Weather Pattern is Changing!!!!!

The computer charts for the past several days are advertising a change in the persistent weather pattern for the past month and a half. The strong and dominate ridge over the Utah and the Great Basin is breaking down which will allow the storm track to shift southward.

The first in the series of storms will be moving into the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah next Monday the 16th. As this system moves through, the flow becomes northwesterly and eventually somewhat more westerly. There is be a series of embedded "ripples" or storms at frequent intervals thereafter through the remainder of the month.

This pattern will produce mostly "inches" and not "feet" of snow but will help to keep the snow powdery and fresh.

Daily Ski Report (1/9) for Wasatch Resorts Ski Resorts

Ski Area Report - 1/9
Alta - New snow in past 24 hrs 0" - 48 hrs 5" - Base depth 40" - Lifts open 10/10
Brighton - New snow in past 24 hrs 0" - 48 hrs 5" - Base depth 39" - Lifts open 7/7
Canyons - New snow in past 24 hrs 0" - 48 hrs 2" - Base depth 24" - Lifts open 11/19
Deer Valley - New snow in past 24 hrs 0" - 48 hrs 2" - Base depth 31" - Lifts open 20/21
Park City - New snow in 24 hrs 0" - 48 hrs 2" - Base depth 20" - Lifts open 12/16
Snowbird - New snow in past 24 hrs 0" - 48 hrs 5" - Base depth 38" - Lifts open 9/13
Solitude - New snow in past 24 hrs 0" - 48 hrs 4" - Base depth 33" - Lifts open 7/8

Be sure and check on latest Avalanche conditions if you plan on going outside of the designated ski areas at:
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/snow/

Weather Forecast for the Wasatch Ski Resorts - 1/9

Today Sunny Hi 38 °F

Tonight Patchy Fog Lo 18 °F

Tuesday Increasing Clouds Hi 41 °F

Tuesday Night Chance Snow Lo 20 °F

Wednesday Mostly Sunny Hi 31 °F

Wednesday Night Partly Cloudy Lo 12 °F

Thursday Mostly Sunny Hi 32 °F

Thursday Night Partly Cloudy Lo 13 °F

Friday Mostly Sunny Hi 39 °F

..Light snow possible Tuesday night otherwise sunny to partly cloudy skies through the week. Daytime temperatures i the 30s to near 40.

Daily Ski Report (1/8) for Wasatch Resorts Ski Resorts

Ski Area Report - 1/8
Alta - New snow in past 24 hrs 5" - 48 hrs 9" - Base depth 41" - Lifts open 10/10
Brighton - New snow in past 24 hrs 5" - 48 hrs 8" - Base depth 41" - Lifts open 7/7
Canyons - New snow in past 24 hrs 2" - 48 hrs 4" - Base depth 24" - Lifts open 11/19
Deer Valley - New snow in past 24 hrs 2" - 48 hrs 3" - Base depth 31" - Lifts open 20/21
Park City - New snow in 24 hrs 2" - 48 hrs 3" - Base depth 20" - Lifts open 12/16
Snowbird - New snow in past 24 hrs 5" - 48 hrs 8" - Base depth 38" - Lifts open 9/13
Solitude - New snow in past 24 hrs 4" - 48 hrs 6" - Base depth 34" - Lifts open 7/8

Be sure and check on latest Avalanche conditions if you plan on going outside of the designated ski areas at:
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/snow/

Weather Forecast for the Wasatch Ski Resorts - 1/8

Today Patchy Fog Hi 32 °F

Tonight Patchy Fog Lo 8 °F

Monday Patchy Fog Hi 39 °F

Monday Night Patchy Fog Lo 14 °F

Tuesday Mostly Sunny Hi 40 °F

Tuesday Night Slight Chc Snow Lo 18 °F

Wednesday Slight Chc Snow Hi 32 °F

Wednesday Night Mostly Clear Lo 9 °F

Thursday Mostly Sunny Hi 33 °F

..Patchy am fog today/Monday otherwise mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies through the week with a slight chance of snow flurries on Wednesday. Daytime temperatures in the 30s to near 40.

Daily Ski Report (1/7) for Wasatch Resorts Ski Resorts

Ski Area Report - 1/7
Alta - New snow in past 24 hrs 4" - 48 hrs 4" - Base depth 37" - Lifts open 10/10
Brighton - New snow in past 24 hrs 3" - 48 hrs 3" - Base depth 37" - Lifts open 7/7
Canyons - New snow in past 24 hrs 2" - 48 hrs 2" - Base depth 23" - Lifts open 11/19
Deer Valley - New snow in past 24 hrs 1" - 48 hrs 1" - Base depth 30" - Lifts open 20/21
Park City - New snow in 24 hrs 1" - 48 hrs 1" - Base depth 20" - Lifts open 12/16
Snowbird - New snow in past 24 hrs 3" - 48 hrs 3" - Base depth 35" - Lifts open 9/13
Solitude - New snow in past 24 hrs 2" - 48 hrs 2" - Base depth 31" - Lifts open 7/8

Be sure and check on latest Avalanche conditions if you plan on going outside of the designated ski areas at:
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/snow/

Weather Forecast for the Wasatch Ski Resorts - 1/7

Today Snow Hi 29 °F

Tonight Mostly Cloudy Lo 6 °F

Sunday Mostly Sunny Hi 33 °F

Sunday Night Mostly Clear Lo 9 °F

Monday Sunny Hi 38 °F

Monday Night Mostly Clear Lo 13 °F

Tuesday Mostly Sunny Hi 42 °F

Tuesday Night Slight Chc Snow Lo 14 °F

Wednesday Mostly Sunny Hi 35 °F

..Another 1-2" today with skies become mostly sunny into the middle of next week. Daytime temperatures in the upper 20s to near 40.

Besides Skiing at the Canyons - Glide Down the Winter Zip Line

This past fall the Canyons ski resort installed three zip lines (Winter ZipTour Adventure) to provide skiers a little extra. The three lines - a short trainer, Red Pine (800 feet) and Lookout - are located at the top of the Red Pine Gondola ski lift. Speeds of up to 55 mph are possible.

Skiers and snowboarders can purchase tickets at the kiosk or the main ticket office at the Canyons Resort Village. The zip line pass is good for a ride up and back down the gondola and a ride on the Short Cut lift to access the Lookout line. Passes are $20, $50 and $90 per person. The highest-priced ticket includes a chance to ride the trainer once, Red Pine three times and Lookout twice. For $50, riders can do all three lines and Red Pine twice. There are age, weight and height limitations.

Dress as if you are going skiing or snowboarding with a face mask and goggles. A helmet and harness are provided. Good snow boots help because it's some distance from the lifts to the platforms.

Information provided by the Salt Lake Tribune 1/6/12.

Groomers at Deer Valley

Grooms play an very important roll in the award winning slopes at Deer Valley. With their No. 1 ranking overall, the resort consistently earns the prestige grooming title.

While guests our enjoying all the activities such as dining, drinking, getting a message, hot tubing and finally getting to bed, groomers are hard a work getting the slopes ready for the next day.

As soon at the slopes close at 4:30 in the late afternoon the groomers day (or evening) starts. At Deer Valley the are four lead groomers who supervise a staff of 30 in the slopes management program. The perfect "corduroy" runs are something Deer Valley has been noted for and has the reputation that it must live up to.

The first fleet of Bombardier snowcats are fired up by 4:30 and can be seen working the hills each winter night. It can be a lonely job in lean years and a busy one in heavier snow years.

All the Wasatch Ski Resorts have grooming activities with the Deer Valley process the same.

Information provided by the Salt Lake Tribune 1/3/2012.

Ski Lift of the Week (1/3/12) - Great Western Express at Brighton Resort

The Ski Lift of the Week (1/3/2012) in the Salt Lake Tribune is the Great Western Express at Brighton in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Type » High-speed Quad

Vertical rise » 1,745 feet

Number of runs » 14

Difficulty rating » Intermediate and advanced

Why try it » Access to cruisers as well as steep shots

The ride » Riders board Great Western, a short skate downhill from the Brighton Center. The resort’s longest lift takes you to just below 10,750-foot Clayton Peak. Straight below the unloading terminal and to the left are a handful of runs leading to a rock band that runs along most of a bowl, which requires skiers and snowboarders to pick a tight line between trees and rocks before one final shot down to flatter ground. The traverse along Elk Park Ridge provides options to jump off onto runs of varying difficulty.

Runs to try:

Golden Needle » This is the most intermediate slope among the runs coming off Elk Park Ridge, broad with enough pitch to satisfy speed junkies but not too much to freak out relative newcomers.

Silver Spur » Take the Elk Park Ridge traverse beyond Golden Needle’s turnoff, work your way through the aspen stand descend this steeper slope, which bumps up pretty quickly.

Clark’s Roost » One of the tougher runs coming off Western Trail. Short steeps, trees and rocks can get the adrenaline pumping as you select a route.

Information provided by the Salt Lake Tribune.