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Snow expected for ski areas this week

Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 16, 2007 at midnight

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A foot of fresh powder this past weekend made it possible for Loveland Ski Area to open today.

"Conditions are absolutely amazing," said John Sellers, marketing director for the ski resort.

"It's going to be one of our best opening days in recent memory."

Three beginner/intermediate trails — Cat Walk, Mambo, and Home Run — will be open with an 18-inch base, with the run having more than 1,000-foot vertical drop.

One ski lift — Chair One — will start operating at 9 a.m. today. An adult ski pass costs $42, while children ages 6-14 can ski for $20.

"It's very exciting," said Sellers. "The mountains are covered with snow. I think we'll have a good crowd tomorrow. People have been e-mailing and calling us for a while."

Loveland Ski Area started snowmaking on Sept. 24, but it wasn't until last Saturday that there was heavy natural snowfall.

"It really helped to push the opening," said Kathryn Johnson, marketing manager for Loveland Ski Arewa. "We're ready to go."

More trails are expected to open within the week, some perhaps as early as this weekend.

"We'll open as we can, if the coverage is there," said Johnson. "

For skiers and snow boarders who are heading up to Loveland today, they can expect highs in the 45-55 degree range, with lows dropping into the upper teens and 20s.

A cold front on Wednesday will bring 40 percent chance of snow to the high country, increasing to 50 percent on Thursday. Highs on both days will likely be cooler, about 35-45 degrees, and nights will be in the 20s.

Residents in the metro Denver area can enjoy one more sunny day today, with highs ranging from 63-69 degrees, and lows in the 40s.

But the same system that is expected to bring snow to the mountains on Wednesday and Thursday will bring a slight chance — 20 percent — of rain to the metro Denver area on both days.

Temperatures will also drop slightly over the next two days — from low to mid 60s as highs Wednesday, and mid 50s on Thursday. Lows will chilly — 35-40 degrees on Wednesday, and 30s for Thursday.

Friday will see a return to more seasonal temperatures for the Denver metro area, with highs between 65-70 degrees, and lows between 35-40 degrees.