All good things do come to an end, even a record ski season.
Snowbird, the last of Utah's 13 ski areas to remain open, announced Wednesday that this weekend will be the last for its 2003-04 ski season.
More skiers visited Utah resorts this past season than during any of the previous 65. The final count, which does not include the past month's numbers from Snowbird, shows nearly 3.5 million skier days were recorded for 2003-04.
Snowbird also recorded its best season, which lasted six months and two days. The resort opened Nov. 14 and will close May 16.
The resort will be open Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lift tickets will be $30. The the Tram and Little Cloud chairlift will be operating. The open terrain is not for beginners but for the more advanced skiers.
"This year it was either deep powder or warm sunshine," said Snowbird spokesman Dave Fields. "It snowed almost nonstop until the beginning of March; then got really warm. That early warm period ate away at our base and is the reason we won't make it to Memorial Day this year. Nevertheless, we're really happy with the season — above-average snowfall and record skier days. We'll take that any year."
Snowbird received a total of 530 inches of snow this past season. Its long-term average is 500 inches.
The resort will be adding a new activity for summer visitors — the ZipRider. The cable ride will travel down the length of the Chickadee Run and will open in July.
In addition to hiking, biking, scooter riding, outdoor dining, shopping and concerts, Snowbird offers summer visitors a new dual-track Alpine Slide on the Chickadee Run and ATV tours and horseback rides in Mineral Basin.
The Tram will be running on weekends to Hidden Peak through May 29. It will then open for daily operation through the summer from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tram-served mountain biking and off-road scooter riding will begin when conditions permit.
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