Three More Colorado Resorts Open

Denver, Colo. Nov. 22, 2002 (CSCUSA Release)–Beaver Creek (Nov. 23), Monarch (Nov. 22) and Steamboat (Nov. 22) will open their gates this week adding over 2,700 more acres of terrain, 23 lifts and powder stashes for skiers and riders to enjoy. Winter Park’s Mary Jane opened yesterday and Loveland’s The Ridge and The Valley will be open as well. This weekend, Colorado will have over 11,000 acres of snow-filled terrain open at 15 resorts.

Steamboat’s season kicks off this Friday, 11/22 with Scholarship Day, the traditional opening day benefit for the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. With 60 inches of natural Champagne Powder since Oct. 29th, a state-of-the-art snowmaking system, and consistent cold temperatures, the ski area will offer top-to-bottom skiing and riding on opening day for the third consecutive year.

The resort is currently reporting a 24-inch base at mid-mountain and a 35-inch base at the summit with powder/packed powder conditions. Steamboat expects to open seven lifts—the Gondola, Storm Peak Express, Burgess Creek, Southface, Thunderhead Express, Christie III and Preview. Approximately 64 trails covering 1,284 acres, or nearly 45 percent of the resort’s terrain, will be open from the top of Storm Peak to the base for skiing and riding. This includes the resort’s legendary tree areas such as the upper portions of Shadows, Closets, Flying Z and Twilight, to name a few.

For Steamboat winter vacation packages and specials contact Steamboat Central Reservations® at 877-304-2628 or log onto the vacation planning page on www.steamboat.com.

Monarch will open Friday, Nov. 22, with nearly 75 percent of its’ terrain. Skiers and riders will enjoy 500 acres served by three lifts on a 27-inch mid-mountain base. For the Thanksgiving holiday, one or two more lifts are expected to be running with 90 percent of the mountain scheduled to be open. For more information and lodging packages go to http://www.skimonarch.com/.

Skiers and snowboarders can expect another epic opening day when Beaver Creek kicks off its season on Saturday, Nov. 23, with record snowfall and nearly two-thirds of its terrain available, including Grouse Mountain, Larkspur Bowl, Rose Bowl and Beaver Creek Mountain. Thanks to over eight feet of snow since October and hard work by mountain operations crews, Beaver Creek will open 950 acres of terrain serviced by seven lifts. Go to www.beavercreek.com for early season package deals and more resort information.

Winter Park’s Mary Jane opened eight trails on Nov. 20, three days ahead of schedule. Outhouse, Drunken Frenchman, Gandy Dancer, Mary Jane Trail, Sterling Way, Rainbow Cut, Golden Spike and Arrowhead are open. On Saturday, Nov. 23, Mary Jane will host its biggest official opening in resort history with 818 acres. Thirty additional trails and six chairlifts will open including the Summit Express, Pony Express, Challenger, High Lonesome Express, Sunnyside and Galloping Goose bringing the resort-wide total to17 lifts serving 74 trails.

The resort has received 81 inches of natural snowfall already this season and has a mid-mountain base of 30 inches. Snow conditions are dramatically better than they were this time last year when the resort received just 17.5 inches of snow and had a 14-inch base.

Saturday, Nov. 23, marks the earliest opening on record for Loveland’s Chair 9, the highest quad chair in the world, which serves The Ridge. Last season The Ridge opened in February. At 12,700 feet, Chair 9 offers a stunning 360-degree panoramic view, open bowl skiing and steep chutes off the Continental Divide. Loveland has already received 111 inches of snow to date. Loveland will also open The Valley including Chairs 3, 7 and the Mity Mite surface lift, along with The Valley Ski School, on Nov. 22. Chairs 3 and 7 at Loveland Valley will serve an additional five beginner and intermediate runs, providing perfect terrain for beginner skiers and snowboarders. With the additional terrain oppenings, Loveland Ski Area will now provide over 1,000 acres of skiable terrain accessed by nine lifts serving 73 of 77 trails.

For more information on all Colorado Ski Country’s 24 resorts, go to www.coloradoski.com.