November 15, 2020

We here at conSKIerge have been assuming (hoping?) that there will be a ski season despite Covid. While we are still convinced (hoping?) that is the case, we are starting to see some cracks in that assumption.

Winter Park had previously announced that they would open on Wednesday November 18. Citing that “The health and well-being of employees, guests and the community remains the highest priority for the resort” Winter Park has announced that they will open no earlier than Monday November 30. While their announcement cites impacts of fires in CO and weather conditions, their primary rational seems related to Covid issues.

In addition, Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah just announced while they had hoped to open on Nov 20 they want more help from Mother Nature (they capitalized it so we decided we would) to help them “prepare ample terrain for skiers and riders to spread out.”  This one was particularly strange since they just received 30 inches of snow in one storm and are predicted to get hit again the weekend of Nov 14/15. Mmm…

On the right coast, Wildcat has announced they are postponing their opening day to allow “ample snowmaking time to be able to open with the amount of terrain needed to ensure proper physical distancing.”

So folks, IT will happen, but clearly Covid’s impact on the ski season is already being felt!

Solitude and Wildcat have just made their announcements on social media with little to no updated information on their websites but for more information on the situation at Winter Park see Winter Park Opening 

By Kevin Dennis
conSKIerge co-founder

Kevin Dennis is a life long ski bum with a 34 year legal career on the side. Now retired, he skis 80+ days a year. While he lives in Alta UT in the winters, he has traveled extensively through skiing and has skied almost every major resort in North America (and many you have never heard of). He continues to hit the road often throughout the western United States and Canada and trips over the last several years have included ventures in British Columbia, Montana and Colorado. Whether you want to know about the behemoths like Aspen or Squaw or are interested in the road less travelled (Lost Trail Powder Mountain in Montana or Whitewater in BC anyone?), Kevin has been there, has an opinion and you will most likely have to tell him to shut up after a half hour!