Snowbird to open Mineral Basin on Wednesday

For many people, it doesn’t feel like Christmas unless there is snow on the ground. For some, there is no Thanksgiving without football. For those who have come to love Snowbird Ski Resort, some don’t view the mountain as fully open until Mineral Basin is operational.

“It is a launch pin,” said Dave Fields, vice-president of resort operations and the resort’s marketing director. “Many locals in the Salt Lake Valley don’t bother coming up if Mineral isn’t opened. It offers more terrain and a wide open bowl which is a change of pace from other parts of the mountain.”

A mild beginning to the 2012-13-winter season has caused Snowbird to keep Mineral Basin closed.

That will change Wednesday when Snowbird opens the 500-acre basin.

“The Snowbird Ski Patrol is taking the weekend to make sure Mineral is ready to open on Wednesday,” said Peter Schory, the resort’s winter operations director. “We are doing avalanche tests on the terrain, barricading rocky sections and putting signs up so the public knows what’s going on. Everyone needs to be aware of their surroundings when going into a new place.”

While several of Snowbird’s lifts remain closed, riding the resort’s tram to the top of Hidden Peak will be the only way to access Mineral Basin until the resort receives additional snowfall.

Guests will enter Mineral through designated openings along the Path to Paradise or Chips Access off the top of Hidden Peak.

Opening the 1,700-vertical-foot run of Mineral Basin will not only add terrain but also aid other aspects of the resort.

“Not only does opening Mineral offer our guests a variety of terrain but when people hear that Mineral is open, they know Snowbird is functioning,” said John Collins, director of mountain activities and the resort’s mountain operations risk manager. “Mineral Basin generates a big interest from the community. It will be good to get the word out that it’s opening.”

There are two high-speed, four-person chairlifts in the Mineral Basin Bowl: Mineral Basin Express and Baldy Express. Only Mineral Basin Express will be active on Wednesday while snow cover remains thin.

“It is important for our guests to remember that it is still early season,” said Bob Bonar, the resort’s general manager. “If terrain isn’t open yet, there is a reason for that. Whether it is because of lack of snow, an avalanche hazard or another danger, Snowbird isn’t going to take any chances with opening terrain before it is ready.”

With the amount of current snow coverage, Snowbird’s snowmaking system and the weather forecast for snow in the coming days, Snowbird officials are confident in their decision of opening Mineral.

“It is the right thing to do,” Schory said. “Getting skier compaction in the Mineral area will help Snowbird and our ski patrol in snow evaluations for the rest of the winter season.”