SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. — Arapahoe Basin will open with normal hours of operation on Saturday, the ski area reported.
Snowcats, loaders and plows are working to clear snow from Highway 6 that slid after being triggered during the last shot of the day on The Widowmaker.
“After minimal slide activity on The Professor, our snow safety team moved on to the Widowmaker,” Alan Henceroth – COO of A-Basin said on his blog.
A-Basin worked with CDOT and CAIC to get through the avalanche cycle.
Unresolved avalanche concerns prohibited Arapahoe Basin from opening Friday morning.
Henceroth said avalanche mitigation work is continuing and warns people to stay away until the situation is resolved.
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area closed on Thursday and other ski areas were affected by the extreme avalanche danger in the high country.
We Will Be Open Saturday https://t.co/7iPCIWz15i pic.twitter.com/mQ6Pzo9fdP
— Arapahoe Basin (@Arapahoe_Basin) March 8, 2019
Breckenridge Resort closed all of its upper mountain lifts and terrain on Thursday because of the extreme conditions. Currently, there are 32 lifts open at Breckenridge.
Daily report for Friday, Mar 8
❄️ 13” last 24hrs
🌨 Daytime snow forecasted
⛷ 187 Trails
🌲 2900+ acres
🚡 32 Lifts
📝 https://t.co/88C6X2OE13#Breck #COwx pic.twitter.com/T2Y0qediBc— Breckenridge Resort (@breckenridgemtn) March 8, 2019
Two natural avalanches happened Thursday morning along Interstate 70.
The first happened just after 1 a.m. at mile marker 186 on the east side of Vail Pass, forcing the closure of the highway between Frisco and Vail until at least midafternoon.
A second avalanche happened about 5 a.m. near a Conoco gas station in Copper Mountain. It ruptured a natural gas line.
Copper Mountain initially said it would open late but about 10 a.m. said it would not open on Thursday.
Highway 91 and I-70 between Frisco and Copper is now open! Note that the resort will not open as we are still working to dig out. This guy included.
Be safe out there! pic.twitter.com/o8PfGdpgDd
— Copper Mountain (@CopperMtn) March 7, 2019
But at 11:30 a.m., the resort said one lift was open and two others are expected to open by Thursday afternoon.
The American Eagle is open! The Excelerator and Super Bee are expected this afternoon. Most likely these will be the only three lifts running today.
I-70 and CO 91 remain closed at this time. Check https://t.co/4AHguuqKKh for updates.
— Copper Mountain (@CopperMtn) March 7, 2019
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center said “historic” avalanches were possible and the danger was rated as extreme in four backcountry zones. Travel in or near avalanche terrain was not advised.
Avalanche warnings are in place for the Front Range, Steamboat, Flat Tops, Vail, Summit County, Saguache, Aspen, Gunnison, Grand Mesa and San Juan Mountains.