Three Colorado ski areas begin snowmaking operations
Eager skiers and snowboarders won’t have long to wait now for first turns and shreds, because Arapahoe Basin, Loveland and Keystone cranked up their snow machines overnight.
A-Basin turned on the snow guns at 8:30 p.m., when temperatures dropped low enough for productive snowmaking. As of 8 a.m. Monday they were still running.
“This is on track with past snowmaking seasons — we typically try to kick it into high gear around mid-October,” Arapahoe Basin spokeswoman Shayna Silverman said in a news release. “Our snowmaking team has been out all night, monitoring conditions and jumping on the opportune weather windows, and will continue to work hard to help us be among the first to open in the country.”
Unlike most Colorado ski areas, A-Basin, Loveland and Keystone refrain from announcing projected opening dates in late summer, opting instead for vowing they will open as soon as they have enough snow. A-Basin is usually the first, opening in October three of the past four seasons and in 20 of the past 22. Last year, Arapahoe Basin and Keystone opened on Nov. 2, followed by Breckenridge and Winter Park on Nov. 8 and Loveland on Nov. 9.
Copper Mountain began making snow on Oct. 2, but not on terrain that will be available to passholders anytime soon. As in past years, Copper’s efforts have been at the top of the mountain on a trail being readied for U.S. Ski Team preseason training and World Cup racing Thanksgiving week. Productive snowmaking at the top of the mountain is possible earlier than elsewhere because of colder temperatures near the summit.
“We always try to have the upper mountain open for race training by the end of October, and this year is no different,” said spokeswoman Olivia Butrymovich. “The high elevation, cooler temps, and north-facing slope aspect really support our ability to make snow on that part of the mountain first.”
Copper Mountain hopes to open for guests on Nov. 7. Four days of men’s and women’s World Cup racing will happen there Nov. 27-30 in anticipation of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.
Keystone (shown), Arapahoe Basin and Loveland began snowmaking operations overnight. All three are hoping to open in October. (Katie Young/Provided by Keystone Resort)
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