Summit County Ski Areas Begin Snowmaking Operations
Two popular ski areas in Summit County, Arapahoe Basin and Copper Mountain, have kicked off their snowmaking operations in preparation for the upcoming winter season.
Arapahoe Basin, known for being the first Colorado ski area to open for the past three seasons, started making snow on the High Noon run, which is traditionally the first trail to open at the resort. Meanwhile, Copper Mountain began snowmaking on a trail that will be used by the U.S. Ski Team for early season race training once the process is complete.
Historically, Arapahoe Basin has been quick to welcome skiers, with only one season out of the past 21 failing to open in October. In recent years, the resort opened on Oct. 17 in 2021, Oct. 23 in 2022, and Oct. 29 in 2023.
Snowmakers closely monitor the “wet bulb temperature,” a calculation that considers humidity in relation to temperature, to determine the optimal conditions for snowmaking. According to Keystone spokeswoman Shayna Silverman, lower humidity results in better quality and longer-lasting snowflakes.
While Keystone had suitable conditions for snowmaking, the resort decided to wait due to concerns about sustainability. Keystone spokesman Max Winter explained, “Temperatures dropped low enough, but we were looking at the highs over the next few days. From a sustainability standpoint, it didn’t feel like that snow would stick around.”
Both Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, and Loveland are gearing up to open as soon as conditions permit, with Copper Mountain scheduled to open on Nov. 8.
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