Silverton Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Silverton |
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 Silverton
Location in Colorado
Silverton
Location in the United States
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| Location | Silverton, Colorado, United States |
| Nearest city | Silverton, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 37°53′05″N 107°39′55″W / 37.88470°N 107.66529°W |
| Top elevation | 13,487 feet (4,111 m) |
| Base elevation | 10,400 feet (3,200 m) |
| Skiable area | 1819 acres |
| Lift system | 1 total |
| Terrain parks | 0 |
| Snowfall | 450-500 in |
| Website | Silverton Mountain |
Silverton Mountain is a special ski area located near Silverton, Colorado in the USA. It first opened on January 19, 2002. This mountain is very popular with skiers and snowboarders who are looking for a big adventure.
Silverton Mountain has only one chairlift. This lift takes visitors to areas meant for advanced and expert skiers or riders. You must always wear special avalanche safety gear when you ride the lift. This is because the mountain is not patrolled or groomed like most ski resorts. Besides the 1,819 acres you can reach by lift, Silverton also offers over 22,000 acres of skiing that you can get to by helicopter! Silverton is unique because it is only open from Thursday to Sunday, from December through April.
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About Silverton Mountain
Silverton Mountain is in San Juan County, Colorado. It is just six miles from the old mining town of Silverton. This ski area is famous for its exciting adventures, deep powder snow, and very steep slopes. At 13,487 feet high, it is the highest ski area for experts in North America.
The mountain has 1,819 acres of land you can ski on from the lift. It also has over 22,000 acres you can reach by hiking or by helicopter. There are no smooth, groomed runs here. You also won't find any cut trails. Skiers and snowboarders can find some of the best powder skiing in the world. The snow is usually very good because the San Juan Mountains are so high up. Also, only a small number of skiers visit each day.
Guided Skiing at Silverton
During certain times of the year, you can only ski here with a guide. Silverton Mountain provides these guides. Each guided group has eight skiers or fewer. You can expect to hike for about 5 to 45 minutes to reach the runs. However, some runs start right from the chairlift. If you hike for 15 minutes to an hour, you can reach large open bowls and steep, narrow chutes.
You must wear avalanche safety equipment. This includes an avalanche beacon, a shovel, and a probe. You can rent these items from Silverton Mountain. It is a good idea to book your guided skiing trips ahead of time. The mountain often gets fully booked. Guides are also available during the unguided season.
Heli Skiing Adventures
Silverton Mountain is the only place in the United States (not including Alaska) that offers heli-skiing by the drop. This means you can pay for single helicopter rides to reach remote areas. The heli-accessed terrain at Silverton Mountain is only for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders.
History of Silverton Mountain
Aaron and Jen Brill started Silverton Mountain. It opened on January 19, 2002. They bought their first double chairlift from Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. Silverton Mountain is known for its backcountry skiing that you can reach by lift. It also has educational programs. These include Avalanche Level I, Avalanche Level II, and Backcountry 101. These courses teach you how to stay safe in the backcountry.
The ski area is designed to have very little impact on nature. It focuses only on skiing, not on building. Silverton Mountain does not plan to build condos or fast chairlifts. USA Today once voted it the "Best of the West" for extreme terrain. This award covered skiing in Colorado, Utah, California, and Nevada.
Images for kids
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Dropping a little cornice on the way up to Silverton's iconic Billboard.
