If this storm wasn’t epic, then what is?
Aspen Skiing Co. reported 24 inches of snowfall in a 24-hour period Friday morning, and another 8 to 12 inches was expected by 5 a.m. today.
“Storms like this don’t come along very often, and when they do, everyone should get out and take advantage of it,” said Skico spokesman Jeff Hanle.
One of those taking advantage of the snow was Spencer Purvis, who spent his morning on Aspen Mountain with runs on Walsh’s, Bell Mountain, Silver Queen and the Dumps.
“It’s got me thinking back to ’07-08,” Purvis said, referring to a season when 250 inches of snow fell, second only to 1983-84, when 278 inches fell. “That year we had a couple of times over the course of two or three days that we had huge storms but nothing quite like this.”
With above-average snowfall for every month this season, 2013-14 is far outpacing the city’s 151-inch yearly average. This storm alone dropped more snow than all of January 2013, when 18 inches were recorded.
Longtime resident Jim Markalunas, who has records dating back to 1934, said this storm is “a biggie,” but it won’t be the biggest. The most memorable snowstorm, he said, took place in March 1965, when 38 inches fell in a two-day period and the Tompkins Hardware store collapsed. Another 22 inches fell a few days later, totaling 60 inches in a span of five days.
“This will go down in the record book, but it’s not the biggest snowstorm,” Markalunas said.
He said it’s important to note that the snow in this storm has a water content of 8 percent, which is much lighter than snowfall in March. Another memorable storm, he said, came in February 1936, when 21 inches fell in a two-day span.
On Friday, Skico CEO Mike Kaplan took to Twitter, urging his employees to get out on the mountain.
“24 inches in 24 hours @AspenSnowmass, biggest storm in 20 years?! Hall pass for ASC employees, take a run or face consequences,” he tweeted.
Also Friday, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center issued an avalanche warning, stating, “Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. Some avalanches may be very large and destructive. Backcountry travelers are advised to stay well clear of all avalanche terrain. Avoid traveling on or under steep slopes.”
National Weather Service forecaster Matt Aleksa called for anywhere between 6 and 12 inches between Grand Mesa and Vail, with Aspen on the higher end of that estimate.
“For you guys, probably about a foot,” he said, adding that there’s potential for another 2 to 4 inches on top of that into this evening. “It’s been quite a prolific storm.”
Hanle said a storm like this sets the area up for the rest of the season. People thinking about booking a trip here will pull the trigger now, he said.
“If we continue to see average snowfall, then we’ll be great. If we see above average, we’ll be even better,” Hanle said.
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