In terms of common ground, the little Ski Cooper ski area near Leadville and the glamorous Telluride Ski Resort share almost none. Aside from the general purpose of providing skiing to skiers, geographically, characteristically, philosophically and economically they’re about as far apart as any two ski areas in Colorado can be.
Cooper, situated on the Continental Divide at Tennessee Pass, is the definition of rustic, a 70-year-old, publicly owned family playground of 26 beginner and intermediate trails spanning 400 acres on the slopes of Chicago Ridge, training grounds of the fabled 10th Mountain Division.
Standing in stark contrast in the state’s southwest corner is Telluride, a 2,000-acre ski and golf resort ensconced in modern luxuries including a free commuter gondola from the historic town to a contemporary mountain village. Recent expansions include a 400-acre addition into a single bowl, served by a shiny, new four-seat lift.
So it stands to reason that these two divergent ski areas might face a couple of different, yet loosely related, problems.
Ski Cooper wants more skiers. Well, not everyone at Cooper wants more, but as the current management board’s contract nears expiration in 2012, some worry that the ski area isn’t growing at an appropriate pace.
The area attracts about 62,000 skier days a year, placing it near the bottom of the pack among Colorado ski areas. But as it stands, the Lake County-owned ski area still makes money.
Some local citizens are promoting changes in the way things work on Cooper Hill. They don’t want to become Telluride, they say, but maybe something more like Monarch or Wolf Creek — similarly sized ski areas that draw more ski traffic.
Cooper’s calling card has long been its family-friendly ambiance and mellow terrain.
But in an era of extreme sports and almost instant-expert equipment offerings, that terrain can double as a curse.
Cooper, however, has an ace in the hole. The sweeping, 2,460-acre Chicago Ridge above the ski area is currently open only to a dozen customers paying $275 a day to ski more advanced terrain out of a snowcat.
Mike Collins, founder of the Friends for Change at Cooper Hill, is suggesting that Ski Cooper offer its Chicago Ridge terrain to hiking skiers, which could elevate Cooper’s appeal among advanced riders.
Although not without risk, the formula has worked at more than one Colorado ski area in recent history. Monarch, which offers a similar snowcat service, has received rave reviews since opening its ropes to share the terrain of Mirkwood Basin five years ago, yet retains its family charm.
Over at Telluride, the conflict lies just outside of the ski-area boundary, which puts Ski Cooper’s so-called problem in perspective.
Thanks to land broker Tom Chapman of Gold Hill Development Co., who recently bought 100 acres of mining claims just outside the resort boundary, three gates accessing the popular backcountry ski drainage known as Upper Bear Creek were closed by the U.S. Forest Service last week.
More than once, Chapman has been accused of threatening to develop land in pristine spots to leverage money or land swaps from the government, and this move falls into a similar pattern.
While it doesn’t hurt the bottom line at Telluride, the denial of access to some of the most coveted terrain in the county lends some perspective to the Cooper saga. Tell- uride had the terrain taken away, whereas Ski Cooper essentially denies itself the luxury of access despite the ability to control its own destiny.
Chicago Ridge isn’t Bear Creek — not by a longshot — but it does offer Ski Cooper an opportunity to add another dimension to its personality with some entry-level backcountry touring, whether with the assistance of a new lift or otherwise. Sure, there are a couple kinks to work out, but a few more adventurers wandering the hillside aren’t likely to change the complexion of Ski Cooper any more than they’re likely to turn Leadville into Telluride.
It’s certainly an idea worth considering.
