Backside Opening

News Release
December 6, 2006
Loryn Kasten
970-385-2131
lkasten@durangomountain.com

PURGATORY MOUNTAIN SET TO OPEN BACKSIDE THIS WEEKEND

All lifts expected to be open by December 16th

Durango, CO – Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort is in the full swing of the winter season. Opening Weekend was bigger than in previous years with 2 chairlifts and 19 trails open to skiers and snowboarders. Now, thanks to the hard work of mountain operations crews the resort will begin to open the backside of the mountain, with a goal of having almost all lifts open by December 16th.

Chair 3 is scheduled to open this Saturday, beginning to provide access to the backside of Purgatory Mountain. By Saturday, the resort will open 10 new trails including --------, --------- and ----------. That will bring the mountain to 40 percent open. Chair 8 will come on board the following Friday, December 15th and Chair 5 will connec the two when it opens on Saturday, December 16th. The resort expects to have 50 percent of the backside trails open by this date, as well as Dante’s and Café de los Pinos providing lunch and snack options on the backside.

More beginner and intermediate terrain will open on the frontside in the next two weeks as well. The Columbine Beginners Area is scheduled to open on Decmeber 13th providing 7 green trails and 1 chairlift for first time skiers and snowboarders. Beginners and Ski & Snowboard School participants will also have the option of Chair 4 beginning Decmeber 16th.

By December 16th with 9 chairlifts operating and 80 trails open, the resort will be 90 perecnt open. This is one of the fastest openings in the resort’s history.