The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Ski area slowly getting there
It wasn’t a lot but it was a lot of fun. That seemed to be the consensus for the opening of the Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) ski area last week as skiers and boarders enjoyed blue skies and spring conditions. Things should be getting more fun as the Paradise lift should be open by this Friday, December 4. The area opened with just the Red Lady Express lift running until the day after Thanksgiving. Then Teocalli lift opened to help spread some of the wealth.
According to CBMR Vice President of Sales and Marketing Daren Cole, the resort experienced similar numbers to last year for opening weekend. Approximately 7,400 skiers hit the slopes the first five days of the 2009-2010 season.
“The skiing is great and the coverage and conditions for early season are better than a year ago,” Cole said.
According to CBMR, the hope is to have enough man-made snow in place to open the “Paradise pod” by this weekend. Upper Forest Queen, Lower Forest Queen, Paradise Bowl, Upper Canaan, and Short Cut trails should be available. The Paradise Warming House is also planning on being open beginning Friday.
The goal is to then shift focus to the front side to get the Silver Queen open by Friday, December 11.
The Ice Bar at Uley’s Cabin has a tentative opening slated for December 11. The slopeside restaurant, 9380 Prime, will serve lunch beginning December 4 and open for breakfast and dinner beginning December 12.
Cole said the numbers are starting to move upward for the Christmas and New Year’s period. He said right now, the big jets are running at a 71 percent load factor for December. They will begin flying into the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport on December 17.
“We are launching a great Christmas package to help top off the tank,” Cole said.
It has begun. Let’s enjoy.
