Monarch Mountain's massive No Name Basin expansion is set to finally make its debut this winter after years of planning and construction. The expansion brings 377-acres of new terrain, including both intermediate and advanced trails and glades. The Colorado ski area shared a look at the planning and construction process behind this massive increase in available terrain. In total, the new terrain pod results in a 50% increase in skiable acres around the mountain, featuring a vertical drop of around 1,000 feet.
Purgatory's outrageously cheap lift tickets are what brought me and a gaggle of deal-hungry friends to the resort. And if you're thinking the skiing has got to be subpar, keep reading. Purgatory, or "Purg" as locals call it, has 11 lifts, 107 named trails, and multiple terrain parks, accounting for 1,600 acres of skiable terrain. It's got excellent tree skiing and a rolling-hill-roller-coaster vibe that's playful and, at times, just the right amount of scary.