Colorado’s ski areas are excitedly embracing the second major snowstorm to pass through the state in four days as they hope to build their bases ahead of the busy holiday week.
“The week of the holidays is definitely one of the busier times for the ski resorts,” said Jennifer Rudolph, spokeswoman for Colorado Ski Country USA. “It will bring the snow in this week and not snarl travel next week, ideally.”
Rudolph said Christmas bookings are already filling in nicely and that Tuesday’s storm will only increase interest.
“It helps get the word out that Colorado resorts have snow,” she said of so many people enjoying the storm. “It has a ripple effect later in the season.”
More: View Colorado’s ski report
Keystone Resort reported 9 inches of fresh snow overnight, bringing their snowfall total for the season over 100 inches.
A photo posted on the area’s Twitter feed showed blanketed gondola cases amongst the trees.
Breckenridge Ski Resort, Arapahoe Basin, Loveland Ski Area, Winter Park Resort and Eldora Ski Area are all reporting about 9 inches of new snow.
“Can you say #pow day!?” Winter Park said in a tweet.
Aspen Snowmass is reporting 13 inches of fresh snow across its four mountains.
“The timing of this snowfall was perfect,” said Jeff Hanle, spokesman for Aspen Snowmass. “It gets things set up for the big crowds when they arrive.”
Hanle said the hope is visitors will go home and tell others how great the snow is, calling it the “echo effect.”
“It helps with that January booking window when they start thinking about their Presidents Day and Easter trips,” he said.
In southwest Colorado, Purgatory Resort says it has received 14 inches of snow in the last 24 hours while Wolf Creek Ski Areas says it has gotten 15 inches of snow over that span.
Related: How much snow fell across Colorado?
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is reporting considerable avalanche danger across the Western Slope and Front Range mountains.
“New snow and wind will add weight to our buried weak layers,” the CAIC said in a forecast for Summit County and Vail. “Triggering a large and dangerous avalanche is likely. Avoid slopes near and above treeline that face northwest to north through southeast.”
As the snowfall continues, the center says avalanche danger will only increase.
“Use cautious route finding in the mountains today,” the forecast said. “We have a weak snowpack and dangerous avalanche conditions exist.”
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
