The shorter days, crisp mornings, and slower pace of autumn allow us to savor each day as Mother Nature's daily palette is revealed. Fall foliage in the mountains is awe-inspiring. Here, our colors tend to come in waves, with the red maples speaking up first, echoed by the orange oaks, and then the golden aspens. For about one glorious week, usually early October, we have that special symphony of all hues simultaneously - a fantastic visual feast. As the aspens drop the last of their golden leaves, anticipation for winter snowfall and the upcoming ski season intensifies. On those years when we have a bit of both, it's magical. With winter just around the corner, our collective focus shifts to ski season preparations and doing our part with snow dances. I hope this information is helpful to your winter-readiness checklist.
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By LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER BRENT HADDOCK
Brent Haddock is an outstanding local landscape photographer who resides in the Heber Valley, and he is one of our favorite local artists. As you can see from the magnificent images below, his work perfectly captures the autumn glory of the Wasatch Mountains.
There's something so enjoyable about donning a flannel shirt, a puffy vest, and hiking boots and going for a drive to find a trail or road less travelled. With the fall colors just starting to emerge, take advantage of the opportunity to go explore a new canyon or country road. We've compiled a list of our favorites for you here.
Snow forecast predictions become a common theme in coffee shops and dining tables this time of year; we just can't help ourselves. According to OpenSnow, the upcoming winter is shaping up to be another La Niña year, which will be the third year in a row of this pattern. While La Niña winters are relatively common, three consecutive years is rare. What does this mean for our temperatures and snowfall for the upcoming winter? Check out this report from Alan Smith at OpenSnow to find out more about what we might expect from this "Triple Dip La Niña."
For a less scientific approach, you can also check your conifers to see if lots of heavy pinecones are weighing down their tops, see if the squirrels are feverishly gathering acorns, or consult this list of Old Wives' tales for deeper insights on winter weather predictions!
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Anticipated Opening Date | Fri, November 18th
When the lifts start turning at Park City Resort this season, there will be new policies aimed at easing congestion on the slopes and in the parking areas. These measures include a new paid parking and reservation system, as well as limits on daily lift ticket sales. There will also be a brand-new ski beach for guests to enjoy at the base of the Red Pine Gondola and the Orange Bubble Express in Canyons Village. For more info on changes at Park City Mountain for the 2022 - 2023 season click here.
Anticipated Opening Date | Sat, December 3rd
Deer Valley is moving forward with upgrades to the Burns ski lift and Little Stick beginner ski areas in order to improve the overall experience for beginner level skiers and to ease traffic on the Carpenter chair lift. Also, the ever popular Fireside Dining at Empire Lodge is opening up reservations on October 4th. Click here to make sure you get your coveted ski season reservations.
Anticipated Opening Date | TBD
Anticipated Opening Date | Fri, December 9th
Winter Tubing Opening Date | Sat, December 17th XC Trails Opening Date | Fri, December 16th
Opening Date | Wed, December 21st
With the help of a generous gift from the Eccles Foundation, the Utah Olympic Park is on track to complete a large expansion of their training facilities. This expansion, designed for alpine and snowboard disciplines, will include new runs, lifts, lights, and snowmaking equipment. The new terrain will provide much needed training terrain for our local ski teams. They're steep!
Just like the tires on your vehicle, ski boots are considered by most to be the single most important piece of equipment in the sport. Having the right fit can work wonders for your carving skills, and ultimately, they will help maximize enjoyment on the slopes. According to SnowBrains, "stock liners and footbeds can leave large gaps between the foot and the boot, and these voids lead to a loose boot fit and a greatly decreased energy transfer from foot to boot, resulting in your skis reacting much slower than you'd like them to." This makes sense. Learn more here.
Fall is the time to make sure your boot fit is ideal. This is the time of year when custom fit boot shops have their big sales, and the best boot fitters in town actually have availability to spend the proper time in ensuring a great fit. Schedule those appointments now, so your season starts off on the right foot. Snowboarders don't typically bother with custom fitting, but it's important to note that snowboard boots should feel snug everywhere, including at the heel, instep, and toebox, and your toes should barely touch the ends.
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HOWL-O-WEEN ON MAIN ST Monday, October 31 | Park City
Tricks aside, Halloween on Historic Park City's Main Street was named one of the top Halloween celebrations in the country by Travel and Leisure magazine and for good reason! When you combine two and four-legged costumed creatures with gourmet treats and maybe a few tricks, you have a one-of-a-kind celebration.
The 2022 Sundance Film Festival Ticket Package sales commence Monday, October 17th. Mark your calendar, so you don't miss out. You can start scrolling to populate your calendar here. This year's fest is scheduled for January 19th - 29th and will include a new twist on a hybrid of in-person and virtual screenings.
SKI & SNOWBOARD MOVIE PREMIERES
There's nothing quite like a good ski and snowboard movie to get hyped up for the coming winter season. And there is no better way to view one of these films than to attend an in-person premiere!
• Teton Gravity Research "Magic Hour" • Matchstick Productions "Anywhere from Here" • Warren Miller "Daymaker" • Level 1 Freeski Film Tour • Mountain Film • Picabo
LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON GONDOLA
After many years of debate and deliberation, Utah transportation officials recently announced that they are moving forward with plans to construct a gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon in order to relieve vehicular traffic congestion in the canyon. The subject of much debate, there is currently an open period for public comment until the record of decision is set to be finalized on October 17th.
Win the dream ski season you’d buy if you hit the lottery. One winner will get:
2 Ski Utah Gold Passes
1 day of heli-skiing for 2 in Utah
$2,500 gift card for Rossignol.com
2 Stio Environ outerwear kits
2 Smith kits (2 helmets, 2 goggles and 2 sunglasses)
A year's supply of beer from Wasatch/Squatters
All proceeds from this sweepstakes will benefit Discover Winter.Discover Winter is a program founded in 2022 by Ski Utah and Utah ski resorts. The program aims to introduce ethnically diverse and LGBTQ+ individuals to skiing/riding through a series of lessons.
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I hope you get to enjoy the magnificence of fall foliage wherever you might be. Next month, look for my Market Snapshot with neighborhood stats followed by the Market Pulse Report - the quarterly report on the local real estate market and trends. In the meantime, if you have any questions related to buying, investing or selling, or just general trends, please give me a call. Opportunities always exist.
Look for the MARKET PULSE SNAPSHOT & REPORT in your inbox in a couple of weeks!
