FW: Update and Clarification Regarding Wolf Creek Opening

Wolf Creek will remain open through Columbus Day, and then reopen for Saturday and Sunday, the 15th and 16th, after not operating Tuesday through Friday.

Also, Wolf Creek is not the first resort in North America to open, as was previously mentioned in the earlier press release.

For more information about Wolf Creek, other resort openings or any of Colorado Ski Country USA’s 22 resorts, please visit www.ColoradoSki.com.

FW: 2011/12 Ski Season Kicks Off in Colorado

2011/12 Ski Season Kicks Off in Colorado

Wolf Creek Ski Area Opening Today, Earliest Opening Ever

Tweet: Colorado ski season starts off today with Wolf Creek Ski Area opening http://rec-law.us/p3NvS7 

Video:

HD B-roll available for download via YouSendIt: Wolf Creek opening day release clean.mp4

Video courtesy of Doug Chapin Photography

Denver, Colo. – October 8, 2011 – The Colorado ski season started with a powdery initiation this morning as Wolf Creek Ski Area opened its first chair lift to skiers and riders. At 9:00 am today, with three lifts operating, a midway base of 32 inches and a summit base of 35 inches, Wolf Creek Ski Area became the first ski resort in North America to open this season. This is the earliest opening ever for the resort, beating their previous earliest opening date of October 27, 2006.

Thanks to a significant storm that moved through southwestern Colorado earlier this week, Wolf Creek opens with 600 acres of all natural snow skiing. Skiable terrain is serviced by the Treasure, Bonanza and Nova lifts and includes a variety of beginner, intermediate and expert trails as well as Alberta Face and Treasure Falls.   Skiers and riders enjoyed early season powder conditions, with more snow forecast for the coming days.

For Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA), this early opening is an exciting launch into another season of Colorado skiing. “Colorado only ended its 2010/11 season in July, and here we are in early October already celebrating a resort opening,” explains Melanie Mills, president and CEO of CSCUSA. “At this rate, Colorado is practically a year-round ski destination.”

The early season powdery conditions brought an enthusiastic crowd of approximately 1,300 to Wolf Creek today, indicating that skiers and riders are energized for another ski season in Colorado. “Resorts in Colorado are focused more than ever on offering the best product, not only for skiing and snowboarding, but for winter vacationing,” continues Mills. “From top quality snow conditions to top notch guest service, resorts are centered on providing a one-of-a-kind experience only Colorado can provide.”

In Colorado Ski Country, it’s a tradition to compete to be Colorado’s first ski area to open. Wolf Creek will be open Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9 and has not yet determined if they will stay open after Sunday. For many years, Arapahoe Basin and Loveland Ski Area were the front runners in the race. They, and other resorts in Colorado such as Copper Mountain, are currently undergoing snowmaking and opening preparations. For more information on resort openings, CSCUSA or any of CSCUSA’s 22 member resorts, please visit www.ColoradoSki.com.

  

FW: Ski Season To Begin Tomorrow In Colorado

From: Craig Bannister [mailto:craig@coloradoski.com]
Sent: Friday, October 07, 2011 10:14 AM
To: Craig Bannister; Jenn Rudolph
Subject: Ski Season To Begin Tomorrow In Colorado

                                                                       

MEDIA ALERT

Ski Season To Begin Tomorrow In Colorado

Huge Early Season Snowstorm Enables Wolf Creek to Open on October 8 

Denver, Colo. – October 7, 2011 – Colorado Ski Country USA will officially begin turning chairs on October 8, 2011, as Wolf Creek announced it will to open for the upcoming weekend. Yesterday’s snowstorms that covered the state piled up plenty of snow for the unprecedented move by Wolf Creek, whose previous record opening was October 26, 2007. The resort has received 36 inches of new snow, and its announcement gives skiers and snowboarders plenty to whet their appetites for the upcoming year. Last season in Colorado, skiers and riders hit the slopes throughout 10 different months. This year’s early opening promises another great season ahead.

Please find photos, along with credit, attached from Wolf Creek.

Media Contact:

Jennifer Rudolph

303.866.9712

Jennifer@ColoradoSki.com

Craig Bannister

303.866.9724

Craig@ColoradoSki.com

###

Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) is the not-for-profit trade association representing Colorado’s 22 ski & snowboard resorts. CSCUSA is the global voice of the Colorado ski industry. The Association’s primary functions are concentrated in marketing, public policy and public relations. Information about CSCUSA and its members can be found at www.ColoradoSki.com, on Twitter @ColoradoSkiUSA and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ColoradoSkiCountryUSA. This release and other press information can be found in the online press room at http://media-ColoradoSki.com.

FW: Extended Snowfall At Colorado Resorts Brings Ski Season Closer

From: Craig Bannister [mailto:craig@coloradoski.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 2:54 PM
To: Craig Bannister; Jenn Rudolph
Subject: Extended Snowfall At Colorado Resorts Brings Ski Season Closer

                                                                       

MEDIA ALERT

Extended Snowfall At Colorado Resorts Brings Ski Season Closer

Anticipation Grows At Resorts Throughout State, Snowmaking Begins 

Denver, Colo. – October 6, 2011 – A day of fresh snow falling in the Colorado high country has served to tease skiers and snowboarders across the nation. With Opening Day inching its way closer, Colorado Ski Country USA resorts have spent the day watching the sky unload snow on their home mountains. Copper Mountain was the first resort to begin making snow, starting last night, while Loveland’s snowmaking crew is on a 24 hour standby. Arapahoe Basin, a perennial Opening Day challenger, has intimated there is a high probability they will begin making snow tonight.

Please find photos attached and photo credit.

Crested Butte_Chris Segal; 10/6/11

A-Basin_Kimberely Trembearth; 10/6/11

Powderhorn; 10/6/11

Purgatory_James Bunten; 10/6/11

Aspen_Jeremy Swanson; 10/6/11

Wolf Creek; 10/6/11

Media Contact:

Jennifer Rudolph

303.866.9712

Jennifer@ColoradoSki.com

Craig Bannister

303.866.9724

Craig@ColoradoSki.com

It's that time of year. Time to re-up for your CAIC Avalanche Forecasts

Statewide Avalanche Conditions

Issued: 06/06/2011 8:11 AM by Ethan Greene Expires: 10/31/2011 12:00 PM 2 2 See this forecast on-line.      Goto your account. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is a program within the Department of Natural Resources. Highlights The staff at the CAIC are starting to follow weather patterns and it looks like winter is on its way. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for the central mountain zones and a winter storm warning for the San Juan Mountains on October 6th so winter is about to arrive. More winter like weather looks to linger into the weekend. We will resume our weather products on November 1, 2011 and our regular avalanche and snowpack forecasts around mid-November.. Even though we are not issuing advisories, we are still collecting information. Please send us your observations and we'll keep the list of Field Reports and Avalanches current. Weather Discussion A couple of smaller storms moved through the state in September which left some snow down to treeline. Most of this snow melted off, but some did linger on north aspects and on old summer snow fileds. A vigourous low pressure trough and a strong jet stream were forecast to move into Colorado the first week in October. Winter is knocking on our door and it won't be long until fresh slabs begin to develop across the high country. Strong winds and significant snowfall are in the forecast so start thinking avalanche if you have plans to travel into the high country. If you're headed into the high country this fall use our Weather Stations by Zone page to check wind, temperature and precipitation numbers. You can use our Weather Stations by Zone page to monitor past and present weather conditions too. Snowpack & Avalanche Discussion Fall and Early Winter Avalanche Safety Although no avalanche incidents have been reported so far, one natural avalanche was reported from Bear Creek near Telluride during the last week in September. There have been avalanche fatalities and accidents in Colorado every month of the year. With snow already settling into the high country it is time for us to start thinking about mountain weather and snowpack. It is not unusual for avalanche incidents and fatalities to make headlines in our state long before most of us are thinking about the consequences of an early season encounter. The CAIC has already begun to monitor the 2011-2012 snowpack. No avalanche incidents have been reported yet. However, it should come as no surprise that once snow begins to accumulate, avalanches, both natural and triggered, can be expected. It is common for us to see reports of people caught in avalanches every year in October. An early season encounter with an avalanche will often come with a ride through rocks, downed timber, stumps and other obstacles which can quickly bring an end to your riding season. Always think of what consequences are possible if you were to get caught and take a ride in an avalanche. Across many areas of the state over a foot of new snow is expected for the first week in October. Strong winds associated with the jet stream will move this new snow into sheltered lee pockets and onto old summer snow fields. Temperatures have shown a steady decrease over the last couple weeks meaning a shallow snow cover will begin its annual faceting process and begin to form future weak layers. Until daily public forecasts begin, here are a few things to think about as the winter snowpack develops. °  Fall and a taste of winter have returned to Colorado’s high country. Snow began to stick on the higher terrain by mid-September. Every season people have encounters with wintertime slab avalanches as early as August or September.  Anyone traveling in the mountains, including hikers, hunters, sledders, skiers, riders and ice climbers, needs to be aware of the avalanche threat as soon as snow starts to accumulate on steep slopes.    °  People are often misled when they see grass and brush sticking out of the snow surface. You should start thinking about avalanches any time you have snow resting on a steep slope. Remember, all you need is a slab resting on a weak layer of snow. The ground can easily act as a bed surface, even if it’s only a few inches below the snow surface.    °  Old summer snow fields can act as the perfect bed surface too. Hard frozen old snow with new snow on top are common culprits in early season avalanche incidents.    °  Early in the snow season there is not much snow on the ground. This means that rocks and stumps are near the snow surface. If you get caught in an avalanche you might get tumbled through rocks, stumps, and downed timber. These obstacles can do great bodily harm to backcountry users traveling through them at high speeds. Knee pads, helmets and full body armor may not be a solution to this problem. Even a very small slide can cause great harm if the terrain is unfriendly.Don't let an early-season injury ruin your winter!    °  Wind drifts will create thicker slabs. Strong winds can take a three inch snowstorm and quickly build an 18” wind slab. Areas with shallow snow may be very close to deep drifted areas. It may be quite easy to move from a very safe area to a very dangerous area without traveling very far. Wind drifts will be denser than the new snow and thick hard snow on light fluffy snow is a great setup for avalanching.    °  Once the sun returns after a storm cycle and warm temperatures cause the new snow to melt, look to see where the pockets of snow remain. The snow that lingers in sheltered areas and shady slopes could be the weak layer after the next snowfall. These areas could also become recurring problem areas throughout the winter depending on how the winter snowpack develops.    °  Pockets of instability can develop quickly above early season ice climbs. Climbers should know the terrain above their route as rapid warming or heavy wind loading can quickly work to build slab or loose snow avalanches which can nudge a precariously perched climber into a bad fall.    °  Hunters traveling across the high country need to exercise greater caution on steep terrain (steeper than 30 degrees with accumulated snow) when crossing ridges from one valley to another. You can use our Weather Stations by Zone page to monitor past and present weather conditions. Have a safe fall and even before we start issuing regular products, travel with all the right gear, and think avalanche.

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