4 feet of snow in one week

News Release
December 7, 2007
Loryn Kasten
970-385-2131
lkasten@durangomountain.com

PURGATORY GETS 4 FEET OF SNOW IN JUST ONE WEEK
Backside opens tomorrow, resort will be 55 percent open

Durango, CO – When Mother Nature decided it was time for snow in Durango, she brought an abundance of it. In the past 7 days, Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort has received nearly 4 feet of snow; 35 inches fell last weekend and another 10 inches fell in the last 24 hours at mid-mountain. Snow continues to fall on Purgatory Mountain at the rate of about half an inch an hour.

Conditions are epic, with Purgatory experiencing one of the best openings in nearly five years. Snow continues to pile up in light, fluffy mounds around the resort and fresh tracks can be found on almost every open trail. Forecasts are calling for another 2 feet of accumulation possible for the San Juan Mountains through Sunday, with the bulk of the storm hitting the area today and tonight. 

With all the new snow, the resort will open the Backside of the mountain tomorrow with Chair 3 and 18 new trails including more intermediate and advanced terrain.  The Columbine Beginner’s Area will also open tomorrow with Chair 9 providing more terrain for first time skiers and boarders. Chair 7 will operate this weekend to allow access from the lower parking lots to the base area.  Tomorrow the resort will be 55 percent open with 4 chairlifts and 47 trails plus the beginner’s area.

On the heels of Chair 3 opening, the resort plans to open Chair 8 and 95 percent of trails by December 15th. Skiers and Snowboarders will have access to 80 trails and nearly 1200 acres of skiable terrain including Poet’s Glades and Ray’s Ridge. 

Updated information about the storm is available online at www.durangomountainresort.com in the snow report or the media section of the website. You can also contact Loryn Kasten at 970-385-2131 or lkasten@durangomountain.com for high-resolution photos, video feeds or interviews.

-www.durangomountainresort.com-