With a blast of snow in the mountains leaving stark white peaks over town, there is no doubt about it: Ski season is among us.
It’s an intoxicating buzz – a spell that snow hounds fall under every year. Skiers are romanced by groomed corduroy, wooed by fresh powder. Then comes the goggle tans.
The National Weather Service reported heavy snow in the San Juans Mountains during the weekend, with nearly 2 feet or more in places. Chain laws went into effect on passes, and avalanche danger skyrocketed. While in Durango, it looks like the sun will shine with high temps into the 40s all week, all that snow still excites people.
Winter sports constitutes a $12 billion industry in the United States, according to EcoWest. More than 8.2 million people skied at least once last year, and this year already, there’s plenty to get excited about.
For one: Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort recently was purchased by a guy who actually skis, James H. Coleman Jr.
Real estate and private equity investor Coleman grew up on the slopes, and besides DMR, he now also owns Pajarito and Sipapu ski areas in New Mexico, and Arizona Snowbowl outside Flagstaff. According to DMR news releases, he plans to increase terrain, extend the length of the ski season and hasten the area’s master plan.
The mountain received 14 inches of snow over the weekend, and it is set to open Nov. 28.
Wolf Creek Ski Area’s installation of Elma Lift is almost complete, and it will access underserved acreage and expedite the return trip from the infamous Alberta Lift terrain back to the base area.
“It’ll probably be the second week of December,” owner Rosanne Pitcher said. “It’s going to open up terrain that wasn’t used that much, and it’s going to feel different.”
Wolf Creek boasts the “most snow in Colorado” – more than 400 inches per season. Currently, it has a base of 29 inches, and it opened for weekends Nov. 5. The plan is to go full-time Thursday. Pitcher said the Alberta lift will open Saturday.
Silverton Mountain, America’s only lift-served backcountry skiing experience, has released photographs of its powder-splashing staff in early-season conditions which, by Silverton’s standards, is several feet of snow.
The mountain is world-renowned for high-altitude, expert-only terrain. It is served by a single 1970s chairlift that was purchased by owners Aaron and Jen Brill from Mammoth Mountain, California. Now, the lift takes skiers – who must carry avalanche equipment – to 12,300 feet, where helicopters, guides or both take you another 1,200 feet higher to access an even more stunning, Rocky Mountain environment of nearly 22,000 acres.
The lodge, a canvas yurt with a wood-burning stove, has random chairs and a few kegs of beer for aprés-ski. No hay rides here, just sign the waiver. This is Rocky Mountain skiing.
Telluride Ski Resort just got buried with 33 inches of snow in three days. Telluride features a five-mile run, 18 lifts on 2,000-plus acres and there’s high-end shopping, fine dining and all the night life you need. You even might see a celebrity. The town was even mentioned in Glenn Frey’s song “Smuggler’s Blues.”
Carson Taylor, Telluride’s director of skier services, said, “Without this storm, everyone would still be biting nails, but it looks like we’re chalked up for opening day.”
While opening day is set for Nov. 27, Donation Day is set for Nov. 26, with $25 lift tickets to benefit the Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club.
Having to dig out from the storm, “the buzz has come on strong in T-ride,” Taylor said.
Pine Needle Mountaineering ski tech Marty Emmes said it’s happening in Durango: “We’re all itching.”
He said: “You see it around town. We didn’t have anybody coming in and talking skis, and now they’re calling every couple of minutes or swinging through. It’s starting to stir.”
bmathis@durangoherald.com
