Editor’s Note: Each Thursday throughout the winter, the Summit Daily News will provide a terrain update that will inform skiers and riders on what trails are open at what mountains before they head out to the slopes.

This story has been updated to correct that the Bergman Express lift is the first lift access expansion in Keystone in 30 years, not the first lift in 30 years.

Summit County was gifted a white Christmas this year after two back-to-back storms earlier this week brought several inches of fresh snow to mountain resorts. 

Despite a mild November that slowed snowmaking efforts earlier this season, ski areas are continuing to open more terrain with each passing week, with some now approaching the halfway mark. 

Efforts this past week led to another peak added to Breckenridge Ski Resort and set the stage for the launch of the highly anticipated express lift at Keystone Resort, among other developments. 

Here’s where terrain stands at five nearby resorts:

Breckenridge opens another peak, drops ropes on T-Bar

Breckenridge Ski Resort on Thursday opened skiing on Peak 10, spinning the Falcon SuperChair and providing access to Crystal, Centennial, Doublejack and Grit trails. 

The resort on Wednesday dropped the ropes on T-Bar, the first high alpine lift to open this season, giving access to all-terrain on North Bowl except Pika, a top-to-bottom black run. The T-Bar will run from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to preserve snow quality until the resort receives more natural snow, according to Senior Communications Specialist Sarah McLear. 

Additionally, Horseshoe Bowl including Outlaw and everything skier’s right of Outlaw, such as Contest Bowl and Upper 4 O’Clock, is open. 

In a statement, McLear wrote, “Looking ahead, we are still waiting on Mother Nature for Peak 6 as the Reverie ridge needs additional coverage. That being said, our prep work is complete on Peak 6, and we just need it to fill in a bit more, so pray for snow!”

Keystone to open highly anticipated express lift

Keystone Resort is planning on Saturday to open the long-awaited Bergman Express lift, a high-speed 6-passenger chair that will provide access to 555 acres of high alpine terrain in Bergman and Erickson bowls. In total, 15 new trails will become accessible by lift with the new chair.

Sadly, the bowl’s namesake, Bill Bergman, died earlier this month at the age of 99.

Hailed by Vice President and General Manager Chris Sorensen as a “gamechanger for skiers and riders at Keystone,” the expansion will offer access to mellow terrain in Bergman Bowl as well as more advanced terrain in Erickson Bowl that will connect back to the Outback Express and Wayback lifts.  

It marks the first lift access expansion in Keystone since the Outback Express in 1991, more than 30 years ago. 

Other recent trail openings include Jackface, Wild Irishman, Upper Frenchman, Powdercap, Ambush and Porcupine runs. 

“As we look ahead, the team will be prioritizing Flying Dutchman, the I-70 terrain park at A51 and the rest of North Bowl,” wrote Keystone and Breckenridge spokesperson Sara Lococo. “Skiers and riders can also keep an eye out for soft openings on natural terrain on North Peak and the Outback.”

Copper launches more lifts in major expanse of terrain 

Copper Mountain Resort opened three lifts over the past week: Rendezvous, Resolution and the Storm King T-Bar, the latter of which provides access to Hallelujah Ridge and Spaulding Ridge.

Sierra and Alpine chairlifts are also now open daily and are operating on regular hours for the season. In the terrain park, the Large Line in Central Park is expected to open around Jan. 2 and Red’s Backyard will open shortly after, according to Senior Communications Manager Loryn Roberson. 

The NASTAR racecourse, located on the skier’s right side of the Copperopolis trail, is also open to the public. An eleven-gate parallel set Giant Slalom course, guests can race against their friends and family at the same time, Roberson said. 

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Arapahoe Basin spins Pallavicini leading to additional runs

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area this past weekend began spinning the Pallavicini lift, providing access to Powder Keg and Slalom Slope, both single-black runs, as well as Grizzly Road, a blue. 

The ski area also opened West Wall on the front side, and, according to spokesperson Shayna Silverman, will continue to have limited openings on the front side and off Pallavicini heading into the weekend. 

Loveland opens a new run off Ptarmigan 

Loveland Ski Area on Monday opened Drifter, a blue run accessible from the Ptarmigan lift and the first blue from Ptarmigan to be open for the 2023-24 season. 

According to Loveland Marketing Director John Sellers, the ski area doesn’t have any additional openings planned for this weekend but added that Fire Cut, another blue off Ptarmigan, is “very close” to opening.