It’s so hot right now that you’re probably not thinking about ski season. But now is the time to mark your calendars as two events from the Utah Avalanche Center will be here before you know it. Black Diamond Fall Fundraiser One of the biggest UAC fundraising events of the year is the annual Black…
Tag: Skiing
What does Alterra’s purchase of Solitude mean for skiers?
Utah’s big skiing news yesterday was Alterra Mountain Company’s purchase of Solitude Mountain Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Alterra announced Wednesday that it has entered into an agreement to purchase Solitude, which would bring the company’s total to 13 year-round mountain destinations throughout North America, including the world’s largest heli-skiing operation. “With its close relationship…
Utah ski resorts see 6th best season, despite low snow
Well this is a surprise. Ski Utah released the final skier numbers for the 2017/18 season and, despite the terrible snow year, we had the 6th best season ever. The report also shows that it was the second best in terms of economic impact. I guess in Utah, even when the skiing is bad, it’s…
Backcountry Skiing at Idaho’s Pioneer Yurt
“Is it possible these mountains are more beautiful than the Sawtooths?” I wonder aloud. It feels like I’m speaking sacrilege, but the view from where I am standing put the debate in my head. Jagged peaks, wide open bowls, and steep couloirs spread out before me in a real-life panorama. Hyndman Peak, Old Hyndman, and…
Close the season with a Ski Utah Powder Alert
It’s mid April and many Utah ski resorts are closed for the season. But don’t hang up those skis and snowboards just yet, because a big storm is on the way and it will bring winter back to the Wasatch. This late-season storm is so impressive that Ski Utah has issued a Powder Alert. Powder…
Helly Hansen Sogn Bib Shell Pant review
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the winter of 2017-18 wasn’t exactly stellar here in Utah. Resorts had meager amounts of terrain open for the holidays, and touring season didn’t start until well into the new year (for me, anyway). When the snow finally came, the weather was variable, even by Utah standards. All…
Backcountry Touring at Idaho’s Galena Pass
If you’ve already got a copy of Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes: Utah, then you know that the Beehive State has plenty of amazing touring options. But sometimes, you just need a road trip. My wife, Jess, and I wanted to get out of town and sample some new zones, so we pointed the car…
Patagonia Heliski launches inaugural season
Utah skiers will soon bring professional helicopter skiing to Patagonia for the first time ever. Patagonia Heliski launched their inaugural season on Friday in Park City at the Jaybird headquarters. This will be the first and only official heliski operation in Patagonia, Argentina. My friends, Justin Lozier and Catalina Lalor, are the driving force behind…
Wasatch backcountry skiing conditions report: 03-18-18
A nice refresher storm swept over Utah this weekend, bringing much needed snow. The high, March sun did a number on the snow quality. So this latest powder dump made for ideal ski conditions in the Wasatch backcountry. We toured around high and mid-elevation slopes in the Cottonwood Canyons the last two weeks and the…
February frenzy: a look back at the biggest storm of the season
It’s the storm we’ve all been waiting for! A huge blast of deep powder plastered Utah from mountain summit to valley floor. After a dismal start from November to mid-February in terms of snowfall, it finally happened: the reason skiers live in Utah. A huge round of the greatest snow on earth created a February…