Audio By Carbonatix
As Denver shivered, it was sunny and in the 40s on the mountain north of Durango yesterday. While it hasn’t snowed for a good week — and lifts 5 and 8 on the back side were not open — the views and the varied terrain, and the beautiful weather more than made up for it.
What’s new:
The resort opened 125 acres of expert tree skiing on the back side off of lift 8 for the season. Last year, a new $50 million day lodge opened.
Mark the date:
Locals Days are the time to save money — lift tickets are $39, $25 for kids. The next one is this Sunday (January 10), followed by February 7 and March 7. Next weekend — January 16-17 — is Winterfest, offering all sorts of snow-related activities.
Where to eat and sleep:
Splurge at Seasons Grill or eat and quaff like a Dubliner at the Irish Embassy. Bed down in style at the movie-themed Rochester Hotel or save a buck at the Siesta Motel.
Overheard:
“Instead of Purgatory, they should call it Traverse-atory.” – snowboarder girl
“My theory is the horizontal sedimentary rock makes a series of benches and dropoffs that makes the place unique.” – goateed geologist
