Final resorts preparing to open for Utah ski season

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RICHMOND, Cache County — It's cold in Utah and that's good news for ski resorts, including Cherry Peak where they are getting ready to fire up the snow machines. Unfortunately Utah's recent warm spell made things tough up there.

The resort sits at a lower elevation than many of Utah's other resorts, which can often make things challenging. Marketing and Operations Manager Dustin Hansen said while there was some great early snow a few weeks back, it was followed by rain shortly after.

Hansen believes the current weather will help the resort turn things around in the next few days. He said Thursday that workers have been able to get a decent amount of snow down on the bottom and at mid-mountain, and it has some big swells that would be pushed down Thursday night.

He said within a few days, all of the terrain will look different.

"We're working as hard as we possibly can, but sometimes being last might be the best because we're going to make it that great experience for you and we're going to keep working as hard as we can to put everybody on this mountain and shredding some turns," he said.

Workers at Cherry Peak are busy preparing the lifts and the rest of the mountain. Hansen remains hopeful it can open before Christmas.

"There's not a ton of snow in the forecast, but there still is some hope. But we are going to be working around the clock and just make sure we can put smiles on this mountain."

Campers spent Thursday preparing for opening day at Beaver Mountain Ski Area in Cache County. (Photo: Mike Anderson, KSL-TV)

On the other end of the Cache Valley, Beaver Mountain is preparing to open for season pass holders Friday.

A group of high school students camped out to be the first on the slopes.

"I've had people ask me if I'd regret it," said Grant Richardson, who was among the group waiting to get on the mountain. "And I just said, 'Well, I probably would regret it if I didn't,' so yeah, it's living life."