Snow
The Greatest Snow on Earth® is a pretty hefty claim in the highly competitive ski industry. While Utah has been marketing The Greatest Snow on Earth® slogan since 1962 it wasn’t until the statement was stamped on Utah license plates in 1985 that it became a household saying. If you’ve ever picked up a ski magazine or surfed the web you’ve seen some mind blowing images from Utah with skiers practically needing a snorkel to navigate the bottomless powder blanketing Utah’s hallowed ski resorts. In fact, Utah is so well-known for its snow that in 2010 the state took seven of the top 10 spots in Ski Magazine’s snow rankings (including a clean sweep of the top 5).
So the big questions are what makes Utah snow so great and is it really any better than snow in other places? Well, there are a number of factors that come into play for making snow great. First and foremost, you need a lot of light, dry snow and a lot of snow days where you receive bigger snowfalls. This combination provides a balance between flotation and face-shots. If the snow is too dense, you will float on top but it will never cover your beard unless you wipe out. If the snow is too light, you will sink to the old snow surface below and if there are moguls underneath, you’re way more likely to take a knee to the face than snow. Utah achieves this balance by often receiving ten or more inches of lighter, dryer snow in a single storm and in greater frequency than other places, resulting in more powder days and more face shots. The reason Utah snow is light and dry is two-fold. As storms originate in the Pacific they are full of moisture. When the storms pass through the coastal mountains of the Pacific Northwest and northern California, they drop a lot of that moisture. The storms continue across the desert, which zaps more moisture. When the storms hit Utah, they typically are dropping light, dry powdery snow. Utah snow is great for skiing but not so good for snowballs.
Another key to the great powder snow found in Utah is the strategic positioning of the Great Salt Lake right in front of the mountains. The Great Salt Lake frequently induces lake effect snow. This is a scenario where significant snowfall dumps in the Utah mountains following a cold front and the departure of the real winter storm. This type of lake effect while similar to that found around the Great Lakes and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is dramatically different due to the fact that the Great Salt Lake is very high in saline and therefore doesn’t freeze. When a northwest wind blows over the warm salty lake, good things happen. The outcome is frequently additional feet of un-forecasted snow. Finally, we’re talking about Utah! Utah is home to 14 ski resorts and 11 of them are less than an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City International Airport. Utah ski resorts offer The Greatest Snow on Earth® which not only makes for amazing powder skiing but also makes for plenty of corduroy, groomers, terrain parks and half-pipes.
Blog Posts
Day 110 - May 29th Alta Powder Day!
Posted by Powderhound Matt on May 30, 2013We just can't stop skiing Powder!
Another Foot of Snow at Snowbird!
Posted by Powderhound Matt on May 20, 2013Snow totals from this weekends storm are now well over a foot! You have one weekend left folks!
Ski Day 100 at Alta. But why day 101 meant so much more!
Posted by Powderhound Matt on April 22, 2013Day 100 at Alta was a foot deep! Day 101 was better. I'll explain why...
Alta Re-Opens Friday after 2 Feet of snow!
Posted by Powderhound Matt on April 18, 2013You don't want to miss this! Trust me, I had a chance to sample the goods Thursday.
The Powder Barrage continues at Snowbird
Posted by Powderhound Matt on April 16, 2013The flakes keep flying in Utah and the Tram shows no signs of stopping! Get to the Bird and experience this resort without the competition of a mid-winter powder day. You can thank me later...
Deepest days of the Year in Park City!
Posted by Powderhound Matt on April 9, 2013Ski season is almost over in Park City, doesn't mean Mother Nature is done throwing Monster snowstorms at us! Find out what PCMR looks like after 18" of The Greatest Snow on Earth!
Skiing and April...Mother Nature is not done yet!
Posted by Jodi Saeland on April 9, 2013At this time of the year, most people hang up their skis and grab their bikes. Not so fast, 18" just fell at the Park City resorts and an active pattern continues.
Park City gets 15'' in 15 hours!
Posted by Powderhound Matt on April 3, 2013Tuesday was the best day I've had at Park City Mountain Resort this season.
The Alta Effect Snowstorm
Posted by Powderhound Matt on February 27, 2013We all know Alta gets a ton of snow. Here is what it looks like on a sleeper powder day.
More Blower Powder at the Basin!
Posted by Powderhound Matt on February 25, 2013Snowbasin continues to deliver the goods. Every time I've been up there this season the snow has been insanely deep, the real story though has been the snow quality. You wont know what I'm talking about until you try it, so get out, because if you don't get after it, you know I will...
Keep Sundance Resort on your Powder radar
Posted by Powderhound Matt on February 17, 2013Two words come to mind when I think of Sundance Resort, Southwest Flow! Find out exactly what I mean with this week's powder installment.
This last storm was a bust! Really?
Posted by Powderhound Matt on February 12, 2013Really, you thought this last storm was a bust?
Powder Turns at the Bird
Posted by Powderhound Matt on February 11, 2013This weekend's storm totals didn't knock anyone's socks off, yet, we found plenty of deep turns at Snowbird. Thank you Thunder Bowl.
Snowbasin - Never been Deeper!
Posted by Powderhound Matt on January 29, 2013I'm speechless... I don't even know what to say about today, other than I'm on cloud 9.
Powder Mountain - Steeper and deeper than you think
Posted by Powderhound Matt on January 29, 2013So we know the snow is alway deep at Powder Mountain but here is something you may not know. This mountain is steep!
Monster Dump Monday!
Posted by Powderhound Matt on January 28, 2013It's a Monster Dump Monday here in Utah. Looking at the forecast it should be called a Monster Week instead. Heavy snow is in the forecast this week for all of Utah's resorts. Monster Dumps = 12" or more over a 24hr period.
Winter Storm Gandolf clobbers Snowbasin
Posted by Powderhound Matt on January 14, 2013Winter Storm Gandolf left its mark on Utah, many towns in the valley were clobbered by over two feet of snow! While most shoveled out the Powder Posse took off to Snowbasin. The snow was deep and the lines were short. Just the way we like it.
Utah's Got Covergirl Cred
Posted by Ski Utah Yeti on January 2, 2013No need for sexy poses here or bright lipstick, Utah skiing images rock the January cover for Powder, SKI and Skiing Magazines.
Super Deep at Park City Mountain Resort
Posted by Powderhound Matt on December 19, 2012Super deep snow at Park City Mountain Resort! Check out the video from today.
Why Utah has The Greatest Snow on Earth®
Posted by Ski Utah Yeti on December 18, 2012A tell-all, behind the scenes look that graphically illustrates both HOW and WHY Utah receives an average of 500 inches of snowfall every year.
What a difference a year makes!
Posted by Powderhound Matt on December 18, 2012It's been snowing in Utah, snowing hard. Don't believe me, I'll prove it.
Untracked Utah with Life Unbound
Posted by Ski Utah Yeti on November 27, 2012Early winter delivered two epic storms. October's 42" dump and November's 52" storm were "product tested" by our friends at The Life Unbound.
"Brutus" - The Lake Effect Machine!
Posted by Powderhound Matt on November 13, 2012The one two combination of winter storm Brutus and the lake effect machine deliver a knock out punch to the Wasatch. I was on a mission to ski every inch of that 54" dump that was left behind.
First significant storm moving in!
Posted by Jodi Saeland on November 7, 2012Meteorology is a science and predicting the weather is a bit of an art. Looking to the northwest for our storms in Utah is what we do. Friday through the weekend looks like a great storm to set the stage for the resorts!
First turns of the season at Brighton!
Posted by Jodi Saeland on October 26, 2012The first big winter storm hit Utah this week dumping as much as 42" of snow at Powder Mountain! For Brennan, he woke up and said "Yes, I can get on my snowboard"!
First Powder Turns of the Season!
Posted by Powderhound Matt on October 24, 2012Well it's official, winter has started here in Utah! Powder Mountain got crushed with over 2 feet of snow on Monday night. So what else is there to do but ski, right?
On snow 60 months in a row!
Posted by Powderhound Matt on October 18, 201260 consecutive months of snowboarding in the state of Utah. . . a feat accomplished by Park City resident Kevin Rapf. He say's he has accomplished his goal but I say we take this 5 year achievement and up the ante. Let's give Kevin the motivation he needs to take it to 10 years!
Winter Weather Glimpse
Posted by Jodi Saeland on October 8, 2012After a hot summer, the weather is turning cold quickly. The burning question is what does winter hold? High pressure has held strong, but the pattern is breaking down ... a good sign.
Winter's knocking on the Door!
Posted by Powderhound Matt on September 25, 2012First snow of the season falls in Utah. Can you guess where I spent my morning...
2012-13 Winter Outlook
Posted by Ski Utah Yeti on September 13, 2012This Yeti is certainly not in the business of predicting future weather patterns, nor am I an expert on orographic effect, but some meteorologists are predicting above normal snowfall in Utah and Colorado's Rockies and others have thrown their hands in the air. Who's #ReadyforWinter?
Powderhound Matt's Ski Movie
Posted by Powderhound Matt on July 19, 2012Admittedly, summer is a difficult season for a Powderhound. In order to survive a season without snow, I naturally make ski movies from last year's footage. Enjoy the trailer!
Snowboard birthday boy turns 5; powder day at Brighton!
Posted by Jodi Saeland on March 19, 2012Brennan's excitement about his snowboarding continues. He turns 5 with a snowboard cake, hits the slopes with his birthday hat and has a great day in Brighton powder. Emily...gives the terrain park a try. Well, sort of.
Video footage from Utah's 50'' storm
Posted by Ski Utah Yeti on March 7, 2012Utah kicked off March 2012 with a series of storms that dropped 50" of The Greatest Snow on Earth® bringing some resorts near the 100" base mark. Here are storm videos from across the state.
Powder Bliss at Brighton
Posted by Powderhound Cat on March 5, 2012Ditching the Leap Day plan for a powder day!
It's just deeper at Solitude
Posted by Powderhound Matt on March 1, 2012The snow was so deep at Solitude, just watch the video. You'll see what I mean.
"It's Utah Pow Time!"
Posted by Powderhound Matt on January 8, 2012Snow has returned to the Wasatch! All is good in the world.
Photos
March in like a LION!
March rolls in with tons of fresh powder.
Utah Ski Season Reboot
A series of winter storms impact Ski and Snowboard Resorts across Utah mid January.
First Snows of 2012-13 Season
Another winter storm has Utah in the cross hairs. Check out the photos from Utah's resorts.
January Photos
Photos shot in Utah during the month of January.
Spring POW!!
Ma Nature drops over three feet of snow in the Wasatch in less than 48 hours.
On The Snow
Utah has the Greatest Snow on Earth®. Here's the proof.
Videos
Best of Ski Utah 2011
The winter of 2010-11 in Utah was one of the snowiest on record. With 783 inches of the Greatest Snow on Earth® over a 202 day season, Utah skiers and snowboarders experience Utah's 14 ski and snowboard resorts at their very best.
4 Feet in 4 Days
From one end of the state to another we got dumped on. Check out the action in this new video shot at Snowbird, Solitude, Snowbasin, and Powder Mountain.
Bluebird Powder Day at Powder Mountain - 1-24-2012
Ride Utah heads up to Powder Mountain to sample the recently opened Lightning Ridge and Powder Country zones after 4 feet of new snow
11/11/12 50'' Powder Day!
Winter Storm Brutus dumped 50" of The Greatest Snow on Earth® on Utah. With many resorts scheduled to open this week, opening day is not to be missed. Brighton opens first this Tuesday, November 13. Winter is here!
Best Utah Pow Days of 2012
Here's a collection of some of our best days on skis and snowboards during the 2011-2012 season to get you through the summer.
Deer Valley Grooming - Committed to Corduroy
Take a ride with Deer Valley Snowcat Operators as they show us what goes into making that #1 Corduroy that Deer Valley is famous for.
Powder Safari Cat Skiing - Powder Mountain
Come take a ride with the Powder Mountain Powder Safari through 3000 acres of Utah snowcat skiing.
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