Colorado Resorts Head Into April; Some Aim Later

April will be the cruelest month for skiers and snowboarders who want to stay on the slopes but must stand down as Colorado resorts begin to shutter for the season. But there's still plenty of sliding' and riding' left.

El Niño proved to be generous but inconsistent in the 2015-2016 season. Early dumps got Colorado’s off to a good start, and a steady run of January storms kept building base levels and the number of powder days.

February turned dry and, at times, warmer than desired, but a series of mid-March storms returned most resorts to wintry conditions.

Now, as the sun rises higher, skiers and riders in Colorado must begin to think acknowledge that the end is near. Most resorts say they turn off their lifts because of a combination of melting snow and fewer customers. By April 10, 15 of the state's 21 resorts are expected to be done for the season.

But, you diehards shouldn't despair as Loveland and A-Basin plan to hang in a bit longer.

Here’s the latest listing of closures, with a few resorts saying they would extend (Aspen Mountain and Winter Park already have) and others going longer than normal (Eldora):

March 27: Ski Granby Ranch

April 3: Buttermilk, Crested Butte, Monarch, Powderhorn, Purgatory, Telluride, Sunlight, Wolf Creek

April 10: Aspen Highlands, Ski Cooper, Snowmass, Steamboat, Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone

April 17: Aspen Mountain (reopen April 23-24), Copper

April 24: Breckenridge, Winter Park

Mid-April: Eldora

Early May: Loveland, Mary Jane

Early June: Arapahoe Basin

TBA: Silverton

Photos: Top -- Winter Park plans to ski and ride until late April (Winter Park/Facebook); Below -- Might as well call it "Spring Breck" until the lifts close down at Breckenridge (Breckenridge/Facebook)