No skier or snowboarder likes to talk about it out loud, but the end of the 2010-2011 season is upon all of us.
The season in the Mountain Southwest weathered a full-on La Nina effect. Snowfall pounded Utah right from the start, producing some of the best early-season conditions ever. The same climate phenomenon virtually starved the New Mexico and Arizona resorts until much later in the season.
Good snow conditions don't necessarily mean a resort will stay open longer than expected. Rocky Mountain skiers and ‘boarders tend to turn their attentions to spring and summer activities after the spring break holidays, so it often doesn't make economic sense to keep the lifts running for fewer customers.
All things must come to an end, so here are the projected closing dates for ski and snowboard resorts in Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona:
March 20 - Ski Apache
March 23 - Red River Ski Area
March 27 - Angel Fire Resort, Sunrise Park Resort, Beaver Mountain, Sipapu (weekends in April open)
April 3 - Taos Ski Valley, Ski Santa Fe, Sandia Peak, Sundance, Wolf Mountain, Arizona Snowbowl
April 10 - Eagle Point Resort, Deer Valley Resort, Canyons, Park City Mountain Resort, Powder Mountain
April 17 - Snowbasin, Solitude
April 24 - Brighton Resort, Brian Head Resort, Alta Ski Area (open April 29-31 weekend)
Memorial Day Weekend - Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort
These dates would change only if warmer weather or rain came before closing. Officials from Alta, Arizona Snowbowl and Snowbird told OnTheSnow that they may stay open past their declared closing date, the if snowpack holds up.
Get snow reports, forecasts, and conditions for your favorite resorts, mountains and ski areas. Get Started
Login to Facebook Connect to post a comment
Please limit responses to 250 characters.