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OGDEN -- A fringe benefit of abnormally cold weather and high precipitation seems to be that skiing in Utah is still possible well into this year's summer.
Snowbasin Ski Resort will reopen a large area of terrain for the weekends, starting on June 11. The Needles Gondola will begin operating, and runs off of Middle Bowl Triple will be available.
Snow on the mountain is still relatively deep.
"Basically we have a mid-winter snowpack at mid-mountain," said Jason Dyer PR and marketing manager for Snowbasin.
Dyer said there was still 100 inches at mid-mountain on June 7. The mid-winter average is 120 to 125 inches.
"I am excited to get back out there, to be honest with you," he said.
Basically we have a mid-winter snow pack at mid-mountain.
–- Jason Dyer
Snowbird resort has also opted to stay open for skiing, claiming that it will be open until July 4, weather permitting. This long season has been made possible by record snowfall at many resorts this year, according to Ski Utah.
Snowbasin might have been able to stay open continually like Snowbird, except that its gondola had to undergo a scheduled tune-up.
"Unfortunately, whether the snow is good or not, we had to get it checked up," said Dyer, comparing it to a 60,000 mile checkup for a car. "We basically just upgraded everything."
Season passes for 2010-11 are no longer good for the gondola, but 2011-12 passes are already available, as well as day passes, with some available online.
2011-12 season passes are good for all summer activities involving the gondola as well.
