A new ski season has dawned in Durango, although unseasonably warm, dry weather has kept Purgatory from transforming into a winter wonderland just yet.
Predicted snowstorms failing to deliver much late last week, the view from the lifts was a range of snowless mountains on Saturday, but Purgatory was able to make enough snow to open a slope for the first run of winter 2016-2017.
“It’s a little different this year, but we’re skiing,” said Purgatory owner James Coleman, who arrived in town from Arizona on Saturday to usher in the season’s first snowboarders and skiers, and to hit the slope himself.
The resort opened the mountain to both skiing/snowboarding and mountain biking on the same lift ticket, and at least 100 people were there by early afternoon to take advantage of one or both.
“We wanted to kick off the ski season but offer something a little unique,” said Purgatory spokeswoman Kim Oyler.
She reported a strong turnout of mountain bikers in the morning, many of whom traded their bikes for skis or snowboards when Lifts 1 and 2 opened for the first run on three intermediate trails: Upper Limbo, Westfork and El Diablo.
Holding the traditional “now open for the season” banner, Jacob Goldsholl, Chart Carlson, Rich Kurtz, Quinn and Colby Simmons and Ava Hachman all got the coveted first chair.
“I came at 10:30 a.m. just to see if they were really telling the truth (about opening),” said Kurtz, a skier since 1971 and a frequenter at Purgatory for 22 years. “Every season, I have to ski at least one more day than my age, so I have to ski at least 70 this year or I just don’t feel right.”
Jenna Gilbert, with her friends Luke Lemaire and Max Molello, said it didn’t matter that it wasn’t officially winter, the mountains lacked a blanket of snow or that everyone would be packed into a single slope.
“We’re dedicated skiers,” she said.
Lemaire said watching ski videos is their pre-season ritual.
Hoping to usher in more snowfall in the days ahead, some mountain-goers preached the virtues of wintertime rites such as the snow dance, and praising Ullr, the god of snow.
“You have to slam a beer and make it (the snow dance) up on the fly,” said Jon Dudley.
Skeptical of the amount of snow on the slope, Dudley said he bought a cheap snowboard just for Saturday. He and his brother, Tanner Zauberis, haven’t missed an opening day at Purgatory in more than 10 years.
Others were introduced to the mountain for the first time Saturday.
“I just bought a house in Durango, so this is my first time skiing Purgatory,” Kay Moezzi said. “It’s beautiful.”
Mountain biking started at 9 a.m. Saturday from Lift 4. Skiing and snowboarding began at 1 p.m. from Lifts 1 and 2. The same lifts will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. With luck, the next few days will bring more precipitation.
“This time of year is hit or miss,” said Mike McCormack, retired vice president of mountain operations. “But I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”
jpace@durangoherald.comSee an infographic comparing 2016 opening days of Colorado ski resorts to those of years past.