Utah’s ski resorts struggling with low snow totals

SALT LAKE CITY — Ski Utah has reported almost no snowfall this week leaving Utah ski resorts in a rough place.

A few decent storms came through since the start of the season, but overall Utah’s mountains have received far less snow this year.

Margaret Brown, a lifelong skier, said people are frustrated by the lack of snow. Furthermore, fewer lifts are open making the resorts feel congested.

“There’s not as many places for the people to go,” Brown said.

“Everyone’s kind of getting funneled into like one run…it’s making it super congested in these areas that aren’t even that great at the moment because people are just super eager to get out.”

According to Brown, resorts have only opened 80-90% of their terrain. Additionally, a lot of backcountry terrain is not skiable.

“Compared to last year like it’s just probably like…three months behind of what it would have been last season,” said Brown. 

According to Brown, disappointment is evident among fellow skiers.

“Comments like…’where’s all the snow?’ [and] ‘this season is so garbage compared to last,’ comments like that are … definitely circling throughout the community.”

Brown said Utah was lucky last year. She said hopes for snow last season were high and the powder was near perfect. 

There have been a few good days this season according to Brown. She said that all we can do is hope for some decent snowfall, even if it can’t be record-breaking like last year.

 Fortunately, Ski Utah reports that the dry pattern may end as we welcome the new year.

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