Utah's '05-06 ski season is approaching a record

There were doubters, naysayers, in the beginning of the ski season that said it couldn't be done — again.

That is, come anywhere near the record ski season recorded for 2004-05 and come close to one of the highest snowfalls in recorded history.

Well, with nearly half of the 2005-06 ski season complete, it's very possible Utah could be headed for another record season or, at least, come close to the record ski season and toward another great snow year.

Alta has, to date, received more than 350 inches of total snow. Its season average is 500. Last year, it received more than 600 inches.

And, reports from resorts around Utah show skier traffic thus far is very close to last year's figures and in some cases numbers are substantially higher.

"I was a little cautious in the beginning," said Nathan Rafferty, president of Ski Utah. "We had such a good season last year, I was reluctant to make predictions.

"But the numbers I'm getting for skier days over the Christmas holidays and for the month of January, I'm looking toward a season very close to last year."

Utah recorded nearly 4 million skier days last season, which was up 12 percent over the 2003-04 season.

Last year at this time Alta was holding a base of 124 inches recorded mid-mountain. Its base was 128 inches as of Wednesday.

Beaver Mountain held a base of 78 inches in '05 and after the latest storm held a base of 87 inches.

Brighton reported a base if 121 inches last year and after the storm Monday reported 118.

Deer Valley reported a base of 103 inches last year and after the Monday storm reported 90.

Snowbird held a base of 112 last year and after Monday's storm reported a base of 116 inches.

The weather pattern this ski season is very different from last year's.

In 2005, storms came from the south and left behind deep snow depths. This year, most of the storms are coming directly from the Pacific Ocean and have not been as strong. Also, temperatures have been warmer.

"In January, storms came through every three to five days. Nothing too big. The biggest storm (at a ski resort) was two feet. The past couple of storms have left 6 to 12 inches," said Alex Tardy, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The storm that hit Wednesday and today is a slow-moving storm and is expected to leave one to two feet in the mountains.