The slopes are crusty, and the open lifts are few, but make no mistake about it: the 2013/14 Utah ski season is underway! Brighton Resort got things started a day earlier than originally announced when they had a two hour opening party on November 7th (and it was all free!). However, both Brighton and Solitude opened for regular 9am-4pm hours on Friday, November 8th.
I headed to Solitude to check out the conditions. Early season crust on 4 groomed runs was the name of the game. The sun was shining and folks were amped to be making turns again, so it hardly mattered that there were only 3 lifts running. Everyone had big smiles and spring jackets on as temperatures crept up to the low 40s before noon. Solitude will offer opening weekend ticket prices of $39 for adults and $24 for children through Sunday, November 10th.
A few miles further up Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton proved to be more crowded. With just 2 lifts and 3 groomed runs, the pickens were slim, but that didn’t stop a bevy of skiers and boarders from crowding the Majestic base as they waited their turn to make the first runs of the new season. Of course, the park crew has already been busy up there. A mini-jib park has been set up near the base, with several rails and boxes to work out the offseason kinks on. Brighton is offering $37 opening weekend lift tickets to ramp up the stoke. It may be on a small scale, but the new season is upon us…grab those rock skis/boards and go get some!
Here are more projected opening days from around Utah:
Alta Ski Area: Nov. 22
Beaver Mountain: TBA (mid-December)
Brian Head: Nov. 15
Canyons Resort: Nov. 29
Deer Valley Resort: Dec. 7
Eagle Point: Dec. 30
Park City Mountain Resort: Nov. 23
Powder Mountain: Nov. 27
Snowbasin: Nov. 28
Snowbird: Nov. 20
Sundance Resort: Dec. 6
Wolf Mountain: Dec. 5
Love skiing at Brighton and our family spends more time there than any of the other ski resorts. Brighton has the best lodging options and we love staying at http://www.brightonchalets.com because it’s within walking distance from the ski resort.