Home › News › Local
Sandia Peak Ski Area welcomes abundant snowfall
60 percent of Sandia open after storms
Strong start is norm this year
DENVER - Santa brought just what the nation's ski resorts wanted — the best nationwide snow conditions in several years.
From New England to California, the snow dumped in the days and weeks before Christmas. Even Taos, in the desert southwest, had a 60-inch base.
"This is our best opening since 1977," said Adriana Blake, marketing director for Taos. The resort couldn't open for Thanksgiving, but later got 68 inches in a week. "This is crazy. It never snows like this."
In November, many popular resorts throughout the West delayed their openings because of a lack of snow. Then the jet stream moved south and the snow began to fall, and fall, and fall.
Wolf Creek, Colo., opened in late November with less than 10 inches. A week before Christmas it had 115 inches.
"It is spectacular. For the first time in recent time in recent history the industry is up and operating across the country. We looking for record Christmas attendance," said Michael Berry, president of the National Ski Areas Association.
In New England, resorts such as as Sugarbush and Mad River Glen are 100 percent open and setting records for Christmas bookings.
At Whistler-Blackcomb in British Columbia, the busiest resort in North America was expecting its cumulative snowfall to hit nearly 15 feet by Christmas, a spokeswoman said, while California's Mammoth saw its 14-inch base grow to 45 and Squaw Valley went from 5 inches to 40 thanks to the December storms.
"It's just one storm after another," said Kyle Mozley, a Reno, Nev., National Weather Service meteorologist.
Source: Associated Press
More Local
- ABQTrib.com to remain available
- Former Marine to serve two years in jail for killing Albuquerque robber
- Wilson-Pearce battle for U.S. Senate exemplifies party's disparity
MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES
-
ABQTrib.com to remain available
08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008 -
Congressman is indicted
08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008 -
Series of attacks target Green Zone
08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008 -
Iran is defying U.N., agency says
08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008 -
Waterboarding approval probed
08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008
TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*
- Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
- Is Rome Burning?
- Ominous Skies
- The Road to Invalidation
- Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.
STORY TOOLS
SHARE THIS STORY [?]
Skiers and snowboarders are taking advantage of this season's snow deposits at Sandia Peak Ski Area.
Allan Aiken, personnel manager for the area, said that around this time last year only the beginner hill was open to the public.
Now the area is open from bottom to top and all five lifts are running, though several runs remain closed due to minimal snow cover.
"Managing a ski area outside of Albuquerque is challenging because our crowds fluctuate just like the snowfall," he said. "So, when we have good snowfall we will regularly have as many as 2,000 skier visits in a day."
The last two winter storms have enabled Sandia to open 60 percent of the mountain. Snow depth at the base is about 18 inches, and weather reports indicate that Thursday could bring even more snow.
Aiken said the snow depth also gives advanced skiers and snowboarders a chance to test out difficult terrain.
"Having 60 percent of the mountain open benefits Albuquerqueans because it provides access from the top of the mountain all the way to the base of the ski area," he said, "which allows skiers and snowboarders to access the ski area via the tram."
Tourists and locals have been flocking to Sandia to take advantage of its early season conditions.
Kelsey Thurston-Long, a 13-year-old from Carollton, Texas, said this year's good snow helped convince his mother to stay in Albuquerque for the holidays and let him take snowboarding lessons.
"It's hard at first, but when you get the hang of it, it gets really fun," Thurston-Long said. "The adrenaline rush is really great."
Snowboarding at high speed and crashing into the snow has been the focus of his interest for the last two days, he said Monday.
Albuquerque resident Bill Mascolo said he brought his children to the area as a Christmas gift.
"This is our first time out here in years," he said Monday.
Amelia Mascolo, 10, said the experience of fresh snow beneath her skis and the cold wind blowing in her face reminded her of the time she went to another New Mexico event with her cousins.
"This reminds me of the State Fair because they're both not just gifts that are wrapped up in a box," she said. "They're outdoor gifts — where you can spend time with each other."
Bill Mascolo said that being able to take his children skiing and snowboarding at Sandia Peak was a treat.
"We hope that this will be the first of many times out here," he said.
Sandia is open daily until Jan. 6, when it will revert to its normal schedule —Wednesdays through Sundays, plus holidays.
