Snowbird slipping closing dates…

During the Dick Bass days, the original founder of the ski resort, Snowbird would close until the snow was gone and skiing impossible. 

Since the acquisition of the famed Utah area by the late multi-millionaire Ian Cumming and then by his kids, things have gotten much tighter. In the past I’ve skied Snowbird on the 4th of July, but most of the time we could ski it in June and always for Memorial Day weekend. 

This webcam photo from yesterday shows that skiing would still be possible. Today, these days are long gone! 

Is it a harbinger of global warming? Not really, but since most visitors show up with their season’s passes or the ubiquitous Ikon, there isn’t much revenue the resort can count on and let’s be frank, the costs of operating the place aren’t going down either. 

So, Snowbird is indeed embarked on an inexorable slippery slope, the good old day of late skiing into summer are long gone and here comes the “new planet warming order”. 

Just be grateful to see the resort open next winter and a few more down the line. Now, I just take this as a dire warning that "the end is near!"