Colorado: The Butte is Buried Under Heavy Snow, 3 Resort Closings Reported

Three Resort Closings: Due to an overabundance of snow in Colorado, three ski resorts there have had to temporary close their slopes. The issue has been on two fronts, avalanche risk at the resorts as well as avalanche risks posed by traveling on the highways. The Colorado Department of Transportation has been working around the clock to clear highways and reopen the roads.

The first Colorado resort to close was Crested Butte. On Monday the resort received an overwhelming 19 inches of snow in 24 hours. Except for the expert terrain, which remained closed due to avalanche danger, Crested Butte reopened on Tuesday. No one at the resort could remember it ever closing due to too much snow.

“Typically here in Colorado we’re used to that nice dry, powder. It’s pretty rare when a resort has to close down. I know you know in Tahoe and the Sierras it happens quite frequently because their snow is so wet.”

Erica Mueller, Vice President of Crested Butte Mountain Resort

SNOW REPORT for Crested Butte: 

Good morning and welcome to another incredible POWDER DAY on the slopes of Crested Butte Mountain Resort on this Wednesday, the 11th day in January of 2017. 10 inches of snow have fallen in the last 24 hours, making our 7-day total more than 6 FEET, and it isn’t over yet! Snow is in the forecast through Friday, with temperatures remaining in the upper 20’s. Whether you’re an everyday enthusiast or a weekend warrior on this mountain, with 95 powder packed trails open, you’re sure to have one heck of day out on the slopes!

Arapahoe Basin remains closed today after receiving 35″ of snow in the past 3 days. Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is still actively working on avalanche mitigation on the routes leading up to the resort, namely Highway 6. Additionally, crews will need to clear the parking lots to make way for the eager skiers ready to enjoy all this snow, once the roads are given the all-clear signal.

The third resort impacted was Monarch Mountain. On Tuesday the slopes there were closed after more than a foot and half of snow fell. 

“The good news: it snowed all day and night yesterday (18″!), The bad news: Monarch will not open today. Monarch Pass is has been closed all night for avalanche control, preventing Monarch Mountain maintenance, food service, and grooming crews from reaching the mountain.”

Monarch Mountain Facebook post Tuesday morning

As of today, Wednesday afternoon, all three resorts are open once again. However, Aprpahoe Basin has only two lifts operating and limited skier services available at this time.