With the 2007-08 season now just weeks away, the upgrade race is once again on at Colorado ski resorts. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being invested in improvements for the coming season in hopes of boosting skier-days and edging out the competition.

Durango Mountain Resort

The big news at Purg this season is improved snowmaking capacity. The resort has added new, more efficient snowmakers to the fleet and increased its uphill snowmaking capacity by 50 percent. This will allow DMR to cover more terrain more quickly during the early season. In addition, DMR is continuing construction on the new Purgatory Lodge and the revitalization of Purgatory Village. The $100-million project will include upgraded skier services and year round amenities and slopeside lodging units. A new Purgy’s Day Lodge is expected to be complete by next season.

Telluride

Telluride is unveiling more “backcountry lite” this season with the opening of its Black Iron Bowl. Previously off limits, this in-bounds, hike-to terrain off Lift 12 will offer guests an additional 353 acres of extreme ridgeline skiing.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort

Crested Butte Mountain Resort is going big and has kicked off construction on a new conference center and the major renovation of a slopeside hotel. These additions and renovations are all a part of $200 million in improvements.

Vail Mountain

Vail Mountain has installed two new high-speed quads and a faster triple chair for this season. The two new quads will increase Vail’s uphill lift capacity to 56,138 while also cutting the ride times in half. The ski

resort is also remodeling its children’s learning center and nurseries as well.

Aspen/Snowmass

Aspen is devoting big energy to Snowmass this year, and opening a $17-million, 25,000-square-foot Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center. Snowmass will also get a new quad chair, two new surface lifts and a new ski school meeting area for beginners for the 2007-08 season. The Snowmass Terrain Park and Pipe has also been relocated and improved.

Wolf Creek

On-mountain improvements have never been Wolf Creek Ski Area’s big draw, and in the long tradition of offering “a laid-back experience,” Wolf Creek is unveiling a laid-back improvement this year. The ski area has completed the installation of water-free restrooms at the top of the Raven and Treasure lifts.