Skiers packed Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort on Friday for what longtime skiers said was the best opening day in many years.
Skiers were greeted with soft and ample snow, warm temperatures and bluebird skies.
“It was really amazing for this time of year,” said Adrienne Templeton, 20, who was visiting from Gunnison. “I don’t think I’ve ever skied an opening day that had this much snow.”
Purgatory attracted about 2,500 skiers Friday, spokeswoman Kim Oyler said.
While skiers have been able to visit Wolf Creek Ski Area east of Pagosa Springs for a few weeks, the opening of Durango’s hometown mountain was cause for celebration.
“I couldn’t ask for anything better,” said Dan Gordon, 43, of Durango. “Look at the weather, you know?”
After a dry start to last winter, Purgatory officials were thrilled by this season’s natural bounty.
“This is probably the best opening-day conditions we’ve seen in years,” said Oyler.
Lifts 1 and 2 were turning, serving every run on the mountain’s front side. Steep runs including Styx and Lower Hades were open, which is unusual for opening day, a news release said.
Purgatory reported a midway depth of 36 inches. The mountain received 65 inches of snowfall leading up to opening day. That was augmented by the resort’s substantial snowmaking operations.
Skiers and snowboarders could scarcely conceal their excitement at the conditions Friday.
“I have to say, it was totally awesome,” said Colleen Pitts, who moved to Durango from Nederland in August.
Pitts brought her 11-year-old son, Ford, and 8-year-old daughter, Kaia, to the mountain.
She had high praise for Purgatory’s family atmosphere.
“This is the awesome family mountain,” she said.
Opening day was good for rental shops in town. The Ski Barn rented about 100 sets of skis and snowboards Friday, employee Rick Macewen said.
“It was wall-to-wall people (Friday morning),” Macewen said.
Throughout Durango, skiers and snowboarders went through their familiar rituals Friday morning to get up to the mountain.
Andy McAuley clutched a cinnamon roll as he left his home. McAuley, 62, said he’s been backcountry skiing several times already. He looked forward to getting some resort runs in.
“It’s exciting to get out and ride some chairs,” he said. “It’s not a powder day, so it’s laid back. You’re kind of cruising around and looking for people you know. It’s a celebration.”
cslothower@durangoherald.com
If you go
Lift tickets are discounted at Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort through Sunday. Adult tickets are $55, young adults $43 (ages 13-17), seniors $47 (ages 65-79), kids $33 (ages 6-12) and “super seniors” $21 (ages 80 and older).
Purgatory will close Monday through Thursday to give crews time to make and groom more snow.
The resort plans to reopen Friday with more terrain.
Resort officials hope to keep the mountain open on weekdays thereafter.
In the meantime, the resort will honor weekday passes during the weekends.
For more information, visit www.skipurg.com or call 247-9000.
