Colorado Ski Resorts Take A Hit

Colorado ski resort visits are way down from last year.

Ski season is off to one of it's slowest starts in years. According to industry trade Colorado Ski Country USA, there have been 13% fewer skier visits compared to this same time last year. There are 23 members of the trade association and all report slower traffic from opening day through the end of 2017.

The Vail Resorts aren't Colorado Ski Country USA association members but they too report an 11% decrease in ski traffic through the first week of January. That's not just in Colorado. They report slower traffic across their properties in California, Utah, Vermont and British Columbia.

The drop is being blamed on this fall's warmer weather and significantly less snowfall. The warmer and drier conditions have made snowmaking challenging too. Aspen Snowmass reported receiving only 48% of their average snowfall in November and December.

There has been some recent snowfall and more snow is in the forecast for this weekend. Resort owners are praying the weather pattern will soon return to normal in hopes of salvaging the season.

Credit: The Aspen Times