#Breckenridge, Colorado.
| Dustin Schaefer / Loveland Ski Area |
A day after both Copper Mountain and Keystone resorts announced they were delaying their Oct. 31 opening, officials at Loveland Ski Area released a statement Wednesday saying they will begin winter operations Saturday, Nov. 1. The announcement makes Loveland the second North American ski area to open for the season behind Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, which opened Friday, Oct. 17.
“We had to wait out a few unseasonably warm weeks, but everyone’s patience will be rewarded on Saturday,” Loveland director of business operations Rob Goodell said in the release. “We are still putting the finishing touches on the base area, but our snowmaking team has done a tremendous job on the upper portion of the mountain, and we are proud to offer our guests the exceptional early-season conditions they have come to expect at Loveland.”
Chair 1 will begin operations at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and run until close at 4 p.m. Skiers and snowboarders will have access to one roughly 1,000-vertical-foot top-to-bottom run via a combination of the Catwalk, Mombo and Home Run trails.
Ski area officials anticipate an 18-inch base for opening day.
A spokesman said Loveland had initially hoped to start the season closer to A-Basin’s Oct. 17 opening, but warm weather delayed snowmaking operations. Last year Loveland was able to open on Oct. 17.
Once open, the ski area will continue operations seven days a week through its closing day in May.
Lift hours will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and designated holidays.
Early-season day passes are $51 for adults and $25 for children ages 6-14.
More ski area information is available at www.skiloveland.com
Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.
