Wolf Creek Pass Has Feet of Powder!
After a winter (not over yet) of disappointing snowfall in New Mexico, Wolf Creek Pass Ski area just over the Colorado border has deep snow for skiers. In New Mexico places like Pajarito Mountain are closed due to thin snow, but Wolf Creek comes through again! Wolf Creek Pass is one of the snowiest places in the United States.
Wolf Creek (on Highway 160 between Pagosa Springs and Alamosa, Colorado) got 27 inches of snow from the latest storm. As of February 22, the area has 96 inches at the summit and slightly less than that at the base. For whatever reason, this part of the South San Juan Mountains is a magnet for snow. The only place in Colorado that comes close in terms of deep snow is Crested Butte, with its large mountain looming over a vast desert to the west.
Wolf Creek has faced some challenges in the last few years. It is a ski area on public land (San Juan National Forest) with a long term lease. Texan developers ( B.J. “Red” McCombs) have been trying to get state and federal approval to build a large “village” of condos and shopping on wild land directly adjacent to the ski area. Thanks to the San Juan Citizen’s Alliance and others and their multi year campaign to stop the “pillage at Wolf Creek” a federal judge blocked a land exchange critical to the development. We can all be grateful to the many environmental groups that worked for years to block this inappropriate development in an important wetland and wildlife corridor.
Meanwhile when you are skiing at Wolf Creek the obvious thing to do is soak at the hot springs in nearby Pagosa Springs. While the giant “Springs” resort dominates the hot water scene in Pagosa, a more obscure hot spring soaking establishment on Main Street actually serves good beer to its clients and feels really wonderful. The Overlook Hot Springs at 432 Pagosa Street has indoor pools and rooftop pools where you can enjoy a variety of canned beers and get away from the crowds across the river at the Springs.
Pagosa has a couple of breweries which serve pretty good beer. Riff Raff Brewing is in old town while Pagosa Brewing is out west in the newer part of town on Highway 160 toward Durango. Several liquor stores with good craft beer selections litter the town. Nobody in this part of Colorado goes thirsty. For a small town Pagosa Springs does pretty well on the beer front.
New Mexicans might hit the road of Wolf Creek and finally get some serious powder skiing in!
