Thanksgiving holiday skiing and riding is best associated with… | Whiteout
Fresh snow from Steamboat to Silverton after turkey for weekend fun
It’s time to be thankful for skiing or riding on get-fat-from-turkey day, gobble gobble, even if this season’s snowfall totals are lower than average so far.
Be thankful.
Thanksgiving for skiers and riders is the holiday best associated with “most resorts are open but with limited skiing and riding as there is not yet enough snow to put away the rock skis and boards.”
Be thankful.
Thanksgiving for skiers and riders is the holiday best associated with “maybe X-resort will drop a rope on a new trail open at noon today after blowing snow on it for three days straight.”
Be thankful.
Thanksgiving for skiers and riders is the holiday best associated with “I’m willing to get out on the slopes instead of watching the Lions lose, the Cowboys win, and trying to figure out what canned cranberry sauce is actually made from.”
Be thankful.
Thanksgiving for skiers and riders is the holiday best associated with “if it didn’t snow at least 6″ the night before, corduroy is your best friend, and so is the aprés bar.”
Be thankful.
Thanksgiving for skiers and riders is the holiday best associated with “the snow might be lower than other holidays, but at least the lift lines aren’t like Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, or Vail.”
Be thankful.
Thanksgiving for skiers and riders is the holiday best associated with “each open resort has their own ribbon of joy to ski or ride on, not just A-Basin.”
Be thankful.
Photo courtesy Winter park Resort.
Thanksgiving for skiers and riders is the holiday best associated with “jumping features in the park is still better than dodging rocks on open slopes.”
Be thankful.
Thanksgiving for skiers and riders is the holiday best associated with “this should be the last time the opening-day excitement feelings happen until next October.”
Be thankful.
SNOW REPORT:
Forecast:
Thanksgiving day will be dry, like Tuesday and Wednesday were, however, heading into Friday, snow showers make their way in from the north northwest and continue into Saturday.
A Weather.us forecast model shows the potential accumulation levels of water-equivalent precipitation as of 6 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, for Colorado. Depending on the density of the snow, one inch of water is equivalent to 10 inches of snow based on a common rule of thumb ratio of 10:1.
A forecast from The European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts has snow developing over the northern Front Range mountains from early Friday morning to sunrise Saturday, with widespread snow reaching the Flat Tops, Grand Mesa (Powderhorn), eastern and central San Juans (Wolf Creek, Purgatory), and West Elks (Irwin) and Elks (Aspen/Snowmass) ranges.
By sunset Friday, 3-6 inches should have fallen across most of these ranges. Snow continues into Saturday morning with the potential for another 4-8 inches in and around Wolf Creek Pass — Wolf Creek might top 12-16″ by the end of the storm.
April 15, 2023 MoMo Mitchell Faction Spyder Zeal Aspen Mountain Spring Powder Day Matt Power Photography.
With Aspen Mountain, Crested Butte, Snowmass, and Purgatory all open by Thanksgiving Day, Friday skiing and riding could be soft on the terrain that’s open.
Lesser snow amounts in Eagle, Summit, Grand and Clear Creek counties should be expected within the 3-6 inch total, but enough snow should fall by Saturday morning to make the Thanksgiving weekend soft and playful on the terrain that is open.
SNOW NEWS:
• 15 resorts are open as of Thursday morning, Powderhorn opens Friday, and Howelsen and Silverton open Saturday.
Aspen Mountain has 41 acres open, served by the Silver Queen Gondola for uploading and downloading from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the Ajax Express chair giving skiers and riders access to trails Dipsy Doodle, Silver Bell, Deer Park and Tortilla Flats.
A snowboarder rides fresh snow at Aspen Mountain in winter 2023-24
Snowmass Mountain has 16 acres open at the Elk Camp Meadow’s area, served by the Elk Camp Gondola for uploading and downloading from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Sky Cab, Meadows chair and Magic Carpet will also be open with the Sky Cab gondola starting to run at 8 a.m.
Did you get your freshly baked cookie?
Beaver Creek opened Wednesday and has 55 acres of accessible terrain with Latigo Flats, Gold Dust and Haymeadow trails open for skiing and riding.
Crested Butte opened Wednesday and has nearly 35 acres on five trails open with access coming from the Red Lady Express chair.
Steamboat opened Wednesday with 25 acres of ridable terrain via Christy Peak Express and has seven trails open in: Jess’ Cut Off, Sitz, Sitz Back, Vogue, lower Short Cut, Stampede, and terrain in the Lil’ Rodeo terrain park.
On Friday, Powderhorn will offer skiing and riding on Bill’s Run and Peacemaker, serviced by the Flat Top Flyer high-speed quad chairlift, with the Lower Dude beginner area accessible via the Discovery conveyor lift from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m..
Closer to Denver, Echo Mountain is opening its tubing hill Friday. Hours of operation are Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
PHOTOS: Opening day 2023-24 at Beaver Creek and Crested Butte
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