A special day for skiers and boarders as Monarch Mountain opens after weekend snow
SALIDA, Colo. (KRDO) -- After a snowy Sunday evening, Monarch Mountain officially opened for the 2025-2026 season on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
“Our team has poured their hearts into getting ready for this season,” said General Manager Chris Haggerty in a release. “Relying solely on all-natural snowfall, our crew becomes a group of snow farmers—getting creative with harvesting the snow that falls, using fences, transporting snow from around the mountain, and building natural features to catch every flake. We’re driven by our love for sliding on snow, and we’re pumped to kick off another winter on the Divide.”
There was limited terrain and amenities as operations ramped up on Tuesday, a spokesperson said.
The opening day first chair went up around 9 a.m., KRDO13's Bradley Davis reports. Skiers and riders were ready to soak in all the action.
"Dude, I'm feeling 'the stoke.' There's white stuff everywhere. There ain't much coverage, but I'm on the early-season board. I'm ready to have some core shots and have a steezy day," said one snowboarder.
One person even said they had been out since midnight the night before, waiting for things to kick off.
The mountain's highly anticipated expansion, No Name Basin, will open at a later date in the season with more snowfall. Unlike other resorts, the ski area relies on natural snowfall, and safety is a number one priority.
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