Industry News
The Colorado ski season started with a boom this past weekend. With what seemed to be nonstop snow hitting the Front Range, roads, resorts, and towns were hit with near-record-breaking November snow totals and winter storm warnings. While the snow was welcome news for resorts such as Winter Park, Copper Mountain, Keystone Resort, and Arapahoe Basin, and other resorts, such as Eldora Mountain Resort, the masses of snow caused lengthy closures of the I70. Colorado governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency ahead of the snow storm, enabling him to deploy the National Guard.
After five days of nearly non-stop snowfall, Colorado saw its largest November snowstorm in decades. The snow stopped falling on Saturday after several feet accumulated on the mountains and the plains. The National Weather Service report for San Isabel, located about 8,500 feet above sea level, indicates that 54.9 inches of snow fell during the recent storm. However, with the large volume of skiers and other traffic on I-70 and other highways in the Front Range area, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and other road clearing services were busy clearing roads for safe travel.
In addition to the large amounts of snow in the mountainous regions of the Front Range, Eastern Colorado was hit with large amounts of snow, causing closures and many to be stranded. In Hugo, Colorado, a small town near Limon, Colorado, 10 drivers were left stranded due to large amounts of snow and a winter storm warning in effect. Luckily, these 10 drivers could stay at the Hugo United Methodist Chuch until the winter storm warning ended the following Saturday morning.
Although the snow created a mess for local roads, it gave resorts a jumpstart to the season. With a large amount of snow, Winter Park Resort could open with a “powder day,” with 36 inches of snow already accumulated in the season. Currently, 10 out of 171 trails are open, and five out of 24 lifts are running, more than are typically operated for early November. Eldora Mountain Resort, Copper Mountain, and Keystone also have received large amounts of snow, with Eldora at 18 inches on the season, when they typically average 15 inches of total snowfall in November. Copper is also on pace to pass the average snowfall for November with 24 inches in the season, they typically average 27 inches of snowfall in the entire month of November. Keystone also boasts an impressive 44 inches on the season, with an average November snowfall of 28 inches. This is a great indicator of what will come this season for Front-Range Colorado Skiers as it shows the season is off to an expedited start with impressive November snow totals.
The ski season is underway; however, snowy conditions and closures exist despite being early. It is very important to stay up-to-date with current conditions and closures. Conditions and closures can be examined by following local news sources and keeping updated with closures and conditions on CDOT’s website. According to the National Weather Service, more snow is expected to accumulate on Wednesday, with a light dusting set to hit much of western Colorado, dropping a few inches on most peaks, up to 12 inches, possibly southwest of Aspen.
Some Colorado ski resorts are already open for the 2024-25 season, and many others will open this weekend. For more details, check out the ski areas’ snow reports.
Devastating news comes from Colorado Parks and Wildlife which report that more than 100 pronghorn were killed on roads in Eastern Colorado while seeking shelter from the sudden onslaught of snow. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is urging motorists to slow down and watch for pronghorn sleeping or standing, especially at night. Pronghorn can’t move quickly on icy roads to escape oncoming traffic and because pronghorn prefer to go under fences rather than jump over, many are trapped on the roads because the snow is two feet deep and there isn’t room for them to crawl under the bottom wires. Pronghorn do not respond to baiting to lure them away from roads. So until the snow melts, Colorado Parks and Wildlife asks landowners to plow snow from fields to give them large spaces to shelter off the roads. Meanwhile, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers are monitoring herds to protect them and removing carcasses.
ATTN motorists!
More than 100 pronghorn have died on roads across Eastern Colorado as they seek refuge from deep, crusty snow in fields across the region. @COParksWildlife is urging motorists to slow down and watch for pronghorn sleeping or standing.
Especially at night. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/KOED5Z30bd— CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) November 12, 2024
