Powder Skiing and Snowboarding October 8 at Silverton Mountain!!
Winter is here with great snow at Silverton Mountain, Colorado this week! The most recent winter storm over the past few days continues to dump snow on the high elevation slopes and some excited Silverton Mountain ski and snowboard patrollers made the first turns of the ski season. As the patrollers rode up the chairlift today they were surprised to find such great conditions and celebrated the start of winter season at Silverton Mountain. The fun factor was off the charts as the first lift served turns of the Colorado 2018/19 ski season were made at Colorado’s highest elevation ski area.
Snow is in the forecast the next 4 days which may allow Silverton Mountain to open some upper mountain terrain in the coming days. Silverton Mountain is the highest ski area in North America with a peak elevation of 13,487’ and also provides heli skiing on adjacent terrain up to 13,552 feet high. This uniquely allows Silverton Mountain to provide skiing and snowboarding on all natural snow as early as August in previous years.
THIS IS NOT A JOKE, this is not photoshop, the photos are from Monday, October 8, 2018.
For the first time ever Silverton Mountain will open for heli skiing starting in November 24, 2018 reservations required. The chairlift is slated to open 12/27/2018 but that could change.
17/18 Unguided Season Pass With Massive Perks
$149 Pass Includes Exclusive Private Day at Silverton Mountain and Up to 18 Days of Free Skiing at Core Ski Areas Across the USA
The $149 Spring Unguided Season Pass (early bird purchase price) includes the Spring Unguided Season, plus an exclusive private day at Silverton Mountain on March 29th, along with ½ price Heli skiing*, $89 guided skiing* and discounts on premium draft beers throughout the season.
The $499 Solid Gold Pass (early bird purchase price) includes all the benefits of the Unguided Pass, plus 10 days of guided skiing in December or January, and NEW for 2017/18- Guided skiing on two Sundays in February (2/4, 2/11) and three Sundays in March (3/11, 3/18, 3/25). The Solid Gold Pass now provides skiing at Silverton Mountain every month of the season.
“We are thrilled to announce this new reciprocal season pass program with some of the best independent ski area operators in the country,” said Aaron Brill, CEO of Silverton Mountain. “Silverton Mountain season passes were already a tremendous value with access to 1,819 acres of the best adventure skiing to be found anywhere on the planet and limited numbers of skiers each day, but now with the addition of 32 days of free skiing, an exclusive private mountain day, and ½ price heli skiing this makes the $149 Pass the best deal in skiing!”
Silverton Mountain’s ski season opens on December 28th and will continue through April 8th. Guided only skiing operations run through March 25th. On Thursday, March 29th, season pass holders will have exclusive access to the mountain for a day of skiing before opening the unguided season to the public beginning on March 30th. Silverton Mountain will be open Thursday through Sunday (including Monday, Presidents Day) during the entire guided season.
Only a very limited number of $149 Unguided and $499 Solid Gold Season Passes will be sold for the 2017/18 season. Until September 1st (or until the very limited supplies run out), you can purchase your Unguided Pass for $149 (regular price $299). Solid Gold passes can be purchased for $499 until September 1st (regular price $699).
*Heli skiing and guided skiing discounts on standby basis only.
Every month, we’re featuring two stellar Silverton guides at the ski area so you can get to know what makes them so awesome and why they devote their winters to showing you the best terrain in Colorado and beyond. Check out January’s addition about Jeremy and Jess here.
For December, we’re recognizing Kim Grant and Calvin Davenport. Together they have two decades’ worth of experience giving guests the best days of their lives. Read on to find out what makes them tick and why they are fully committed to the Silverton Mountain Experience.
Kim Grant
Kim with another great group of clients
How long have you worked at Silverton Mountain? This winter is my 13th season at Silverton Mountain.
What is your favorite thing about Silverton Mountain? I love the camaraderie here. I love the crew. I love that we laugh every day. A lot of the crew has worked together for many years; we know how each other operates. We know each other’s strengths, we know what needs to be done and we get it done safely and efficiently. It’s not easy — it takes a lot of hard work and discipline — but it’s also a lot of fun.
The terrain, the snow and the fact that everyone gets a taste of the goods everyday are my favorite things about Silverton Mountain in general. The San Juan Mountains are some of the most magical mountains in the world.
Why did you become a Professional Ski Guide? A guiding career kind of fell into my lap one day, so I wouldn’t say there was one thing in particular that made me want to be a professional guide. But, when I decided to take the opportunity seriously, I realized that this is what I wanted to do. I worked hard to make a name for myself in the industry and earn the respect from fellow guides. My favorite thing about guiding (besides making a living by being outside, ha!) is helping and encouraging people to accomplish things that they didn’t think they could or would do otherwise. I believe getting out of your comfort zone, whether physically or emotionally, is a good way to build inner strength and character.
What is your Go-To Gear? Definitely my K2 Hellbents and all of my cozy North Face gear!
What’s your favorite Silverton Mountain Memory? I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk about my favorite Silverton Mountain memories here to protect the innocent…but I will say that I will never forget the celebration of John Clauson’s life (former Silverton Mountain assistant snow safety director who was diagnosed with Leukemia) and the salute we gave him at the top of the billboard. Generally my favorite memories are a time line of the Mountain from the beginning days when there were just a few of us, to watching the mountain grow to what it has become today.
I am happy and proud to be a part of this unfolding story of Silverton Mountain.
Calvin Davenport
Calvin leading the way into new terrain
How long have you worked at Silverton Mountain? I have been a Silverton Guide for the past 7 seasons.
What do you love about Silverton Mountain? I love Silverton Mountain because of it’s relaxed atmosphere. On a powder day there is no race for first chair and great snow can be found all day long. I really like returning to the base area with my group after a run and the place is deserted, nobody in sight. We walk to the bottom of the lift and ask the operator to start the chair. Silverton Mountain feels like your own personal ski area.
One of my favorite aspects of being a Silverton guide is exploring new places on the Mountain. There’s tons of terrain to check out and even some of the most experienced guides are still finding new lines through our the seemingly endless trees.
Why did you become a Professional Ski Guide? Skiing has always been my passion. I grew up ski racing, and learning how to carve the perfect turn at a young age provided me with a solid base to further my love for the sport. I found ski racing to be fun but I grew tired of training all day. About that time, the first pair of twin tip skis were produced and skiers started entering the terrain parks. It didn’t take me long to make the transition from ski racing to freestyle skiing. I loved freestyle skiing and did some competitions throughout high school, but at age 20, I fractured my Tib/Fib and missed an entire season of skiing. When I returned to the sport a year later there was still some pain in my leg, so I knew I needed a change. I then decided I wanted to learn all I could about “big mountain” skiing. I didn’t know anyone who skied in the backcountry, so I needed some mentors. Interning at Silverton Mountain seemed like a great way to learn from some of the best. Since then, becoming a professional guide has just been the natural progression for me as a life long skier.
What is your Go-To Gear? I own many pairs of skis, all of them are K2 fat skis. As long as they are fat, like the K2 Pontoon, I know I’m gonna have a good time.
What’s your favorite Silverton Mountain Memory? My favorite memory of Silverton Mountain happened before I started working here. It was my initial introduction to the mountain. I was 12 years old and skiing with my dad and all his friends. I was able to out-ski all the old men in the group, but was completely exhausted by the end of the day. Our guide for the day planted a seed in my mind with one statement. He said, “Hey, you’re a pretty good skier, maybe you should work here one day.” A lot happened between my first ski at Silverton and making the decision to come work here, but I feel I owe a portion of it to the first guide I skied with as a kid. Heck, that guide might have been John Shockley.
Clear your calendar and spend MLK weekend at Silverton Mountain! Our Big Mountain Bash is going down January 13th to the 15th, and features great prices on guided skiing and snowboarding with some pretty awesome perks.
Whether you’re new to big mountain skiing or riding, or you’re a backcountry veteran who wants to shred the gnar, there’ll be a group for you—and plenty of chances to challenge yourself and develop big mountain skills in the beautiful San Juan mountains. You’ll practice skills such as avalanche safety equipment use, proper route finding, terrain and snow selection, pacing and how to acclimatize at high elevation (you’ll be skiing between 10,000 and 13,400 feet). Guests will have the opportunity to work with true mountain professionals who intimately know the terrain at Silverton and can find the best snow on any given day as they show you how to operate safely and efficiently in a high altitude environment.
The package includes two days of guided skiing or snowboarding on Silverton Mountain’s (in)famous steep and gnarly terrain on January 14th and 15th, a great lunch from the local Kendall Mountain Cafe delivered to the mountain both days, a Welcome Reception on January 13th with drinks, and parties all weekend long where there will be plenty of swag up for grabs.
Big Mountain Bash Schedule
Friday, January 13
Check in to lodging (4:00 p.m.) at the Grand Imperial Hotel (see lodging details below)
Kickoff Welcome Event (7:30-9:00 p.m.) at the Miner’s Building (1069 Green Street) in downtown Silverton.
Includes beer, wine, light snacks as well as guide introduction, snow safety briefing, demo/rental equipment pickup and more.
Saturday, January 14
Guided skiing at Silverton Mountain (9:00 to 3:00).
Arrive at the base area at 8:30 to boot up and meet your guide.
Guests will make brown bag lunch selections at the Welcome event and the lunch before will be delivered before skiing to eat with your group
Après ski party in the Silverton Mountain Tent (3:00 p.m.) with complimentary drink coupons.
Signature Bash at the Grand Imperial (6:30 p.m.)
Guests receive two drink coupons, hearty appetizers, raffle tickets and more.
Sunday, January 15
Guided skiing at Silverton Mountain (9:00 to 3:00)
Arrive at the base area at 8:30 to boot up and meet your guide.
Après ski party in the Silverton Mountain Tent (3:00 p.m.)
Complimentary beer coupons, swag, plus awards to celebrate your big mountain weekend.
The Pricing:
The Big Mountain Weekend Bash at Silverton Mountain costs $429, which includes:
Questions? call Silverton reservations at 970-387-5706.
The Lodging:
Lodging at the Grand Imperial Hotel starts as low as $130/night, double occupancy. The hotel has a variety of rooms from hotel rooms to suites that can sleep 4-6 people. To book a room or a suite, contact the Grand Imperial Hotel by emailing Paula or call (800)-341-3340 and use the code “Big Mountain Bash.”
Silverton Mountain is celebrating its 15th Anniversary Season with a nearly 20% increase in guided skiing availability. The season will open on December 29th and will continue through April 9th. Guided only skiing operations will run from December 29th through March 26th. Unguided skiing at Silverton is available March 31st, April 1st, 2nd, and April 7th, 8th, 9th only. Silverton Mountain will be open Thursday through Sunday (including Presidents Day on Monday, February 20th) during the entire guided season 12/29-3/26.
Some unguided guests have inquired regarding the decision to shift all the unguided skiing options to the spring. We loved these December and January unguided days as much as you, especially because it was when some of the most loyal skiers arrived at the ski area and the conditions that time of year tend to be outstanding. The economics involved with unguided skiing and riding over the past decade have been a challenge, and it was apparent that these December and January unguided dates have financial hurdles. In December & January, guided skiing is easier to operate, as we can work more harmoniously with the mountains during the major snow storms we tend to receive, and have larger amounts of terrain open each day. Unguided skiing requires a much more ballistic approach “fighting” mother nature most of the time. Following the more natural ebb and flow and evolution of the ski season, makes more sense operationally with unguided skiing options being offered in the spring where large amounts of terrain can be offered.
No matter what we could have set the unguided ticket price at, early season unguided skiing and riding created financial realities that had to be continually subsidized using revenue from other products.
As you are probably aware, Silverton Mountain does not operate any hotels, condos, restaurants, or any other revenue generating “amenities” that are commonly operated by large ski resort corporations across the country. We have no interest in building condos or selling luxury homes like the big resorts do to cover operating expenses. We operate on a revenue stream dependent directly from skier and snowboarder visits who enjoy our unique mountain adventure experience.
Silverton Mountain is offering a number of new ways to enjoy the mountain in 2016-17 that we hope all guests will enjoy. In addition to single-day and multi-day tickets that can be reserved by phone or online, Silverton Mountain skiers have several different season pass options. A limited number of Spring Unguided Season Passes are available for only $179 that include 3 free days at Monarch and 3 free days at Powderhorn, ½ price Heli skiing and $79 guided skiing on a standby basis. Many of our great events, including the Clauson Classic and Sisters’ Meeting in the Mountains, will be during the Spring unguided season as well.
The Solid Gold Pass offers 10 days of guided skiing in December or January, plus the unguided ski season pass perks and 2 extra days at Powderhorn for $499 during limited early pricing. This means you can ski guided for less than $50 a day (a day at Vail is $159), plus have all the unguided dates.
Thank you for your continued support of Silverton Mountain during our 15th Anniversary Season. We look forward to skiing with you soon!
