By Carolyn Lund
The snow is still packed deep at Snowbird Ski resort, allowing it to remain open for skiing and snowboarding through Independence Day.
This skiing season, opening a record-early Nov. 5, marks the longest in the history of both Snowbird and the state of Utah.
?There is no better way to end Snowbird?s spectacular season than to go out with a bang on the Fourth of July,? said Snowbird President Bob Bonar in a news release. ?Thanks to Mother Nature?s delivery of over 630 inches of snow this winter it looks like we?ll be able to do just that.?
Snowbird changed from daily operations to being open only on weekends starting May 8, according to a news release. Other Utah ski resorts have already been closed for two months.
?The snow was there and the interest was there, so we decided to stay open,? said Laura Schaffer, Snowbird public relations director.
A snow depth of 7 feet still remains in some areas. This is a marked improvement on the average 500 inches Snowbird normally receives.
Spring skiing lift tickets are being offered at a reduced rate of $30.
?One of the best values in the country was a season pass at Snowbird this year,? Ski Utah President Kip Pitou told The Daily Herald.
Season passes start at $850, which would be like paying $4.22 per day if used all 201 open days of the season.
?It?s not jam-packed, but it is definitely a strong turn out of skiers and snowboarders wanting to get out there and experience the novelty of skiing in June,? Schaffer said.
Business is good for the resort, and that has enabled plans to move forward toward installing a new, longer, faster chair lift to replace the outdated Peruvian lift, Schaffer said.
The two-year process, which will also include boring a tunnel that will more easily deliver skiers to Mineral Basin, will cost around $7 million. The improvements are set to be ready for the 2006-2007 season, according to Schaffer.
The Little Cloud chairlift is still open, which only gives access to more advanced terrain. A 125-person tram also runs daily, used primarily for sightseeing tours.
Skiing and riding will be open this weekend and Monday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting.