Silverton
At Silverton Mountain ski area in Colorado, it’s all thrills, no frills and plenty of spills (as their logo seems to suggest)! Silverton is for advanced and expert riders only, and it’s really only suited to those with an adventurous spirit. Silverton Mountain has some similarities to the
New Zealand club ski fields, with no crowds, a relaxed vibe, limited infrastructure, and plenty of awesome powder and terrain for taking.
Silverton Ski and Snowboard Terrain The 1,819 acres (736 hectares) of in-bounds terrain is serviced by one chair lift, an old relic retired from Mammoth Mountain in California. The other “lift” is an old bus that is used to return skiers from the backside to the base area. From the top of the chairlift at 12,300 feet there’s easy hiking along a ridge that enables access to a variety of lines. Alternatively it’s possible to hike up further to 13,487 feet to get more turns in. Silverton is a humbling mountain, if not for your ability, at least for your fitness level!
The terrain includes open alpine bowls, chutes, drop-offs, and lots of steep tree skiing. Thankfully there are no bumps runs. The challenging slopes are not manicured, so if you lose your nerve there are no groomed runs to bail out on. Considering the slow chairlift, the degree of hiking, and the potential wait for the bus at the bottom, guests may get only 4 to 6 runs a day. At Silverton it’s about quality not quantity.
The snow falls in abundance at Silverton with an average of 10.2 metres (400 inches) per season. And as is typical of Colorado, the powder is light and dry. Better still, there are low numbers of visitors each day, so the likelihood of skiing fresh powder is pretty high. Thursdays in particular can be epic if it’s been snowing early in the week because Silverton is only open Thursday to Sunday.
The high altitude also assists in keeping the snow in great condition. The only downside is that at these dizzying heights, the altitude may either reduce your perceived fitness level, or there’s the risk of altitude sickness. The Silverton website suggests the use of Viagra to assist in minimising the risk, and whilst there is some emerging research literature supporting its efficacy, I sure don’t want to be skiing with anyone who’s had the little blue pill!
With steep terrain and abundant snow, avalanche risk is ever present. The terrain is somewhat controlled for avalanches through blasting and area closures. Nevertheless all skiers and riders are required to carry
avalanche safety gear. If you don’t have your own safety equipment, the ski area rents out BCA backpacks for $35 per day (2010 rate).
Guided, Unguided and Heli Skiing and Boarding at Silverton For most of the season, only guided skiing is available which is capped at about 80 guests per day. Riders are put into groups of up to 8 with standard guiding, or private guiding is also available.
Early and late in the season, unguided skiing is also a possibility. During these off-peak times, it’s still possible to get guiding with the added benefit that the guides will take you beyond the unguided boundaries.
The other option at Silverton is heli skiing. This is perfect for those who want the backcountry fresh tracks experience, but want to save their energy for riding fresh tracks down the hill, rather than hiking up. Packages available include single runs for $159 or a 6 run day for $999. Heli accessed ski touring is also available.
Where is Silverton? Silverton Mountain is located in the San Juan mountains of southwest Colorado. The ski area is 6 miles from the town of Silverton and the associated family ski resort of Kendall. Silverton is about 50 miles north of Durango (and the closest airport) and only 30 minutes from Durango Mountain Resort (Purgatory Ski Area).
Telluride ski resort is not far away as the crow flies, but it’s about 75 minutes away by road (and incredibly far away from Silverton in the glamour stakes!).
Silverton Accommodation There is no lodging at the Silverton Mountain ski area, but there is inexpensive accommodation in the nearby town of Silverton. Don’t have high expectations of the mining town Silverton being party central. With a population of about 500 people, it’s small and sort of cute, and thankfully there are no longer lewd women hanging around Blair Street. Silverton accommodation comes in the form of hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts.
Facilities When it comes to the facilities at Silverton Mountain, you should also keep your expectations really low. The day lodge facilities are housed in an old school bus and a big tent. They make the day lodges of the
New Zealand club fields look opulent. A basic sack lunch is sold at Silverton, but otherwise there are no dining facilities available, unless you call chocolate bars and packets of chips “dining”. In addition to renting the BCA Avalanche backpacks, they also have powder skis and boards for hire.
Why Ski or Snowboard at Silverton, Colorado? It’s difficult for hard-core skiers and riders not to be lured by Silverton Mountain - a ski area where it’s truly all about the skiing, without any fluff or frills. The snow and terrain is like anything you’d find in the backcountry except that it’s lift served and avalanche controlled. And the major enticement is that you don’t have to share the powder with the hordes. Sounds like the perfect powderhound destination.
The Powderhounds are reviewing the Silverton ski “resort” to see if the hype associated with this unique experience matches the reality. How could it not?