TRAVIS HERMAN (on left) and Trent Herman fish for Kokanee salmon in the Dolores River in the town of Dolores on a snowy, cold morning Friday while Austin McCracken, 9, watches. More storms are possible this weekend.

By Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

Break out the ski gear and tire chains: Winter has finally arrived.

Following a glorious Indian summer, temperatures and snow abruptly fell Thanks-giving, with the white stuff piling up two feet and higher in the mountains.

And, as happens every year, the first snow storm brought numerous injury accidents as drivers struggled against suddenly icy and slushy roads.

"We were slammed with accident victims Thanksgiving," said Dr. Michael Duehrssen, ER director for Southwest Memorial.

Mancos Mayor Greg Rath was injured in a collision around 4 p.m. Thursday on Mancos Hill.

Rath was the passenger in a passenger car driven by Dean Wood. According to Colorado State Trooper Don Sheppard, the two were headed back from Durango and were creeping down Mancos Hill at about 25 mph when they saw a Toyota 4-Runner spinning on the ice and headed towards them.

Wood reportedly said he was trying to stop when the 4-Runner, driven by Bradley Dennison of Pleasant View, crossed into their lane and cashed into their vehicle.

Charges are pending, Sheppard said.

Both Wood and Rath were taken by the Mancos Ambulance Co. to Southwest Memorial Hospital. Rath was treated for a bruised heart and lung, and Wood had minor abrasions. Both were released.

A one-car rollover around 7 p.m. Thursday resulted in a sprained arm for a woman passenger, according to Sheppard.

The driver, Don J. Arthur of Arizona, was northbound in an Isuzu station wagon near the Redburn Ranch when he traveled around a right-hand curve, skidded to the left and crashed onto a boulder.

He was cited for careless driving, Sheppard said.

The woman was treated at Southwest and released.

On Highway 666 near Dove Creek a driver careened off the slushy road Thursday and through a fence.

One northbound driver on Highway 145 hit a patch of ice near Rico on Thursday morning and slammed into an embankment, according to Trooper David Van Bibber. He suffered no injuries and was issued a warning

Red Mountain Pass was closed Thursday when a significant rock fall blocked Highway 550. The pass remained closed Friday. Drivers were re-routed via Lizard Head Pass.

All other area passes, including Lizard Head, Coal Bank, Molas and Wolf Creek, were requiring chains or snow tires Friday.

Ski areas were celebrating the arrival of the first winter snowpack. Telluride reported 20 inches of fresh snow.

"It’s pretty incredible — everyone is real excited," said Tara Kelley of Telluride Ski and Golf Company.

Managers are debating whether to open before Dec. 5.

Ski Hesperus received five inches of snow, its first for the season. An employee said that the locals’ favorite "has good coverage and will open depending on how soon the next storm hits."

Purgatory saw 10 inches of snowfall. Opening date is also being determined on a day-by-day basis.

Wolf Creek is open with a 20-inch base and10 inches of new snow.

Apparently the "polar vortex" meteorologists blamed for the dry, warm autumn has broken up. It has been replaced by an "upper-level trough axis with deep moisture," according to the Colorado Avalanche Center. Translation: more snow on the way.

Beginning tonight and continuing into Sunday, the mountains will likely see three to eight inches of additional snow.