Purgatory, Colorado

If you’re a skier or snowboarder, you’re intimately familiar with the real-life contours of your favorite mountain resort. You’ve ridden the slopes and admired the beauty of the terrain. Our TOPO Series map of Purgatory, Colorado, turns those memories into art, using USGS data to show the contour lines of the mountains and a dot to represent the resort base. It’s a simple, elegant way to depict the dramatic elevation changes that define a mountain resort. As an art piece, it’s a way to trigger memories—and, perhaps, admire your prowess!