Every once in a while, Colorado ski resorts have to close down for a day or two because of high winds that make it dangerous to operate the lifts. For instance, in February 2023, Steamboat Mountain Resort closed for a day due to high winds and extreme cold, while Winter Park scaled back its operations.
On Friday, Dec. 19, however, Eldora Mountain Resort near Nederland, said it would have to close for the day because of a planned “pubic safety power shutoff implemented by Xcel Energy.
“No access or services will be available,” the ski area added in a statement.
Xcel has been shutting off power in selected areas in the metro areas and the foothills over the past few days as a way to prevent possible fires from downed lines.
On Friday, the utility said the planned outages would happen in Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties. But it predicted other, unplanned outages as well.
