Wolf Creek Ski Area, the beloved independent resort on the Continental Divide northeast of Pagosa Springs, is slated to be the first ski resort in the U.S. to open this year. The ski area announced Monday that lifts would start spinning Tuesday following a weekend storm that left slopes covered with more than 2 feet of snow.
The ski area, which celebrates its 85th season this year, is typically in competition with Araphoe Basin and Keystone Resort to start the bullwheels. Both resorts are busy snowmaking, according to social media and news reports, and neither has announced an opening date.
“We're busy skiing powder,” said Wolf Creek CEO Davey Pitcher on Tuesday morning in between runs on the Treasure Stoke chairlift.
The resort sits in a sort of catcher’s mitt for winter storms and enjoys the honorific of the resort that receives the most snow in Colorado. Wolf Creek has not fired up snowmaking operations yet this season.
Three lifts will start running Tuesday, opening access to about 30% of the mountain’s terrain. About a dozen trails are machine-groomed. Pitcher said the first 21 inches of snow was heavy and supportive, while an additional 5 inches deposited Sunday night left a lighter layer on the surface.
“It's remaining cold and just beautiful,” Pitcher said. “The groomers have done a great job of knocking down a bunch of it, and then we got the 5 inches on top. So, we're very happy.”
Weather on the pass is forecast to be clear with temperatures reaching the mid-40s during the day, according to the National Weather Service.
The three lifts will be open daily every week and the price of lift tickets will be set at the resort’s “Local Appreciation Rates”: $68 for adults, $49 for seniors and $34 for children. Pitcher said he expects the discounted rates to remain in effect “for a little while,” until the next major storm hits.
Purgatory Resort has announced plans to open Nov. 18. Further north, Silverton Mountain posted pictures of “early-season product testing” over the weekend, but is not scheduled to open until late December.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is also putting early season skiers on notice after backcountry skiers triggered a small avalanche north of Silverton on Sunday. Daily avalanche forecasts will begin Nov. 1.
rschafir@durangoherald.com
