Thanks to improved snow conditions, Hesperus Ski Area will open daily from Thursday to March 20 for skiing and tubing.
Currently, it is open at night on Thursday and Friday, day and night Saturday and all day Sunday.
“The slopes are in great condition after our recent snowfall,” a news release said Monday. “The Big Horn lift is again open to the top of the mountain.”
Hesperus on Monday reported a 30-inch base, and a foot of snow in the past 24 hours.
According to OpenSnow, a storm Wednesday is expected to drop 7 inches of snow on the ski area.
Uphill pass holders may enjoy the snow until the lift turns on at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Adult lift tickets are $46 for a full day and night and $34 for night skiing. Teens pay $38 for a full day and $29 for night skiing. Rentals and lessons are available.
Tubing is open whenever skiing is available and costs $15 for the first person and $10 for the second person in the same family. Tubes are available.
For Friday night skiing and riding, college students can buy a lift ticket for $23. The deal is available for students, faculty and staff members with valid college identification.
Also, Hesperus honors active military personnel by offering free lift tickets every day and night of the season. An active military identification card must be presented.
The ski area also offers an uphill access pass, which allows skiers and boarders to climb the hill and ski or ride down during closed hours.
The uphill pass is available at Purgatory Sports in Durango for $65. Uphill skiing is not allowed during normal operating hours, and skiers must park on the east end of the lot near the rental shop. Highway parking is prohibited.
Uphillers must stay clear of grooming and operations. Dogs are welcome for uphillers as long as their owners clean up after them.
The Hesperus Ski Area is 33 miles east of Cortez and 11 miles west of Durango on U.S. Highway 160. It has 13 trails, one chairlift and 60 skiable acres – 30% beginner, 20% intermediate and 50% advanced. It is the largest night skiing operation in the Four Corners.
Opened in 1962, the summit is at 8,800 feet in elevation with a 700-foot vertical drop. The base is at 8,100 feet. Average annual snowfall is 150 inches.
