a handful of guests, two guides, a snowcat and thousands of acres of incredible snowcat skiing and snowboarding. e 800-208-1780, sanjuanski.com
Silverton Powder Cats Located seven miles south of Silverton where it uses powerful Piston Bully’s to access the terrain around Molas Pass, the Silverton Powdercats caters to powder hounds looking to hone backcountry skills and advanced riders looking to be challenged in chutes, trees and open bowls, much of which is above tree-line. You’ll ride up in quiet, warm and insulated enclosed cabs with guides who are local, friendly and knowledgeable of the thousands of acres of terrain out the door. With safety as a priority, the guides will personalize your tour and, for a little excitement, they might even suggest a short hike to access more challenging terrain. xyz e 970-385-7288, snowcat-powder.com Silverton, Colorado
HAL LOTT
★ SILVERTON, COLORADO Once the stomping ground of silver kings and railroad giants, Silverton
survives today as one of Colorado’s most endearing destinations. When the Silverton district opened legally to miners in 1874, an estimated 2,000 men moved into the region from points across the U.S., Europe and even China, to endure severe winters and dangerous mining conditions in their pursuit of minerals. Today, Silverton may be a quiet, high-altitude town surrounded by breathtaking peaks of the San Juan Mountains, but in the winter it’s all but quiet at Kendall Mountain Ski & Recreation Area, where families squeal in pursuit of skiing, sledding and ice-skating thrills; and at Silverton Mountain, where advanced skiers and snowboarders whoop with joy on steeps. In town is a network of cross-country skiing trails and nearby are world-class ice climbing and snowmobiling. Located on the upper Animas River, the sturdy town has retained its original Western character of wide streets and historical Victorian buildings. There is only one paved road, but it’s lined with lodging, coffee shops and restaurants. Silverton Chamber of Commerce, 970-387-5654, silvertoncolorado.com
14 • 2012-13 Southwest Colorado Winter Guide