Berthoud Pass

Skiers came to the pass in the 1930s, once the highway department began keeping the road open in winter. A rope tow on the west side started on February 7, 1937. Denver's Ford dealers gave its motor, and volunteer skiers ran it on weekends. A double chairlift followed on February 17, 1947. It was Sam Huntington's idea, built by Denver engineer Bob Herron, and its owners were granted a U.S. patent on it that year. A lodge went up at the crest in 1949.^1,3

The area changed hands many times and did not run every winter. Ike Garst bought it in 1977. It was sold in 1987 and briefly called Timberline, and from 1989 owner Gary Schulz put in a Borvig triple and a Borvig quad. Berthoud was the first area in Colorado to let snowboarders on its slopes.^1,3

Marise Capriani of Sol Vista bought it in 1999 and stopped the chairlifts after the 2000–01 season. A powder cat operation carried on until March 2003. Wikipedia gives 2002 for the closing and the Sky-Hi News gives 2003, so sources differ on the date. The Forest Service tore down the lodge in 2005. Tower foundations and cut trails are what remain, and the slopes draw some of the heaviest backcountry use in Colorado.^1,2,4

TodayA Forest Service rest area and warming hut stand where the lodge was, and backcountry skiers use the old runs. (2018)^1,2,3,4