Snowmaking in full swing at CBMR for November 23 opening

Ski free on opening day

The snowpack is forming on the streets, winter parking rules are in effect and snowmaking is in full swing at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR). Winter is apparoaching, and as of November 7, CBMR already had four days of snowmaking under its belt.

“We always wait to start snowmaking until November 1 for energy purposes,” said Erica Reiter, CBMR’s public relations and communications director. Waiting out late-October warm-ups is more energy-efficient and helps the resort manage how much energy it uses during peak periods.
But that doesn’t mean it begins November 1. Last year, weather delayed snowmaking until November 9. Thanks to this season’s cooler temperatures, the head start has given the resort a jump on its snowpack: 13 inches at the high stake and 10 inches at the midway point (top-secret locations undisclosed).
That bodes well for opening day on November 23, when CBMR is inviting skiers to hit the slopes for free in honor of its birthday. It’s the last hurrah in a year-long celebration of 50 years of skiing. (You can also ski free on your birthday, if it falls during this year’s ski season. If you’ve already purchased a season pass, bring a friend for free.)
According to Reiter, snow will make it or break it for opening day, which tends to draw a more regional crowd.
“If we have a lot of snow, chances are higher that we’ll have great crowds on opening day,” Reiter said.
This year, crowds will be treated to hourly games and festivities—complete with a custom-made CBMR piñata—and a Drew Emmitt concert in the base area. Details are still shaping up, but expect a bash.
Looking ahead toward the rest of winter, it’s early to say just what winter will look like. But CBMR hopes to increase its skier days by 2 percent to 3 percent over last year. So far, room nights are up 4 percent for the season and 7 percent for December compared to this time last year.
“A large portion of that is because of the National Brotherhood of Skiers. They’re bringing in quite a bit of early December business during a time that’s usually pretty quiet,” Reiter said.
The National Brotherhood of Skiers formed in 1974 to bring together black ski clubs, and today represents 3,000 skiers from 60 ski clubs across 43 cities. They’ll hit the Crested Butte slopes December 3 through December 20.