Snowbird, Utah
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Short description|Unincorporated community in Utah}}
{{Infobox ski area
| name = Snowbird
| logo =
| picture = Snowbird Tram at Hidden Peak.jpg
| caption = One of two cable cars composing the Aerial Tram at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort approaches the top station on top of Hidden Peak at an elevation of 11,000 feet
| location = Wasatch National Forest
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Salt Lake County, Utah
{{USA}}
| nearest_city = Sandy: {{convert|4|mi|0}}
Salt Lake City: {{convert|29|mi|abbr=on}}
| pushpin_map = Utah#United States
| pushpin_relief = 1
| coordinates = {{coord|40|34|52|N|111|39|23|W|type:landmark_scale:50000|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_label_position =
| map_caption = Location in Utah
| vertical = {{convert|3240|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| top_elevation = {{convert|11000|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| base_elevation = {{convert|7760|ft|0|abbr=on}}
lowest chairlift
{{convert|8100|ft|0}}
main base area
| skiable_area = {{convert|2500|acre|km2|1}}
| number_trails = 169
13px 27% easiest
13px 38% more difficult
13px 35% most difficult
| longest_run = {{convert|2.5|mi|km}}
Chip's Run
| liftsystem = 13 lifts:
1 tram
6 hi-speed quad chairs
4 double chairs
2 surface lifts{{cite web |url=http://www.snowbird.com/about/mountainstats/ |title=Mountain Stats |publisher=Snowbird |access-date=2015-02-24 |archive-date=August 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816230535/http://www.snowbird.com/about/mountainstats/ |url-status=dead }}
| lift_capacity = 17,400 per hour
| snowfall = {{convert|500|in|cm|-1|abbr=on}}, average
record: {{convert|838|in|cm|abbr=on}}, (2023, as of the 4th of June)
| snowmaking =
| nightskiing = limited
| external_link = {{URL|http://www.snowbird.com}}
}}
Snowbird is an unincorporated community in Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains near Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It is most famous for Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, an alpine skiing and snowboarding area, which opened in December 1971.
History
File:Snowbird Utah photo D Ramey Logan.jpg
The development of Little Cottonwood Canyon and the town of Alta dates to the 19th century. A U.S. Army soldier first prospected for silver there in 1869. Mining became a large local industry, and Little Cottonwood Canyon became one of the largest producers of silver ore in the Wasatch Mountains. Known as the Emma Mine (the origin of the name of the Big Emma ski run in Snowbird's Gad Valley), the soldier's find eventually produced more than $3.8 million in silver. At its peak, 8,000 people lived and worked in the narrow canyon, which held two smelters, 138 homes, hotels, boarding houses, stores and a railroad. The entire town was later destroyed by a series of avalanches.[http://www.snowbird.com/about/history/ Snowbird history]
The resort is a multi-facility winter and summer (primarily winter) resort. Mainly known for its winter powder skiing and snowboarding, during other seasons Snowbird also hosts hikers, mountain bikers, fishermen, and other mountain vacationers. The facilities include ski lifts, hotels, condominiums, spa facilities, restaurants, other resort-related retail businesses, and medical services.
The resort operates almost entirely on privately owned land, unlike the majority of Utah ski areas.{{Cite web|url=https://slco.org/assessor/new/ParcelViewer/index.html?query=Parcel_Viewer_external_3634_5,parcel_id,3006201001|title = ArcGIS Web Application}}
The originator of the Snowbird resort concept was Ted Johnson, who had managed the Alta Lodge in the town of Alta at the head of Little Cottonwood Canyon for about a decade. He had explored the terrain below Alta in the Peruvian Gulch and Emma Mine/Gad Valley watersheds that later became Snowbird. Johnson met Dick Bass, a Texas oilman, in 1969, and the two partnered to create the Snowbird resort, which opened in 1971. In 1974, Johnson sold his interest in Snowbird to Bass.
On May 12, 2014, an ownership change was announced. Businessman Ian Cumming became the majority owner, in partnership with Bass, who remained chairman.{{Cite news|url = http://www.saminfo.com/news/snowbird-sells-majority-ownership-ian-cumming|title = Snowbird Sells Majority Ownership to Ian Cumming|date = 2014-05-12|work = Ski Area Management|access-date = 2014-10-15|url-status = dead|archive-date = October 24, 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141024052105/http://www.saminfo.com/news/snowbird-sells-majority-ownership-ian-cumming}} Dick Bass died in 2015{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} and Ted Johnson died in 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.snowbird.com/ted-johnson/ |title=Snowbird Founder Ted Johnson passes away at 91 |date=January 30, 2018 |website=Snowbird Resort}}
In July 2021 Snowbird shut down the Tram Club, without any warning or prior intimation to the staff or public. It had been at Snowbird since 1994 and was a hot spot for locals in the community.{{Cite web |url=https://newsuwc.com/2021/07/snowbirds-tram-club-has-closed-after-27-years-of-cheap-beer-and-camaraderie |title=Snowbird's Tram Club has closed after 27 years of cheap beer and camaraderie - News UWC |access-date=2021-07-23 |archive-date=2021-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724144707/https://newsuwc.com/2021/07/snowbirds-tram-club-has-closed-after-27-years-of-cheap-beer-and-camaraderie/ |url-status=dead }} The tram club was reopened in December 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.snowbird.com/dining/the-tram-club/ | title=The Tram Club }}
== Climate ==
Hidden Peak, {{cvt|10992|ft}},{{cite web|url= https://www.summitpost.org/hidden-peak-utah/191302|publisher= Summitpost.org |access-date= November 6, 2023|title= Hidden Peak (Utah)}} is the highest point within the Snowbird ski area. Hidden Peak has a subalpine climate (Köppen Dfc), bordering on an Alpine climate (Köppen ET). There is no weather station at the summit, but this climate table contains interpolated data for an area around the summit.
{{Weather box
|location = Hidden Peak (Snowbird) 40.5673 N, 111.6337 W, Elevation: {{cvt|10502|ft}} (1991–2020 normals)
|single line = y
|Jan high F = 26.3
|Feb high F = 27.2
|Mar high F = 32.2
|Apr high F = 37.9
|May high F = 47.3
|Jun high F = 58.7
|Jul high F = 68.1
|Aug high F = 66.5
|Sep high F = 57.6
|Oct high F = 44.6
|Nov high F = 33.2
|Dec high F = 26.6
|Jan mean F = 18.1
|Feb mean F = 18.1
|Mar mean F = 22.8
|Apr mean F = 27.7
|May mean F = 36.9
|Jun mean F = 47.5
|Jul mean F = 57.0
|Aug mean F = 55.7
|Sep mean F = 47.2
|Oct mean F = 35.1
|Nov mean F = 24.7
|Dec mean F = 18.2
|Jan low F = 10.0
|Feb low F = 9.0
|Mar low F = 13.4
|Apr low F = 17.6
|May low F = 26.6
|Jun low F = 36.2
|Jul low F = 45.9
|Aug low F = 44.9
|Sep low F = 36.8
|Oct low F = 25.6
|Nov low F = 16.2
|Dec low F = 9.9
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 7.26
|Feb precipitation inch = 6.25
|Mar precipitation inch = 6.25
|Apr precipitation inch = 6.15
|May precipitation inch = 4.47
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.97
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.37
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.10
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.92
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.26
|Nov precipitation inch = 5.33
|Dec precipitation inch = 6.27
|source=PRISM Climate Group{{cite web
|url= http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/
|title= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University
|publisher= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University
|access-date= November 6, 2023
|quote= To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.}}
}}
Ski resort
File:Snowbird Upper Middle and Lower Cirque photo D Ramey Logan.jpg
Image:May 28 2006 Snowbird UT USA inside lodge.jpg
Snowbird resort is a year-round ski and summer resort located in the heart of the Wasatch National Forest on the eastern border of the Salt Lake City suburb of Sandy. It is {{convert|29|mi}} from Salt Lake City International Airport, {{convert|24|mi}} from downtown Salt Lake City and {{convert|4|mi|0}} east of the suburb of Sandy. The resort first opened in December 1971.
Snowbird shares Little Cottonwood Canyon with Alta Ski Area to the east, just up the canyon over a ridge that separates the two. Beginning winter 2002, the two resorts offer a joint day pass and a joint season ticket allowing full access all of the terrain on both mountains: 26 ski lifts and tows and a skiable area of {{convert|4700|acre|km2|0}}. The collaboration coincided with the opening of a new lift in Mineral Basin, a large bowl owned by Snowbird on the back of Snowbird's Hidden Peak and Alta's Sugarloaf mountains that had been skiable within the resort since 1999. The installation of Baldy Express in 2002 allowed access to Alta from the Basin. Other access points between the two resorts exist as well. The offer is open to skiers only, as a result of Alta's skiers-only (no snowboarders) policy.
Both areas receive more than {{convert|500|in|cm|-1}} of snowfall per year due to lake-effect enhancement from the Great Salt Lake, making them the second snowiest ski areas in the United States (after the ones in the Cascades). In contrast to the humid and wet conditions in the Cascades near the Pacific Ocean, the arid condition of the Great Basin produces very dry and powdery snow, making Snowbird and Alta top global destinations for powder-skiing aficionados. Another benefit of being East of the Great Salt Lake is that salt from the lake provides the condensation nuclei that creates ice pellet snow that doesn't pack like normal snowflakes. Loose powder for days after a snowfall is common. On very windy days the salt is lifted thousands of feet and has been known to coat the windshield of airplanes flying into Salt Lake City.
Snowbird usually closes on Memorial Day in late May while the occasional ski year can last as long as the Fourth of July on the upper part of the mountain (accessed by the aerial tram), perennially offering the longest ski season in Utah. Snowbird, which operates primarily on privately owned land, has a skiable area of {{convert|2500|acre|km2|1}} with a vertical drop of {{convert|3240|ft|0}} from the summit of Hidden Peak, which has an elevation of above {{convert|11000|ft|0}}. Hidden Peak is serviced by an aerial tram from the base area.
The resort covers three drainage areas: Peruvian Gulch, Gad Valley, and Mineral Basin. Snowbird is perennially celebrated by industry magazines for its exceptional snowfall, vast and wide-ranging terrain and easy accessibility from the Salt Lake City International Airport.
Snowbird set a resort record of {{convert|776|in|cm|0}} of cumulative snow (mid-mountain measurement) in May 2011. Snowbird is known for its particularly challenging terrain, with most ski runs having a difficulty of "intermediates only" or higher. The most difficult part of the mountain is the cirque traverse, which contains all runs for experts only.
= Lifts =
| style="width:20%; background:blue; color:green;" |Lift Name
! style="width:06%; background:blue; color:white;" |Length ! style="width:06%; background:blue; color:green;" |Vertical ! style="width:18%; background:blue; color:white;" |Type ! style="width:10%; background:blue; color:green;" |Make ! style="width:20%; background:blue; color:white;" |Year Installed |
|---|
| style="background:#eee; color:black;"
|Aerial Tram |8,395 ft |2,900 ft |Yan |1971 |
| style="background:#eee; color:black;"
|Baby Thunder |1,966 ft |638 ft |1995 |
| style="background:#eee; color:black;"
|Baldy |3,482 ft |1,019 ft |2001 |
| style="background:#eee; color:black;"
|Chickadee |830 ft |149 ft |1972 |
| style="background:#eee; color:black;"
|Gad 2 |4,017 ft |1,242 ft |2013 |
| style="background:#eee; color:black;"
|Gadzoom |6,457 ft |1,823 ft |1997 |
| style="background:#eee; color:black;"
|Little Cloud |3,204 ft |1,302 ft |2012 |
| style="background:#eee; color:black;"
|Mid Gad |4,287 ft |1,315 ft |1980 |
| style="background:#eee; color:black;"
|Mineral Basin |3,515 ft |1,435 ft |1999 |
| style="background:#eee; color:black;"
|Peruvian |8,031 ft |2,421 ft |2006 |
| style="background:#eee; color:black;"
|Wilbere |1,968 ft |668 ft |2024 |
Snowbird currently has 10 chairlifts (6 high-speed quads, 4 doubles), a surface lift, an aerial tram, and a {{convert|600|ft|m|adj=on}} tunnel enclosing a one-way conveyor lift connecting Peruvian Gulch to Mineral Basin allowing easier access for beginners and intermediates to new terrain. The tunnel, the only of its kind in North America, also allows for skier transport when winds require the closing of the aerial tram. The tunnel connects the front half of the resort to Mineral Basin, which is the back half of the mountain. Inside of the tunnel, there are also pictures with descriptions about the history of the tunnel's construction.File:Snowbird Magic Carpet.ogv
=Facilities=
File:Snowbird Tram Wikipedia Video by D Ramey Logan.ogv
The resort lodging includes: the Iron {{Not a typo|Blosam}}, the Inn, the Lodge at Snowbird, the Cliff Lodge and the Cliff Club. The resort also has gift shops, restaurants, arcades, hiking trails, pools and a rooftop spa. The summit restaurant was built atop Hidden Peak during the summer of 2015.
The resort has {{convert|50000|sqft|m2}} of meeting space, with 31 meeting rooms and a {{convert|15000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} Event Center available in the summer.
=Summer activities=
While being widely known as a ski resort, Snowbird is also open during the summer. Throughout the warmer months, Snowbird offers activities such as: Alpine Slide, Mountain Coaster, Summer Tubing, Vertical Drop, and Ropes Courses.
The Alpine Slide is a course that runs down the Chickadee ski slope and includes twists, turns, and tunnels. The Mountain Coaster is a wheeled cart track that fits up to two riders. It sits near the base of the Peruvian Express chairlift outside the Snowbird Center. Summer Tubing is the warm weather version of snow tubing and is available to the east of Chickadee by the entrance of the Cliff Lodge. The Vertical Drop is a 50-foot tower drop ride located near the top of Chickadee. The Ropes Course, located near Chickadee bowl, allows participants to be strapped into a harness and walk high above ground. Other activities include hiking and mountain biking.[https://www.visitutah.com/places-to-go/utah-ski-resorts/snowbird/summer Summer at Snowbird] VisitUtah.com
=Awards=
Skiing Magazine ranked the Alta-Snowbird ski area second in North America overall and first in the United States for the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons.
According to SKI Magazine (October 2002) Snowbird ranked 20th in North America with gold medals in snow, access, challenge, terrain, scenery, weather, and lifts. In specific categories it was ranked third in North America for snow, fourth in North America for challenge, and fifth in North America for terrain. Snowbird ranks as the second best resort in North America, runner-up to Whistler Blackcomb resort in Canada, according to Skiing Magazine. In 2008, Outside named Alta-Snowbird the number one ski destination in North America. More recently, ZRankings ranked Snowbird as the fourth best ski resort in North America. Snowbird's snowfall and weather is also considered to be amongst the best in the world for skiing; ZRankings rated Snowbird's snow as the second best in North America (behind its next-door neighbor, Alta).{{cite web|title=Best Ski Resorts: Snowbird Terrain, Snow Quality and Mountain Ranks|url=http://zrankings.com/resort/show?id=141-snowbird|website=ZRankings|publisher=ZRankings LLC|access-date=27 April 2015}}
Two of Snowbird's mountain school instructors, Rob Sogard and Nancy Thoreson, made SKI Magazine's Top 100 list.
Images
Image:Salt Lake Valley from the Hidden Peaks summit photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|The Salt Lake Valley from Snowbird
Image:Snowbird Gondola photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|Snowbird Tram to 11,000 ft.
Image:Skiing at Snowbird Utah photo Ramey Logan.jpg|Skiing in Snowbird
Image:Snowbirdutah.jpg|Snowbird mid-June 2003
References
{{reflist}}
- Shelton, Peter (1989) Insiders Guide to the Best Skiing in Utah Telluride: Western Eye Press {{ISBN|0-941283-03-8}}
- Asmus, Brad (1993) Powder Hound's Guide to Skiing Snowbird {{ISBN|0-9631113-1-0}}
External links
{{commons category|Snowbird, Utah}}
- [http://www.snowbird.com/ Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort's official Web site]
- [https://snow2day.com/en/usa/snowbird Live Webcams]
{{Salt Lake County, Utah}}
{{Ski areas and resorts in Utah}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Sports venues in Salt Lake County, Utah
Category:Salt Lake City metropolitan area
Category:Ski areas and resorts in Utah
Category:Populated places established in 1971
Category:Unincorporated communities in Salt Lake County, Utah
Category:Unincorporated communities in Utah