CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. — The calendar reads October but it still feels like summer in Colorado.
However, two Colorado ski areas are preparing for the winter ski and snowboarding season, testing their snowmaking equipment for when the overnight temperature drops low enough to begin making powder.
Loveland Ski Area said its snowmaking team is completing final maintenance on its snowguns and has conducted water tests. The ski area said it will closely monitor the forecast and will fire up the snowguns as soon as Mother Nature is ready.
Loveland Ski Area aims to open for the 2024-25 ski season between late October and early November. In 2023, Loveland opened on Nov. 10. Guests can follow the snowmaking progress at skiloveland.com/snowmaking.
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area also fired up its snowguns this week. The ski area said its maintenance crews tested its equipment for when the temperature drops low enough.
"Guns got fired up late last night and into the morning while temperatures have still been high here in Summit County this fall, our snowmaking team is precise and ready to jump whenever the right condition window presents itself," said Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Facebook. "Snowmaking is all about layering — this first layer is all about getting a good base."
