DEEP POWDER, CHAMPIONSHIPS AND DEALS AT SNOWBIRD
SNOWBIRD — Guests at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort awoke to 3 feet of fresh snow on Tuesday. Storm totals of 20 inches in the previous 24 hours, 36 inches in the previous 48 hours, and a whopping 476 inches on the season continued what has been an above-average snow year for the Wasatch Mountains.
This week, Snowbird is proud to host the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour Championships, pitting some of the best male and female skiers in a four-day competition on the resort's legendary big mountain terrain in prime view of large crowds. The competition will take place today through Saturday, weather permitting, with live streaming footage on www.freeskiingworldtour.com/.
Snowbird's projected closing date is Memorial Day, weather permitting. Skiers and riders who want to extend their season can take advantage of a number of deals. Snowbird is offering a Spring Pass for $499 that is good thru the end of the 2010/11 season. The spring pass drops to $299 April 1. Lodging packages, including Stay and Ski packages from $99 per person/double occupancy, can be found at www.snowbird.com/lodging/hotdeals.php or by calling 800-232-9542. Guests booking lodging and lift packages at Snowbird April 4-24 receive a free upgrade to an AltaBird pass.
ALTA'S SNOWFLAKE FESTIVAL SLATED NEXT WEEK
Alta's 25th annual Snowflake Festival takes place March 17-20 with a variety of events scheduled.
Thursday: 11 a.m., Snowshoe tour for the Alta School. Cottonwood Canyons Foundation will be bringing the Alta School on an educational tour on the snow; noon, Alta Lift Crawl & Gnome Hunt Kickoff (wear your green and ski all of Alta's lifts, starts at Wildcat Lift); 8 p.m., St. Pirates Day Dance Party, $5 at Our Lady of the Snows
Friday: 4:30 p.m., Fly Casting Contest, Tug of War, located just east of Wildcat Ticket Office; 5:15 p.m., Hole in One Contest, two hits for $2, located just east of Wildcat Ticket Office; 6:00 p.m., Pingpong Tourney, watch the lodge finalists battle it out
Saturday: 1:30 p.m., Ski with a Ranger, Cecret Chairlift, free; 5 p.m., Chili Cook-off & Giant Raffle, $5 to taste and vote / free to enter, 6 quarts required, cash prizes.
Sunday: 12:30 p.m., Zenko and Cheese brown bag lunch, located at the Albion Grill. In the spirit of Zenko bring a fine piece of cheese/meat to share, brown bag also encouraged; 1:30-3:30 p.m., Zenko Memorial Dual GS Race, located at the Alta Race Area /Dual GS Format. Your fast retro attire is required.
VIEW TUNDRA SWANS ON SATURDAY
As pure white tundra swans make their annual spring migration through Utah, the DWR hosts several swan viewing events along the shores of the Great Salt Lake. Sites for viewing tundra swans on Saturday include Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area in Box Elder County and Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area in Davis County from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
BLACK BEAR DRAWING RESULTS; APPLICATION WITHDRAWAL
Black bear application period began Feb. 3 and ended Feb. 23. Drawing results will be available March 14. Please see the 2011 Black Bear Guidebook for details.
Bonus and preference points only application period ends today. The application withdrawal period ends Monday. Please be sure to check the 2011 Big Game Application Guidebook for details.