Hesperus Ski Area is a little ski area that rocks. The Ski Area Citizen’s Coalition named Hesperus to this list in 2009. With Purgatory’s recent acquisition, its future looks bright.
Hesperus has many unique characteristics. The thing visitors notice first is that it has only one lift. With an old double chair that rises 700 feet from the base to its 8,800-foot summit, some might wonder, “what is the attraction?”
Those in the know – Hesperus loyalists, local ski bums and regional residents – do not mind the area being off people’s radar. One lift accesses 26 trails, and weekdays operates exclusively at night. For weary daytime desk jockeys, kids looking for more challenge than Chapman Hill and those seeking an affordable, family-friendly winter sports experience, Hesperus does the trick. It will not likely stay a regional secret for long.
On powder days, in fact on most days, with fewer skiers and snowboarders than other areas, face shots are plentiful. Maybe that is why there has been a volunteer ski patrol in place for over 50 years too. The little area, with arguably the best fall line in the Four Corners, has attracted hardcore ski and surf bums for over half a century.
Whether a liftie, instructor or patroller, these ski bums (they wear the label with pride) just want to be around snow and others who love snow. This weekend, this tribe can be found at the Hesperus Mountain Ski Patrol Ski Swap, this year in its 53rd year, Saturday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.
Proceeds benefit Hesperus’s Volunteer Ski Patrol, a 20-strong all-volunteer not-for-profit group of professional ski patrollers and member of the Rocky Mountain Division of the National Ski Patrol. Comprised of men and women aged 16-66 years old, the patrollers take their job helping people with injuries seriously. They all love to ski and ride, but that comes second to safety. Patrollers receive training and promote on-mountain NSP safe-skiing practices and emergency medical services.
An annual early November ritual, the swap is where snow lovers of all ages congregate to share the stoke – scoring new or used low-cost clothing or equipment, the anticipation of what kind of winter is in store, and the buzz of prior years’ powder days and those to come. Their one big fundraiser of the year pays for the patrol’s medical supplies, radios, uniforms and trainings.
Purgatory owner James Coleman has acquired it. “A real skier,” he is as committed as his predecessor, 28-year owner Jim “Pitch” Pitcher, to make skiing an affordable, family-friendly winter sports experience. This year, Coleman reduced Hesperus ski prices, added access to other areas and is offering new products geared at families and young adults, some of which will be available this weekend.
A smart businessman, Coleman knows his expanded enterprise depends upon a constant crop of new skiers that Hesperus can help develop. Everyone anticipates more skiers at Hesperus this year, and as the demand for patrol services goes up, so does the need for funding and additional volunteers.
Catch the buzz. Plan to attend the ski swap on Saturday, support the patrol and thank James Coleman for bringing Hesperus into his family of resorts and securing its future like never before. Now, let it snow!
