Mother Nature finally delivered in December! Recent storms and snowmaking have allowed us to open five of our eight lifts along with 35 trails. More lift and trail openings are just around the corner.
We got off to a quick start this season by spinning chairs on November 10. Our snowmaking crews did a remarkable job getting us off to a quick start while dealing with early-season challenges including variable temperatures and mechanical issues. Remember that 816 inches of snow we received last season? Well, when all that snow finally melted it put an excess of organic matter in the water sources we use for snowmaking. Despite delays, our crew has crushed it with limited resources and laid down a remarkable base on the lower mountain.
Up top, we are almost ready to open Summit Express now that more natural snow has accumulated. The top of Summit has some incredibly rocky spots and we don’t have snowmaking capabilities there. Fortunately, powerful storms have given us the snow we need to get you skiing and riding that awesome terrain soon.
Our Powderhorn terrain has been in a unique situation this season since much of it flows into our Eagle terrain where we are finishing construction on our new Eagle Express six-pack chairlift. Now that Eagle is nearing completion, and with the help of recent storms, Powderhorn is now online. We have a couple more tests to perform on Eagle, including a load test, after which Eagle is ready for the season.
Moonbeam Express recently underwent repairs and was down for a couple days. That issue has been resolved, and Moonbeam is now spinning on schedule, providing access to plenty of fun terrain, including great groomers and our Tude Dude’s terrain park.
As we get more fully into winter, our mountain events schedule is picking up. We recently hosted a screening of Advice for Girls, a film that puts a spotlight on the collective experience of women in the ski industry. Keep an eye out for additional screenings this season.
And as we enter the holiday season, we’ll be staging our 12 Days of Holiday Cheer once again. Starting December 13 and running through December 24, we’ll have something festive happening every day on the mountain. Events include live music, a movie screening, gingerbread house decoration, and more.
A quick reminder that our first weekend of reservation parking begins on December 15. Remember that Solitude and Ikon Pass holders can ride the UTA Ski Bus for free.
To catch up on previous Amber’s Updates, visit https://blog.solitudemountain.com/category/ambers-updates/