Staff Writer
It’s been a dry year. Rain came late, and too little. Wildfires kept on popping up in Pagosa Country until last week.
But then, last Friday, the waiting stopped.
Moisture came.
Snow fell.
In town, it wasn’t much in most places, a few inches. Not enough snow to make people curse the frozen ground, just enough to give assurance that, yes, winter will come.
At Wolf Creek Ski Area, though, the Brutus storm brought more than just a few inches. The storm system dropped 20 inches on the mountain in the company of cold temperatures, providing what Rosanne Haidorfer-Pitcher, Wolf Creek Ski Area vice president, called, “excellent early season skiing.”
So that means, yes, get out the skis and snowboards, Wolf Creek opened on Wednesday.
Treasure, Bonanza, Nova and the Magic Carpet (Wolf Pup lift) are all operating from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. As of press time, Wolf Creek was reporting an 18-inch base of all natural snow. The traditional beginner and intermediate trails will be open, as well as a variety of expert terrain including Waterfall Area, Prospector Ridge, Boundary Bowl, Parts of Alberta Peak and Montezuma Bowl. Conditions are powder and packed powder, with early season obstacles.
The ski school will be available for group and private lessons as well as Wolf Pup classes starting at 10 a.m. Ski and snowboard rentals will be available. The Wolf Creek Lodge, the main day lodge, serving lunch and snacks, and the Pathfinder Bar will also be open.
Until further notice, lift tickets will be at the local appreciation rate of $35 for adults and $20 for seniors and children, no ID required.
Haidorfer-Pitcher added in an e-mail to SUN staff that this Saturday, the Prospector Grill will open and, next Tuesday, the Base Camp will also open.
The Raven Lift and Raven’s Nest will be open at least by Thanksgiving but, Haidorfer-Pitcher stated, may open earlier, depending on conditions.
lindsey@pagosasun.com
