Local ski areas pick up much-needed snow fall

Local ski areas pick up much-needed snow fall

Jan. 16, 2001

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

Finally, a good dumping of snow.

A strong winter storm dropped several inches of much-needed snowFor all those who thought snow in think snow campaigns, it is finally paying off. Mother Nature is answering those prayers. Snow started falling in Southwestern Colorado and the greater Four Corners area on Friday evening, Jan. 12, and early Saturday morning, Jan. 13, bringing much needed snowfall to the local ski areas.

According to information from the National Weather Service, a major storm is expected to hit the area today, Jan. 16. It should stay around all day Wednesday, Jan. 17, with snow showers excepted for Thursday, Jan. 18, as well. This could be a big snowmaker if everything comes together, the NWS said. Temperatures should be much below normal through the period.

Wolf Creek Ski Area, located at the top of Wolf Creek Pass outside of Pagosa Springs on U.S. Highway 160, was the big winner. It received 18 inches and then another four inches of new snow. The mountain has 87 inches at the summit with 74 inches at mid-way. Surface conditions are excellent on powder.

Hesperus Ski Area, located about 30 miles east of Cortez, also received eight inches of new snow. The area now has a 31-inch base. Surface conditions are good on powder. The area announced it will now go back to regular operating hours: 12:30-9 p.m. Monday-Friday; Saturday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Sunday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort, located about 25 miles north of Durango on U.S. Highway 550, received eight inches of new snow and now has a mid-mountain total of 40 inches with 42 on top. Surface conditions are good to excellent on packed powder.

Telluride Resort, located about 60 miles north of Cortez on Colorado Highway 145, which received eight inches over the whole mountain. The resort is reporting 39 inches at the top with 38 at mid-mountain. Surface conditions were excellent on powder and packed powder.

National Safety Week at Colorado Ski Areas is under way this week (will end Saturday, Jan. 20) with several programs and extra safety precautions being made.

Skiing is 50 percent safer than it was 25 years ago. That's according to Rochester Institute of Technology researcher, Jasper Shealy, who's had an eye on the industry since the 70's. Gone are the days of primitive equipment and fuzzy-brained lessons pieced together by friends. Here to stay are technologically advanced carving skis and boards and leading-edge, consumer-driven learning programs.

And what's more important than ever? Safety. The ski industry has come close to mastering the art of keeping the slopes as safe as humanly possible. Think orange fencing, yellow patrol jackets - but very few black and blue bruises.

In fact, the lower leg injuries common to skiing's early days have declined by a dramatic 95 percent. And as medicine has artfully combined with sports, injury-prevention programs and ski-specific training are better than ever.

There are more safety patrollers on the mountains this year. Nearly all of Colorado's ski areas have pumped up their safety programs by adding more on-mountain staff, family slow zones, speed-control fencing - or all three.