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Wolf Creek in the Media

October 15, 2021 - MTN-TV
Wolf Creek Ski Area Opens Oct 16!

March 19, 2021 - The Wall Street Journal
Where Can I Travel for Spring Break? Consider the Sun Belt

March 18,2021 - The Wall Street Journal
A Steamy Escape in Colorado

November 24, 2020 - The New York Times
8 Rules for Skiing This Season

July 29, 2020 - The Durango Herald
How are local ski areas preparing for uncertain future in public health? Wolf Creek asks customers what precautions they expect this season

July 27, 2020 - UnofficialNet
The 25 Favorite U.S. Ski Resorts Based On All Online Reviews

May 29, 2020 - South Fork Tines
Wolf Creek Ski Resort takes proactive steps for ski season

January/February 2020 - AAA Colorado
Small town ski and soak

Dec. 2, 2019 - Elevation Outdoors
5 Reasons to Visit Wolf Creek Ski Area

Nov. 27, 2019 - The New York Times
The Snowiest Mountains: Where to Ski, and When

Nov. 4, 2019 - Powder Magazine
How Wolf Creek Colorado Grew by Shrinking

Feb. 25, 2019 - Seniorsskiing.com
Seniors Skiing Guide: The Snowiest Surprise

Feb. 1, 2019 - theknow.Denverpost.com
This mountain is for people who complain that Colorado skiing isn’t what it used to be

December 13, 2018 - The Santa Fe New Mexican
Wolf Creek makes big changes, including move to full wind power

December 9, 2018 - Vail Daily
Colorado's mom-and-pop ski areas are slipping away

December 7, 2018 - Colorado Daily
Colorado's early above-average snowpack not enough to melt drought worries

December 5, 2018 - Water Education Colorado
Early snowpacks nearly 90 percent ahead of last year's drought-plagued lows

December 4, 2018 - KOAA News 5
Thousands of skiable acres open in Colorado due to early season snow

December 3, 2018 - unofficialnetworks.com
DEEPcember Is Off To the Races! The 10 Biggest Snowpacks In North America

November 14, 2018 - U.S. Ski and Snowboard.org
A Week at Wolf Creek

October 18, 2018 - Skimag.com
A Place in the Sun

October 13, 2018 - Colorado Ski Country USA
Wolf Creek's Weekend Skiing and Riding Brings Powder Hounds Together

October 4, 2018 - Valley Courier
Ski area CEO shares views on development access

July 17, 2018 - Powder.com
Wolf Creek Becomes First Solar Powered Ski Area

June 21, 2018 - Elevatedlocals.com
WOLFTASTIC AT THE WOLF (CREEK)

May 2018 - Ski Area Management
Sunny Side Up - Wolf Creek moves towards becoming the nation's first solar powered ski area
https://www.saminfo.com/the-magazine/this-issue/item/164908-sunny-side-up

February 26, 2018 - Powder.com
Wolf Creek Got Hammered Again

February 21, 2018 - Pagosadailypost.com
Winter is Back at Wolf Creek Ski Area

February 14, 2018 - Pagosadailypost.com
Wolf Creek  Valentine's Day Gift: Fresh Powder

January 18, 2018 - The Denver Post
Kingsbury Pitcher, ski area pioneer and beloved owner of Wolf Creek, dies at age 98

November 20, 2017 - Pagosadailypost.com
Wolf Creek to Open for the Season Tomorrow, Nov. 21

November 2017 - MountainLiving.com
The Heidi Guide, Why Wolf Creek Ski Area?

September 20, 2017 - UnofficialNetworks.com
8 Ski Areas Whose "Blower" Powder Is Worth The Trip Alone

August 1, 2017 - BestProducts.com
12 Colorado Ski Resorts for an Unforgettable Winter Vacation

January 9, 2017 - Powder.com
Is Wolf Creek the Best Value in Skiing?

January 6, 2017 - CSCUSA
A Ski Bum's New Year's Resolutions

January 1, 2017 - Albuquerque Journal
Ready for Action

April 8, 2016 - Colorado Ski.com
Wolf Creek's Season Ends Like it Began - Deep in Snow

January 2016 - CBS Denver
El Niño Loves Colorado’s San Juan Mountains

January 2016 - ColoradoSki.com
Southwest Snow: Three Days at Purgatory and Wolf Creek Resorts

December 2015 - Powder.com
Storm Dispatch: Wolf Creek, Colorado

December 2015 - Cheatsheet.com
The Ultimate Ski Vacation: Wolf Creek

December 2015 - onthesnow.com
Powder Gallery: Colorado Resort Refills all Week

November 2015 - Skinet.com
Powder Shots and Family Ties

March 2015 - Coloradodaily.com
From Winter Park to Wolf Creek, four Colorado ski resorts mark anniversaries

January 2015 - The Dallas Morning News
Colorado’s Wolf Creek is heaven for powder hounds

January 2015 - Garagegrowngear.com
Steep powder, cheap tix… 6 fabulous small ski areas

December 2014 - ColoradoSki.com
Colorado Road Trip: Ski The Birthday Mountains

December 2014 - Durangoherald.com
Wolf Creek turns 75

November 2014 - MtnWeekly.com
7 Places to score snow during a El Nino Winter

November 2014 - MineralCountyMiner.com
Opening day at Wolf Creek brings crowds

October 2014 - mtnweeklynews.com
Wolf Creek Resort Review

September 2014 - Pagosasun.com
Nordic Club membership drive, Wolf Creek season pass drawing tomorrow

July 2014 - Pagosasun.com
Big climbs and big smiles at GECKO’s ‘8 Hours of Wolf Creek’

June 2014 - Pagosasun.com
Ski hall of fame inducts Kingsbury Pitcher

June 2014 - Aspentimes.com
Man who saw Snowmass potential is headed to Colorado Ski Hall of Fame

March 2014 - powder7.com
Trip Report: Hungry Like the Wolf (Creek)

February 2014 - KDVR.com
Explore Colorado: Wolf Creek

January 2014 - Adventure.NationalGeographic.com
Best Secret Ski Towns of North America

January 6, 2014 -  - Snowbrains.com
Top 10 "Secret" Ski Towns in North America

December 2013 - 5280.com
Sunny With A Chance Of Powder

December 04, 2013 - OutsideOnline.com
Editor's Choice: 2014 Powder Resorts

December 03, 2012 - www.forbes.com
Wolf Creek - one of the legendary ski destinations in the world.

October 20, 2012 - Business.Transworld.net
Wolf Creek Owner on Proposed 5-Lift, 1,000 Acre Expansion

Feb 08, 2012 - OnTheSnow.com
Awesome Wolf Creek Powder Shoot!

Nov 14, 2011 - ESPN.com
Where to find powder in November

Nov 12, 2011 - The Ski Channel
The US Ski Team is Coming to Train at Wolf Creek Ski Area

Oct 10, 2011 - C-Springs Gazette
Wolf Creek makes history with ski season opener

Oct 08, 2011 - ESPN.com
Colo.'s Wolf Creek resort to open Oct. 8

Oct 07, 2011 - Chicago Tribune
No joke: Colorado ski season starts Saturday

Mar 1, 2011 - Inc.
The 24/7 Family Business

Jan 6, 2011 - Life and Leisure
Wolf Creek Skiing Rocks Local Teens

Oct 11, 2010
Wolf Creek Leads By Example For Sustainability

May 6, 2010
Wolf Creek Is Favorite Rocky Mountain Resort Of OnTheSnow.com Visitors

Mar 15, 2010
Wolf Creek’s 70th Anniversary

Feb 3, 2010
Skiers howling for Wolf Creek

Dec 13, 2009
Affordable Skiing: Wolf Creek

Charles Elliott's 100th Birthday

November 19, 2013 - Video by Bob Hite
Colorado's Oldest Skier

November 19, 2013 - Denver Post
Wolf Creek pioneer marks 100th birthday skiing at area he helped start

November 20, 2013 - Huffington Post
Skiing Pioneer Celebrates Turning 100 By Skiing Because Of Course

December 02, 2013 - Pagosa Springs Journal
Pioneer skier celebrates 100th birthday at Wolf Creek Ski Area

Ski Season 2019-2020

Wolf Creek Ski Area had a great season last year with a year-to-date total of almost 500 inches of snow on Easter Sunday, which was the official year-end finale. Snowstorms, flurries and colder weather continued into late spring, which was a common trend across most of the United States.  Attendance was strong throughout last season with the prolific powder gifted by Wolf Creek’s unique microclimate. For the past six years, Wolf Creek has been in a construction phase, this summer’s focus has been on fine-tuning the mountain, base area facilities and finishing up a few projects that are near completion.

The half-decade of construction began with the Treasure Stoke debuting in the 2013-2014 season.  The previous Ctec Triple Treasure Chair was then transformed the following season to become a refurbished beginner and intermediate lift named Elma, with its purpose of assisting guests in returning to the base area and providing access to an area of the mountain that was previously underutilized.  The Lynx, a covered conveyor lift, followed and helped redesign and compliment the novice skiers’ first day at Wolf Creek by transporting guests to the Lynx Adult Learning Center.  The induction of the Charity Jane Express to the Wolf Creek Lift System came in December of 2018 with the high-speed detachable quad benefiting all ability levels and bolstering a previously underutilized fifty-five acres.  Beginner Ski Packages now include access to the Charity Chair, making five beginner lifts available to those enrolled in 1stand 2ndDay Beginner Lessons.

Wolf Creek’s enormous and on-going campaign of reducing the dead trees from the plight of the spruce bark beetles within the ski area permit will also come to benefit skiers of all ability levels.  This summer a new trail called, Orion’s Beltway, is being cut and constructed.  This run will be for strong beginners and intermediates by accessing Pitch’s Gate or Serendipity; the trails lead into Orion’s Beltway and continue until Lower Feather Duster appears and then continues onto the Charity Jane Express bottom terminal. Wolf Creek employed a helicopter service this summer, as done in the previous ten years, to fly out as many dead trees as it is economically possible.  With the forest floor being littered with fallen dead and blow over trees, the removal process is critical to allow for early season access and better conditions on low snow years.  Although the cost is high to fly the dead trees out of the forest with a helicopter the results are far better in maintaining the integrity of the ground, reducing erosion and protecting the watershed.  Since 2013 Wolf Creek has expanded and formulated a lift network and trail system for skiers and boarders of all ability levels to utilize, explore and enjoy Wolf Creek’s 1,600 acres.

The ski area’s goal over the past several years has been to create a learning center for adults that stimulates and provides a quality ski experience for new skiers.  The Lynx Adult Learning Center along with the Lynx Lift has helped achieve this objective. Ski Instructors will be able to greet new skiers and guide them to the Lynx building where they can have a successful introduction to the sport.  Guests enrolled in the First Day Beginner Ski Package will now have the option of going directly to the Lynx Building and bypassing the ticket office and rentals to purchase lesson tickets and rent skis in the Learning Center, located behind the Sports Center.  Reducing the stops a beginner skier needs to make prior to the lesson simplifies novice skiers’ process of getting started for the day and creates a more enjoyable, less overwhelming experience.  Beginner ski packages purchased on the eStore are now picked up at the Lynx Learning Center as well.  Wolf Creek’s online store will continue to offer all group lessons for any ability level, ages five and older, including Beginner Specials, Wolf Pups, Wolf Riders and Hot Shots. Retail items can be found on the eStore along with gift cards, lessons and season passes.  Private lessons will still need to be arranged through the Ticket Office or booked over the phone because of the many details required.

The Wolf Pup Program offers an extension of the lift ticket, lesson and rental process to little skiers and parents by having a one-stop shop in the lower level of the Wolf Pup Building.  Wolf Pups and Wolf Riders who have enrolled via the eStore or who are looking to enroll for the current day can bypass the ticket office and rental shop and go directly to the Wolf Pup Building.  Children ages five to eight years old will be enrolled, ticketed for lessons and lifts, personally fitted for rentals, connected with a professional instructor and begin lessons outside the doors of the building in their private lesson area.  Wolf Riders will need to visit the Boarder Dome for snowboard rentals prior to enrolling in lessons at the Wolf Pup Building.

Wolf Creek Ski Area is celebrating its second anniversary of going solar!  Wolf Creek has always been a leader in maintaining sustainable business practices by purchasing renewable energy, using biodegradable oils in machinery and having water free restrooms.  November 2018, Wolf Creek took a big step and became the first solar powered ski area! Wolf Creek’s main source of energy for the entire ski area comes from the Penitente Solar Project in the San Luis Valley.  The 2019-20 ski season will be the fourteenth season Wolf Creek has used a form of renewable energy year-round for 100 percent of the mountain, both day and night use.

Another eco-friendly practice that has become standard with the implementation of point-of-sale software is electronic rental forms, in addition to the second season of paperless Season Pass contracts and waivers.  In January 2019, the rental department transitioned to the mountain wide software eliminating the need for paper forms.  Advanced rental profiles were launched online via Wolf Creek’s eStore to enhance the new high tech rental customer sign-in station.  The eStore allows guests who are renting from Wolf Creek Rental Shops to create accounts and input pertinent information for themselves and family members prior to their visit.  Guests who enter rental information in advance do not have to go through the hassle of inputting information the day of at the Rental Customer Station, rather a simple search of a name will find the guest and print out an auto populated receipt for the register and rental tech.  This will be particularly helpful for families.

Pass holders will continue to go directly to lifts and skip the Ticket Office after their contract and waiver have been e-signed.  Last season’s passes will be reloaded eliminating the need for a new pass to be printed, furthering the eco-friendliness of the Season Pass process. Colorado Search and Rescue cards will continue to be included in the purchase of a season pass for the seventh consecutive season.

The Ski School Administration and staff have relocated to the new ski instructor locker room and office space in the lower level of the Lynx Adult Learning Center.  The move has freed up the original ski school locker room moving the Powder Room project forward.  The Powder Room will offer season pass holders the luxury of a private room complete with seasonal RFID ski and snowboard lockers, boot and helmet dryers, restrooms and a few other fun perks.  The custom lockers will offer pass holders the opulence of on-mountain storage and exclusive guest benefits.

The Raven’s Nest, a modern two-story restaurant, that adjoins the top terminal of the Raven Lift is upgrading with a new sunroom in the lower level!  The remodel is opening the space by the entrance allowing the natural light to come in and create a bright and more open feel.  The Raven’s Grill will become a more defined café with a new delicious menu.

Wolf Creek Ski Area is celebrating its 80thanniversary!  To celebrate Wolf Creek’s birthday the nostalgic high-speed D. Boyce Poma Lift, which has been put on the back burner with the new lifts being installed, will get a kick-start to being revived.  This high-speed poma was the only lift that went up the Alberta Face until the 1982-1983 season when the Treasure Lift was installed.  The D. Boyce Poma has been in operation as a back-up lift for the Treasure Chair and now for the Treasure Stoke.  A new wire rope for the platter lift will help bring it back into service for skiers looking to experience a piece of Wolf Creek history.  Tower safety circuits will also compliment the upgrades to the lift.

A commitment to upgrading and bettering the current lift system, specialized clinics for skiers and boarder, as well as free fun races for families and friends to enjoy are only a few things that make Wolf Creek stand apart from other ski areas.  Wolf Creek is family owned and operated focusing on providing skiers with a low-density skiing experience.  Affordable lift tickets, lessons options, rentals and food in combination with the low-density skiing experience makes Wolf Creek a destination hot spot for powder hounds, families and new skiers alike.  Adding to Wolf Creek’s uniqueness is the delicious homemade food found in all eateries at Wolf Creek and convenient amenities that are at no cost, like paved parking and shuttle services.

Wolf Creek is looking forward to the 2019-2020 season and plans to bring a variety of quality services to every age group throughout the entire ski season!  Additional information can be found on www.WolfCreekSki.com or by calling 970-264-5639.

Don't forget to call 1-800-SKI-WOLF for the latest update on snow and weather conditions. Weekly updates, events and photos of what’s happening around the ski area are posted to Wolf Creek’s social media accounts.  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Ski Season 2018-2019

Wolf Creek Ski Area welcomed a 30-inch snowstorm the second week of October making it possible to open for the season with weekends only initially.  The first day of the 2018-19 ski season was Saturday, October 13th, the second earliest in Wolf Creek history. The earliest Wolf Creek Ski Area has opened was October 8 in 2011.  Opening weekend for the 2018-2019 ski season pleasantly surprised skiers and boarders with access to four lifts, including Treasure Stoke, a high-speed detachable quad providing access to intermediate, advance and hike-to terrain.  The 30-inch storm blanketed the ski area with a wet, dense snow setting an impressive all-natural 24-inch base at the midway, making 60 percent of the mountain open to enthusiastic skiers and boarders.  The Ski School was available to both adults and children, including the Wolf Pup Program.  Both the Ski Rental and Boarder Dome were open, as well as Treasure Sports. The main day lodge, Wolf Creek Lodge, was open with a limited lunch menu serving up Wolf Creek’s famous Santa Fe style green chili stew and burgers.

After a fun and successful opening weekend, Wolf Creek would like to highlight the new improvements and amenities that will be available to guests for the 2018-19 ski season.  The most exciting off-season improvement is the Charity Jane Express, Wolf Creek’s new addition to the Wolf Creek Lift System.  The Charity Jane Express is the tenth lift in Wolf Creek’s current lift system and will be the third lift in the spacious 900-acre Alberta Area.  The new addition to the Wolf Creek Lift System is a Doppelmayr high-speed, detachable quad chairlift benefiting all ability levels of skiers and boarders. Beginner and intermediate skiers will have fifty-five acres of previously underutilized terrain available to them, whereas advanced skiers and riders coming from the Knife Ridge and Horseshoe Bowl area will have a convenient return connection to the Alberta and Elma Lifts.  The bottom terminal of the Charity Jane Express is to the East of the Alberta Lift towards Alberta Lake, the top terminal is to the East of Tower Eight of the Alberta Lift. The Charity Jane Express will be over 2,200 feet in length with a vertical rise of 341 feet spanning over eight towers.  The name Charity Jane Express is a salute to Charity Jane Pitcher, past owner of Wolf Creek Ski Area, wife of Kingsbury Pitcher and mother of current CEO, President and Area Manager, Davey Pitcher.

One of the second largest capital improvements during the off-season was the purchase and implementation of department modules through the current RTP Point-of-Sale (POS) technology used in the Ticket Office.  A mountain wide POS will offer guests a more fluid and efficient visit to Wolf Creek through RTP.  Wolf Creek Rental Shops will benefit from the new technology by offering guests the option of filling out rental information and a liability form prior to their visit.  Guests renting from Wolf Creek will be able to visit the eStore of WolfCreekSki.com, create a profile for themselves and family members, fill out rental settings and create a skier or snowboarder profile.  Upon guests arrival a simple login at the customer station will send their information to a rental technician and eliminate the need for guests to fill-out paperwork.  By selecting RTP and Transaction Resource Inc., Wolf Creek offers the highest level of security with end-to-end encryption and tokenization of all credit and debit card transactions.

Finishing touches on the Lynx Lift and Interpretive Center have been taking place this summer as well.  Guests enrolled in the First Day Beginner Ski Package will now have the option of purchasing lesson tickets and renting skis in the Interpretive Center, located behind the Sports Center.  Offering Beginner Ski Packages and rentals in the Lynx Interpretive Center will simplify novice skiers’ process of getting started for the day.  Beginner ski packages purchased on the eStore will now be picked up at the Interpretive Center too.  The Beginner Specials will also include access to the Charity Chair, making five beginner lifts available to those enrolled.  The eStore will continue to offer all group lessons for any ability level, ages five and older, including Beginner Specials, Wolf Pups, Wolf Riders and Hot Shots. Private lessons will still need to be arranged through the Ticket Office or booked over the phone because of the many details required.

Wolf Creek Ski Area is celebrating its first year anniversary of going solar!  Wolf Creek has always been a leader in maintaining sustainable business practices by purchasing renewable energy, using biodegradable oils in machinery and having water free restrooms.  November 2018, Wolf Creek took a big step and became the first solar powered ski area. The first year anniversary of Wolf Creek having its main source of energy come from the Penitente Solar Project in the San Luis Valley is to be celebrated.  The 2018-19 ski season will be the thirteenth season Wolf Creek has used a form of renewable energy year-round for 100 percent of the mountain. Wolf Creek continues to maintain it’s logging program in cooperation with the forest service to cut and clean dead beetle kill in an affordable manner.

Another eco-friendly practice that will become standard is paperless Season Passes and rental forms.  Thanks to the point-of-sale system, Season Pass Holders and guests renting equipment from either Rental Shop will now fill out Contracts and Liability Waivers online, eliminating the need for paper contracts.  An option of uploading a photo to be used on season pass cards will also be available online for pass holders.  Pass holders will continue to go directly to lifts and skip the Ticket Office. Colorado Search and Rescue cards will continue to be included in the purchase of a season pass for the sixth consecutive season.

Ski and snowboard clinics have been revamped for 2018-19!  Wolf Creek will now offer two new clinics and has polished the existing ladies day to Ms. Mondays, and Baby Boomers’ clinics to Forever Young Ski and Board Clinics. The new clinics to debut for the ski season are a Current Affairs Conditions Series where a discounted lift ticket is paired with a two-hour morning lesson that will highlight how best to ski and/or ride the current conditions.  Tuesday Turns is the second new series to be added to the clinic roster.  Tuesday Turns will also be a discounted lift and morning lesson combo that will take skiers and boarders of all abilities out on the mountain and refine their technique.

With the Lynx Interpretive Center being buttoned up, the bottom level of the building will serve as the new ski instructor locker room and office space for Ski School Administration and staff, freeing up the current locker room.  After major projects are near completion, the Powder Room project will move forward.  The Powder Room will offer season pass holders the luxury of a private room complete with seasonal ski and snowboard lockers, boot and helmet dryers, restrooms and a few other fun perks.  The custom Italian lockers will offer pass holders the opulence of on-mountain storage and exclusive guest benefits.

The highway leading to the ski area from Pagosa Springs has had it’s own improvements this summer.  The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) spent over $9 million dollars to make major improvements to approximately 30 miles of road.  US highway 160 improvements consist of a new surface overlay, upgrade guardrail and improvements to the scenic overlook hairpin, all on the West side of Wolf Creek Pass.  CDOT’s summer improvements compliment their work of keeping Wolf Creek Pass well maintained in the winter months.

A commitment to upgrading and bettering the current lift system, specialized clinics for skiers and boarder, as well as free fun races for families and friends to enjoy are only a few things that make Wolf Creek stand apart from other ski areas.  Wolf Creek is family owned and operated focusing on providing skiers with a low-density skiing experience. Affordable lift tickets, lessons options, rentals and food in combination with the low-density skiing experience makes Wolf Creek a destination hot spot for powder hounds, families and new skiers alike.  Adding to Wolf Creek’s uniqueness is the delicious homemade food found in all eateries at Wolf Creek and convenient amenities that are at no cost, like paved parking and shuttle services.

Ski Season 2017-2018

A snippet from the THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.
Saturday/Sunday, November 11 - 12, 2017 

© 2017 Dow Jones & Company. All Rights Reserved.

* * * * THE WALL STREET JOURNAL* * * *
D8 | Saturday/Sunday, November 11 - 12, 2017

ADVENTURE & TRAVEL
Hush-Hush Places to Schuss
With ski season descending swiftly, America’s most hyped mountains are booking up. An alternative: These under-the-radar, uncrowded resorts with ample room to wipe out and old-school charm.

BY ELISABETH VINCENTELLI

OVER THE PAST couple of years, the corporate mammoths of the ski industry have been on a buying spree. Vail Resorts added Vermont’s Stowe and British Columbia’s Whistler Blackcomb to a portfolio that already included Colorado’s Vail, Beaver Creek and Breckenridge, for a total of 11 ski areas; the consortium of Aspen Skiing Company and KSL Capital Partners purchased such top-shelf destinations as Steamboat, Colo., Mammoth, Calif. and Deer Valley, Utah. But for many skiers and snowboarders, bigger operations aren’t necessarily better—especially when resorts trade their individuality and quirks for slick personas and sticker shock. Fortunately, an old-school spirit endures at several spots across the country. “We want a ski experience that’s reminiscent of a golden age,” said Geoff Hatheway, founder of Vermont’s Magic Mountain, voicing a widely shared sentiment among indie resorts. Then again, “resort” doesn’t quite accurately describe the under-the-radar favorites listed here. The on-mountain accommodations tend to be bare-bones, when they exist at all. You won’t find fancy spas or buzzy restaurants, and visitors in fur-trimmed puffers are a rarity. What these ski areas offer are relief from crowds, a community- minded attitude and friendly service. “It makes a big difference when skiers are running the mountain, and not a board of directors,” said Rosanne Haidorfer-Pitcher of Wolf Creek, Colo.

Powder Play Wolf Creek, Colo.
Owned and operated by the Pitcher family since the late 1970s, Wolf Creek epitomizes the mom-and-pop resort—if you ski or snowboard there, you’re likely to run into a Pitcher. Nestled in the southern San Juan Mountains, at a quiet remove from the state’s major population centers, Wolf Creek typically gets more snow than other Colorado resorts, averaging 430 inches a year. And you can still find powder stashes days after a storm, when more popular places get skied out and slushy in mere hours. Snow addicts from New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma seek out Wolf Creek, but it also makes a good playground for first-timers, thanks to affordable beginner lesson-and-lift packages. For more seasoned skiers, terrain that’s only accessible by hiking is well worth the effort. As for where to bunk down, the nearest hotels are a 30-minute drive away in either Pagosa Springs, with its many hot mineral-water pools, or South Fork, at the confluence of the Rio Grande and South Fork rivers (wolfcreekski.com).


MATT GIBSON (WOLF CREEK); IAN MATTESON (POWDER MOUNTAIN)

Wolf Creek Ski Season Update 2017-2018

Wolf Creek Ski Area is busy with several exciting summer projects that will be ready to launch for the 2017-2018 ski season. One of the largest capital improvements is the purchase and installation of a Point-of-Sale System in the Ticket Office. In addition to a new ticketing system, the Lynx Lift, a covered conveyor and Interpretive Center, will be operational for the 2017-2018 ski season. Wolf Creek Ski Area will also be going solar with the majority of it’s sustainable power offsets generated from the Penitente Solar Project in the San Luis Valley. The ski and snowboard rental program continues to be improved on all levels. The demo fleet will include the latest technology in skis and snowboards offered again online, and in both the Ski Rental and Boarder Dome.

After the 2016-2017 ski season wrapped up with over 204,000 skiers and over 440 inches of powder, the focus in the Ticket Office turned to researching point-of-sale systems that could be used in the office and at the lifts. After exploring several options and speaking with a few prominent point-of-sale companies specific to the ski industry, a decision was made to implement a new ticketing system through Active Network/RTP One. The new system allows Ticket Office cashiers to sell and print lift tickets, lessons and season passes using a computerized workstation. The Ticket Office will move from stamping tickets with a daily word to printing tickets with a barcode. Cashiers will select appropriate tickets and lesson options on a computer screen and simply print the guest’s ticket and lesson order. The ticket’s barcode allows lift operators to scan at the lift for access. Nine point-of-sale workstations will be installed in the Ticket Office with an additional two workstations installed in the Satellite Ticket Office, located in the bottom level of Prospector Grill for use over peak periods.

With the new software being installed, the online ski school reservation system will be replaced with Active Network/RTP One as well. The new eStore will allow guests visiting Wolf Creek the luxury of arranging and paying for their lessons from the comfort of their home prior to their trip. When guests’ arrive at Wolf Creek Ski Area the online reservation system will have transferred reservations and sales from the eStore into the office workstations allowing cashiers to look up reservations by guests’ name and print the lesson tickets. The eStore will have all group lessons for every ability level, ages five and older, including Beginner Specials, Wolf Pups, Wolf Riders and Hot Shots. Private lessons will still need to be arranged through the Ticket Office or booked over the phone because of the many details required.

Season Passes will also be transformed with the new point-of-sale system. Season Pass Holders will purchase their passes, read and sign the Season Pass Contract and Liability Waiver, take a photo and be issued a season pass card. Once pass holders have their season pass card they will go directly to lifts and skip the Ticket Office. Lift operators and attendants will then check and verify pass holder identities at the lift rather than in previous seasons where Ticket Office cashiers check while issuing the pass holder a daily lift ticket. Scanners will be the new ticket checking method at all lifts including the Lynx Lift, with construction to be completed by the start of the season. Colorado Search and Rescue card will continue to be included in the purchase of a season pass.

The Lynx Lift and building will be open to the public for the 2017-2018 ski season. The Lynx Lift is a 290 foot covered conveyor, manufactured by Sun Kids of Austria, and is the ninth lift to Wolf Creek’s lift system. The Lynx Lift, located behind the Sports Center building and out the back doors of the Rental Shop, will take guests to a new learning area and welcome center. This area, the Interpretive Center, is where instructors greet skiers enrolled in lessons. Students will be introduced to the sport, watch safety videos and begin their lesson. The Lynx Building will be the new location for approximately 200 ski instructors complete with lockers, administrative office, break area and restrooms. The Lynx Lift does not only service beginner terrain but also helps intermediate and advanced skiers access the Elma and Alberta lifts. The Alberta and Tranquility Parking Lots are accessible via the Lynx Lift by transporting guests up to Okey Dokey and then onto a trail that leads to shuttle services for parking.

Other off-season improvements made this summer include increasing Wolf Creek’s snow making capacity, heavy equipment additions to the snow removal department and a new snowcat for grooming operations. Wolf Creek purchased two, new, high-efficiency fan guns from the European company, Super Snow; increasing snowmaking capacity at higher temperatures. The snow removal department gained a 1021 front-end loader, a 350 horsepower loader mounted with a snow blower, twenty-four foot bull blade and a twenty-yard snow bucket, all advantageous to the snow removal efforts. A PistenBully 400 all-terrain groomer will be added to the groomers’ fleet for the 2017-2018 season, adding to the exceptional variety of terrain Wolf Creek has to offer.

The Powder Room, Wolf Creek’s newest amenity, is a premier program that will be offered to season pass holders once completed. Pass holders have the luxury of a private room complete with seasonal ski and snowboard lockers, boot and helmet dryers, restrooms and a few other fun perks. The custom Italian lockers will offer pass holders the opulence of on-mountain storage and exclusive guest benefits.

Wolf Creek is an environmentally friendly area and has always been a leader in maintaining sustainable business practices. Wolf Creek currently purchases 100% renewable wind energy year-round, mountain-wide. In the near future, Wolf Creek Ski Area will replace wind power with solar power. The new solar farm, Penitente Solar Project, is twenty-five acres of land near La Garita in the San Luis Valley. Wolf Creek continues to maintain it’s logging program in cooperation with the forest service to cut and clean dead beetle kill in an affordable manner.

The low-density skiing experience at Wolf Creek Ski Area makes Wolf Creek a destination hot spot for powder hounds, families and new skiers alike. Wolf Creek stands out from other ski areas in Colorado not only for being family owned and operated, but for also having affordable lift tickets and lesson options. Adding to Wolf Creek’s uniqueness is the phenomenal homemade food found in all eateries at Wolf Creek and convenient amenities that are at no cost, like paved parking and shuttle services.

Wolf Creek will continue to offer the Fun Race Series each weekend with a number of special programs designed to bring quality service at even better prices. See Wolf Creek’s schedule of events at www.WolfCreekSki.com.

Wolf Creek is looking forward to the 2017-2018 season and strives to bring a variety of quality services to every age group throughout the entire ski season! Additional information can be found on www.WolfCreekSki.com or by calling 970-264-5639.

Don't forget to call 1-800-SKI-WOLF for the latest update on snow and weather conditions. Weekly updates, events and photos of what’s happening around the ski area are posted to Wolf Creek’s social media accounts. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

Facebook – @wolfcreekskiarea

Twitter - @WolfCreekSki2

Instagram - @WolfCreekSki

Pinterest – WolfCreekSki

Wolf Creek Ski Area is an equal service provider.

Ski Season 2016-2017

Wolf Creek Ski Area has an exciting new addition to the Wolf Creek Lift System for the 2016-2017 ski season and has made improvements to the online reservation system, which now offers all rental packages for online reservations and includes payment of ski school reservations. Both the ski and snowboard rental departments increased their fleets with new demo, sport and standard models from some of the best manufactures in the industry.

The new addition to the Wolf Creek Lift System is a new covered conveyor lift named after the Lynx constellation and endangered Canadian Lynx, which has been reintroduced to our area. The Lynx Lift is located behind the ski rental building linking the existing base area to a new teaching area. Guests who enroll in Beginner Packages will now purchase lesson and lift tickets at the Ticket Office, stroll over to the Sports Center where they can stop in Treasure Sports for apparel and functional items, then pick up their skis next door in the Rental Shop. Once rental gear is picked-up guests then simply walk out the back door of the Rental Shop to begin their day on the mountain. The Lynx Lift does not only service beginner terrain but also helps intermediate and advanced skiers access the Elma and Alberta lifts. The Alberta and Tranquility Parking Lots are accessible via the Lynx Lift by transporting guests up to Okey Dokey and then onto a trail that leads to parking. Free shuttles are made available to guests parked in the various free, paved parking lots at Wolf Creek.

The Beginner Special, great for skiers and boarders ages nine and older, has been enhanced thanks to the installation of the Lynx Lift. The Beginner Special now includes four hours of lessons with a trained instructor, access to the Nova and Lynx Lifts for the entire ski day and access to two additional lifts, Raven and Elma, after 3:00 p.m.   A follow-up lesson and lift ticket package, Second Day Beginner Special, will also include the Lynx Lift in addition to all-day access to Nova, Raven and Elma Lifts accompanied by a two-hour, half-day lesson.

Group lessons for all ability levels, ages five and older, including Beginner Specials and Second Day Beginner Specials are available for reservation and payment as an improvement to the online reservation system. Ski School lesson options and reservations can be found under the Ski School tab on WolfCreekSki.com. “Reserve Lessons Online” buttons are on the Groups and Beginners page, as well as the Children’s Programs page. These improvements to the online reservations system will better expedite guests’ time at the Ticket Office, Rental Shop and Ski School. The new improvements also allow guests visiting Wolf Creek to have the luxury of arranging and paying for their lessons and rentals from the comfort of their home prior to their trip to Wolf Creek.

An additional improvement made to the online reservation system is making the entire rental fleet available for online reservation and payment. Guests who have reserved basic, sport, performance and premium demo sets online will have the rental ready upon their arrival with certified technicians fitting equipment prior to their day at Wolf Creek. Rental options for skis and snowboards can be found on the Equipment Rental page under the Pricing tab on WolfCreekSki.com. A “Rent Your Skis and Snowboards Now” button can be found under the rental set descriptions.

Other improvements at Wolf Creek include freshly painted buildings in the Base Area, additional paved parking and paving repairs, two new buses in the shuttle fleet and trail work around the Elma Lift.

Wolf Creek Ski Area is known for having an exceptional variety of terrain, abundant snowfall and plenty of powder days. Wolf Creek has gradual sloping, wide green runs for beginners to excellent expert terrain that will give advanced skiers and boarders an in-bounds backcountry experience. Finding an intermediate groomer to cruise down to start your day isn’t hard to find and tree skiing is endless!

Cross-country and skate skiers have complimentary use of the Nordic Track at Wolf Creek. Exploring all varieties of terrain is simple with a refined lift system inclusive of nine lifts total, ranging from high-speed detachable quads and triple chairlifts to rolling conveyors.

Wolf Creek is unique in that the location of the ski area is in the beautiful Southern San Juan Mountains, eliminating the frustration of driving on a heavily trafficked corridor to ski. Wolf Creek Ski Area has the advantage of being located on U.S. Highway 160 near the summit of Wolf Creek Pass, which is a beautiful and well-maintained mountain pass with consistent improvements to the 3 and 4 lanes of highway. The pass is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Accommodations are available in the intimate towns of South Fork and Creede or Pagosa Springs, home to the world’s deepest geothermal hot springs.

Plan a vacation to Wolf Creek Ski Area with family and friends and share a great experience together in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The low-density skiing experience at Wolf Creek Ski Area makes Wolf Creek a destination hot spot for powder hounds, families and new skiers alike. Wolf Creek stands out from other ski areas in Colorado not only for being family owned and operated, but for also having affordable lift tickets and lesson options. Adding to Wolf Creek’s uniqueness is the phenomenal homemade food found in all eateries at Wolf Creek and convenient amenities that are at no cost, like paved parking and shuttle services.

Wolf Creek is looking forward to the 2016-2017 season and strives to bring variety and quality services to every age group throughout the entire ski season! Additional information can be found on www.WolfCreekSki.com or by calling 970-264-5639.

Don't forget to call 1-800-SKI-WOLF for the latest update on snow and weather conditions. Weekly updates, events and photos of what’s happening around the ski area are posted to Wolf Creek’s social media accounts.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

Facebook – @wolfcreekskiarea

Twitter - @WolfCreekSki2

Instagram - @WolfCreekSki

Pinterest – WolfCreekSki

Wolf Creek Ski Area is an equal service provider.

Multi-year Improvement Plan:

Areas to be improved:

  • Elma Lift
  • Race Hutch
  • Sports Center Upgrade/Remodel
  • Water Tank
Wolf Creek Ski Area 2013/2014 Proposed Projects