Best Spring Skiing Ever

I've had the good fortune to ski and snowmobile and snowshoe in Utah's mountains during the past couple weeks and so I speak from experience when I say snow conditions have never been better.

I was at The Canyons Resort on Feb. 5, during one of those magical times when the planets align to produce the perfect experience. The sun was trying to break through the clouds, the air temperature was mild, a couple inches of new powder had fallen earlier and the slopes were fast. Now that's paradise!

There was a "big air" competition underway and for a minute I was almost tempted to participate. I could just see myself arching up into thin air, spinning around and landing gracefully. Yea, right! I can just see myself being pulled down the mountain strapped to a toboggan. I'll keep my skis on the snow, thank you.

But it was fun to watch. Most competitors were locals and they put on quite a show. Such events are one of the grand things about skiing Utah resorts. World Cup and Olympic-style competitions and other events take place regularly and provide entertainment while catching your breath between runs. Some upcoming events are listed below.

Record snowfall in December gave us an incredible base — we're well past the magical 300-inch mark. And with new snow coming every few days, we can guarantee excellent spring skiing. Many resorts will stay open as long as the snow holds. I expect to see diehards skiing in late April this year!

Golf, Parks and Whitewater
February is a transition month in Utah. It's still winter in northern Utah but spring is starting to stir in our southern deserts. By late February the apricot and almond trees will be in blossom in St. George, wild flowers will start to poke through the sand and golfers will pop up everywhere on the greens in Utah's Dixie.

St. George-area golf courses are alluring year-round but are perhaps at their best in late February and early March. When late-season blizzards blast Salt Lake City, I love to hit the links in St. George. The courses in that area are incredibly beautiful, sandwiched between red-rock canyons and black lava rock.

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southern Utah but is at a high elevation and winter lingers there. Bryce is blanketed by deep snow and offers a great environment for cross-country skiing and other snow sports. Bryce Canyon Winter Festival is held at Ruby's Inn, just outside the park, over President's Day weekend (Feb. 14-16). Winterfest offers a wide variety of events, with activities for all ages and interests.

Utah's other national parks are starting to dry out and warm up. In late February hiking conditions become good at lower-elevation areas in our parks and desert playgrounds. April is perhaps the best month for epic treks into areas like Grand Gulch and Dark Canyon.

Early season whitewater will be incredible this year. With deep snowpack in many drainages, runoff will be high and rafters will find great adventure on all of our major rivers. Late May and early June will be prime time. After that flows will settle down a bit but remain good through the summer. If you've been dreaming of a whitewater adventure, this should be the year.

Bookings are already coming in strong for whitewater trips, national park tours and houseboats on Lake Powell. Summer holidays and weekends are filling up quickly — you should book immediately if you want guide services, equipment rentals or accommodations near parks.

Dave Webb

Upcoming Major Events

Bryce Canyon Winter Festival will be Feb 14-16 at Ruby's Inn.

World Superpipe Championships will be held Feb. 20 - Feb. 22 at Park City Mountain Resort.

31st Annual "Echoing Traditionals Ways" Pow-Wow will be Feb. 27 and 28 at Utah State University. Native American dancers from throughout the region will participate.

Ski Jumping World Cup will be Feb. 28-29 at the Utah Olympic Park.

Moab Skinny Tire Festival will be Mach. 5-8. The four rides of the festival highlight Moab's different road riding opportunities.

Spring Belly Dance Festival will be March 6 at the Utah State Fair Grounds in Salt Lake City. It offers a colorful mini-vacation into the mystical and beautiful world of Middle Eastern dance, food, scents, and shopping. 801-266-0473.

Canyon Country Western Arts Festival will be March 11-14 at Southern Utah University Sharwan Smith Center in Cedar City. Interact with cowboy poets, quilters, leather workers, pottery makers and other western artists. Also enjoy open-mike cowboy poetry, ongoing western music, cowboy documentaries and western music concerts. 435-586-5124.

World Championships of Cutter & Chariot Racing will be March 22-30 at The Golden Spike Events Center in Ogden. 801-731-7912 or 435-863-4644.

The Pond Skimming Event at The Canyons April 3-7 is one of the resort's most popular parties and is the true indicator spring has arrived. Contestants must dress in costume (the weirder the better) as they attempt to cross 100-feet of open water on skis or a snowboard. The resort's website has video of last year's event.

Annual Easter Jeep Safari will be April 3-11. Trail rides, mostly day trips, depart from Moab throughout this weeklong event. Hosted by the Red Rock 4-Wheelers, 435-259-7625.

Tour of Canyonlands Annual Mountain Bike Race will be April 5-6. It will begin on Saturday with the Moab Rim Downhill and will end on Sunday with the Jackson's Hole Cross Country. Last year this event drew over 2,000 bikers. 303-432-1519.

Check our comprehensive events listing for other activities.

SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE / UPDATE

Join our free monthly newsletter, or send it to a friend