Month: May 2019

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Destimetrics reports that snowy winter set new records at Western Mountains Destinations.

Park City Mountain, view from Jupiter. Photo: Park City Resort. Destimetrics reports that snowy winter set new records at Western Mountains Destinations..

Destimetrics reports that snowy winter set new records at Western Mountains Destinations.

The long winter season that continued to deliver abundant snowfall even through late spring, resulted in a new all-time aggregated record for occupancy, rate, and revenue among participating destination mountain resorts in six western states. Inntopia released their DestiMetrics’* monthly Market Briefing yesterday with the final results of the 2018-19 winter season and an updated report on bookings for the upcoming summer.

Mammoth Mountain- Destimetrics reports that snowy winter set new records at Western Mountains Destinations.
Mammoth Mountain- Destimetrics reports that snowy winter set new records at Western Mountains Destinations.

The winter season wrapped up with the month of April relatively flat. The year-over-year comparison revealed that while actual occupancy rose 2.6 percent compared to last year, the Average Daily Rate (ADR) was down 2.7 percent for a scant 0.2 percent increase in revenues for the month.

For the full winter encompassing November through April, as of April 30, actual occupancy was up 5.6 percent compared to the previous season and was up all six months of the winter season. ADR eked out an aggregated 0.7 percent increase and when coupled with the higher occupancy, resulted in a healthy 6.5 percent gain in seasonal revenues and new all-time records in all three categories.

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Utah had its best Ski Season Ever in 2018-19

Ski Utah - Paul Bundy photo. Opening Weekend in Timberline. Utah had its best Ski Season Ever in 2018-19

Utah had its best Ski Season Ever in 2018-19

Utah ski resorts saw their best season ever in terms of skier days in 2018-19 with a total of 5,125,441 visits. The state also saw one of its best snow years on record, with every ski resort recording above normal amounts of The Greatest Snow on Earth.

All smiles at Sundance Ski Resort. Photo: Marc Piscotty-UOT. Utah had its best Ski Season Ever in 2018-19
SHOT 3/17/16 2:53:33 PM – Sundance Mountain Resort is a ski resort located 13 miles northeast of Provo, Utah. Spanning over 5,000 acres on the slopes of Mount Timpanogos in Utah’s Wasatch Range, alpine skiing began on the site in 1944. Actor Robert Redford acquired the area in 1968 and established a year-round resort which would later spawn the independent Sundance Film Festival and the non-profit Sundance Institute. Sundance is committed to the balance of art, nature and community. (Photo by Marc Piscotty / © 2016) Utah had its best Ski Season Ever in 2018-19

“It was a great season to ski and ride in Utah, and our visitor numbers reflect that,” said Ski Utah President & CEO Nathan Rafferty. “Snow is a big business driver and snowfall numbers across the state were some of the best we’ve seen in recent years. Our resorts invested in programming and capital improvements to elevate experiences on and off the mountain. We also gained new visitors through expanded season pass options. This record season speaks to the strength of Utah’s ski industry and its role in winter tourism for our state.”

Utah’s skier days for 2018-19 were 12% higher than the state’s previous record of 4.58 million in 2016-17 and up 24% from the 2017-18 season. The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) released preliminary numbers at the end of April putting the 2018-19 season as the fourth best ever on record with over 59 million skier visits nationally. All regions saw an increase in visitation, with the Rocky Mountain region setting a record of 24 million visitors.

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Squaw Valley offering $5 passes to ski or ride in June

Squaw Valley Tram. Photo: Squaw Valley. Squaw Valley offering $5 passes to ski or ride in June.

Squaw Valley offering $5 passes to ski or ride in June.

Squaw Valley is to offer $5 advance-purchase lift tickets every Friday in June with all proceeds benefitting the non-profit Tahoe Fund

Resort to match skier contributions with an additional donation of up to $10,000

Skiers and snowboarders are invited to celebrate spring on the slopes at Squaw Valley with $5 lift tickets on Fridays in June (all ages). “Five Dollar Fridays” will benefit the Tahoe Fund, a nonprofit organization that supports environmental improvement projects that restore lake clarity, enhance outdoor recreation, promote healthier forests, improve transportation and inspire greater stewardship of the region.

A rider is ready to take the plunge - Squaw Valley photo. Squaw Valley offering $5 passes to ski or ride in June.
A rider is ready to take the plunge – Squaw Valley photo. Squaw Valley offering $5 passes to ski or ride in June.

All proceeds from advanced online lift ticket sales on Friday June 7, 14, 21 and 28 will support the Tahoe Fund’s goal of raising $35,000 to assist the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition in providing “Bike Racks for Basin Businesses.” Through this program, the Tahoe Fund and Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition will provide low- or no-cost bike racks to businesses in the Lake Tahoe Basin to encourage locals and visitors to ride instead of drive.

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Park City Mountain Announces Plans to Install New Lift for 2019-20 SEASON

Park City Mountain Announces Plans to Install New Lift for 2019-20 SEASON. Photo Vail Resorts.

Park City Mountain Announces Plans to Install New Lift for 2019-20 SEASON 

  • Park City Mountain will install a new fixed grip quad for the 2019-20 season
  • The lift will provide a quicker, more direct route to Canyons Village

Park City Mountain today announced plans to install a new lift in time for the 2019-20 season, pending permits. The fixed grip quad chairlift, named “Over and Out,” will transport guests from a location near the bottom of the Tombstone Express Lift and unload near the top of Sunrise Lift on the front side of the mountain. As the name suggests, this lift will provide a quicker, more direct route for skiers and riders to access Canyons Village from the center of the resort.

Park City Mountain Announces Plans to Install New Lift for 2019-20 SEASON. Photo Vail Resorts.
Park City Mountain Announces Plans to Install New Lift for 2019-20 SEASON. Photo Vail Resorts.

“Since combining Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort in 2015, our focus has been on enhancing the guest experience,” said Bill Rock senior vice president and chief operating officer at Park City Mountain. “We continue to evolve as a resort and prioritise our capital improvements based on guest feedback. We know that time is particularly valuable to our guests and the new lift will offer a faster and more convenient route to return to Canyons Village.”

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Now that other resorts are finishing their season on Memorial Day Weekend, Breckenridge, decided to extend their season till June 9th.

A great family resort. Photo Breckenridge Ski Resort. Andrew Maguire.

Now that other resorts are finishing their season on Memorial Day Weekend, Breckenridge, decided to extend their season till June 9th.

After A Record-Breaking Winter Season And An Abundance Of Spring Snowfall, Breckenridge Ski Resort Announced Today Plans To Extend The 2018-19 Ski And Snowboard Season For Two Additional Weekends Beyond Memorial Day. The Resort Will Remain Open Daily Through Memorial Day, May 27 As Planned, And Then Will Shift To A Weekend Schedule, Offering Skiing And Riding On Saturdays And Sundays June 1-2 And June 8-9, Weather And Conditions Permitting.

Breckenridge Ski Resort Announces Plans to Regularly Extend Winter Seasons through Memorial Day, Beginning this Spring. Photo: Breckenridge Ski Resort.
Breckenridge Ski Resort Announces Plans to Regularly Extend Winter Seasons through Memorial Day, Beginning this Spring. Photo: Breckenridge Ski Resort.

“It Has Been One Of The Best Winter Seasons I Can Remember During My More Than 25-Year Career, And We Are Thrilled To Keep It Going For Our Guests And Passholders,” Said John Buhler, Vice President And Chief Operating Officer At Breckenridge Ski Resort.

During The Two Additional Weekends, Operations Will Continue To Be Based Out Of Peak 7, With Access To Primarily Advanced- And Expert-Level Terrain, Via The Independence Superchair.

Continue reading “Now that other resorts are finishing their season on Memorial Day Weekend, Breckenridge, decided to extend their season till June 9th.”

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Is the Snowpass Card taking Europe by storm?

Is the Snowpass Card taking Europe by storm? Snowpass Card.

Is the Snowpass Card taking Europe by storm?

The Snowpass Card is a new product catering “snowaholics”. The creators of Snowpass Card estimate the universe of 140 million skiers and snowboarders worldwide. The multi-country ski pass is a personal and non-transferable card that entitles its holder to ski up to 10 days at partner ski resorts.

Sierra Nevada, one of the resorts offered in the Snowpass Card. Is the Snowpass Card taking Europe by storm? Snowpass Card.
Sierra Nevada, one of the resorts offered in the Snowpass Card. Is the Snowpass Card taking Europe by storm? Snowpass Card.

So how does it work – Skiers and riders just present the Snowpass Card at the ticket office of the partner ski resort they are visiting, and the ski resort gives them a lift ticket of up to 10 days – which can be consecutive or not.

The control of the used days is done on the Snowpass website’s back office.

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PURGATORY Re-Opens for Memorial Day Weekend for the First Time Ever!

PURGATORY Re-Opens for Memorial Day Weekend for the First Time Ever!.Photo: Purgatory Resort.

PURGATORY Re-Opens for Memorial Day Weekend for the First Time Ever!

Purgatory Resort will add its name to a short list of U.S. resorts spinning lifts during Memorial Day weekend when it opens for a bonus weekend of skiing this Saturday and Sunday. May 25 will not only mark the kickoff to summer but also the first time in resort history Purgatory has opened for skiing on the last weekend in May.

Purgatory is waiting for people with lots of snow for this weekend. PURGATORY Re-Opens for Memorial Day Weekend for the First Time Ever! Photo: Purgatory Resort.
Purgatory is waiting for people with lots of snow for this weekend. PURGATORY Re-Opens for Memorial Day Weekend for the First Time Ever! Photo: Purgatory Resort.

After picking up 8” of snow through Monday morning (with up to two feet expected through Thursday according to OpenSnow), Purgatory officials announced today it will open Lift 1, an expected 130 acres and one terrain park (conditions permitting) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday. Winter operations are expected to conclude after Sunday, May 26 and summer activities will continue to be open every day.

Less than a dozen ski areas will be open in the U.S. this weekend – Purgatory is the southern-most resort.

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The Magic Pass has unveiled its offer for 2019-20

The Magic Pass has unveiled its offer for 2019-20. Photo: Magic Pass.

The Magic Pass has unveiled its offer for 2019-20

The Magic Pass is an annual pass valid from the opening of lift services in May until the end of the following winter season. This pass allows unlimited and unrestricted access to several ski resorts in Switzerland. Its validity started on 11th May 2019 and will go through 3rd May 2020.

For those paying an additional fee to the basic Magic Pass, they can access the Glacier 3000 lifts from November 9th, 2019.

The Magic Pass has unveiled its offer for 2019-20. Photo: Magic Pass.
The Magic Pass has unveiled its offer for 2019-20. Photo: Magic Pass.

Magic Pass is offering to its takers, two different insurance options:

The basic Pass insurance reimburses the cost of your pass if you have an accident and are unable to ski for the rest of the season. The full Pass + Rescue insurance offers the added benefit of reimbursing the costs of any rescue services in the case you have an accident while skiing at a partner resort.

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An expert skier killed by an avalanche in the Aiguilles Rouges and a snowboarder died on the Alpes Maritimes

Aiguille Rouges . Photo: AiguilleRouges.blogspot.com- An expert skier killed by an avalanche in the Aiguilles rouges and a snowboarder died on the Alpes Maritimes.

An expert skier killed by an avalanche in the Aiguilles rouges and a snowboarder died on the Alpes Maritimes.

A deadly avalanche occurred in the Aiguilles-rouges massif, Haute-Savoie, this Saturday, May 18, 2019. A 33-year-old skier, apparently very experienced, was found dead at 2500 meters altitude.

The Aiguille Rouges seen from Lac Blanc. An expert skier killed by an avalanche in the Aiguilles rouges and a snowboarder died on the Alpes Maritimes.
The Aiguille Rouges seen from Lac Blanc. An expert skier killed by an avalanche in the Aiguilles rouges and a snowboarder died on the Alpes Maritimes.

A skier of high level was killed Saturday, May 18, 2019 in the massif of Aiguilles rouges (Haute-Savoie). It was carried away, it seems, by an avalanche while it came down a corridor “rather steep”, one learned this Sunday near the platoon of gendarmerie of high mountain of Chamonix. He was climbing the North East couloir of Aiguille de Mesure (at 2812 meters) trying to descend the same way when the avalanche occurred. This skier was alone at the time of the avalanche.

The mountain rescue did a preliminary helicopter search and found an ice axe and a ski, before locating the victim, aged 33, partially under the snow 500 meters below at the foot of the needle of Praz-Torrent (2,573 m altitude).

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Due to a year of lots of avalanches, summer operations might be delayed as digging out will take time.

Country Road 2, north of Silverton, is buried under 80 to 120 feet of snow. Photo: Will Tookey. Durango Herald. Due to a year of lots of avalanches, summer operations might be delayed as digging out will take time.

Due to a year of lots of avalanches, summer operations might be delayed as digging out will take time.

Story from Durango Herald

Heavy snowpack could affect summer recreation near Silverton.

While spring is in full swing in most of Southwest Colorado, impacts of heavy snowfall and unprecedented avalanche activity this winter are expected to be felt for months.

“It’s more than just lingering issues,” said Pete Maisel, a former Silverton town trustee. “It’s part of our life now.”

Silverton Officials are worried that ATV riders, hikers and mountain bikers will not be able to use the terrain until later in the summer. Photo: Rutsy Melcher. - Durango Herald. Due to a year of lots of avalanches, summer operations might be delayed as digging out will take time.
Silverton Officials are worried that ATV riders, hikers and mountain bikers will not be able to use the terrain until later in the summer. Photo: Rutsy Melcher. – Durango Herald. Due to a year of lots of avalanches, summer operations might be delayed as digging out will take time.

The snowpack was epic.

When Southwest Colorado’s snowpack peaked April 5, it became the third-biggest snow year since 1986, falling just behind 1993 and 2005.

And with the heavy snow, an untold number of avalanches came down across Colorado. In the southwest corner alone, Colorado Avalanche Information Center data show nearly 230 slides were recorded since Nov. 1 – and that’s just avalanches reported to the center.

Now comes the aftermath, and the cleanup, of all that snowfall and avalanche activity.

Continue reading “Due to a year of lots of avalanches, summer operations might be delayed as digging out will take time.”