Utah — It’s historically the worst winter on record in Utah. That’s not a hyperbole, as many snowpack sites in Utah have now recorded their worst-ever January totals. Does this mean that Utah’s ski boom is going bust?
The health of Utah’s ski industry was discussed on a RadioWest KUER 90.1 podcast episode this week. As part of the podcast, they interviewed Joe Prokop (longtime Alta passholder), Sam Weintrub (Co-Founder of PeakRankings), and Glen Merrill (SLC meteorologist with the National Weather Service) to discuss the issues that Utah ski industry faces. They discuss the following issues: overcrowding in the mountains, the impact of multi-mountain passes on lift lines and parking, and Utah’s changing climate.
Why I Don’t Think It’s Going Bust
It’s true that Utah’s most uncrowded days are behind it. The times that fixed-grip lifts helped Utah hold onto powder for days are over. But I think there are a few things that will make the Utah skiing experience better and more tolerable for both tourists and locals.
Deer Valley’s expansion is one such example. Drivers no longer need to drive through traffic-filled Park City. Instead, they can take the highway most of the way to the ski resort. Add in the new terrain and lifts, and it will be a tremendous improvement for both Deer Valley guests and Park City Mountain Resort visitors (because DV drivers won’t be cramming those roads).
Getting to the Cottonwoods is currently a clusterf… But the Utah Department of Transportation’s planned implementation of new traffic strategies starting later this year will help clean out that mess. This will include more frequent ski buses, a new mobility hub with lots of parking, and tolling. I think additional measures on passes, such as limiting the number of days on Ikon during the core season (late December to early March) at Alta, Brighton, Snowbird, and Solitude, could help.
Add in the Olympics in eight years, and the infrastructure improvements at ski resorts will keep coming. We know at least four ski resorts will expand in the years ahead (Brian Head, Deer Valley, Powder Mountain, and Sundance), which will spread out crowds. One new ski area is opening this winter. A new ski resort or two in the state would be nice, though.
However, the climate portion is what concerns me. Winters like this down the road may become more commonplace. Warming temperatures could affect the amount and quality of snow in the state. Let’s hope that people in Utah, especially in the state legislature, begin to take environmental issues seriously.
