Conditions Report
Report from March 24, 2024
The Cottonwood Canyon traffic can be fickle, so we spent a happy Sunday at Snowbasin, UT.We were met by no crowds, sunshine, and some very deep turns. Some places were much deeper than the 7 inches indicated on the resort’s website.
The top half of the John Paul Express was velvety. Long, untracked lines through the trees provided Sunday’s best looks. As we descended, the terrain grew more variable, depending on if the sun had affected each aspect.
Snowbasin has one of the most impressive arrays of large lifts in the United States. The Needles Gondola reaches up 2,300+ vertical feet while the Strawberry Gondola treats riders to 2,450+ vertical feet. The John Paul Express is a much shorter lift than either gondola, but still carries riders up 2,350+ vertical feet, providing heavenly access to consistently steep terrain.
Can any other resort boast such a lineup? And these stats don’t even mention an impressive addition, the De Moisey Express (new in 2023) is 8,200+ feet long. If you know how tall it is, please drop a comment, we’re not clear from the website.
We always underestimate how much altitude matters during spring storms. Snowbasin has the lowest base of the major ski resorts in the Salt Lake City area at 6,316 feet, despite reaching a significant summit altitude of 9,350 feet.
To put those altitudes in perspective, Alta and Snowbird’s bases are well over 8,100 feet with summits towering above 11,000 feet. That elevation makes a difference, especially during spring storm cycles.
Speaking of storm cycles, Utah is due for continued snow all week. It’s great to feel like the mountains are pushing back against spring.
Weather Forecast
