, these dinners stand alone as delicious, but are that much better with a side of adventure.
Tennessee Pass Cookhouse
Backcountry dinners: nightly, all winter
One of Colorado’s unsung gems, this backcountry dining experience happens every evening all winter (along with lunch on Saturdays and Sundays) through mid-April on Tennessee Pass near Leadville. The Cookhouse is situated in a cozy yurt in San Isabel Forest, overlooking the majestic Sawatch Mountain Range. Reaching the multicourse dinner involves snowshoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing or fat biking on the mile-long route through the woods.
“The coolest thing with the experience is you feel so remote and off-grid,” says Shauna Bocksch, who has treated her kids to a Cookhouse dinner every winter for the last several years, also staying overnight in one of the property’s Sleep Yurts. “You’re in a warm yurt with the fire crackling and enjoying this amazing five-course dinner. You have the good feeling of having worked up an appetite getting in, enjoying the stars on the way and warming up with a bonfire outside on the deck when you get there. It’s a true, self-propelled, backcountry experience.
“The best is when you get there before sunset and have a cocktail or hot chocolate before dinner. Looking out at the Collegiate Peaks is just breathtaking.”
Bonus: The property’s Nordic Center is open every day through mid-April and features almost 17 miles of groomed trails for classic and skate skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking, along with lessons and gear rentals. There’s even a free sledding hill with complimentary tubes. Dinner, lunch and Sleep Yurts (each solar-powered with wood-burning stoves, accommodating up to six guests) must be booked in advance. tennesseepass.com/cookhouse
Arapahoe Basin
Moonlight Dinners: March 7, April 4
Unsurprisingly, A-Basin offers numerous ways to arrive at a good meal by way of lung and leg power. These events have become so popular that they fill up quickly once registration is available. The Basin’s Moonlight Dinners offer a chance to skin (or take the chairlift) up to Black Mountain Lodge at mid-mountain for a massive, multicourse buffet dinner (with a theme) and a live musician.
Uphill N’ Chill breakfast: Jan. 30, Feb. 28
Begin your day in a similar fashion with Uphill N’ Chill, an early-morning skin up to Black Mountain Lodge, rewarded with a hearty (chicken and waffles, anyone?) chef-prepared buffet breakfast.
Progressive Skinner’s Dinner: April 24
Launched last season, the crown jewel of the Basin’s adventure dining offerings is the Progressive Skinner’s Dinner, each of its four courses requiring some traveling. The hardest haul is right from the get-go; from then on, gravity is on your side. You start by slapping your skins to your skis or board at the base of the mountain and shuffling about 1,800 vertical feet to il Rifugio, North America’s highest restaurant at 2,456 feet. There, you are offered a spritz toast and scrumptious Italian-themed first course. Then ski or snowboard down to Steilhang, the German/Austrian themed hut, to sit down for your next course while catching the amazing view of the setting sun on the East Wall cliffs outside the window. The main course (last year it featured fresh seafood paella) and gastronomy buffet happens at mid-mountain’s Black Mountain Lodge. Save a little room, though, because the evening finishes with a final ski down to the 6th Alley in the base area A-Frame for dessert and live music. arapahoebasin.com
Buttermilk Full Moon Dinners
Monthly, every full moon through April
Aspen’s uphillers are just as passionate as its downhill enthusiasts, which is why each time there’s a full moon, between 300 and 500 people don headlamps, slap skins on their skis or boards and slog to the top of Buttermilk Mountain to The Cliffhouse Restaurant. Here, a festive bonfire, live music and á la carte access to the restaurant’s full food and bar menu (including the Mongolian BBQ) await.
“I love how dedicated our community is to uphilling,” says Aspen Snowmass’ Hannah Dixon, who regularly participates in the Full Moon Dinners. “The Cliffhouse is packed every time, even on nights when it’s dumping snow. The Full Moon uphills are such a unique way to gather with the community. There is truly nothing like the feeling of skiing fresh corduroy, or sometimes powder, under the moonlight after a warming bowl of noodles.”
An Aspen Snowmass Uphill Pass ($74 for the season) is required, but otherwise the Full Moon Dinners are free to attend (the cost of the meal food is based on a la carte pricing). The Cliffhouse is open from 5 to 8 p.m. for the Full Moon Dinners. Alpine touring or telemark skis, boots and skins are available to rent at Ute Mountaineer in Aspen. aspensnowmass.com
Beaver Creek
On-mountain cabin dinners, nightly
Tucking under a blanket in the back of a Snowcat-drawn, open-air sleigh to get to your gourmet dinner brings an instant chill of excitement (as well as an actual chill) as you make your way amid snow-flocked trees up the slopes to one of three luxury log cabins. The fare at Beano’s Cabin favors Colorado-sourced meats, cheeses and veggies, while Allie’s Cabin leans toward the rich flavors of northern Italy. Zach’s Cabin, meanwhile, casts a vast European-inspired net, from schnitzel to fondue. Sleighs to Beano’s (closed Sunday and Monday except during holidays) and Allie’s (closed Monday and Tuesday except during holidays) pick up at the base of the slopes in Beaver Creek Village. Zach’s (closed Tuesday and Wednesday except during holidays) sleigh picks up outside of the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch. beavercreek.com
Copper Mountain
Aerie Sunset Ski dinners, March 15, March 21
Cutting out the uphill element and ideal for skiers and riders who love open slopes and never feel like they get in enough runs during the day, Copper Mountain welcomes the arrival of longer spring days with the opportunity to experience the lift-served slopes exclusively with only a few dozen others, in late afternoon. After the chairlifts close to the general public at 4 p.m., sunset skiers and riders will be able to access the Excelerator and American Eagle lifts from 4 to 7 p.m., skiing to their heart’s content while also dipping into The Aerie lodge at mid-mountain to indulge in a variety of gourmet food stations.
The culinary spread is bountiful, ranging from tacos to pasta, seafood, salads, chili and upscale desserts (oh, the desserts!). Aerie’s bar is also open throughout the event, with live bands and DJs providing the soundtrack. At the end of the evening, you’ll have the option to ski back down to the base or download on the gondola as the sun makes its final dip below the peaks. coppercolorado.com
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Former Colorado Buffaloes stars Sebastian Rancik and Bangot Dak announced their transfer portal decisions on Sunday with Rancik committing to Florida State and Dak committing to Vanderbilt, per On3’s Joe Tipton. They join former Buffs guard Isaiah Johnson (now at Texas) as the third former Colorado player to leave the Big 12 conference as Rancik opts for the ACC and Dak heads to the SEC.
The trio of Johnson, Rancik, and Dak make up three of Colorado’s four most productive players with rising senior guard Barrington Hargress, and the Buffs are now tasked with replacing such production with Hargress as the only returner.
Rancik’s season ended prematurely with an injury, but he averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Buffs. Dak was Colorado’s leading rebounder with 6.5 boards per game, scoring 11.5 points per contest as well.
While each player has his respective reasons for transferring, the most expected ones are for seeking better NIL deals or more development on a better team in a better league. The Buffs finished 12th in the Big 12, and the allure of the SEC was too strong for the program to hold onto key talent like Johnson and Dak.
Still, Colorado coach Tad Boyle proved his ability to recruit and build up a solid core, one that saw its headliners of Johnson, Dak, and Rancik all depart in the portal. Can he do it again?
Colorado Buffaloes Roster Outlook
Boyle and the Buffaloes did retain Hargress as well as three freshmen guards: Jalin Holland, Ian Inman, and Josiah Sanders.
As a freshman, Holland averaged 4.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game as one of Colorado’s key pieces coming off of the bench. Meanwhile, Sanders appeared in 33 games as a constant presence in the Buffs backcourt, averaging 4.4 points and 1.7 assists per game.
Inman played the fewest minutes of the returning trio, but he flashed with a couple of double-digit scoring performances as a true freshman.
“When I think of those three together, I think of toughness. I think of the improvement they made over the course of the season and the togetherness they have. They’re great friends and have formed a bond during their freshman year. Their toughness, energy and work ethic, when you have those attributes to go along with talent, which they all have, you get a chance to have three really good sophomores next year that will take the next step,” Boyle said in a release announcing the return of the three freshmen.
With eight outgoing transfers to replace, the Buffaloes will certainly have a new look to them for the 2026-27 season.
Colorado has landed one transfer portal prospect so far in former North Dakota State foward Noah Feddersen. On the recruiting trail, Boyle and company are bringing in four-star forward Rider Portela as well as two prospects from the NBL in Australia: forward Goc Malual and guard Alex Dickeson.
The transfer portal for men’s college basketball closes on Tuesday, April 21, meaning players have to enter their names by then. Transfer athletes do not have to commit before the portal closes, though, so Colorado is expected to continue hosting prospects on visits while building out the roster.
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Colorado
Colorado faces LA in first round as Kings captain Anze Kopitar embarks on final Stanley Cup chase
DENVER — Anze Kopitar wrapped up the last regular season of his storied career. The Los Angeles Kings captain wants to prolong his final playoff run for as long as possible.
Kopitar, who announced in September his plans to retire, instantly becomes a postseason rallying point for the Kings. They have a tall task ahead of them against the Colorado Avalanche, the top team in the league, with the top goal scorer in Nathan MacKinnon and one of the best defensemen in the game in Cale Makar. Game 1 is Sunday at Ball Arena, where the Avalanche are 26-9-6.
“Playoffs,” said the 38-year-old Kopitar, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Kings. “I’m not going to say anything can happen, but we’ll go in and we’ll play hard and we’ll see where that takes us.”
This will be the third postseason series between the two teams and the first in 24 years. Colorado won in seven games during both the 2002 conference quarterfinals and the 2001 conference semifinals.
It’s been a record season for the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche as they amassed the most points (121) in franchise history. That broke the mark set by the 2022 team, which went on to win the Stanley Cup title. MacKinnon had a career-best 53 goals.
Goaltenders Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood shared the net this season and surrendered a league low in goals. They earned the William M. Jennings Trophy, which is presented to the goalies who have played a minimum of 25 games — Wedgewood suited up in 45 and Blackwood 39 — for the team with the fewest goals allowed. The other goaltender to win that honor for Colorado was Hall of Famer Patrick Roy (2001-02).
“We’re in a good spot,” Colorado forward Brock Nelson said. “The mentality of this group throughout the year, right from the start of training camp, (was) set on a mission to be the best team.”
Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates the goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Connor Ingram (39) during shoot-out NHL action, in Edmonton on Monday, April 13, 2026. Credit: AP/JASON FRANSON
Record against each other
The Kings went 0-3 against Colorado this season and were outscored by a 13-5 margin.
“You hear the hype. They have good players,” Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke said. “We’re a scrappy team. We keep it close with everybody. That can really frustrate them.”
Leading after two
The Avalanche were 41-0-0 when leading after two periods. They’re the first squad to have a lead after two periods on 40 or more instances and capture each one, according to team research.
“Even though we’ve been smart, we’ve been committed, we’ve been relentless at times, it’s going to have to go to a whole new level now,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “I have faith in our guys.”
Los Angeles Kings’ Anze Kopitar, who is retiring after this season, acknowledges the crowd after being recognized after losing to the Vancouver Canucks during overtime NHL hockey action in Vancouver, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Credit: AP/DARRYL DYCK
Remember the season opener?
Six grueling months ago, the Avalanche and Kings opened the season against each other. The Avalanche won 4-1 in Los Angeles behind a pair of goals from Martin Necas, who would go on to register his first 100-point season (38 goals, 62 assists).
The two teams join an exclusive club by becoming the fifth pair since 2015-16 to open the regular season and the playoffs against each other, according to NHL Stats. The other pairs to do so were Montreal and Toronto (2020-21); Colorado and St. Louis (2020-21); St. Louis and Winnipeg (2018-19); and Los Angeles and San Jose (2015-16).
Of those teams that won the season opener only San Jose went on to win the series. It’s a trend Kopitar and the Kings wouldn’t mind joining.
Kopitar and the playoffs
Kopitar helped the Kings to the Stanley Cup title in 2011-12 and 2013-14 along with goaltender Jonathan Quick, who now is with the New York Rangers and recently said he’s retiring. Kopitar has played in 103 postseason games with 27 goals and 62 assists.
“The intensity ramps up, everything ramps up,” Kopitar said of the postseason. “Every mistake, every little play, magnifies now.”
Familiar faces
Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper was in net for the Avalanche when they won the Stanley Cup in 2022. In addition, Kuemper and Drew Doughty were teammates with MacKinnon, Makar and Devon Toews when Canada won silver at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
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