Purgatory voted having best weather

Purgatory voted having best weather

November 15, 2001

DURANGO — It’s not the first time and it probably won’t be the last time that Durango Mountain Resort (Purgatory) gets the nod for having the best weather among North American resorts, according to a SKI Magazine poll.

Purgatory stays at the top with an average of 263 inches of snow but some 300-plus sunny days a year. The ski area is located in a unique place in San Juan Mountains in the Central Rockies. Storms come quickly, dump a lot of snow, and then leave in a hurry. The skies clear making for "beautiful, sunny but cool days." January’s high temperatures range from the mid-20s to 30s. Normally, Arctic blasts from the north miss the area and slide eastward along the Front Range.

DMR also received Gold Medals for scenery (ranked 17th) and value (ranked 22nd). Famed Olympic skier Jean-Claude Killy once called the San Juan Mountains, "the most beautiful scenery this side of the Italian Alps." As far as value goes, the resort offers a five-night stay for $238 per person. Besides skiing or snowboarding, visitors to the resort can take a sleigh ride, view stars, go inner-tubing, snowmobiling, and snowcat skiing.

DMR received silver medals for terrain and lodging. DMR offers 23 percent of the mountain for beginners, 51 percent intermediate and 26 percent advanced or expert on 1,200 acres. Each night the mountain slopes are groomed. The resort itself or downtown Durango offers many places to stay.