Work crews were busy over the off season making changes to ski areas across the region. While the hoped-for new lifts at Purgatory aren’t going to spin, there are plenty of reasons for you to get some wax (or new skis) from Durango Outdoor Exchange and hit the slopes this winter.
Colorado
Monarch: No Name opens this year, with a new triple chair and about a dozen runs (and a warming hut) across 377 acres
Loveland: Old Lift 7, a double, is now a new fixed-grip triple, helping beginners get on the slopes on the Loveland Valley side of the mountain
Snowmass: Elk Camp is now a high-speed six seater, and the Cirque poma is now a T-bar
Copper: Upgraded snowmaking
Purgatory: Snowmaking to the bottom of Chair 8!
Sunlight: The ancient Primo and Segundo lifts were replaced with a quad and a triple
New Mexico:
Sandia: Chair 4 was rebuilt, snowmaking was upgraded, and there’s a new magic carpet in place of the old beginners rope tow
Sipapu: Lift 3–one of the only detachable pomas left in the U.S.--has been replaced with a double chair
Pajarito: Improved snowmaking that should ensure an earlier opening
Santa Fe: The old Super Chief quad was upgraded to a high-speed quad
Taos: Old Lift 7, a rare triple made by Stadeli, was replaced by a new fixed triple.
Utah:
Deer Valley doubled its size, to 4,300 acres, and added a mind-blowing seven new lifts
Snowbasin replaced Becker with a high-speed quad and expanded its beginner terrain in Bear Hollow
Arizona:
Snowbowl: Upgraded snowmaking on beginner runs and removal of dead trees for improved glade skiing
Sunrise: Modest improvements over the summer including rebuilt lift mechanics, a new learning center, and upgraded decks
With more terrain, faster lifts, and improved amenities, there’s lots to explore this year. Stop by Durango Outdoor Exchange before you head to the slopes for new gear, fresh clothes, and instant stoke.
For many hikers, summiting one of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks is a lifetime achievement. Others make it their entire personality, working for years and even decades to climb all of them. Some make a goal of climbing them all in a single season while others try to ski them all.
Summer is here, and Durango and the rest of Southwest Colorado and the greater Four Corners is your playground. Accessible just a short drive from Durango is everything from low-desert rivers to high-alpine tundra, and there’s just about everything in between. If you’re into outdoor rec, this is the spot for you, and Durango Outdoor Exchange is here to help make it happen.
This is your ultimate field guide to outdoor recreation and the gear you need for a summer in and around Durango. In it you’ll find a rundown of local recreational opportunities and the gear each sport requires, plus recommendations for staying safe and dry.
Overheating in the outdoors can be more than an annoyance—it can be dangerous.
From heat exhaustion to heatstroke, overheating can damage organs, leave you hobbled, cause disorientation, and worse. With summer here, it’s time to learn which gear can help you stay cool.
We see firsthand how proper gear helps people stay cool, comfortable, and safe in the outdoors. If you’re planning to hike, bike, paddle, camp, or explore this summer, here are some of the best types of gear to help keep things comfy.