Breckenridge, Copper Mountain delay opening dates due to subpar snowmaking conditions

Two of Summit County, Colorado’s biggest ski areas won’t open Friday, Nov. 6 after all.

Breckenridge Ski Resort and Copper Mountain both announced on social media Thursday morning, Nov. 5, they are each postponing planned Nov. 6 opening days. Neither has set a new date.

Breckenridge said overnight temperatures, “have been just barely too warm to run snowmaking at full power,” according to the resort’s social media post.

Copper Mountain announced its delay shortly afterward, with a post reading, “WELP…,” paired with an aerial video of runs showing patches of dirt between strips of machine-made snow while snowmaking guns and fans are blowing machine-made snow onto the slope.

Notable highlights:

• Both resorts had planned to open Friday, Nov. 6; both now say they’ll open as soon as conditions allow.
• Breckenridge says overnight temperatures have been just slightly too warm for full-power snowmaking.
• Copper says temperatures have been cool, but not consistently cold enough for efficient snowmaking, and that the fall has brought more rain than snow.
• Breckenridge is pointing Epic Pass holders to Keystone, which has been open since Oct. 30.
• Sunny, dry weather is in the forecast through early next week, with overnight lows in the mid-20s.

Breckenridge: “We want a better skiing surface”

In a video posted with the announcement, Breckenridge Patrol Director Hunter Mortensen said the resort wants “a better skiing surface” and “more base snow from our snowmakers,” adding that crews “have been doing the best they can with the warm overnight temperatures.”

A resort representative said the snowmaking team has made a good start on its opening terrain, and that Breck is calling off the Friday opening to give guests the quality experience they expect.

The resort hasn’t said which runs or lifts it plans to open first. Pass holders are being asked to follow Breckenridge’s social media for updates.

Copper: “Mother Nature hasn’t exactly been cooperating”

Copper Mountain said, “Mother Nature hasn’t exactly been cooperating this fall,” according to a social media post on Nov. 5, even though as of Thursday morning, Copper’s own opening-day event page still reads “Winter opening day is November 6!”

The delays come after a fall in which repeated surges of tropical moisture have soaked much of southern Colorado since September, according to the Colorado Climate Center, while warm nights have limited snowmaking windows in Summit County.

Where you can ski now

Keystone opened Oct. 30 with approximately 2 miles of terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, and Arapahoe Basin opened on Oct. 28 with one trail, High Noon, available to ski and ride. Both are the nearest options for skiers itching to get on snow in Summit County.

The National Weather Service forecast for Breckenridge over the next week calls for mild, mostly clear days and overnight lows below freezing. That forecast could give snowmakers longer windows to build base, but neither resort has committed to a new opening date.