Winter doesn

Winter doesn't mean being a couch potato

Dec. 29, 2001

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

Winter time does not mean stay home and become a couch potato. There are plenty of things to see and do.

The most obvious is to head to the mountains to ski or snowboard. Telluride and Purgatory resorts, and Wolf Creek and Hesperus ski areas are all reporting fair to excellent conditions.

Purgatory, located about 25 miles north of Durango on U.S. Highway 550, reports a 24-inch base at mid-mountain with 30 inches on top on natural and man-made snow. Conditions are fair to good on mostly packed powder. A total of 99 percent of the mountain is open. Snowmaking is taking place daily. Lift tickets are $53 for adults and $27 for children. The main ticket office is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For details, phone (970) 385-2167.

Telluride, located about 60 miles north of Cortez on Colorado Highway 145, is reporting 35 inches at the summit and 30 inches at mid-mountain on natural and man-made snow. Snowmaking is taking place daily. Conditions are fair to good on mostly packed powder. Prospect Bowl is now open with 733 new acres of skiing and snowboarding. Grand opening celebration is slated Jan. 10-13. A total of 15 of 16 lifts are operating with 93 percent of the mountain open.

Wolf Creek, located about 15 miles east of Pagosa Springs on U.S. Highway 160, is reporting 50 inches at the summit and 40 inches at mid-way on all natural snow. Conditions are good to excellent on powder and packed powder.

Hesperus, located about 34 miles east of Cortez on U.S. Highway 160, is reporting a base of 27 inches on packed powder. Conditions are good to fair.

The Nordic Center, operated by the Durango Nordic Ski Club, is located just across U.S. Highway 550 from Durango Mountain Resort’s Purgatory Village. It offers 10 kilometers of trails prepared for both skate and classic skiing. Classic and skate rentals are available as are group and private lessons. The center features moonlight tours, half and full day tours, as well as clinics and races. Trail fees are $8.50 for adults and $6.50 for seniors and children (under 12). The Nordic Center offers a combo special: $35 for rental, lessons, and trail fee. Phone (970) 385-2114 for more information.

Many activities are coming up including Durango’s own Winter festival, Snowdown, which will be held Jan. 30-Feb. 3. The theme this year is Roman Around Snowdown. Buena Vista Snowmobile Rally is set for later on, March 9-10. This is an adventurous two-day ride into Colorado’s 14ers. Two treks include going over Tin Cup Pass and another over Cottonwood Pass. Crested Butte hosts Boardfest and Grand Traverse in March. Snowboarders gather and show off their stuff March 19-24 and the fifth annual Elk Mountain Grand Traverse is slated March 29-30.

Ticket sales for the 96th annual of the National Western Stock and Show Rodeo and Horse Show will be held Jan. 12-27 in Denver is now under way. It will be held at the Denver Coliseum. Tickets can be purchased on the Internet at www.nationalwestern.com or by phone at (888) 551-5004. Tickets to all shows, except PBR, range from $7 to $18 which also includes admission to the grounds and livestock events, exhibits, tours, and the Children’s Ranchland. "Gold Buckle" seats on the floor level of the Coliseum for PRCA rodeos are priced at $50. PBR seats range from $10 to $40. "Gold Buckle" seats for PBR are $100.

Two Mexican Rodeos will open the event Jan. 12-13. Three Professional Bull Riders (PBR) events will be held Jan. 14-16. A total of 22 Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) rodeoes is scheduled from Jan. 17-27 in the Coliseum. Other scheduled shows include Freestyle Reining, Grand Prix, and "An Evening of Dancing Horses."

Closer to home, Pagosa Springs hosts Casino Royale, March 16, which is basically a big party including funny money gambling. Ouray is sponsoring the Iron Dog Challenge Sled Dog Race Jan. 12-13. This is the closest International Sled Dog Racing Association Sprint Dog Race in the area this year. Always interesting is the Mayor Skijoring Contest on Jan. 13. Durango’s mayor won last year. Several area mayors have already signed to be pulled on skis behind a team of two dogs.