Here We Go- This is the final weekend for guided only skiing this year. It should be the best of the year with more than 70" of new snow over the last two weekends. With unguided skiing options starting March 31, we won't have to worry about skier compaction needs as much for this final weekend so guided groups will get a bit more space to spread out.
Unguided skiing starts March 31, daily hours 9am-3:15 Fri-Sun (may also add Thurs if lots of people keep showing up). Prices are $49 all day, $42 half day, $39 locals and students discount (need ID to get discount). Guides will also be available to show you the goods at $99 all day (lift ticket included in price), or you can pay by the run at $30 per run (lift ticket not included in price). Private guides will also be available at the regular private pricing. Avalanche beacons, probes, shovels, and liability releases are still required. No reservations for unguided skiing are required, but many people have called wanting to pre-purchase. You can pre-purchase ticktes with the same no-refunds/ no exceptions policy(call).
If you can, please try to relax and cut us a bit of slack. We really wanted to start unguided skiing 6 years ago when we would have had a few skiers and time to grow and adjust. We know there will be issues we need to work through.
Although we plan to have as much terrain open as possible for unguided skiing this year, guided ski groups will be allowed to access certain areas of the mountain will not be available to unguided skiers(as per BLM safety regs). There has to be a zero tolerance policy for any poaching if we are to stay open for unguided skiing. Help us keep it open and safe. There will not be many markings like at a regular area. This is not a regular area. It is a new style of lift service and the only one where avalanche gear is mandatory. You don't need to be an avalanche pro to ski here as we do rent avy gear for first timers. You will encounter unmarked cliffs or areas steeper than 50 degrees on every run. We will need your help educating your fellow skiers to our boundary markings, or lack of. We are not going to string miles of fencing, and play the keep out the idiot game. If it appears to be closed, it is. The whole run, top to bottom. Looking for a sneak route into a closed area will not fly here. We can't keep the mountain open for unguided skiing if people poach. We will be shut down in an instant.
We want to keep adding to the unguided offerings, with bigger terrain over time, but we will be forced to scale back to the woods (or worse) if people don't cooperate. Don't let a few bad apples ruin it. You will need to pay attention and it will be your responsibility to be sure you are in an area open for unguided skiing. If you end up in the wrong spot, and survive, we have to call the sheriff and have you cuffed and stuffed (no joke) with $1,000 State of Colorado fine and there is only one way in and out of town for the sheriff to find you.
Only guided ski groups may leave the ski area boundary or enter into closed areas. If you see tracks or skiers entering a closed area that are not with a Silverton Mountain guide rip em a new one and send them packing. Silverton Mountain guides are the only ones that are legal to enter into closed areas or duck ropes, as they know the specifics that will allow them to avoid specific hazards. We have all heard people gripe about guides being allowed to ski with clients in areas not open for the public at ski areas all over the US. The reality is, a guide is paid to know the exact time of day a specific run might be safe enough, or the exact micro exposure that is ok to ski, or know the precise route that allows them to ski an area that may have too many pockets of hazard to open for unguided skiing.
Don't forget, our goal is to have as much terrain as possible open and gradually expand the unguided boundaries and backcountry access points. If all goes well most everything from Tiger Main through Ropedee will be open for unguided skiing this season, but we need your help.
Reservations Now Available for Unguided Skiing but Not Required- If you are concerned about driving all the way to Silverton and being turned away because we hit our daily cap, you can pre-purchase a ticket for that day at this time. It will be non-refundable once you purchase, but fully transferable (prior to your arrival, not transfers mid day). Hope to see you here.
