Forget counting down to Christmas, Park City is counting down the days until the resorts open and the ski season begins. Epic ski pass holders are excited to switch between Canyons Resort and Park City Mountain Resort, thanks to Vail Resorts’ newest acquisition. Deer Valley is preparing its ski slopes, and across the mountain Brighton, Snowbird, and Alta are already starting to get some snow.
Opening Thanksgiving weekend, the Utah ski resorts are preparing for impact. Once the clock strikes December, the mountains are non-stop packed with locals and tourists alike thirsty for that beautiful Utah snow.
Although snow has been more sparse than normal the last few years, weather experts expect this season to be long and powder filled, partially due to the wet summer Utah experienced thanks to the storm system El Nino.
Utah has a history of breaking snow records. Even though last year was considered “dry” there was still a two-day snowstorm that began one Friday night and didn’t stop until Sunday afternoon, leaving over a foot of fresh powder for lucky skiers and snowboarders.
While two days is nothing compared to the six-day blizzard that dumped over three feet of snow in the valley in 1993, it still stands as a testament to Utah’s prevailing winter conditions. Dry air at over 10,000 feet makes for perfect powder all season long.
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, above normal snowfall is expected throughout the United States. Snow is inevitable, but particularly in the West with “winter downpours” all season. With this snowfall, however, also comes the cold. Last year was one of the coldest winters recorded in history across the United States. The chill isn’t expected to get much better, so it’s important for mountain-goers to bundle up.
If Utah’s first storm of the year, which dropped 6-12 inches during the first week of November, is any indication, it will be a good year to get on the mountain.
One of the benefits about skiing and snowboarding in Utah is the number of opportunities to experience different mountains and resorts. With the shear proximity of many of Utah’s world-renown ski resorts, it’s easy to mountain hop with day passes. But Park City is making it even easier to experience multiple resorts with the Epic Pass.
Yes, the aptly named Epic Pass allows holders to seamlessly hop between two major Park City ski resorts: Canyons and Park City Mountain Resort. But it also allows users to visit a number of Vail Resorts’ mountains in Colorado, making it truly the best deal in the West.
This is the first year that Utah will have the Epic Pass, and the turn out is expected to be very high between locals and tourists alike. It’s a lot for a small ski town like Park City to manage, so it will be interesting to see how the Epic Pass affects tourism in the area.
It would be a true shame to miss out on this year’s skiing and snowboarding opportunities in Utah. World-class resorts combined with world-class snow makes Park City the premier destination for snow-philes this season. With the expected growth of Park City, now is truly the time to own property in the area. As the resorts continue to grow and improve, your property’s value will only increase.
Property in Park City, though, can be expensive; quickly running into the millions for even a small condo. And for those who don’t plan on living in Park City year-round, that can be an impossible price tag. But luckily, there is a way to buy seasonal property in Park City for a fraction of the price.
Timeshares are a great option for snow-lovers who want the comfort of a condo without the responsibility of up-keep and the absurd price tag. It’s easy to spend a week or two with family and friends when you buy a Park City timeshare. Plus, this small ski town has some of the best timeshare resorts in the country. Westgate Park City Resort & Spa, Marriott’s MountainSide, Marriott’s Summit Watch, and many more top shelf timeshare resorts are at your fingertips when you buy a Park City timeshare.
