Scroll down for the "Unofficial" Ski Hesperus Information.
The Prices, Hours, and Snow Conditions reported herein are subject to change without notice.
New Spring Hours as of CALL THE AREA
Hesperus will be open Saturdays and Sundays CALL THE AREA
Photo credit: Eric Wessman used with permission
Skiing at Hesperus has been Awesome this Year.
Hesperus Snow Conditions are Excellent. With anything more than a 50 inch base, the oak brush terrain between the runs and in both adjacent bowls is now excellent powder terain. 110% of the area is open with 20 Year Record SNOW CONDITIONS. The Aspen Glade (Skiers left of G's) is now as good at it has ever been. Thank Brian for clearing out all the puckerbrush and dead and down trees.
Ski Hesperus is Southwest Colorado's Local's Secret. It is a no frills "mom and pop" ski area located on US Highway 160, 11 miles west of Durango, Colorado. It is the perfect place for locals to get in shape and work out the kinks prior to those trips to the big mega-resort ski areas. Frankly, would you rather work out at the gym after work or get in 4+ hours of night skiing. There is something magical about skiing powder at night when it is snowing. Some of us even prefer to ski here. Even a couple days after the storm, there is often more challenging terrain and powder skiing right here at Hesperus than we ever get at those other areas all things considered. Ski Hesperus is also the perfect place to bring a bus loads of kids; they don't get lost, they have a lot of fun, and they get to do it all, skiing, snow boarding, tubing. With sufficient time to secure staff for your day, the Hesperus Ski Area can open the mountain on a weekday to accomodate your private group. Skiing with a group is fun, Skiing untracked new snow at your own private ski area for a day -- Priceless.
Top of Lone Juniper
Pitch's Homemade Chili
Twilight
Aspen Glade
Brian repacking the sled
Bruce patrolling Gee Whiz
There is no better place to learn.
Ski Hesperus is Colorado's most affordable lift ticket. Tell a friend. Better yet, bring your family and friends, make some turns, and avoid the crowds and high expenses of skiing those big corporate (real estate, shopping, fine dining) ski areas. At Ski Hesperus it is all about the skiing and riding, being safe, and having fun. You have ridden the antique train from Durango to Silverton and visited the antique housing development that is Mesa Verde.... When you're in the Four Corners in winter make a plan to stop by and visit Ski Hesperus. This is skiing the way it used to be before high speed quads and before the corporate mega resorts misplaced the "soul" of skiing.
Ski Hesperus is Open for the 2007-2008 Season.
Hesperus will be open Thursday Feb 13th, 14th, 15th and President's Day February 18, 2008 from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Night Skiing began on Monday January 7th 2008.
Regular Season Hours:
Saturday 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Sunday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Weeknights 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Spring Break, Snowdown and Special Weekday Events to Be Determined.
2008 SNOWDOWN TUBERCROSS HAS BEEN CANCELLED!
See the video in the links section below for footage from the 2007 event.
Snow Report:
02/13/2008
Base: 63" (75" a 20-year record on 02/04/2008)
New 0" (last 24 hours).
Powder/Packed Powder
Road Conditions:
Clear. Always Watch for Icy Spots on Shady Corners
Call (970) 259-3711
or check the Official Blog in the links below for more current conditions.
Call (970) 259-3711
or write:
Hesperus Ski Area
PO Box 167
Hesperus, CO 81326
Group Rates:
School, Church and Corporate Groups and Family Season Passes are also Available. Call for details.
Season Passes:
Adult: $
Junior/Senior $
Student $
Night $
All Day Lift Tickets:
Adult $
Junior $ (12 and under)
Night Tickets:
Adult $
Junior $
Lessons:
Adult $
Juniors $
Tubing Hill Access:
$/hour (includes the tube)
Snow Katz Kids: Program Starts
January 14th 2008 call to register.
Ski Rentals:
Adult $
Junior $
Snow Board and Boots:
$
First Time Package:
Includes Group lesson, Lift Ticket and
Rental Equipment.
Adult $
Junior $
Tube Rental:
$/hour
Ski Hesperus at Night
Ski Hesperus at Night From the Top of Quick Draw looking down at the Base Area and Tubing Hill.
OEC Refresher, On-the-Hill refresher, and a Night Lift Evacuation have been completed. OEC Course and Ski and Toboggan Training are ongoing. The Annual Avalanche School has been completed. Thank you Don and Kathy Fritch for your years of dedicated volunteer service.
The 45th Annual Ski Swap is scheduled for the first Saturday in November (Friday checkin, Saturday sale, Sunday item and or money pickup.) The unclaimed items from the Swap are Donations to the Ski Patrol. Coats and clothing items were donated to charity. A number of the old obsolete "Straight Skis" are destined for recycling into Deck Chairs by the shop class in Shiprock NM. All unclaimed items became automatic donations Sunday at noon, however items priced $50.00 and up are offered an extended grace period and may be claimed through December up at the ski area. Checks for items that sold are mailed to the address you wrote on your manifest. Thank you for your donations and participation.
The Hesperus Ski Patrol is a voting member in good standing of the Rocky Mountain Division NSP. Last I heard, we extend an open invitation to visiting RMD Division Patrollers. Stop in and take a couple turns with us. We'll put you to work. You won't have any fun.
Patrollers can access information regarding courses, voting, bylaws, policies and procedures, catalog orders and pro-deals. Members of all classifications (not including candidates and mountain hosts) are now eligible to vote for board members. Board Members were previously appointed by the chairman. Recently a vote of the membership was cast and the non-member responsive board of directors, including the National Chairman, were replaced. The former executive director resigned and has also been replaced. The changes made are bringing good things for the members that understand that the ski patrol is more than a Outdoor Emergency Care book-publishing Educational organization. If you want to know more about the workings of the National Ski Patrol, login and check out the wealth of patrolling resources available.
A synthesis of weather and snowfall information for the backcountry enthusiast. Current Avalanche forecasts for most regions in the state. The danger is typically highest during and just after the storm on slopes of 38 degrees plus or minus. But there is a lot more to it than that. Recognizing avalanche terrain and then safely assessing the risk, and erroring on the side of caution is key.
(~30 minutes) This video is an instructive account of how the human factor can be deadly in avalanche terrain -- even with highly skilled and avalanche "educated" people. The AVALANCHE DANGER IS MODERATE TO HIGH THIS YEAR IN COLORADO. Be Safe When You Get Out There... Avalanches have and do occur inbounds at Hesperus and in the adjacent bowls. If we put up a rope or cross some bamboo, please please please do not duck under ropes and ski out of bounds or in closed areas. When we close an area, we do it because we don't want to put our volunteers at risk to rescue your maybe dead body. Maybe you get a nice power run, maybe you don't. Avalanches are like that. You will lose your ticket and you could be injured.
Satellite Image of Ski Hesperus
View Larger Map
Double click on the map several times near the placemark to zoom in to view the ski area. I am always amazed at how much detail you can make out from space.
(Note that the Double Chair lift is actually on the left side of the Special and not on the right side of the Face as shown on some older versions of the map.) Map images provided for educational purposes
Save Snow
Aspen Ski Corporation was the first in the industry to recognize that global warming or climate change is bad for skiing. Aspen has lots of snow but they have recognized the downward trend and are trying doing something about it. They are perhaps the greenest Ski Area in the USA, (in more ways than one.) What can you do to Save Snow?
Tree Friend - Ski Patrol Cartoon On Utube
If a "Dozen More Turns" did not make you laugh, this might cheer you up.
Register for email updates for dumps > 6 inches, and special events from Ski Hesperus.
Until then the most current conditions are on the Official Site.
Login to Update your Ski Patrol Information - Schedule, Forms, Policies and Procedures...
Send me an email for anything else that is not covered herein. Often it is best to call on the phone to ask your questions and get immediate answers. I will forward any inquiries received to the appropriate contacts. Hesperus does not offer child care services. Sara offers private lessons, but you need to call for pricing and scheduling. Calling during the hours the area is open is still the best way to schedule your group activity. There is no lift service on the tubing hill. One does it the old fashioned way... You can not bring your own tubes or sleds etc. Ski brakes and snowboard leashes are required.
(Note that the area's phones are disconnected 7 months of the year when the area is not open. Calling the ski patrol phone number listed in the phone book when the area is not open may not get your message to anyone in a timely manner.)
