Powder days — Slow start gives way to near epic season

"Our call volume has been consistently strong since early January. The great snow has given people reasons to book all the way through March. Early indicators are that Presidents week is looking great, and with Easter falling on March 23, we are encouraged about March," said Elizabeth Dowd, public relations manager at The Canyons.

"The local business is also looking good, as the great conditions have brought out the locals."

The constant string of storms resulted in some hardships, especially for local skiers. There have been several days when both Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons were closed for avalanche control.

There have also been fewer blue-sky ski days that typically attract locals.

Laura Schaffer, director of public relations at Snowbird, said that over the weekend it was obvious that "people were out looking for and enjoying those clear, blue skies. You could tell they were happy to see the clear skies."

Jay Burke, director of marketing at Solitude, said the resort was "having a great year so far as it pertains to skier visits. Our early opening with man-made snow and good snow once we hit mid-December helped those first two months. January was great and numbers for skier visits are greater than anticipated. All of the snow is really bringing out the locals."

He said lodging was soft early in the season, but picked up for the Christmas holidays.

"The snow is helping with booking for March, and we anticipate March and April to continue to fill — especially April, which is difficult due to an early Easter," he added.

The report from Alta is that the call volume is up. Lodges are reporting that they are full on most weekends through March. Calls seem to be predominantly from Texas, California, Canada and New York.

Connie Marshall, director of public relations at Alta said, "As far as the ski area, this year is a locals' dream. We are seeing them in full force."

Base depths at Utah resorts this week were: Alta, 137 inches; Beaver Mountain, 105 inches; Brian Head, 60 inches; Brighton, 116 inches; The Canyons, 114 inches; Deer Valley, 122 inches; Park City, 97 inches; Powder Mountain, 123 inches; Snowbasin ,131 inches; Snowbird, 134 inches; Solitude, 117 inches; Sundance, 75 inches; and Wolf Mountain, 75 inches.

Utah is not the only state getting good snow. Storms are also hitting Colorado. Back on Feb. 1, Aspen reported its year-to-date snowfall hit 200 inches, which is high for that area. Currently the mid-mountain base at Aspen is 63 inches, which again is higher than average. Steamboat is reporting a 74-inch base and Vail a 59-inch base.

Resorts in the East are also getting snow. In Vermont, Stowe is reporting a 34- to 74-inch base and Killington a 40- to 54-inch base.