I get it, but drivers everywhere in the U.S. are a problem. Drivers in this country are under-trained (it's far too easy to get an license in the States and laws are poorly and/or haphazardly enforced). Many often drive beyond their abilities and drive distracted, and the over-sized SUVs with poor sight lines don't help the situation (seriously: a hood/grill that's almost 5 feet above ground level isn't safe for anybody).
And yes, Shawn Bradley's injury is totally inexcusable. The driver who crashed into him had zero excuses. At least he's still alive. Road violence kills and injures too many people in the U.S. Drivers often get off easy, such is the car-centric culture we have right now.
But I grew up riding bicycles with Utah drivers on the roads. I ride on roads in the greater DC area (spoiler: our drivers are far, far, far worse than anything Utah produces) every day. Sure, it's not ideal but I'm also not going to let fear dictate whether I do an activity I enjoy.
When I was in SLC from September to December of 2020, I brought my road bike and was on it a lot. I rode all over the Salt Lake valley, in southern David County, and in the various canyons out of SLC. Plenty of fellow riders out there as well. Drivers in the greater SLC area were like all drivers in the U.S. Most were more predictable than those in the greater DC area. Also: the roads in Utah are wider than most here in the east (newer roads built to a more forgiving standard), so there was always enough space for folks to coexist.
Anywho... let's just say that riding a bicycle on the road is statistically very safe. Is it perfect? No, but mountain biking has its own risks, as does skiing. We all choose which risks to take in life. As I often say: your mileage may vary.
Huh. Where have you been on these rides? There are plenty of non-boring road rides in northern Utah. Some of the best roads to ride in the U.S. happen to be out there. And if you add gravel roads to the mix, there's a full-on buffet of great rides in Utah. And no, you don't need a gravel bike to ride them (tho it's easier on the hands and wrists to ride on wider, more pliable tires).
I get the attraction of the trails in northern Utah, though. They're still my favorites to ride MTB. But after my total hip replacement my MTB days are mostly done. In terms of acceptable risk, I'd rather not go through a revision and riding in fear is an easy path to injury.
OK - back to skiing stoke. Hope the snow lasts at The Bird for a bit longer, as I may have a chance to get a day up there when I'm out in early May.
Snowbird is on private land. The others are on forest service land and must close due to regulations. I told you a couple weeks ago that it had not been particularly snowy and was a warm spring in Utah. Well, that changed. It's been cold and snowy in Utah ever since. More snow coming next Mon-Wed.So I realize this may be a silly question, but why is it that Snowbird can stay open until the end of May but Alta closes at the end of April?
I am skiing Snowbird May 13-16, and would love to hit Alta while I am there, alas it looks like that is not going to be an option.
Maybe I will bring my powder skis after allSnowbird is on private land. The others are on forest service land and must close due to regulations. I told you a couple weeks ago that it had not been particularly snowy and was a warm spring in Utah. Well, that changed. It's been cold and snowy in Utah ever since. More snow coming next Mon-Wed.
Snowbird is on private land. The others are on forest service land and must close due to regulations. I told you a couple weeks ago that it had not been particularly snowy and was a warm spring in Utah. Well, that changed. It's been cold and snowy in Utah ever since. More snow coming next Mon-Wed.
Let me know if your plans solidify, we are definitely skiing there on the 14, 15 and 16 of May. There was a a crazy good deal at the Cliff Lodge, so taking advantage of that and my MC pass plus the fact that I will be fully vaccinated and have air miles to burnMay 13-15 is the timeframe for my possibly getting in a day at Snowbird.
I think a lot of it comes down to "not enough customers to go around." Spring skiing works better (for the businesses) if all the customers are concentrated in one place. Many markets have evolved a traditional late player ... sometimes there is an altitude or exposure direction reason, sometimes it is just tradition. The customer's know they stay open so they plan for it, and it's a reinforcing cycle.So I realize this may be a silly question, but why is it that Snowbird can stay open until the end of May but Alta closes at the end of April?
No I get it. Growing up in Alberta we used to ski Sunshine (in Banff) as late as mid July some years, Now Sunshine closes late May due to lack of demand. The economics of running a ski resort combined with the many summer activities that now compete with them kinda seals the dealI think a lot of it comes down to "not enough customers to go around." Spring skiing works better (for the businesses) if all the customers are concentrated in one place. Many markets have evolved a traditional late player ... sometimes there is an altitude or exposure direction reason, sometimes it is just tradition. The customer's know they stay open so they plan for it, and it's a reinforcing cycle.
In Utah it's Snowbird. In Tahoe it's Squaw. In Vermont it's Killington. In Colorado it's A-Basin (though it looks like some other contenders may have decided to challenge them).
I do wonder how the late player shakes out historically. I suppose somewhere along the way there was a general manager who refused to give up in the spring, and that place got established.No I get it. Growing up in Alberta we used to ski Sunshine (in Banff) as late as mid July some years, Now Sunshine closes late May due to lack of demand. The economics of running a ski resort combined with the many summer activities that now compete with them kinda seals the deal
I am sure the other factor is what the fixed cost of operating the resort is combined with the staffing availability. For example if you are a resort with older infrastructure that requires daily maintenance ... etc. to operate it may be significantly more expensive/complicated to maintain operations. I am sure these resorts have modeled out various scenarios based on skier interest, daily visits and season passes vs. daily pass sales throughout the season and that likely plays a big factor in when they close. Unfortunately the economics of skiing in general has shifted both for the skiers and the resorts.I do wonder how the late player shakes out historically. I suppose somewhere along the way there was a general manager who refused to give up in the spring, and that place got established.
I think if there is a nearby urban area to draw from, one resort can do ok in the spring. But not a remote area.
Ooops, I stand corrected. Got the private land explanation from a mountain host. Here's an old article about why they stay open and there is no mention of private land factor. It's mainly because they have the snow and the appropriate lift infrastructure, and the business decision/will power. https://universe.byu.edu/2019/05/24/snowbird-enjoying-another-longest-season-in-utah-1/Actually, Snowbird is primarily on USFS land. Alta, on the other hand, is over 50 percent private holdings of the town. So it's the other way around.
The biggest stumbling blocks for Alta: loss of interest once golf and bike season arrives, as well as losing their J-1 visiting foreign workers (not an issue this year given J-1s were a non-entity this past season). Once you lose a big chunk of your workforce and you aren't turning a profit (and a big tax base driver for the town), you shut 'er down.
The other resorts on USFS land (e.g. Solitude, Brighton, Snowbasin) technically could operate later into the season but the law of diminishing returns and the J-1 situation tends to seal their fate. Their USFS operations permits tend to be generous in what they allow for a season (and all have year-round permits to operate as resorts). Snowbird's staffing (as well as their snow and favorable exposure) is more suited to later operations. They plan for these things.
You think correctly! That’s it in a nutshell.I always thought they closed earlier than necessary because the tourists quit coming and they already have the passholders' money.