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Given the remarkable snows that hit the Colorado high country over the weekend, it may come as a surprise to learn that just two ski areas remain open. Loveland will keep its slopes groomed for another two weeks (until May 8), and Arapahoe Basin plans to stay open through June 5 (Associated Press). Copper Mountain, Breckenridge, Winter Park, Aspen Highlands, and Vail all closed yesterday.
Derek Reijmer, who moved to Vail for the season, says he was rewarded with “conditions like I’ve never seen before” (Vail Daily). Indeed, nine inches of snow on Good Friday put Vail’s total at 511 for the year, six inches above the previous record. Closing week also brought a large contingent of visitors from Mexico to Vail, thanks to the resort’s extensive marketing outreach in the country and Semana Santa, the holy week holiday preceding Easter (Vail Daily).
Meanwhile, nearly 500 loyal customers earned a commemorative pin from Aspen, congratulating them on skiing or riding for at least 100 days this season (Aspen Times). And, unfortunately, with the end of the ski season comes an increase in crime for some mountain towns. Police figure that as jobs dry up, people turn to crime to fill their pocketbooks (9News).