North Face opens to limited terrain

Ski patrol opening what it can, expect possible closings, too

Despite the lack of new snow, Crested Butte Mountain Resort Ski Patrol has managed to open some more extreme terrain. The Banana opened on Tuesday, January 27, and limited terrain is slated to open off the North Face Lift on Friday. Ski patrol is doing what it can to continue the openings, but the word on the slopes is to ski with caution.
“It’s going to be pretty limited [off the North Face Lift]. The Glades will be open and a small portion of the North Face itself. North Face West we call it, so the tree line and down through that lower stuff. There will be a lot of additional ropes directing people to where the snow is,” said Bill Dowell, Ski Patrol director.
“People should know that it’s really thin and to ski with caution. Go slowly and pick your way through. Learn where the good routes are and don’t hike above signs or ropes,” Dowell continued.
Using caution on entrances is also a good idea, which Dowell says get hammered pretty quickly. And, as one would expect, the snowpack is thin and variable. Dowell said boot packers have done a lot of work to pack and double-pack skiable terrain, and will continue to work where there is snow. They were slated to begin working on Staircase on Wednesday, January 28, but had yet to do much work in Phoenix Bowl, where snow is thin thanks to wind and warm temperatures.
For the near future, Dowell expects terrain openings to continue to be piecemeal. There are some flurries in the forecast, but the game-changing storm that everyone is waiting for doesn’t appear to be on the horizon.
“At this point of the season, we’re trying to allow a bit of skiing but can’t open the whole area,” Dowell said. “So we’re opening it in bits and pieces and getting creative with rope work to get people around to where the snow is decent.”
Skiers and riders should also expect to see some terrain closings as entrances get hammered and the snowpack changes, which means the overall message isn’t likely to change soon: ski with caution, pay attention to openings and closings, and remember that when the snow does return, it will be falling on a weak snowpack.
“We’ll have our hands full dealing with the mountain, especially now with the big old sun crust on everything the last few days. After the next storm, I would anticipate a lot of avalanche work,” Dowell said.
In the meantime, folks lining up for the North Face Lift on Friday should remember that the beacon policy will be in effect. Those wearing a beacon will get lift-line priority.