Purgatory Resort Kicks Off Ski Season this Saturday

Purgatory Resort will open for the 2022-23 ski season on Saturday, November 19. Skiers will load Lift 1 and ski from the top of the mountain, with open terrain including Paradise to the midway load on Lift 6, West Fork and Diablo trails from Lift 2, and Headwaters terrain park from 9 am - 4 pm. Lift 1 will be used to transport skiers back to the base area.

“We're excited to hit the slopes and welcome everyone back to celebrate Purgatory's 57th season,” said Purgatory General Manager, Dave Rathbun. “Despite Mother Nature taking her time delivering natural snowfall, we’re able to open with more terrain and better early season conditions. The significant investment in snowmaking will also help us build a deep base to ensure a long season.”

As of Nov. 16, Purgatory has a base depth of 20 inches. The terrain is suitable for intermediate to advanced skiers and riders, with no beginner terrain currently available. Purgatory plans to open more terrain and lifts as conditions allow.

First chair will kick off at 9 am with complimentary pancakes from 8 am - 9:30 am. On the mountain, the Powderhouse & Pitchfork Pub will serve lunch and libations from 11:30 am - 3:30 pm. New this season, Purgatory has expanded snowmaking coverage to include lower Paradise to the midway loading of Needles Triple (Lift 6), allowing the resort to open more high-elevation, early-season terrain.

This year Purgatory invested $1.25 million in snowmaking upgrades to boost snow production and efficiency by 25 percent for better early-season snow conditions and a more consistent base throughout the year. A new Prinoth Leitwolf X snow-grooming machine is scheduled to arrive Friday, plus food and beverage upgrades, increased parking capacity, and other capital improvements are also on track for completion this year.

To improve operational efficiencies and encourage guests to plan ahead, Purgatory has moved away from traditional window rates to offer dynamic, demand-based pricing on lift tickets. Guests who purchase tickets in advance get the best pricing, with additional incentives when you purchase 3, 4 or 5-day tickets. Multi-day tickets are available for as low as $59 per day (sale ends December 11, 2022).