Early Season Condition in Utah

I have some vacation that I have to take by the end of the year. I'm
considering a trip to Banff or Salt Lake City.

Can anybody advise me on the early season conditions at Alta and Snowbird ?
I think I'll take a trip in early/mid December, before the Xmas rush. I
don't expect deep powder conditions. Is there usually at least decent
coverage with all groomed trails open ?

Thanks for the help.

John


--
John Bradley "I'm a realist. I always see the possibilities for
the worst event. At the same time, I'm maybe
so much of a realist that I'm quite optimistic.
What a paradox." --- Egil Olsen

On Thu, 11 Sep 2003 20:57:41 CST, John Bradley
wrote:

Can anybody advise me on the early season conditions at Alta and Snowbird ?
I think I'll take a trip in early/mid December, before the Xmas rush.

Odds are in your favor that conditions will be adequate, however, one
can never be absolutely certain.

Just to be safe, consider bringing a pair of rock skis if you plan on
skiing anything un-groomed.

Some favorable early season examples from the past few years:

Alta, November 10, 2000:
http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro...-10-00_003.htm

Alta, December 25, 2000:
http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro...-25-00_002.htm

Alta, Dec 8, 2001:
http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro...-08-01_014.htm

Snowbird, Dec 16, 2001:
http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro...-16-01_001.htm

Alta, Dec 21, 2002:
http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro...-21-02_007.htm

Alta, Dec 22, 2002:
http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro...-22-02_002.htm

-Astro

---
maximum exposure f/2.8
http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro/03-04/index.htm
---

"AstroPax" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 11 Sep 2003 20:57:41 CST, John Bradley
wrote:

Can anybody advise me on the early season conditions at Alta and
Snowbird ?
I think I'll take a trip in early/mid December, before the Xmas rush.

Odds are in your favor that conditions will be adequate, however, one
can never be absolutely certain.

Just to be safe, consider bringing a pair of rock skis if you plan on
skiing anything un-groomed.

To be sure you'll have to make your decision a week or so ahead. It's a
very slow time so there's no reason to plan ahead from the reservation
POV. There's almost sure to be some manmade groomed to slide around on.

pigo

"John Bradley" wrote in message
...

I have some vacation that I have to take by the end of the year. I'm
considering a trip to Banff or Salt Lake City.

Can anybody advise me on the early season conditions at Alta and Snowbird
?
I think I'll take a trip in early/mid December, before the Xmas rush. I
don't expect deep powder conditions. Is there usually at least decent
coverage with all groomed trails open ?

Thanks for the help.

John

Skied Alta two days after thanksgiving last year, and coverage was adequate
to say the least. Not all of the steeps were covered, and there was the
occasional rock here and there, but it was still enough on the ground to
make for a great trip.


Chris Devidal

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