Silverton, CO – With only one chairlift accessing nothing but steep expert skiing, Silverton Mountain is not your run-of-the-mill ski area, and unlike mega-resorts grooming at Silverton is accomplished the old-fashioned way: with human power, not horsepower.
Skiers and boarders can earn free skiing by bootpacking, or stomping down the snow, in the southwestern Colorado ski area’s avalanche starting zones Monday through Thursday of next week, Dec. 17-20. One free unguided ski day at Silverton will be given for each day of bootpacking. Those who like to pack it hard and deep all four days can earn up to four days of free skiing.
No experience is required, but everyone must have a beacon, shovel and probe, and limited rentals are available at the mountain. Free ski tickets must be used during Silverton’s 2012-13 unguided season only and are not valid as any type of credit towards guided skiing. Packers should show up at the base area at 8:15 a.m. with pants duct taped to boots (no joke) and ready to stomp. No bootpacking reservations are needed.
For the first time in the history of Silverton Mountain, the ski area will be open seven days a week for the rest of this month. From tomorrow’s opening day through Dec. 30th (excluding Christmas Day), Silverton Mountain will be open every day for the holidays. Runs currently slated for Saturday’s opening day are Colorado, Riff, Raff, Ropedeedope, Grande, Grassy and Butter Bowls.