Where's the snow and what's new this year
Nov 15, 2016 03:37PM ● By Harriet Wallis
Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty give state of the snow address / photo: Harriet Wallis
"You can't put 'snow' on the calendar," said Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty in his annual state of the Utah ski industry address. "Less than 10% of the snow falls before Nov. 15." Many winters get off to a slow start.
Rafferty noted:
Last year hit an all time record with 4.5 million skier day visits -- a 13% increase over the previous season and more than the 2007-08 previous record season.
Also last year, resorts put close to $100,000 million into infrastructure improvements.
Improvements here coupled with a skimpy winter in the East were factors that drove the increase in skier days in Utah.
New features this year:
Rafferty noted:
Last year hit an all time record with 4.5 million skier day visits -- a 13% increase over the previous season and more than the 2007-08 previous record season.
Also last year, resorts put close to $100,000 million into infrastructure improvements.
Improvements here coupled with a skimpy winter in the East were factors that drove the increase in skier days in Utah.
New features this year:
Powder Mountain installed 2 new lifts which opens access to 1,000 more acres. In addition, it caps season passes at 1,000 and day passes at 2,000 -- giving it an incredibly low skier density.
Snowbird is completing upgrading its Creekside Lodge.
Whisper Ridge, with 60,000 acres of private backcountry terrain had 8 custom Piston Bully snowcats to get skiers up the mountain. It also has cozy yurts for glamping in luxury.
Sundance added a new quad chair.
Cherry Peak added a lift which doubles its skiiable acres.
Brian Head built a state-of-the-art day lodge and restaurant. It's BBQ is said to the the best.
Solitude is rebuilding its mid-mountain Round House and offers a new mountain-inspired menu.
Brighton celebrates its 80th anniversary. Kids 10 and under ski free with a paying adult.
Alta offers a $10 lift ticket for skiing after 3 p.m.on the Sunnyside lift.
Snowbird is completing upgrading its Creekside Lodge.
Whisper Ridge, with 60,000 acres of private backcountry terrain had 8 custom Piston Bully snowcats to get skiers up the mountain. It also has cozy yurts for glamping in luxury.
Sundance added a new quad chair.
Cherry Peak added a lift which doubles its skiiable acres.
Brian Head built a state-of-the-art day lodge and restaurant. It's BBQ is said to the the best.
Solitude is rebuilding its mid-mountain Round House and offers a new mountain-inspired menu.
Brighton celebrates its 80th anniversary. Kids 10 and under ski free with a paying adult.
Alta offers a $10 lift ticket for skiing after 3 p.m.on the Sunnyside lift.
