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Powderhorn Mountain Resort

@skipowderhorn

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Every construction project has a point where progress starts to feel permanent. For the Wild West Express, this was one of those weeks.Crews successfully poured concrete for both the new top terminal and Tower 22, the uppermost tower foundation. Down the mountain, foundations for Towers 3, 4, 5, and 7 are now complete, with Tower 6 being poured today.Not every step has been easy–the Grand Mesa occasionally reminds us who’s been here longer. While preparing the foundation for Tower 2, crews uncovered a sizable rock with no intention of making room for a chairlift. Alignment can’t be changed, so the rock was broken apart by hand, and Tower 2 will soon be ready for concrete.With those pours behind us, footer work using conventional vehicles is nearly complete. The remaining tower locations sit on terrain that’s too steep and rugged for standard equipment, so next week a spider excavator will arrive to continue the job. If you’ve never seen one before, imagine a giant arachnid that runs on diesel.Looking ahead, helicopters are expected to return in August to fly in the remaining footer forms, and eventually new towers. Every footing poured this summer will disappear underground. Most guests will never see them, but we’ll all be riding on them for decades to come. As always, thanks for following along. If you’re visiting Powderhorn this summer, please respect all construction closures and give our crews plenty of room to work. by @skipowderhorn

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6 days ago

After several weeks of steady progress, the west side has temporarily grown a little quieter. That’s by design. Work within the designated elk calving area was on hold while new calves arrive on the Grand Mesa—a remarkable reminder that while we’re building something new, we’re doing it in a place wildlife calls home year-round.Since our last update, the final West End towers have been successfully helicoptered off the mountain, bringing us one step closer to new installation. The helicopters have headed home for now, but they’ll return later this summer to fly the new Wild West Express towers into place.Down the road in Grand Junction, our partners at Leitner-Poma of America are making steady progress as well. Grips and hangers have been inspected, rebuilt, and staged for delivery, lift mechanisms are being sanded and painted, towers are being modified, and electrical control cabinets are moving through refurbishment.The Wild West Express is coming together in two places at once: on the mountain, where crews prepare the landscape, foundations, utilities, and access, and just 30 miles away, where skilled technicians are rebuilding the machinery that will soon make the familiar climb up Highway 65.Sometimes progress is loud, with helicopters overhead. Other times it’s measured in inspections, fresh paint, precision machining, and the patience to let nature set the schedule. When the helicopters return, they’ll be carrying the future uphill instead of the past down.Summer has arrived, and we’re stoked to welcome you back to the Mesa! Please stay well clear of all construction equipment, work zones, and posted closures. The Bike Park and Base lodge are open for the Regular Season, 7/3-8/2:Friday 12pm-6pmSaturdays & Sundays 11am-5pmAnd open for the Late Season, 7/8-10/4:Saturdays & Sundays 11am-5pm📸: @the.fast.shutter by @skipowderhorn

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18 days ago

Celebrate the 4th of July weekend at Powderhorn—the Summer Bike Park opening is scheduled for this Friday through Sunday, July 3–5!Our crew is working their way across the mountain, repairing and reshaping our bike trails to flow better than ever.Plan to visit more than twice? Get the best value with a Summer Season Pass before prices increase this Sunday. If you have a Winter 2026-27 Season Pass, call us to purchase a deeply discounted Summer Pass add-on. See you on the mountain this weekend! by @skipowderhorn

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25 days ago

Day Two of No Barriers LIVE! in Colorado's Grand Valley! We hiked with our beautiful peeps at Powderhorn Mountain Resort alongside our cofounder Erik Weihenmayer and our friends at Colorado Discover Ability and the Grand Valley Outdoor Recreation Coalition. Gorgeous day, great fun!@erikweihenmayer @coloradodiscoverabilitygj @orcgv @bill.damico @trevor_hahns_art_through_touch #nobarriers #community #grandjunction #allabilitiesPhoto slideshow of members of the No Barriers community gathering at Powderhorn, hiking up the mountain, helping each other make the climb in rope teams, and having lunch together afterward. by @skipowderhorn

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a month ago

Join us at Powderhorn for a five-course Italian-inspired Mountain Dinner, this Saturday June 27 from 6-8pm. This thoughtfully curated evening features five courses of bold, inviting flavors—from crostini with whipped ricotta and Italian cucumber salad to grilled ribeye steak, golden branzino fillet, and tiramisu.Each course is paired with crafted cocktails from Peach Street Distillers, including a Barrel Aged Peach Bourbon Black Manhattan, Cucumber & Mint Goat Vodka Press, Blackberry Basil Jackalope Gin Lemonade, and Peach Street Amaro.Purchase your tickets and send an email to ski@powderhorn by the end of the day today to request plant-based menu options: roasted tomato and white bean crostini, eggplant involtini, stuffed portabella mushrooms, tomato bruschetta, and chocolate-dipped strawberries.Gather with friends, savor an elevated mountain dining experience, and enjoy a night of fine food, drinks, and alpine views. Reserve your seat now at powderhorn.com/events by @skipowderhorn

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a month ago

Wild West Express Weekly Update – Week 5For the past several weeks, the Wild West Express project has mostly been defined by subtraction. The haul rope came down, terminals were dismantled, trucks lapped to town, and one by one, the old West End towers disappeared from the skyline.This week felt different. At the base area, crews poured concrete for the new bottom terminal footer and continued building the forms that will support the future terminals. It’s the first major piece of the Wild West Express that isn’t removing something old—it’s creating something new.Elsewhere on the mountain, Grand Valley Power has been on site planning the relocation of electrical infrastructure near Tower 1. Line widening is now complete except within the designated elk calving area, where work remains paused until seasonal wildlife restrictions are lifted. Throughout the project, Powderhorn continues to work closely with our land managers to balance construction needs with our role as stewards of the mountain.And soon, patience gives way to helicopters! Towers from the retired West End Double will begin flying from their resting places in the coming days, marking one of the most visible milestones of the project so far. For the first time since the West End came down, the mountain is nearly ready for something new to rise in its place.As always, thanks for following along with the transformation of Powderhorn’s west side. If you have a memory of the West End Lift, or something you’re excited to share about the Wild West Express, let us know at ski@powderhorn.com by @skipowderhorn

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a month ago

Trail crew’s been hard at work getting all the trails ready for opening day! See you July 3rd. #powderhornparks by @skipowderhorn

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a month ago

The highlight of this week was a key step in the Wild West Express master plan: a successful hike of the full lift line with representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, project engineers, logging crews, and Powderhorn staff. Starting near the top of the Mesa and working down to the base area, the group reviewed upcoming construction, corridor management, environmental considerations, and the many details needed to keep a project of this scale moving forward.Logging operations are now underway as crews widen the corridor for the new detachable quad. Like much of this project, the work may look straightforward from a distance, but requires careful planning and coordination behind the scenes.At the top of the mountain, the final West End lift towers came down, bringing an end to the familiar skyline that defined Powderhorn’s west side for decades. For the first time in over 50 years, the entire line stands open from top to bottom—offering a clear view of where the West End has been, and where the Wild West Express is headed.But the line won’t stand empty for long. Final tower forms are being built in the parking lot, and a garage-sized pit has been dug for the foundation of the new bottom terminal. With all towers now on the ground, logging underway, and terminal work beginning, the Wild West Express is starting to feel less like a plan and more like a construction project.Thanks for following along. If you have a memory of the West End Lift, or something you’re excited to share about the upcoming Wild West Express, let us know at ski@powderhorn.com by @skipowderhorn

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a month ago

As we say goodbye to the West End Lift, we’re excited to see its history live on in backyards, porches, and gathering spaces far beyond Powderhorn. West End Chairs are available for online bidding now—the auction ends 8pm, Sunday June 7th. Proceeds from the sale of chairs #206-210 will be donated to local charities. All sales are final, and auction winners are responsible for their own chair pickup and transportation—visit powderhorn.com/events to view details and full terms on our auction website. by @skipowderhorn

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2 months ago

There are interesting contrasts to lift construction. One day, West End towers that stood for decades are disappearing from the skyline. The next, the mountain seems almost still again—just survey stakes, wooden forms, and orange flags fluttering in the wind.Over the past week, deconstruction crews pushed farther up the line, with old West End towers now on the ground beyond the intersection of Sweet Misery and Red Eye. For longtime Powderhorn guests, it’s a striking sight: familiar stretches of terrain marked by towers, cable, and chairs, now briefly bare.In the parking lot, work continues on the new tower foundations, and chairs scheduled for refurbishment have been sent down the Mesa to Leitner-Poma. Next week, engineers, surveyors, environmental specialists, mountain staff, lift partners, and U.S. Forest Service representatives will walk the lift line together. They’ll discuss line clearing, corridor management, environmental protections, and the careful balance required when modern lift construction meets sensitive mountain habitats and terrain.Thanks for following along, and don’t forget: the West End chair auction takes place June 1–7. Visit powderhorn.com/west for more details. by @skipowderhorn

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2 months ago

Spring had a little surprise for us this week ❄️ Just as the Grand Mesa seemed ready to settle into the season, a late storm rolled across Powderhorn, blowing snow across the mountain and Wild West construction site. For a few hours, it almost felt like winter was back—and we’ll take it as a good omen for next season and Powderhorn’s upcoming 60th Anniversary.Even with the weather, progress continues on the Wild West Express. Line clearing will begin along portions of the lift alignment, where the corridor will be widened to safely accommodate the new detachable quad and updated clearance requirements. This work is being completed in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service as part of our ongoing commitment to responsible stewardship.Crews are continuing to build tower footer forms, while survey teams are staking exact locations for the new bottom terminal and towers. It’s careful, behind-the-scenes work, but these measurements and foundations will shape everything that follows.For now, the Wild West Express is still mostly flags, forms, and lines on a map—but the future of Powderhorn is taking shape. Thanks for following along, please stay well clear of construction areas this summer, and mark your calendars for the West End chair auction: Online bidding begins June 1. by @skipowderhorn

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2 months ago

Wild West Weekly Update #1A new chapter is taking shape on the west side of Powderhorn. After decades of service, the historic West End Chairlift is coming down to make way for the Wild West Express, a detachable high-speed quad that will modernize access while keeping the spirit of this beloved terrain alive.Crews made strong progress this week: the haul rope has been removed, the motor room has been disassembled, the lower terminal has come apart piece by piece, and several lower towers are now down. At the same time, forms are being built for future tower footers—the first permanent steps toward the new lift rising on the mountain.We’re working closely with Leitner-Poma of America, the United States Forest Service, and our project partners to complete this work responsibly, with careful attention to wildlife closures, erosion control, revegetation, and wetland protections.It’s bittersweet to say goodbye to the West End Chair, but mighty exciting to see the future begin. Stay tuned for more updates, keep clear of all construction areas this summer, and look out for details on the West End Chair Auction, happening online from June 1st–7th. by @skipowderhorn

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