Ack! Spring comes early!

[Maury Markowitz]

I took a quick look at the weather report (yeah, I know) before I pack up for tomorrow -- 50 degrees mid-mountain on Solitude all week long, somewhat colder in the Park City areas, potential for rain at least a couple days out of the week across the entire area.

:-( First ski trip in two years and I luck out.

Now I figure there's at least a 50% chance this will go cold on me, but in case I need a backup plan, any suggestions on which direction to go? Looks like JHole is about 6 hours away, what other ones should I put on my "just in case" list?

Maury

 

[Tony Crocker]

Definitely stay put in SLC. The Cottonwood Canyons are primarily north-facing and the highest altitude in the region. They will therefore preserve snow best in warm weather and be less likely to get rain.

Don't touch Jackson Hole with a 10-foot pole if it's warm, especially this late in the season. I saw a recent report on another board which shows JH getting into its usual late season crud problem from the SE exposure.

The Park City group preserves snow better than JH, but not nearly as well as the Cottonwood Canyons. Within the PC group, Deer Valley is most north-facing and will have the best snow.

As with the Tahoe inquiries, you are very unlikely to have a poor experience. If it's warm you'll have good spring skiing. If it's cold it will probably be snowing and you'll get powder. Dry and below freezing all day doesn't happen much in March in either Utah or Tahoe, except for a day or two right after a storm.

 

[JC]

I agree with Tony. We had similar conditions about 3 weeks ago in SLC (highs around 40 at 8K feet), but the temps will be cooler at higher altitudes and the snow on the North facing slopes should be good and chalky dry. For example, we had nice snow under the tram at Snowbird and at McConkeys/Jupiter at Park City. Mineral Basin had nice corn in the early afternoon. Then we got lucky and had a foot of fresh snow on our last day.

A few years ago I skied Snowbird in the third week of April and had 50 degree temps for a couple of days and then 3 1/2 feet of snow on the last three days.

So stick with SLC and you're sure to have a great time. You might even get lucky with some fresh snow. The odds are better there than anywhere else.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with Tony. We had similar conditions about 3 weeks ago in SLC (highs around 40 at 8K feet), but the temps will be cooler at higher altitudes and the snow on the North facing slopes should be good and chalky dry.

Wow. Ok, that's exactly what I was worried about. Hell, it's wet hardpack in the east when it's 10 below, I guess I have to get used to the idea that those sorts of things don't apply everywhere.

Maury