Both Snowbird and Alta are closed to uphill traffic as they prepare to open. The road up Grizzly Gulch and the summer road to Catherine's Pass are open.

Discount lift tickets will be for sale to benefit the Utah Avalanche Center shortly!!! - stay tuned.

What a difference a day makes. The skies cleared, winds lost some steam, and temps warmed into the 30s at many locations. But the riding conditions? Well, even Frank Luntz would struggle to put a spin on the riding conditions after Saturday night's winds had its way with the 12-18" spread evenly across the range. Jim Harris put it well -

• "Winds last night destroyed most of the 6%-density blower that fell yesterday. "Upsidedown" and "surfy" were the catchphrases of the day. Mid-elevation, mellow-angle, wind sheltered runs that also have an old snow base were probably the place to be today, but that's a small bullseye to hit. Upper elevation glades and open slopes were wind-worked and variable ski penetration made for herky-jerky skiing on the most wind-blasted slopes. Early rise tips and fatish skis didnt keep us from getting corked in a few drifts."

Note the statement in bold italics above. This is a key, maybe THE KEY to our current conditions in particular and terrain choices in general. The only terrain that holds (barely) enough snow to slide on is the terrain that is the most susceptible for avalanching (as you'll see in Recent Activity below). If I were speaking this, I would say this last sentence again. In essence, the Bull's Eye is that your terrain choices must be determined by the avalanche hazard. Low hazard? Aim for the side of the barn. High hazard? You've got to thread the needle. Otherwise, you're rolling the dice and in the end the House Always Wins...