I don’t care how you spin it. “Vacationers loved the warm weather this winter”; “Still so much to do”; “Plenty of great snowmaking” our Utah ski season was less than epic. And the numbers don’t lie.

The Utah winter of 2014-15 registered a total of 3,946,762 million skier days, down about 5 percent from last season and shy of Utah’s five-year average of 4,037,349. But Utah wasn’t the only state to take a hit.

Nationally, skier days were down by about 3 million, a 5 percent decrease from the previous season. It didn’t help that California floundered in the snow department. The drought in the Far West (California and Pacific Northwest) caused more than a few resorts to close early. Ironically, the northeast saw unprecedented amounts of snow and cold temperatures that led to a drop in skier visits. Guess those easterners don’t know how to ski powder.

According to the National Weather Service, Utah’s annual snowfall was nearly half of our average. Luckily, snowmaking kept things buoyant and alive. By comparison, total snowfall during the 1976-77 winter season was equivalent to this year, but skier days dropped 53 percent.

“Utah’s resorts did an outstanding job, both getting the word out about early season snow conditions and ensuring that guests had an exceptional (?) experience all winter,” says Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty.

March ‘15 conditions photo by Ryan Freitas

Total Utah statewide skier days for the past 10 years: 

*The National Ski Areas Association defines ‘skier days’ as one person visiting a ski area for all or any part of a day or night for the purpose of skiing/snowboarding.

**In May of 2015, skier days were adjusted slightly for the 2013-14 season from 4,161,585 to 4,148,573 due to a reporting adjustment from one of Utah’s resorts.

I can’t believe that no one in Europe got the memo. Not only is smoking a disgusting habit but it can kill you. As I walked the streets of Paris, tooled around the tubes of London and rode the rides of Disneyland Park and Hollywood Studios, they were everywhere-nasty smokers and nasty cigarette butts; chainsmoking locals of all age without a single care about the pollution, the negative influences on nearby children, and the lungs they will tar. Not to mention the crushing blow to that breath of fresh air we all hope for.
Whistler knows.

May 31 is World No Tobacco Day. It’s also the day Whistler/Blackcomb Resort officially becomes smoke free. That’s a bold move for Canada and an even bolder move for a ski area. Heavenly, Kirkwood and Northstar did it back in 2012 to help prevent summer forest fires and no one should steal their bragging rights but California in general has super strict anti-smoking laws.

I’ve been championing for a ban here in Utah but the plea falls on deaf ears. Why? No idea. Deer Valley says they will pass my comments up the executive chain. Snowbird says they’ll do some research and get back to me. Vail Resorts, instead of answering a simple question about whether they would follow Whistler’s lead, wanted to know who I was writing for.  Maybe they’re afraid of losing advertising dollars from orgs that might possibly sponsor skiing events or of losing employees who would rather not work at all than give up a smoke break. Cowards the lot of them. J

The new Whistler policy bans smoking anywhere on Whistler Blackcomb property, including lift lines, chairlifts, gondolas, ski runs, hiking trails, valley base areas, parking lots, Whistler Mountain Bike Park trails and all Whistler Blackcomb bar and restaurant locations, including patios.

No more ganjola at Whistler

“We have made the decision to introduce a smoke-free policy at Whistler Blackcomb to preserve the pristine alpine environment our guests come here for,” says Dave Brownlie, President and CEO at Whistler Blackcomb. “We also recognize as a leader in the outdoor adventure and wellness industry and as the largest employer in the Whistler community, we have a responsibility to our guests and staff to provide a safe and healthy environment for work and play. We believe implementing this new policy aligns with this goal.” Not to mention the assist that gives to firecrews who might otherwise be summoned to action if some butthead tosses a butt on dry slopes this summer.

Whistler Blackcomb’s new smoke-free policy will apply to both guests and staff. While the policy will prohibit guests from smoking on Whistler Blackcomb property effective immediately on May 31, 2015, Whistler Blackcomb staff can still smoke in designated areas for one more year as they adjust to the company’s new policy. During that fade-out phase, Whistler Blackcomb will provide tools and resources to help their staff quit smoking. As of May 31, 2016, Whistler Blackcomb’s smoke-free policy will apply to everyone.

The resort has set up an information booth in Skier’s Plaza for the Sunday, May 31, launch. Whistler Blackcomb leaders will be on-site to answer any questions as well as representatives from Vancouver Coastal Health, who will have cessation resources and information about the health benefits of quitting smoking on-hand.

“By taking this important step, Whistler Blackcomb is demonstrating it is a strong ambassador for health. We know many young people ski and snowboard, and youth who haven’t started using tobacco by the time they are 26 years old will most likely never start,” says Vancouver Coastal Health Medical Health Officer, Dr. Paul Martiquet. “Eliminating smoking in public places, such as on our mountains, creates healthy role modeling so youth, and others, are less likely to even consider using tobacco.”

The decision to become a smoke-free recreation area and employer aligns with Whistler Blackcomb’s core values of Safety First and We Care, as well as the company’s goal to be health-oriented and family friendly.

Just took a look at the forecast for today thru Thursday. In particular, the little numbers below “Total Storm Snow”. Yep. You know how they say when a person dies they expunge every last bit of air and moisture their body contains? Well since winter has technically died this feels like the last gasp. :

So my mind starts calculating. Maybe I get a room up in LCC tomorrow so I can ski freshies first thing in the morning and not get caught in the red snake up the Canyon? But its so late in the season. Will there even be a red snake anymore? There wasn’t for last week’s storm.

I call around. Wow. Now I’m depressed. Alta Lodge– $444 for two doubles; $321 for twins with a shower down the hall! But they do include breakfast and dinner. That advertised $99/pp at theNow I  Cliff Lodge? Riiight. $202. Good luck trying to get that deal before May 1 and it’s not good on the weekends. Sheez. I thought only airfares bend you over when you book last minute. Let’s rethink. It’s going to snow maybe 2-5″ today. The brunt of the storm rolls in overnight. Could be Lake Effect= 15-30″.

Lots of thunder, lightning and wind today so not good for skiing.  The main snows fall overnight and into Wednesday morning. The best time to hit it would be late morning. I really wouldn’t need lodging. Ah, the joys of living local.Winter

I’m in. Ski Alta tomorrow during the dump. Could be epic depending on tonight’s snow totals and Lake Effect. 

Canyons Resort March 2015

It’s official. The season – at least in Utah – is going down as the warmest and driest on record. According to the National Weather Service, temps were consistently 7 to 13 degrees above normal from December to March; and that news comes on top of the reports that our nation’s winter overall was the 19th-warmest in the last 120 years. The irony is that NOAA was calling this back in October yet everyone seems surprised. But despite the tragic news, Utah skiers are ready to party.

The massive party you’ll share with a couple hundred of your fellow passholders takes place atop High Rustler on the final Sunday of the season. It celebrates the “Final Closing Day of Alta.” (Alta closes on April 19 then reopens for one last weekend on April 24, 2015).

HIGH RUSTLER RAGES

Locals skiers aren’t ones to let their favorite resorts close without a bang and so the annual ritual of meeting on High Boy for the last run of the season has been raging since the 1960s when a loyal group of Altaholics made the High Traverse to Rustler for one farewell kiss to winter and some raucous hell raising. The 45-degree pitch drops you quickly into the 1300 vertical-foot run but the point of the ceremony is to wait, and wait, drawing out the day until the last possible moment before making that painfully sweet final run.

Back then, the gang waited until the last Germania chair emptied and those skiers joined up with them. That was around 6 p.m. or so. Now, you might still catch skiers crunching beer cans from the peak at 7:30 p.m. as others make their way to the parking lot. Alta technically closes at 4:30 p.m. but the sign at the top of Collins Lift will post that ski patrol’s going home at 5 p.m., you’re on your own, so be careful. That’s like leaving for the weekend and giving the teenagers the keys to the house, the car and liquor cabinet. Who’d want to leave that party?

More than 200 skiers and snowboarders (who brave the cat track from Snowbird’s Baldy Express to the top of Collins and the High T) dress in crazy costumes and rally for the ridge above Rustler. Coolers, amps, boomboxes, beer, combustibles, fifths of whiskey and vodka, and firecrackers get passed among the crowd.

A flat spot no bigger than the bed of a pickup truck acts as the podium for the “judges.” If you jump into Rustler too soon, these gatekeepers pound you with harsh words and harsher snowballs. So you wait, and wait; hoping for a sign that it’s time to start the mass exodus from the peak. But it never comes too soon. Everyone has too much fun at the party to want to go home. In past seasons, a giant roar would erupt from the mob and you’d experience a Chinese Downhill, Alta style. Flash turns, hoots, hollers, wipeouts, and apologies made to the wind as skiers continued their nonstop crush to the bottom, rippers barely missing the snowplowing novices who dared the ritual. It wasn’t pretty for anyone as you spent most of the run trying to survive the onslaught of darting, out-of-control bodies. But that was the best part.

These days the core riders may want to hang onto even the tiniest bit winter. We’ll see what happens this April 26. You may have to decide on your own when to leave. Luckily the party continues with live music and the largest ski tailgating event of the season in the Collins parking lot. If you’re anxious for asphalt make sure you sneak through a line in the trees and pop out below where the snowballs can’t reach you. The heavy wet snow is destined to leave a mark both physically and emotionally.

If you ask me, winter started winding down in January. But now is the final hour – even if there are 12 inches of new snow in this week’s forecast before Utah ski area closing dates. We have a storm system headed our way that’s already dropping temps and bringing in some much needed moisture. Too little, too late? It matters not. We need it. Eagle Point, Sundance, Beaver, Powder and Snowbasin are now closed. Cherry Creek never opened.

The fresh snow comes just in time to close out Deer Valley and Canyons Resort in Park City this Sunday April 12, 2015. Park City Mountain Resort will try to eek out one more week by April 19, 2015.

Solitude Ski Resort will also be closing down this Sunday as well but they’re promoting a sweet final week sale- Season pass and season ticket pack holders can bring a buddy to ski for $29. (Limit 2 per day.) If you don’t have a pass then an all day lift ticket will be $49; $29 for kids 7-13, and kids under 7 ski free.

As for the remaining resorts:

Alta Ski Resort will close April 19 and then reopen the weekend of April 24 – 26. If you’re in the market for new skis, don’t miss the Spring Demo Day this Saturday. Rumor has it the party will be raging again at the top of High Rustler on April 26 but if you prefer to party on land expect some of the biggest tailgators ever in the Collins Parking April 26.

Brighton Ski Resort closes April 19.

Brian Head Resort in Southern Utah plans to stay open through April.

As usual Snowbird Ski Resort will be the lone holdout with an anticipated closing in June. (My bet is on a mid-May closing, however, judging from the current snowpack.)