Lots of Snow, Few Skiers

By Christie Aschwanden, 4-04-05

	Caption: Jesus pitched in to check tickets at Telluride's closing day.

I spent the past weekend snowboarding at Telluride. The snow was perfect, the sun shone brightly, and the slopes were deserted. It doesn't get much better than this. With even more snow expected in the next few days, I am itching to return this week. Except I can't. Telluride closed for the season yesterday afternoon.

Nor can I take the 30-minute drive to my backyard ski resort, Powderhorn, which closed on March 27. Since closing, Powderhorn has received more than two feet of fresh snow, with more on the way this week. As of today, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, Durango Mountain, Monarch, Ski Cooper, SolVista, Sunlight Mountain, and Wolf Creek are also closed for the season. Meteorologists expect a storm system moving through the state to dump more snow on many of these resorts this week.

What gives? Back in October, ski resorts were blasting their slopes with snowmaking guns, wooing early season skiers who shelled out big dollars to ski on marginal snow. Come spring, and the same resorts are buried in snow and closing shop anyway. For most, it's purely a business decision. Skier numbers take a nosedive in the spring when would-be skiers and boarders pull out the mountain bikes or golf clubs and put winter behind them.

Still, the big snowfalls have seduced a few resorts into extending their seasons, and they're offering some good deals. Sunlight Mountain outside of Glenwood Springs boasts "the best conditions in years" and will re-open for one weekend, April 9/10, with lift tickets going for just $25.

In southern Colorado, Wolf Creek, shut its lifts on April 3rd, with 180 inches of base remaining. However, they plan to open for one day on April 16th. Lift tickets on this bonus day will go for just $22 ($13 for kids and seniors).

Viva winter! [End of article]