2009 didn't disappoint outdoor enthusiats in Utah

Looking back through 2009, a lot happened in the outdoor world, most on a positive note. Like, for example, deep snow, rising waters, good fishing and roaming buffalo.

Those drawn outdoors this past year found rivers running high, hiking trails abundant and biking opportunities unlimited. And, consensus is, people took advantage.

Skiing leads the list of 2009 stories.

Alta, Utah's measuring stick for snow, received a few inches shy of 700 inches last season, which is well above its 500-inch average.

And while all the snow didn't draw record crowds, final counts were better than expected, considering the economic downturn and high unemployment.

Ski Utah reported 3,972,984 skiers visits were recorded in 2008-09, which ended a five-year string of record numbers. The record is 4,249,190 counted in 2007-08.

On a positive note, last season's total is about 1 million more than the record in place in 1999-2000.

By comparison, Colorado resorts suffered their worst season in nearly two decades last winter.

Alta celebrated its 70th anniversary. It was Jan. 15, 1939, after much ado about faulty gears and pulleys and timber used to build the towers that skiers lined up and loaded onto what were then single chairs attached to a long cable. Skiers paid 15 cents a ride, or $1.50 a day, to sit down and be carried 2,630 feet up the mountain. That first year, only 265 skiers took the adventure.

Over near Park City, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association cut the ribbon over the summer on what is rated the most technologically advanced, most complete athlete training center in the world — The Center of Excellence.

The 85,000-square-foot building northwest of the Park City exit off U.S. 40 will provide service to all the winter elite and development athletes, in all disciplines, as well as athletes at the universities and the more than 400 local clubs. And, to some degree, the general public.

It promises to give U.S. winter athletes training and technical support that was never available to them in their quest for gold.

On a warmer note, what some said would never happen is happening — Lake Powell waters are rising. Once about 150 feet below full-pool, levels were up nearly 100 feet this summer. It was high enough so the famous "Cut" at Wahweap filled, which cut up-lake travel by about a hour.