Check Out What’s New at Durango Mountain Resort for the 2010 – 2011 Ski Season
Recent weather systems have Purgatory off to a good start for Winter 2010-2011
With four inches of snow, plus ground-saturating rain from recent storms, Durango Mountain Resort is on track to make its projected Thanksgiving opening date of November 25. Very cold weather is on tap for this week to provide a deep ground freeze for the start of snowmaking operations on Monday, November 1.
“The recent storm systems dropped a bunch of moisture, and snow and cold temperatures are in the forecast this week,” said Mike McCormack, senior vice president of mountain operations. “It’s still early, but we are in good position for a solid start to the season.”
Following up on last season’s Legends terrain expansion, which added 30 percent more expert terrain, Durango Mountain Resort is adding even more new terrain for 2010-2011, this time on the front side of the mountain. The new tree-skiing area will be known as “The Ambassadors Glade,” named after resort owners Chuck and Sue Cobb, who served as U.S. Ambassadors to Iceland and Jamaica, respectively. The resort’s 1,360 skiable acres now comprise 20 percent beginner terrain, 45 percent intermediate terrain, and 35 percent advanced/expert terrain.
Also new this winter…
Durango Mountain Resort is ramping up its terrain park offerings by constructing the park features out of dirt. By building hits and carving pipes from earth instead of snow, less snow will be needed to open the parks, which then can be opened earlier in the season and maintained consistently throughout the season.
Durango Mountain Resort also is expanding its snowmaking capabilities on Pandemonium, its popular signature run. Enhanced snowmaking will ensure a quality skiing experience from early to late season, regardless of cooperation from Mother Nature.
Guests will also notice upgraded mountain signage on-mountain and throughout the base area, and DMR’s expanded fleet of snowcats will deliver more groomed trails and a snowcat dedicated just to terrain parks and features.
For local customers, the resort will be offering monthly Locals’ Days, with discounted lift tickets and portions of the proceeds to benefit local charities. This season’s Locals’ Days are scheduled for December 19, January 9, February 6, and March 6.
For your dining pleasure…
Under the new management of Carly Vanhof, the Creekside Italian Kitchen will be serving up a fresh, new, family dining experience, featuring homemade ingredients, including pizza dough made from scratch and delicious pasta dishes, also available for take-out and delivery. Family-style dinner specials will offer dish-to-pass comfort food at affordable pricing for family and friends to enjoy.
Purgy’s will be serving an expanded menu including a salad bar and healthy sandwich offerings. Purgy’s dinner service will now offer a casual dining menu from 3pm to 9pm for the apres-ski crowd with the fine dining menu added from 6pm to 9pm in the fireside dining area. Purgy’s guests also will enjoy the restaurant’s new, expanded seating areas.
Dante’s will be bringing back its ever popular baked potato station. Plus look for the new food cart on Hoody’s sundeck as a great way to avoid the crowds (and catch some noon-time rays). All venues will be offering homemade chili and “Soup of the Day,” hand-crafted by our executive chefs.
Around the resort…
New for winter 2010-2011, guests now can book lodging, rent equipment, and reserve special activities directly via a new web booking module on the resort’s web site at www.durangomountainresort.com. Guests who rent skis or snowboards from Purgatory Rentals can choose from a brand new rental fleet of the latest equipment from top manufacturers. The Expert Edge Express mobile demo cart will bring demo equipment slopeside, making it quick and easy to demo this season’s newest skis and boards. And our expanded helmet offering will help support our safety program that will require children 14 years or younger to wear helmets when participating in any DMR-sponsored program.
Durango Mountain Resort is offering a new lineup of lessons for everyone from beginners to experts this winter. For those who have never skied or snowboarded before, “Start ’Em Off Right” is designed with everything a newcomer needs for his or her first day on the slopes, including a full day of professional instruction, rental package, and lift ticket, for the all-inclusive price of $99 during the regular season and $105 during the holiday season.
For more advanced skiers and snowboarders who would like to take their skills to the next level or learn a specific new skill, the resort is offering a series of “Experiences”…from the “Frontside Experience,” which includes tips on how to ski the trees and terrain in the new Ambassadors Glade, the “Carving Experience,” designed to teach techniques to maximize the performance of the latest shaped skis, and the “Powder Experience,” for those who want to master Southwest Colorado’s legendary powder snow.
A third day has been added to Durango Mountain Resort’s second annual Winterfest celebration, which is scheduled for Martin Luther King Weekend, January 15-17, 2011, and sponsored by Backcountry Experience. This season’s Winterfest includes an expanded ice climbing clinic to accommodate up to 100 climbers, plus the popular and irreverent Backcountry Experience Uphill/Downhill Race on Saturday, January 15.
Also new this season, the resort will host its first Mardi Gras celebration, complete with bead and toy tosses for both kids and adults. Festivities are scheduled for the weekend of March 5 and 6, culminating on Fat Tuesday, March 8, 2011, with a Cajun boil. Food and beverage offerings will include gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and hurricane cocktails.
