Comments on: Spring, snow, and sun

By: Prodigal Sun

Prodigal Sun — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:50:22 +0000

The lift-guide-served terrain is really sick, it’ll keep you occupied for years. The Heli zones are just another option to access the San Juans. They fly all the way to Eureka now–and do control most of the mountains they drop on, so you can send it. A lot of the terrain is on private property, with permits via the Silverton operation to work out of these areas. I suppose I’m on the fly list whenever I visit because the opportunity to ski stuff currently exists where I thought would never happen down there. Nasty steep.

By: bondcop

bondcop — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:32:28 +0000

Thx for the advice prodigal. Hard to believe the heli cost is worth it, with all the terrain you can access by lift/hike. Is the heli terrain better or is the benefit that it is untracked?

By: Prodigal Sun

Prodigal Sun — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:57:11 +0000

Bondcop, I’ve skied a bunch at Silverton this year. Honestly, you’d want a little high pressure for your trip, by virtue that you’ll ski more terrain that’s been otherwise inundated with continuous snowfalls–because they’re class 5 slide paths, they take more time to open. They also have something like 7 heli zones they drop in; when you get to the tent, ask about the heli–the best snow by far you can ski. I don’t work for these guys or get kickbacks for recommending, but I speak the truth. The rope-d sections will probably be filled in, etc. They farm it out for their clients.

By: JBF

JBF — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:22:56 +0000

will do, you’re the best!

By: Joel Gratz

Joel Gratz — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:41:09 +0000

The cottonwood canyons got lucky as a good snowband setup over them all Thurs night. 40 miles to the north at Snowbasin and Powder Mtn was much drier…~6 inches.

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:39:36 +0000

Snowbird 3/5 @ 2:35pm. 16″ in 12hrs, 23″ in 24.

By: Joel Gratz

Joel Gratz — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:39:31 +0000

Both the Sun/Mon and Wed storms could be OK for them. Likely not huge dumps, but additional inches look likely…stay tuned!

By: bondcop

bondcop — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:09:24 +0000

Planning my virgin voyage to Silverton next Friday, either of the next 2 storms look promising for Silverton?

By: Joel Gratz

Joel Gratz — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:26:44 +0000

The heavy snow band that came through overnight was not as strong as I thought, so that’s why we only saw 1-3″ instead of 3-6″. Still a shot of some heavier on-and-off snow this afternoon giving another few inches along and north of I-70, but it’ll take some luck!

By: Joel Gratz

Joel Gratz — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:23:51 +0000

Looks like one storm Sun/Mon, another on Wed, and then another next weekend. The Sun/Mon storm looks to be weak for CO as it dives south of the state. The Wed and next weekend storms could have better snow. No promises on big accumulations from any of the storms, but at least we’re in an active pattern!