BRIAN HEAD, Utah — The mild weather that has stuck around Utah in recent weeks may be heaven-sent for those looking to get in one more mountain hike, but it's wreaking havoc with opening-day schedules at ski resorts across the state.
While Brian Head Resort's original opening date, set for last Friday, may have been a bit ambitious, the resort has made yet another alteration to its calendar. On Tuesday, the resort announced it would now push its season opener to November 21, two weeks after the first runs were supposed to take place.
“The energy for opening day is what we all look forward to the most,” said Brian Head Resort manager Amber Palmer. "We’re really excited to be so much closer to that date. It’s coming here soon.”
Perhaps Brian Head was feeling confident after last season kicked off on Nov. 8, weeks earlier than nearly every other Utah ski resort.
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Further north, Solitude Mountain Resort also made a change this week, now targeting Sunday, November 16 as the day it hopes to welcome skiers. Opening dates for Solitude over the last ten years have ranged anywhere from early November to early December.
"Good snowmaking conditions are forecasted to return on Friday, and we’ll be making snow at every available window," the resort shared on social media.
Both resorts admitted that the timing of opening day all comes down to Mother Nature.
“So we thought if Mother Nature could cooperate just a little bit we’d be able to make enough snow and get open by the 14th and ideally earlier than that. But obviously it’s been slightly warmer, so have we haven’t been able to make as much snow as we need to,” said Marc Lodmell with Solitude.
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Some of the biggest resorts in Utah are still a few weeks away from planned opening dates, with locations such as Alta, Park City, Snowbasin and Snowbird holding off later this month.
Ski Utah's Alison Palmintere said when the time is right, whenever that is, people will be able to make their first run.
"We never worry about the snow. It always comes eventually, and we’re excited to be out there,” she said. “Hopefully, the warmer weather right now give everyone a chance to get their skis and their boards tuned and waxed, get their gear all dialed, and it’ll really be here before we know it.”
The upcoming weather forecast appears to favor the views of those opening later in November as high temperatures in the mid-50s across the Wasatch are expected to disappear closer to the weekend, to be replaced with highs in the 30s and chances of snow.
“We’re hopeful and excited it’ll turn on," Lodmell said, "and we’ll have a really long season into the spring.”
