PURGATORY News:
DURANGO, Colo. — Purgatory Resort announces its Opening Day for the 2021-22 ski season is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 20 pending snowmaking progress.
Purgatory will kick off first chair at 9 a.m. with a complimentary POWDERed Pancake Breakfast, followed by giveaways and festivities throughout the day.
This year Purgatory has more than doubled its snowmaking capacity and mountain crews are taking advantage of colder temps this week in preparation for the winter season.
“Despite last season’s challenges and the current state of COVID-19, we are looking forward to another great year skiing the San Juans,” Purgatory General Manager Dave Rathbun said. “We invite everyone to join us outside on The Beach for Purgatory’s 56th opening day. We have lots to celebrate and we’re optimistic this season will bring us closer to post-pandemic skiing.”
Purgatory has invested more than $2 million to improve the visitor experience for the 2021/22 winter season by more than doubling snowmaking capacity and overhauling Lifts 1 and 3. Both the Purgatory and Hermosa Creek Express Lifts have been modernized to ensure reliability and performance throughout the season.
In the last six years, Purgatory has added three new chairlifts, plus expanded terrain and gladed tree skiing.
Snowmaking capacity has more than doubled in the last three years, along with the addition of two new grooming machines and a new snowcat for cat skiing tours. Numerous other projects include new snow and safety equipment for ski patrol, trail and other wayfinding signage, F&B infrastructure, and a new Burton Snowboards rental fleet.
Future projects include the modernization of the Needles Triple Chair (Lift 6), which is slated for 2022. Learn more about Purgatory’s multi-layered capital improvement plan here.
Each year Purgatory creates hundreds of local jobs and supports the community through charitable giving and sustainability initiatives. To address industry-wide staffing shortages, Purgatory will welcome a record number of J1 foreign students to work at Purgatory this winter. The resort also is leasing dedicated motel space on North Main Avenue to provide affordable housing for up to 100 employees this winter season.
“Purgatory’s greatest strength is its employees and we will continue to invest in retention, performance bonuses, and cost of living adjustments for both year-round and returning seasonal employees,” Rathbun said.
Purgatory’s top priority remains to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of guests and staff, while providing a memorable experience. To ensure safe, enjoyable skiing and riding throughout the season, the resort has implemented the following COVID-19 prevention and mitigation strategies in accordance with local, state and federal public health advisories, and the National Ski Areas Association’s “Ski Well, Be Well”
Recommendations:
- Federal transportation law requires masks to be worn by riders two years of age and older on public transportation, including resort shuttle buses;
- All lift tickets, rentals, lessons and cafeteria F&B orders and payments must be completed online for contactless payment and fulfillment;
- Amended childcare services and youth Ski & Snowboard School programs to allow for social distancing. Click here for more details;
- Indoor dining reservations required at Dante’s and Purgy’s, extra sanitation measures; and
- Advanced rental reservations are required. Guests will select a pick-up time window for rental equipment to manage customer congregation.
Purgatory will continue to follow state and local public health guidelines, all COVID-19 restrictions are subject to change at any moment based on public health directives. Purgatory will continue to proactively communicate new or updated guidelines or mandates … visit Purgatory.ski/2021-2022-winter-experience for further details.