Berthoud Pass Ditch In 1902, the 3.5 mile (5.6 km) Berthoud Pass Ditch began
diverting water from the headwaters of the
Fraser River over the
continental divide into the basin of
Clear Creek. Initially, this water was used for irrigation, but the cities of
Northglenn and
Golden purchased the ditch in the mid-1980s. The ditch has a capacity of 53.4 cubic feet per second (1.51 m3/s), The ditch was blocked in 1999 by the collapse of the tunnel under the parking lot at the summit of the pass, but it was repaired the next year. In the decade since the repairs, the ditch has typically diverted on the order of 500 acre-feet (600,000 m3) per year.
Berthoud Pass Ski Area Once home to the now-defunct Berthoud Pass Ski Area, the pass is a destination for local backcountry skiers, snowboarders, and snowshoers due to its abundance of steep and challenging terrain and plentiful snow averaging 500 inches annually. The twisting road on both sides of the pass also makes "car shuttles" possible, eliminating the need for skiers and snowboarders to hike back to the top of the pass after each run. The ski resort was closed in 2002 due to financial problems caused by lack of water and sewage at the top of the pass. In 2003 the lifts were taken down, while some people continued to ski using snowcats for lift transportation. In 2005 the Colorado DOT began using a fund to restore the area to its natural state. First on the list was the demolition of the historic lodge. A new warming hut was opened at the top of the pass in May 2008, along with an expanded parking area, two scenic viewing areas and a new summit marker sign. The ski lodge and facilities had been in use since the early 1950s and the new warming hut includes modern features such as composting toilets, radiant floor heating and green construction. Berthoud Ski resort is claimed by some to have been the first resort and lift in Colorado. Some say it was the first resort to openly welcome snowboarders. The summit of Berthoud Pass is located at approximately . == References ==