Chapman Hill and Hesperus Ski Area have received several dozen feet of snowfall this winter, giving renewed life to community-based skiing in La Plata County.
As of last week, the Durango area had received 45.2 inches of snow since the beginning of November, in line with an average accumulation of 45.4 inches as of this time of year. That’s good news for Chapman Hill and Hesperus Ski Area, which do not have the geographical advantage of sitting at high elevations in the San Juan Mountains.
“It’s been a great year there,” said Purgatory Resort spokeswoman Theresa Blake Graven. “I went in January on either the 17th or 18th, after we got all that snow. Hesperus had gotten like 56 or 60 inches. I swear the entire town was there on Thursday at four o'clock. It was pretty wild. It's been great to see them getting the snow.”
Owned by Mountain Capital Partners, which also owns Purgatory Resort, Hesperus’ snow base has more than doubled this year, Graven said.
As of this time last year, Hesperus Ski Area had a 20-inch base compared to a 48-inch base this year, she said. “The season total so far is 119 inches. Of course, that looks like it will change substantially this week, which is exciting. The last couple of years have been a struggle with the persistent drought we’ve all been dealing with, so it’s been a great year.”
Graven said Hesperus is tentatively due to close on March 19, though she said Mountain Capital Partners may re-evaluate that date if the snowfall continues.
“They (Mountain Capital Partners) are committed to giving people the freedom to ski, so if conditions are impressive in March, they may re-evaluate that closing date,” she said.
Matt Nimetz, the faculty supervisor at Chapman Hill, said Durango’s in-town ski hill may extend its season if weather permits.
“We were timing our last day with the school break,” he said. “Basically the weekend of the 18th of March through the 26th of March, when our kids are off on spring break. So we’ll see what happens. We’ll be open as long as people want to show up.”
Nimetz said the abundant snowfall has brought in plenty of local skiers since December.
“It’s been pretty darn busy,” he said. “I don't have numbers right now for January, but this year has been great. Every time I drive by, I’m just like, ‘Our hill’s in such good condition!’ It’s so sweet to look at. Compared to last year, our numbers are definitely up on the hill. We’ve had just the right snow conditions.”
With both ski areas doing well these last few months, Nimetz and Graven said upgrades may be coming.
“We will be actively seeking possible bids for two new lifts,” Nimetz said of Chapman Hill. “Probably a platter lift (similar to a T-bar) for the big tow, and then keep the little rope tow and have it go higher up on the hill.”
Graven said Mountain Capital Partners is looking at overall improvements to ski lifts and Hesperus’ overall infrastructure.
“They have been talking a lot about capital improvements,” she said. “They're committed to continuing to improve and maintain a good skier experience there as well as affordability.”
Nimetz and Graven said they are excited about this winter’s heavy snowfall and what it means for local skiers. Chapman Hill provides young skiers with the ability to strap on skis after school, sometimes even walking from their homes with their gear in tow.
“Most of our customers are kids,” Nimetz said. “It's such a gem to have this here. It's really just amazing.”
Graven agrees that Chapman Hill and Hesperus provide a unique alternative to the more tourist-focused ski destinations like Purgatory.
“It's just a different experience,” she said. “For us, it’s completely its own thing. Something really cool for the local communities around there.”
molsen@durangoherald.com
