Category Archives: Utah

Fewer and fewer places open for that last run of the season

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With only three California resorts still operating — Mammoth Mountain, Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley — the 2012-13 ski/snowboard season has mostly wrapped up in the Golden State. It’s the same story elsewhere in the country. Here’s a status report:

Colorado
Aspen Highlands will open for one last weekend, this Saturday and Sunday. The resort has received more than 20 inches of new snow in the past week.

Loveland Basin will be open until May 5, and until then the resort is inviting skiers and boarders with passes from any other ski area to bring those passes to Loveland where they may purchase a lift ticket for $36.

Maine
Sugarloaf Mountain has an impressive 134 trails still open. No closing date has been announced, but the resort will be scaling back on its grooming efforts mid-week.

Oregon
Mt. Bachelor will be open daily through May 26, but only from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mt. Hood Meadows will be open daily through Sunday, then for one final weekend of the season, May 4-5

Utah
Alta has one final weekend, this Friday through Sunday.

Snowbird will be open daily through May 12, then it shifts to a Friday-Sunday schedule for the remainder of the season (likely until the end of May).

Vermont
Jay Peak, which is expected to close for the season on May 12, has 59 trails and seven lifts in operation.

Killington Mountain Resort– with two lifts and 39 trails open earlier this week – plans to be open every day until May 5, then weekends only beginning May 11.

Sugarbush Mountain Resort will be open daily through Sunday, then opening for one final weekend on May 4 to celebrate its Kentucky Derby/Cinco de Mayo weekend. Two lifts and 24 trails are currently open.

Snowbird buried under 3 feet of fresh powder

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Another major storm has left more than three feet of snow blanketing the Snowbird ski resort since Sunday.

Photo by Matt Crawley, Courtesy of Snowbird Ski Resort

“In about 50 years, I’m going to be telling my grandkids about this storm,” said Jodie Stackhouse, a guest who was snowboarding Tuesday morning. “I could really use a snorkel out there!”

The Little Cottonwood Canyon resort has received 222 inches of snow this season, and more snow is in the forecast through Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service.

“Skiers and snowboarders are thrilled to have such amazing conditions,” said Dave Fields, vice president of resort operations. “The snow is waist-deep, but blows over your head when you are skiing down the mountain.”

Information: www.snowbird.com

Shopping for deals on the slopes

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At Mountain High, the Express Pass opens the way to money savings on the slopes and several special features. (Mountain High photo)

By Jerry Rice

OK, everyone knows that skiing and snowboarding can be expensive – traveling to the resort, lodging, equipment rentals, lift tickets…

But there are many ways to save on costs without cutting cut corners on the fun. Some examples:

> Free rentals for first-timers, ages 8 to adult, when a beginner lesson package is purchased at Bear Mountain and Snow Summit during the month of January. It’s part of a Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month promotion in partnership with the National Ski Areas Association. Information: 909-866-5841, www.snowsummit.com

> Mammoth Mountain’s January midweek pass is $249 – $50 less than last season. With regular adult lift tickets at the resort running $99 per day, the cost of the special midweek pass essentially means it more than pays for itself after three days on the slopes. Other price levels are $179 for youth, $69 for children and $199 for seniors. The pass is valid Monday-Friday through Feb. 1, but must be purchased by Monday. Information: 800-626-6684, www.mammothmountain.com

> At Mountain High, spend $10 on a rechargeable Express Pass, load it with almost any lift ticket and start saving – $10 on all flex ticket options – and enjoying other benefits. Those other benefits include guaranteed reservations in case of a sellout, a free eight-hour non-holiday ticket after every five visits, and the ability to track the number of runs you’ve completed, the total vertical feet and other individual stats. Information: 888-754-7878, www.mthigh.com 

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Deep snow at Utah resorts is a welcome change from last winter

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By Paul Foy
Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY — After several days of snowfall, Utah ski resorts have more than 3 feet of fresh snow, marking a big change from the dry holidays of last year.

The Wasatch resorts between Salt Lake City and Park City were swarming with thousands of skiers on Friday. Morning traffic was backed up in Little Cottonwood Canyon, home to Alta and Snowbird resorts, where skiers said it took 90 minutes to drive up the seven-mile canyon from Salt Lake City.

On the slopes, the soft powder was almost too deep to ski. Some joked about Utah’s version of a fiscal cliff, the negotiations that have paralyzed the nation’s capital.

“I went over a fiscal ledge at Snowbird and had to dig myself out of a hole,” said Jon Weisberg, who was skiing with a son-in-law from New York. “I was looking for a ski Sherpa to help me out. It took me 20 minutes to get up.”

Alta and Snowbird have received more than 13 feet of snow this season — more than twice the amount many Colorado resorts were reporting Friday. The Rocky Mountains are enjoying a rebound from one of the worst winters ever for snowfall last year.

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