Just add snow

Rain or shine (or snow), Purgatory Resort plans to hold opening day this Saturday. As far as what lifts and trails will be open, we’re still in a state of – if you hate bad puns, look away – purgatory on what that will look like.

Southwest Colorado has received little to no early season snow. As a result, Purgatory Resort has had to rely on its snowmaking capabilities to make good on its target to open Nov. 20.

The problem, however, is that warm temperatures have complicated snowmaking efforts. Luckily, temperatures have dropped about 10 degrees up at Purgatory this week, allowing the mountain to make some progress.

“We were able to blow snow for 16 hours last night and the forecast is in our favor,” General Manager Dave Rathbun said Wednesday morning. “We will continue to make snow every chance we can through the holiday weekend.”

As of the Telegraph’s print deadline Wednesday afternoon (we know, we’re old school), Purgatory officials said all signs point to opening Saturday. This soon switched to Sunday and then back to Saturday due to ideal snowmaking conditions. But of course, Mother Nature is out of anyone’s control, and that plan is subject to change.

And what exactly will opening day look like, in terms of running lifts and rideable trails? Purgatory spokeswoman Theresa Blake Graven told the Telegraph on Wednesday that’s also too soon to call.

“It’s just so dependent on weather,” she said.

Indeed, it appears Purgatory is dead set on kicking off ski season this weekend, despite other resorts around the state pushing back their opening dates, including Telluride and Steamboat.

Even the ol’ reliable Wolf Creek Ski Area, known for receiving the most snow in Colorado, has been limited to operating only on weekends. For the Thanksgiving holiday, however, Wolf Creek will run from Nov. 24-28.

So if you’re itching for some turns, you’ve got options. In the meantime, try some of these snow inducing rituals, courtesy of Bluebird Backcountry: Put a spoon under your pillow; wear your pajamas inside out; flush an ice cube down the toilet; put a white crayon in the freezer; eat ice cream the night before – wait, we’ve been doing that one