Loveland Opens, Colorado's First
Travel
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Boulder, CO, Oct. 23, 2000–The view from Lift #1 wouldn’t suggest winter has arrived, but on Saturday, Loveland Ski Area became the first Colorado resort and only the third in the U.S. to open for the 2000-2001 ski season. Skiers and riders alike made sojourns for the occasion, as much for bragging rights as to enjoy the 70-degree temperatures and spring-like skiing conditions.
Eight hundred freshly waxed visitors crowded Loveland’s single top to bottom run and another 800 came on Sunday. One of the first skiers off the lift, an Evergreen, CO resident, found the snow “a little firm, but much better than I expected.”
A 10-20 inch base provided a solid, spring-like cover on the run, composed of sections of three trails including “Catwalk,” “Mambo,” and “Home Run.” As the day burned on, corn snow and even a few moguls emerged despite the shallow base. Throughout the afternoon, T-shirt clad loungers packed the patios and picnic tables to soak up fall’s last rays and enjoy the classic skier lunch of a cheeseburger and fries.
Loveland continues to make snow and increase their skiable terrain. More trails are scheduled to open this week with the aid of a dusting Sunday night and more snow in the forecast. Loveland plans to remain open until May. For information on conditions and terrain, contact (800) 736-3754.