Though greeted by slush and mud off the tram at the top of Snowbird, skiers and snowboarders had plenty of good snow to ride on Monday.
Ravell Call, Ravell Call, Deseret News
LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON — A few thousand mostly red-and-blue-clad skiers celebrated the Fourth of July on the white slopes at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort.
"This is unbelievable," said Salt Lake City resident Melissa Witman, who wore a red, white and blue bikini top Monday on the resort's final day of the ski season. "It's summer skiing!"
Temperatures in the 50s and 60s made swimsuits and shorts popular choices for skiers who decided to take advantage of the longest ski season in Snowbird's 39-year history.
"It's beautiful up here on the Fourth of July," said Clayton Butler of Salt Lake City, who wore only skis, boots, a helmet and a Speedo. "It's a little chilly if you hang out up top too long. But once you start going, it warms right up."
By being open for skiing Monday, Snowbird set a record for the number of days it was able to stay open in a single season with 202, said Emily Moench, the resort's communications manager. The previous record of 201 was set in 2005.
Snowbird also had a record for snowfall this season, with 783 inches — topping the previous high by nearly 100 inches, Moench said.
"It's a spectacular way to wrap of the season," she said of the holiday skiing.
Skiing and snowboarding were limited to the upper mountain, where snow reportedly was about 12 feet deep. The lower portions of the resort were open for summertime activities such as the alpine slide, a zip line, bungee trampolines and a climbing wall.
"There's just so much to do," said Moench, who added that the resort's parking lots were full just after 9 a.m.
Snowbird has only been open on the Fourth of July three times in its history — 1995, 2005 and this season. Snowbasin closed for skiing three weeks ago.
"Where else can you ski on the Fourth of July?" Butler said.
E-mail: jpage@desnews.com, jboal@desnews.com
Video Courtesy of KSL.com
- Miss Utah USA's bungled interview creates...
- Doug Robinson: Utah man's new running shoe...
- Miss Utah USA gets second chance at question...
- 7-year-old girl who met Justin Bieber passes...
- Bear scare: 'Baden and Logan saved my life.'
- Man charged with attempted murder in Ogden...
- Impeachment investigation 'highly likely,'...
- BYU poll: Majority favor impeachment,...
- Miss Utah USA's bungled interview...
38 - BYU poll: Majority favor impeachment,...
28 - Video: Miss Utah USA flubs answer at...
26 - Teen's family apologizes to family of...
21 - 2 others back up extortion claims...
21 - Attorneys for AG John Swallow say...
20 - Gunman caught after shooting...
20 - New York English teacher assigns...
17



We have Urban Mass Transit. Salt Lake City is ranked No. 2 in the nation for urban transit.
It's time for Mountain Mass Transit.
UTA already connects SLC with Park City, and SLC to Sandy.
We need to connect More..
ugh, just what we need, another reason for UTA to siphon taxpayer money for a project that would be used by a tiny portion of our population. UTA is already the biggest waste of taxpayer money in the state, they lie about ridership numbers to get More..
Article quote: "Snowbird has only been open on the Fourth of July three times in its history 1995, 2005 and this season."
Wow, skiing on the 4th of July THREE times in the last 16 years.
So much for the global warming More..