#ski-resort-operations

#ski-resort-operations

Arizona Snowbowl begins daily summer operations on May 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The resort's summer activities feature scenic gondola rides, sunset experiences, and a summer lineup that includes trail races, archery events, and gondola dinners.

Avalanche artillery mitigation has been at the center of a steadily evolving program to understand, predict, and control snowpack hazards. Many a skier has woken up to the thunderous, window-rattling booms of artillery fire from a nearby highway or ski area and known that sound is almost universally a sign of a good ski day. The combination of new avalanche mitigation strategies, dwindling supplies of the surplus ammunition used for mitigation, and retirements of people who know how to service an aging arsenal of howitzers has culminated in a more than decade-long push to eliminate reliance on artillery for avalanche mitigation.

“This brings me back to cleaning up the mountain with my family as a kid,” Sarah Slutzky, Director of Mountain Operations, told SnowBrains. “It's special to see our teams come together to keep the mountain pristine, even in the off-season. It reflects our Commitment to Zero and our deep love for this place. While we did come across a few interesting finds - like a full bottle of wine - we're also proud to see less trash each year.”

America's only summer-only ski area, Beartooth Basin, Montana, is preparing to open for the season after already receiving 29 inches of snow this spring. The ski area is planning to open between Friday, May 22, and Monday, May 25, depending on weather conditions. This season will be the resort's 64th summer ski season - a tradition dating back to the mid-1960s.

The reservation system will give skiers and riders more confidence that a parking spot will be waiting for them before they even leave home, helping reduce the uncertainty that can come with busy weekend and holiday visits.

With over 3,800 ski lifts across approximately 828 ski resorts in North America, these engineering marvels come in various types. They range from high-speed quads flying up impressive mountain peaks to vintage rope tows chugging along at small hills.

Whether you love it, hate it, or are just hearing about it for the first time, Alterra's Reserve Pass is likely here to stay. But if you don't know what the Reserve Pass is, it takes a slightly different appearance at a variety of Alterra ski resorts, generally encompassing a dedicated priority lift line and exclusive amenities. It's an intriguing concept, and one that makes sense in an ever-growing segmented ski resort product lineup.