- Eldora will receive 16 inches of snow over two days, leading to the closure of the popular ski area on Thursday
- A John Deere six-wheel grader veered off the road and became stuck in a snowstorm while trying to clear a path for traffic
- Three other mountains were forced to close to snow sports because they were inaccessible after a spring storm dumped several meters of snow
A Colorado ski resort has been forced to close after “the biggest snow event in decades.”
Eldora received 16 inches of snow over two days, leading to the closure of the popular ski area on Thursday.
A total of four mountains were closed to snow sports because they were inaccessible after a spring storm dumped several feet of snow across the Front Range.
A six-wheel John Deere grader veered off the road and became stuck in a snowstorm while trying to clear a path for traffic, making reopening the road more difficult, officials said.
“The grader was clearing Shelf Road at Peterson Lake and cast off the side, down the bank toward the lake, but did not enter the lake,” Eldora spokesperson Sam Bass told the DenverPost.
Eldora receives 46 inches of snow over two days, leading to the closure of the popular ski area
A John Deere six-wheel grader veered off the road and became stuck in a snowstorm while trying to clear a path for traffic
“The rest of Shelf Road was floating and sliding all night, with multiple small avalanches all over the road,” Bass told the Post.
Bass added: “We were cautiously optimistic today about a possible mid-afternoon opening, but continue to experience complications throughout our operation.
“Snow removal, road conditions, massive snow on the mountain requiring avalanche response in key areas, getting workers safely to and from Eldora to assist with cleanup – as we recover from this massive storm.”
Echo Mountain experiences 18 inches of snow in just 48 hours, leading to closure.
“Please DO NOT attempt to drive to Echo until you hear from us that our plan is moving forward,” said a message on Echo’s official website.
“Access along CO-103 is incredibly difficult, and more stuck cars (means) longer delays in plowing and clearing the road.”
Both Winter Park and Arapahoe Basin are closed to skiers after receiving 17 and 14 inches of snow, respectively.
The ski area experienced ‘the biggest snow event in decades’
Snow is expected to continue to fall in the Rockies, Four Corners and South Rockies this weekend, according to a report from the National Weather Service.
However, Loveland and A-Basin, which were both closed Thursday, reopened Friday.
“As of Friday morning, snowpack totals east of the North Divide are 30 to 60 inches,” according to a report from meteorologist Joel Gratz.
Adding: “The storm will bring more snow to the southern mountains Friday and Saturday.”
The spring snowstorm began Wednesday and led to the cancellation of more than 800 flights at Denver International Airport, the Denver Post reported.
Denver public schools also had to close for the day on Friday.
Tens of thousands of residents across the state were also without power on Friday, the Associated Press reported.
Snow is expected to continue to fall in the Rockies, Four Corners and South Rockies this weekend, according to a report from the National Weather Service.