Yep- too many people, too expensive, etc.
There are so many cheaper, less crowded places to ski in Colorado.
My absolute favorite is Crested Butte: beautiful scenery, charming town, reasonable prices, great skiing for all ability levels, never crowded.
I became a man on Ajax. (No not that.)
I was a shaky skier and was dependant on my instructor.
He and I were coming down the mountain together and had just passed the last lift when a blinding snowstorm came up. I couldn't see my instructor. I couldn't even see my feet. I had to negotiate the mountain only by feel and go all the way down.
When I did it successfully, I lept to a new level of confidence.
I let the instructor go and skied the mountain three more times in the blinding snow.
After that I was ready for anything...well...uh...almost anything.
Uh...skiing with my son--who's expert--reminded me that I wasn't ready for...well...exactly...everything... But that's another story.
We found Bridger Bowl in Montana very much like that.