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Steamboat Resort holds off on making snow, aims for Nov. 1 start

Steamboat Resort snowmakers were testing snow guns Monday. They don’t plan to start making snow until November due to temperature fluctuation. (Courtesy photo)

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Two ski areas have announced they will open this weekend, but it will likely be a couple more weeks before Steamboat Resort cranks up the snow guns.

Overnight temperatures have been cold enough recently to make snow, but with a warming trend this week, there is a chance that any snow made would melt away.

High temperatures for the rest of the week are expected to be in the 50s. Overnight lows are expected to be in the 20s.

The ski area tested a snow gun Monday, Oct. 15.

The ideal weather for artificial snowmaking begins at 19 degrees with low humidity, but production can be done with temperatures as high as 22 degrees.

Steamboat Resort spokeswoman Loryn Kasten said the resort’s snowmaking employees do not start work until Oct. 22. Then they need to get trained.

“That’s why we’ve targeted Nov. 1 to start snowmaking,” Kasten said.

The resort will then have three weeks to make snow leading up to the Nov. 21 opening day.

The Summit Daily on Tuesday reported Arapahoe Basin will open at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 19. The ski area will open the High Noon intermediate trail.

Early-season lift tickets are priced at $85 for adults, $70 for youth age 15 to 18 and $41 for children age 6 to 14.

Loveland Ski Area, which received 2 feet of natural snow recently, will open Saturday, Oct. 20. The ski area was reporting an 18-inch base.

The new Chet’s Dream lift will run from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Top-to-bottom skiing will be offered on the Catwalk, Mambo and Home Run trails.

Early-season lift tickets are $65 for adults and $31 children age 6 to 14.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatPilot.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland.

Snow covers the top of Storm Peak on Tuesday. (Photo by Matt Stensland)


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