January was a dry month by Colorado’s standards until now. With snow falling on the 29th the end of the month is going out strong. The recent storms mainly hit the southwest region of Colorado with Silverton and Steamboat Springs getting two feet of snow each. Snow fell as far east as Vail and Arapahoe basin which is great news for many Colorado natives that have been doing a rain dance since last season. The resorts closest to Denver are still waiting for their big dump but some snow is always better than none.
The traffic is sure to pick up early this weekend so travelers prepare for some congestion on the roads and longer lift lines. Durango has been the lucky recepient of 70” of snow in the last 72 hours which the powderhounds are undoubetedly noticing. The majority of the mountains have a decent base of hard packed snow so a little dusting will add some smiles to the slopes.
Even though the snow has left quite a bit to be desired most riders will tell you that a day on the mountain is always better than a day off. The more challenging runs and some of the amazing bowls and backcountry might not be open, but take that as a chance to improve on some of the other skills. Riding switch or perfecting your edges will help in the long run, plus days like that are a great time to take out a friend or family member who doesn’t have your experience on the slopes. A couple easy falls makes them feel a bit better about their own mishaps. Weather forecasting can be tricky especially when dealing with thrill seekers needing their mountain fix, but the word is that there is more to come for Colorado in the next six weeks.
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