Multiple Colorado ski resorts received 10 inches or more of fresh snow from a weekend storm that provided a boost to snowmaking efforts in the final week of October, usually a month when one or two areas are already open for the season.
No areas have opened yet, but Loveland and Arapahoe Basin are racing to become the first. Keystone, which also has been making snow, has been aiming for a Nov. 6 opening date.
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Sunlight received 10-12 inches at the base, according to spokesperson Troy Hawks, adding that the bounty will be good for snowmaking there.
“Having the moisture on the lower mountain is just fantastic because man-made snow holds up better in the long term on top of moist frozen ground, verses dry frozen ground,” Hawks said. “The dryness draws moisture out of the man-made snow above it. When the ground is already moist, the man-made snow generally lasts longer into the season.”
At Winter Park, spokesperson Jen Miller said the snow stake was showing 11 inches at mid-morning and “it’s still snowing,” she said.
Eldora also received 11 inches, with another inch expected through the day, according to spokesperson Kyle Ogilvie.
Snowmass, Vail and Beaver Creek all received 10 inches, while Breckenridge and Keystone reported nine. Loveland got seven inches and Arapahoe Basin got six.
“We are expecting a little more snow to come in this evening,” said Arapahoe Basin spokesperson Leigh Hierholzer. “We definitely can use the precipitation to help recharge our reservoir.”
This content was originally published here.