Dunagan, Bernie Hedges and Bennie Basham were doing the same with the snowcats. Ski School Director Bob Jacobson and his instructors packed between teaching clinics
Paul Folwell, head of the professional ski patrol was also busy foot-packing the steeper slopes, assisted by volunteers from the National Ski Patrol. "It was an efficient group," Folwell recalled. "Fritz Foutz, the Forest Service Snow Ranger, was on the patrol, along with Don Fritch. Jim Hately was on from the beginning, along with Thor Brunvald and Jim Decker."
When you are young, hard-working and confident, you are - most likely - prepared for anything. That was the ardent hope of Purgatory founder Ray Duncan and ski area manager Chet Anderson, on Saturday, December 4, when hundreds of local skiers, led by Purgatory's first season ticket holders, Mickey and Maureen Hogan and family arrived at the area to try out the slopes. Basham guided skiers onto the chairlift, determined that on this day, at least, no one would be injured or maimed. Blackburn, checking tickets and watching, was convinced that he could never master this dangerous occupation. He would soon become the area's resident wizard of every phase of lift operations.
Neither Folwell, nor Jacobson particularly remembers opening day. Folwell was cruising the slopes on the lookout for the first twisted knee. Jacobson, Jim Morton and Reidun Steinnes were conducting their first classes. All were professionals. Opening day quickly became just another day's work.
However, Saturday, January 8, 1966 was more than just another day of superb skiing at Purgatory. There was six feet of snow on the slopes, the sky was cloudless and a large crowd was on hand to ski and also witness the ceremonies officially opening the new resort. Eight people spoke, but the festivities - which included a skiing demonstration - lasted less than an hour.
Duncan was host and master of ceremonies. Monsignor Patrick Stoddard of St. Columba Church offered a benediction. Mel Flock spoke for the San Juan Development Company; Bill Watts represented the Durango Ski Club; San Juan National Forest Supervisor Rod Blacker said a few words on behalf of the federal government. Ski Country USA Director Steve Knowlton shared his wit and humor with the crowd, and Lacey Wilkinson offered congratulations from the Small Business Administration. The Honorable John Love, the skiing governor of Ski Country USA, was the guest of honor and principal speaker.
What was said that memorable day was essentially a brief chronology of the events leading to the creation of Purgatory. There was, however, something new. Duncan explained it to the crowd. "We're always looking for something new here in Durango," he began. "We may or may not have been the first to get a ski area off the ground in one year, but at least we're going to claim the title of being the first to ever christen a chairlift. We have a bottle of champagne ready, and Mrs. Love has consented to launch our Purgatory Number One Lift."
Ann Love's christening of the lift marked the conclusion of Puratory's pioneering era. The creation of a major ski resort in less than a year was - as Duncan intimated - probably unprecedented in the history of American skiing.
There was more to come - seasons rich in achievement and set-back, trial and triumph, characters rich in ability, humor, endurance and, yes, courage.
Purgatory today, renamed Durango Mountain Resort, remains gracious, smiling, caring and comfortable, as hearty as a winter morning and lovely as lamplight on midnight paths. It reflects the qualities of its many creators.
Every ending is a beginning.
Charlie Langdon is a columnist and senior critic for the Durango Herald. This brief look at Purgatory's opening season was taken - with modifications - from his 1989 history, Durango Ski: People and Seasons at Purgatory.
