Life for the local ski hill
City’s stalled-out snowmaking plans gearing up again

SideStory: The 2008-09 Chapman Season

Chapman Ski Hill awaits a few more inches of snow before firing up the tow rope for the 2008-09 ski season. In an effort to extend the season at the local hill, which has fallen victim to low snow conditions in recent years, the city approved $550,000 in the 2009 budget for a snowmaking system. In the planning stages for more than four years, construction is expected to take place this summer and functional for the 2009-10 season./Photo by David Halterman

by Missy Votel

After more stops and starts than an old two-seater chairlift, snowmaking plans at Chapman Hill appear to be cranking up again.

Last week, Durango City Council unanimously passed the city’s $54.5 million 2009 budget, which included a line item for snowmaking at the city-owned ski hill. With a total budget of $550,000 – $336,000 of which was held over from previous years’ budgets – the city hopes to complete installation of the new system in the coming summer.

“We’ve put out the bids, and we’re in the final stages of deciding who we want to do the contract for installation,” said Durango Parks and Recreation Director Cathy Metz. “It does appear we are moving forward.”

The city is considering two bids – one from Smith Engineering, which did the original design plans for the system a few years back, and Canyon Construction. Smith is a regional firm with a Durango office and Canyon is based in Durango.

More than four years in the works, the project was derailed earlier this year when the original budget of $350,000 was deemed insufficient, as it did not include costs for all the necessary materials. Although subsequent estimates put the price tag as high as $715,000, members of the city’s Chapman Hill Improvement Association went back to the drawing board to try to reconcile the difference.

“Originally, we only got one bid, but when we looked through it, we realized the numbers didn’t look right,” said CHIA’s Patrick Morrissey of the $715,000 bid.

As a result, the proposal was put back on the table this fall and netted two responses which were more to the City’s and CHIA’s liking. “Both bids came in at around $530,000,” said Morrissey.

Although he is hesitant to call it a done deal, Morrissey said the city is in the process of reviewing the bids and that they appear to add up. “Right now, we’re just making sure everything is included in the bids, and it’s looking good. It’s looking like every basic is covered.”

Metz said if everything checks out, the system will most likely be installed this summer. When completed, snowmaking will cover 7.5 acres of the hill, from top to bottom. The system will be designed to accommodate possible future expansion, although Metz said “there’s nothing in the works for that now.”

She also added that anyone hoping for a more cush ride to the top will have to earn their turns the old-fashioned way: with brute strength and determination. “There is no money in the budget for a new lift,” she said, adding, “I just want to point out that I did make it all the way to the top of the tow rope last year.”

Metz wasn’t alone in her quest. Almost 1,000 people turned out to ski at Chapman Hill last season, when Durango saw record snowfall in town. “We had a tremendous turn out last year,” she said. “We hope to repeat that this year.”

Morrissey, who grew up skiing at Chapman Hill, said he is happy to see some new life being breathed into the neighborhood ski hill. He added that while the snowmaking may not seem necessary in years like this, it will come in handy for extending the season. “It’ll make for a good, long season,” he said.

Which means more young Durangoans will be able to cut their winter teeth on that rusty old bullwheel. “That’s really who Chapman Hill is perfect for,” said Metz. “Riding that tow rope all the way to the top is a local right of passage.” •