DENVER – Recent snowstorms have been good for Colorado ski areas as they prepare for the busy holiday week.
Purgatory Resort has received 25 inches of snow since Saturday, bringing the base depth to 34 inches. The resort has received a total of 68 inches this season. As of Wednesday, Purgatory had five lifts open and plans to open its new high-speed detachable quad chair, called “Legends Lift,” on the backside of the mountain this Saturday.
“Purgatory’s reservations for the week before Christmas are up 25 percent over last year, largely driven by early snow, plus the fact that it’s Purgatory’s 50th anniversary and we’re opening a new lift this Saturday,” said spokeswoman Kim Oyler. “Our call volume to make lodging reservations has definitely increased due to the latest snowstorm.”
Wolf Creek Ski Area, which often receives more snow than any other Colorado resort, reported 29 inches from the last storm, and it has received a total of 162 inches so far this year.
Telluride Ski Resort reported 7 inches of new snow with a season total of 92 inches. The mountain had a base depth of 38 inches Wednesday, with 13 lifts open.
In other parts of the state, Keystone Resort received 9 inches of fresh snow from late Monday into early Tuesday, bringing its snowfall total for the season to more than 100 inches.
Forecasters are reporting considerable avalanche danger across the Western Slope and Front Range mountains. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is warning people to be cautious when choosing routes in the mountains.
shane@durangoherald
