Utah’s early-season snowpack has monsters in the basement. It’s times like these (and any time you’re in the backcountry) that you need the tools to stay safe and avoid avalanches. But you need more than the proper gear. You also must possess knowledge. One way to get educated is through the new Know Before You…
Category: Skiing
Solitude Mountain’s 2018/19 opening day the best in years
Opening day at a ski resort usually means grabbing the rock skis and sliding on man-made snow. That was not the case on Solitude Mountain’s 2018/19 opening day. On Saturday, December 1st, skiers got to enjoy the best opening day in recent memory. Solitude opened this year with four lifts running (Apex, Moonbeam, Powderhorn II,…
Central Wasatch Commission and Alta dispute escalates
The dispute between Alta Ski Area and the Central Wasatch Commission (CWC) continues to escalate. On Wednesday, Alta sent emails to its subscriber list asking their pass holders to sign a petition in support of the resort. This after Alta was carved out of the Central Wasatch National Conservation and Recreation Act. In that email…
Brighton kicks off 2018/19 Utah ski season
The 2018/19 Utah ski and snowboard season has officially begun! Brighton Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon was once again the first Utah ski area to open when they started up the lifts on Thursday, November 15th. Recent snowfall combined with a ton of snowmaking allowed Brighton to open with a base averaging between 10-20 inches…
2018 Utah ski resort opening dates updated
Excitement is building for the upcoming ski season in Utah! As we’ve entered into November, snow is falling in the mountains and the air is cold enough for resorts to start making snow. Web cams at all Utah’s 14 ski and snowboard resorts show not just a dusting, but measurable amounts of powder. Anticipation is…
What to expect at 11th Annual Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop
Backcountry ski season is almost here (for some it’s already upon us.) That means it’s time to start thinking about avalanches, specifically avalanche avoidance. Do yourself a favor and attend the 11th Annual Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW). This year USAW returns to Sandy at the Mountain America Expo Center. Over a thousand skiers,…
What’s new at Utah ski resorts for 2018/19
The news dominating Utah ski resorts this fall is the addition of Solitude and Brighton to the Ikon Pass. While that’s huge, there’s more happening at Utah’s other ski resorts, including massive upgrades. From new high-speed quads, additional snowmaking, and expanded lodging, there’s always improvements every year for skiers and snowboarders to get excited for….
Solitude offers unlimited ski days on Ikon Pass
Alterra Mountain Company bought Solitude Mountain Resort in early August. Since then, the big question was, would Solitude offer unlimited ski days on the Ikon Pass? Well the answer came on Monday, that indeed, Solitude will have unlimited skiing – the only Utah resort that does on the Ikon Pass. The other surprising news is…
Why you must buy your Utah ski season pass so early (whether you like it or not)
There was a time, not so long ago, that Labor Day was the unofficial reminder for me to buy my season pass for the upcoming winter. I’d set aside some cash throughout summer with this goal in mind. Slowly, the dates to “lock in the best price” crept up earlier and earlier, until we arrived…
25th Annual Utah Avalanche Center Fundraising Party
What’s the first sign that winter is coming? Why, the Utah Avalanche Center Fundraising Party of course! Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 13th from 6-10 p.m. This year is the 25th anniversary of the party, and boy what a party it is. If you’ve never been and are a backcountry skier in Utah, then…