Early Returns! Snowbird, Wolf Creek, Copper to Open Print E-mail
Written by Peter Kray / SkiPressWorld.com   
Thursday, 06 November 2008 10:23
Snowbird, Utah (Ski Press)-Barack Obama celebrated his presidential victory Wednesday by skiing in Utah at Snowbird Resort. Senator John McCain joined the president-elect for a few bipartisan powder turns on Utah’s new snow. This week’s snowstorm brought Utah more than 3-feet of snow since Saturday.

Continuing the tradition of offering the longest ski season in Utah, Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort will open Friday, Nov. 7. This year’s opening marks the second earliest start to a season in the resort’s 38-year history.
 
“This storm and the subsequent lake effect have provided a timely blanket of snow in Little Cottonwood Canyon,” said Snowbird President Bob Bonar. “Skiing early season powder is a great way to kick off the season.”
 
Snowbird will be offering the Aerial Tram and two lifts, Gadzoom and Mid-Gad, to skiers and riders beginning Friday at 9 a.m. Expected open terrain includes Regulator Johnson from the top of Hidden Peak, as well as Big Emma and Bassackwards.

After an evening of watching states turn red and blue, Colorado awoke to drifts of white. An autumn snow storm made its way across the state overnight, dropping up to 16 inches in some areas. This snowstorm, plus early season snowfall, propels Colorado into its second month of the 2008-09 ski season with two resorts open already and more opening this weekend.      
 
Copper Mountain will open for the season on Friday with fresh snow from last night’s storm. The American Eagle lift and Main Vein trail will open along with the American Eagle Jib Park and Easy Rider learning area.
 
With 10 inches of new snow on the ground, Wolf Creek will open on Saturday. Arapahoe Basin and Loveland both opened in October and are reporting two to three inches of new snow with packed powder conditions.
 
In the southwestern part of the state, Telluride ski resort is reporting 16 inches of fresh snow and nearby Silverton is reporting 17 inches. Both resorts are slated to open in mid-November.