In our last terrain update this past weekend, we noted that most of Colorado’s ski resorts are closing in on the 100-percent open mark. The holdouts were mainly relegated to steeper terrain due to an anemic early season, which left behind a weak base susceptible to avalanche.
Ski patrol statewide keeps inbound skiing safe and is extremely cautious about opening new terrain. They also rope off and close areas for a reason. Unfortunately, there have been a number of avalanche deaths in unpatrolled, out-of-bounds areas this season. We’re pretty libertarian here at the Ski and Snow Report and only point this out as a warning about the risk of ducking the ropes to get some fresh stuff out of bounds.
Anyway, the point is that ski patrol across Colorado has been diligently working on opening more terrain safely and they’re making progress. Crested Butte, for instance, has opened the North Face Lift (NFL) this morning and will offer extreme terrain, including Avery, Belleview, Rachel’s, The Glades Hike, The Glades, Powder Rock Glade, Pinball, The North Face, Hawk’s Nest, Hard Slab and Old Pro. Crested Butte recommends full backcountry gear in these areas of the mountain (beacons, packs, shovels, etc.) and to always ski with a partner.
So, things have progressed in just the past week with additional terrain openings just about everywhere, so enjoy the extra area available over Presidents’ Day weekend. According to the National Weather Service, it’s possible there might be a snow shower or two today or tomorrow, but the best chance for the return of steady snow comes Sunday as a regular snow pattern appears to be emerging throughout next week.
Following are the snow totals over the past four days and what’s open where…
Arapahoe Basin: 1/2”, 1 1/2”, 3 1/2”, 6 1/2” (5 lifts, 50 trails, 430 acres, 48% open, 45” midway base)
Aspen Highlands: 0”, 2”, 5”, 7” (5 lifts, 110 trails, 100% beginner/intermediate, 88% advanced/expert, 952 acres, 43” midway base)
Aspen Mountain: 0”, 3”, 6”, 8” (6 lifts, 76 trails, 100% open, 675 acres, 40” midway base)
Beaver Creek: 1”, 4”, 7”, 11” (25 lifts, 145 trails, 96% open, 1750 acres, 42” midway base)
Breckenridge: 1”, 4”, 9”, 11” (29 lifts, 153 trails, 99% open, 2347 acres, 55” midway base)
Buttermilk: 0”, 2”, 4”, 6” (5 lifts, 44 trails, 99% beginner/intermediate, 94% advanced/expert, 464 acres, 37” midway base)
Copper Mountain: 0”, 3”, 7”, 10” (21 lifts, 118 trails, 1674 acres, 68% open, 45” midway base)
Crested Butte: 0”, 1”, 8”, 16” (14 lifts, 93 trails, 1082 acres, 100% beginner/intermediate, 100% advanced, 58% extreme, 53” midway base)
Echo Mountain: 2”, 2”, 2”, 4” (3 lifts, 100% open, 48” base)
Eldora: 0”, 0”, 1”, 7” (6 lifts, 100% open, 56” base)
Keystone: 0”, 2”, 3”, 7” (18 lifts, 116 trails, 2809 acres, 87% open, 36” midway base)
Loveland: 0”, 2”, 5”, 9” (7 lifts, 71 trails, 59% open, 991 acres, 50” base)
Monarch: 0”, 0”, 4”, 10” (5 lifts, 61 trails, 100% open, 51” midway base)
Powderhorn: 0”, 1”, 5”, 10” (4 lifts, 100% open, 1600 acres, 47” base)
Purgatory: 0”, 3”, 6”, 19” (7 lifts, 88 trails, 100% open, 65” base)
Silverton: 0”, 2”, 6”, 25” (78” base, open Thursday through Sunday with guided skiing)
Ski Cooper: 1”, 1”, 3”, 4” (100% open, 38” midway base)
Snowmass: 0”, 3”, 7”, 10” (16 lifts, 89 trails, 100% beginner/intermediate, 90% advanced/expert, 3028 acres, 37” midway base)
SolVista Basin: 0”, 1”, 3”, 5” (5 lifts, 100% beginner, 100% intermediate, 75% advanced, 26” base)
Steamboat: 4”, 8”, 15”, 19” (16 lifts, 165 trails, 100% open, 55” base)
Sunlight: 0”, 2”, 5”, 10” (3 lifts, 61 trails, 100% open, 40” base)
Telluride: 0”, 2”, 5”, 15” (18 lifts, 100% beginner, 97% intermediate, 87% advanced, 62” base)
Vail: 1”, 5”, 9”, 14” (31 lifts, 189 trails, 5164 acres, 98% open, 42” midway base)
Winter Park: 1”, 2”, 5 1/2”, 10 1/2” (19 lifts, 123 trails, 8 parks and pipes, 1809 acres, 59% open, 52” base)
Wolf Creek: 0”, 7”, 18”, 32”(6 lifts, 100% open, 1600 acres, 92” midway base)
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