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Ski resorts get gift of white stuff
Winter Park expecting 'one of the best holiday weekends for skiing,' spokeswoman says
By Tillie Fong
Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
Colorado ski resorts are rejoicing over a great start to the winter season.
"We had amazing snow conditions — over 12 feet," said Joan Christensen, spokeswoman for Winter Park Resort.
"Almost every day is a powder day, and it looks like we're expecting more fresh snow on Sunday. It's going to be one of the best holiday weekends for skiing."
Winter Park has a base of 50 inches at the top of the mountain, with 151/2 inches of new snow in the past three days.
It also has 108 trails open, compared with only 35 at this time last year.
The story was much the same for other resorts.
"If we could place an order for the kind of early season every year that we are having this year, we would be fortunate indeed," said Jim Felton, spokesman for Breckenridge Ski Resort.
Breckenridge has seen snow 13 out of the past 21 days, with 2 feet of fresh powder in the past six days.
There is a midmountain base of 37 inches.
Over at Arapahoe Basin, snow has fallen since Dec. 9.
"It's the best year we've had since 1996-97," said spokeswoman Leigh Hierholzer.
With a base of 32 inches, the resort is bracing for a huge influx of skiers.
Farther away, the scene is just as rosy.
"This is one of our best pre-Christmas openings in recent years," said Matt Mammola with information services at Aspen.
The average base at Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk Mountain and Snowmass has been 30 inches, with 36 lifts out of 39 open in the four areas.
Vail mountain is 92 percent open, including 154 trails and all the back bowls.
"We're incredibly busy," said Nicky DeFord, spokeswoman for Vail.
With a midmountain base of 36 inches and 16 inches of new snow last week, the place is bustling.
"You can feel it's a lot busier (than last year)," DeFord said.
Contact Tillie Fong at (303) 892-5489 or fongt@RockyMountainNews.com.
December 23, 2000
