The resort that wasn't going to open will open, and along with it the Utah ski season will move into full operation.
On Friday, for the first time this season, skiers will be able to ski Utah from top (Beaver Mountain) to bottom (Brian Head), and all points in between.Not yet open by the weekend will be Nordic Valley, Snowbasin and Elk Meadows. Snowbasin and Elk Meadows are scheduled to open next week. Nordic is waiting for "one more storm."
Biggest surprise, of course, is the opening of ParkWest. Owners announced in early November that because of management and financial difficulties the resort would not open for 1991-92.
But on Friday the resort will open five of its seven lifts and most of its runs.
Along with natural snow, the resort has been making man-made snow since announcing it would open four weeks ago.
Also opening this week are Beaver Mountain and Sundance.
Already open are Alta, Brighton, Solitude, Park City, Deer Valley, Snowbird, Powder Mountain and Brian Head.
And while many may be thinking records, heavy snow and early openings, consensus is this is nothing more than a normal year for Utah. It's been so long since Utah has enjoy a normal opening, this year does seem unusual.
As Onno Wieringa, general manger at Alta, points out, "Looking back over the past 15 years, the 20th (Alta's opening day) is pretty normal for us. Our snow pack (59-inch base) is about average, too.
"Actually, we're a little behind last year (in skier count). A few good days, though, could change that."
The true test of a good season will come, however, next month. Typically, as Randy Montgomery, executive director of Ski Utah points out, it takes bad times in other parts of the country to make for great crowds here in Utah.
Last year, for example was a bad year in many parts of the country and while Utah enjoyed a record season.
Many of those areas that didn't have snow last year do have it this year. Mammoth (California), the largest area in the country, wasn't able to fully open until February last year. Currently it has 800 acres of skiing open. Sun Valley, another area hit by bad snow last year, has 1,012 acres open. Even eastern areas have snow this year. Stowe (Vermont) is reporting zero to 54 inches and 11 trails open.
Montgomery points out, however, that "the word is out that Utah has good snow. People know they can come to Utah and be guaranteed of quality conditions. Bookings right now are comparable to last year. "I think, too, that people are realizing that skiing in Utah is a good value."