Snowbird has received 600 inches of total snowfall this past winter, which is 100 inches above its long-term average. It currently holds a base of nearly 125 inches at midmountain.

Dave Fields, marketing director at Snowbird, said the decision to extend the ski season "was one we made to accommodate the locals. Most of the skiers we get in the spring are local skiers ... many who live and die for just one more day, one more turn."

Spring skiing is very different from midwinter, cold-weather skiing. In the spring, snow is typically crusty in the morning and softens quickly by afternoon.

For one thing, the dress is very different.

Spring is a time when parkas, sweaters and ski pants can be shed for T-shirts and denims, and for sunny lunches on the Plaza Deck at Snowbird.

The secret to good spring skiing is to "follow the sun," meaning skiers and snowboarders should catch the runs hit first by the sun in the morning and then follow the light as it moves onto runs that were shaded.

Another reason people look forward to spring skiing is a condition called "corn" snow. It happens when snow goes through a series of freeze-thaw cycles. There's a point during this daily cycle where the surface forms into little crystals that act as little ball bearings under a moving ski.

Some skiers put skiing corn on the same level as setting first tracks in knee-deep powder. Corn is easy to ski and very forgiving. But, the window is narrow. The best time to find the corn snow is just as it begins to thaw and before it turns to slush, somewhere between mid- to late morning.

Snowbird's lifts and location make it an ideal area for finding the corn snow and for spring skiing in particular.

"The tram makes it possible for us to get skiers to the top of the mountain where the skiing is best. We open Mineral Basin (with eastern-facing slopes) in the morning, which gets the early sun. When it starts to get too slushy, we move over and open Little Cloud (with western-facing slopes), which is shaded in the morning," he explained. "It's a great way to follow the sun."

Spring skiing has also become one piece to a challenging multi-adventure.

"People can ski or snowboard at Snowbird in the morning, when conditions are best, and then go off and do other activities like golf. Within 20 minutes from Snowbird, you can be on a golf course," noted Rafferty.

"Or, you can combine skiing with biking or hiking or any number of warm-weather activities to make a unique adventure."

The opportunities are only limited by time in a day. One group skied in the morning, wakeboarded at Utah Lake midmorning, played a round of golf in the afternoon, then finished with long bike ride.

Spring skiing does offer a lot of options, and Snowbird makes it all possible, at least until Memorial Day, and very likely beyond.