With 20-plus years’ experience as a pioneering, sponsored extreme mountain athlete, I learned three main qualities: Stay quiet, listen to and respect the mountains. Nowadays? Thanks largely to Outside Magazine (ironically, I remain their only two-time cover athlete) chronically promoting Durango as one of the “top 10 places to live for outdoor athletes,” my once-humble home is now a sudden hotspot for “backcountry” (note: save for the Weminuche, no true “backcountry” in Colorado exists – it’s all sidecountry) skiers incoming from all directions. My native backyard? Broken by an overwhelming influx of powder-seeking, social-media-addicted sophomores.
To stem this inevitable tide of “backcountry skiers” likely to be killed, allow “uphill access” at Purgatory Resort. There is a change.org petition you can sign if you search for “Allow Access At Purgatory.” Nearly 500 have signed.
I thank James Coleman, new owner of Purgatory, for allowing us uphillers access to Hesperus for a small fee. Yet 600 feet vertical just depletes expensive climbing skins, and daddies like myself don’t have time to take the risk/reward to ski sketchy “backcountry” lines. We need quick access to uphill workouts at Purg. Interestingly, two of Purgatory’s most popular events are both uphill events: Know The Snow Rando and Uncle Clyde’s Run & Slide!
The corporation owning Purgatory allows uphill access at four of its seven resorts. Allow uphill access at Purgatory! It’s time to help save more lives.
Steve IlgDurango