Mother nature not cooperating with ski areas

Mother nature not cooperating with ski areas

Jan. 6, 2001

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

Mother Nature is just not cooperating very much right now. She is not bringing snow to the high country in the Four Corners region. That is certainly not good news for Southwestern Colorado ski areas.

Above all that, temperatures have been climbing. And that means that snow has been melting.

According to information from the National Weather Service, some weak disturbances should begin moving into the Four Corners. But only a few widely scattered snow showers are forecast at least through this Tuesday, Jan. 9. Temperatures should be about seasonal to slightly above.

Wolf Creek Ski Area, located at the top of Wolf Creek Pass on U.S. Highway 160 just east of Pagosa Springs, is reporting 64 inches at the top of the mountain and 52 inches at mid-way. But that’s a drop of nearly 10 inches. No snow has fallen within the past week. The mountain is 100 percent open with 50 trails open on 1,600 acres of skiing. All six lifts are operating. Conditions are good on top and fair at the bottom.

Wolf Creek is having several programs this weekend. Today, Jan. 6, will be the Camp Robbers Children’s Program and the second fun race of the season. On Sunday, Jan. 7, will be a telemark clinic.

Telluride Resort, located about 60 miles north of Cortez on Colorado Highway 145, is reporting 33 inches at mid-mountain and 30 inches at the top (direct sunlight at the top). A total of 63 of 67 runs are open (98 percent) with all 12 lifts operating. Conditions are good on top and fair at the bottom.

Telluride Town Race Series is beginning today with a slalom race on the downhill competition hill.

Purgatory, located about 25 miles north of Durango on U.S. Highway 550, is reporting 30 inches at mid-mountain. The mountain is 100 percent open with all trails open and all lifts operating. Conditions are good on top and fair at the bottom.

Ski Hesperus, located about 30 miles east of Cortez on U.S. Highway 160, reports 22 inches (down 3 inches) with both lifts operating. Conditions are fair.

Because of lower numbers at the ticket office, Telluride and Purgatory (Durango Moun tain Resort) has been advertising lodging and lift ticket discounts in order to try and lure skiers.

For instance, Telluride Resort is avertising lodging rates as low as $99 per night and four days of skiing for $139 (lift tickets are $35 per day). The discounted lift tickets, though, must be purchased online, two weeks prior to arrival by Jan. 28, and valid until Feb. 11.

"Guests visiting in January and early February can enjoy our incredible snow, open slopes without lift lines, and substantial lodging and lift ticket discounts," Steve Swenson, vice president of sales, marketing and airline services for the Telluride Ski and Golf Co., said. "With such incredible savings, this is the ideal time for a Telluride vacation."

Several other packages are available including a four-night stay at the Inn at Lost Creek and ski tickets for three days for $649 per person.