Benefit Day recipient announced

News Release
November 3, 2005
Loryn Kasten
970-385-2131
lkasten@durangomountain.com

PURGATORY SELECTS TRAILS 2000 AS BENEFIT DAY RECIPIENT

Durango, CO - Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort is pleased to announce the selection of Trails 2000 as the 2005 Benefit Day recipient. The local non-profit organization will receive all proceeds from the 13th annual pre-opening event, scheduled for November 23rd, when lift tickets will cost just $10.

"We are excited to be the recipient of Durango Mountain Resort's 2005 Benefit Day," said Bill Manning, Executive Director of Trails 2000. "The money raised will help contribute to our goal of keeping area trails in great shape and accessible for everyone."

Trails 2000 focuses on enhancing the outdoors in southwest Colorado by working on community trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, and making trails accessible for all people from children to seniors. The non-profit group was founded in 1990 and since then has organized thousands of volunteers, working on an average of 27 trails covering 103 miles each year.

The funds collected from Benefit Day will be used to help Trails 2000 lease a new trail machine. The small, specialized piece of motorized equipment will be used for key projects to maintain and construct trail-width paths that are user friendly, sustainable and environmentally sensitive.

"Trail machines are a very effective means for a volunteer group to accomplish trail maintenance activities, and assist the U.S. Forest Service in meeting target goals," said Don Kelly, Trails Foreman for the Columbine Ranger District in the San Juan National Forest. "Trail machines are an asset to the trail builder without negative impact to the environment," Kelly continued. "Larger scale projects can be accomplished in less time, stabilizing and mitigating potential resource damage."

"Durango has long been known for some of the best trail systems in the country , and we're glad to be able to support an organization that has done so much for this community," said Hank Theiss, Durango Mountain Resort GM and COO.

Beginning November 14th, $10 Benefit Day lift tickets will be available at the two City Markets, Albertson's, and Nature's Oasis. Purgatory and Trails 2000 will also host a special Benefit Day party at Steamworks on November 17th during Pint Night, with tickets on sale. All pre-sale lift tickets will qualify buyers for a raffle worth a 2005/06 winter season pass and a trip to Kirkwood Mountain Resort in northern California. Lift tickets will also be on sale on Benefit Day in the Purgatory ticket office, but do not qualify buyers for the raffle.

Last year's event raised more than $23,000 for the Durango Discovery Museum, and Benefit Day has raised more than $190,000 for local non-profit groups since 1994.

-www.durangomountainresort.com-