10/23/2026
Six inches of fresh snow has a way of changing your perspective. Last week’s storm brought the first significant snowfall of the 26-27 season to Powderhorn, covering months of construction work in a fresh coat of white—and reminding us why we’ve been working so hard all summer.
It’s also a good time to look back at how far we’ve come. Just a few months ago, the West End chairlift was coming down, leaving behind excavated holes, concrete forms, and survey stakes. Today, all tower foundations are complete, the new towers are standing, and both terminals have been craned into place along with the drive machinery. Electrical installation is now underway.
There’s still plenty to do. Haul rope splicing is scheduled, chairs and grips are arriving for installation, and the return operator house still needs to be placed. Mechanical and electrical start-ups, testing, and the all-important load test will follow. Preparations for each are progressing on schedule.
Of course, there are two schedules at work here: ours and Mother Nature’s. Unlike the east side, the West End has no snowmaking, so opening the Wild West Express terrain will depend on natural snowfall, which typically allows for skiing around mid-December.
For now, the project remains on track, and we’re focused on preparing the Flat Top Flyer for our tentative November 20 Opening Day. The major structural work is behind us, the finishing stages are underway, and right on time, the mountain is beginning to look a lot more like winter.
