Looking for Mujah

Saturday was our first winter snow storm. It rained and snowed all day and into the night. A local resident was out bird hunting with his two Brittany Spaniels near the Johnstone trail. In the minimal visibility, he approached an unseen cliff and slipped on the fresh, wet snow. He called his dogs back and one returned, the other, named Mujah ,kept going forward over the 150 ft cliff. Dan, the dog owner, spent hours looking at the base of the cliff and calling his dog. He found and heard nothing. He was certain that Mujah was stuck on one of the cliff ledges. As a last resort, he called in the Ketchum/Sun Valley backcountry rescue team and agreed to pay the costs to send the high angle rescue team out to scour the cliff.

Our 6 person high angle rescue team was dispatched out at 7 AM Sunday morning in a snowstorm. We packed up with ropes, harnesses, winter survival gear, medical equipment and supplies to be out all day. Dan guided us up to the place where he last saw his dog. The temperatures were below freezing and the snow was wet and cold. We built a fire to dry out and warm up after the 3 mile hike in with big gear packs. After we warmed at the fire and discussed our strategy, we split into two groups. One group assigned to look around the base of the cliff and one team to hike to the top and set up a rappel for a high angle search of the cliff. I was on the rope team.

The weather was a mix of ice and snow and the ropes and equipment were freezing and slippery. The rock face was also broken and loose. I was really thankful that I have years of experience with ropes and climbing gear. We made two careful passes on the cliff looking on ledges, traversing, descending and ascending the ropes. The rescue team below directed our efforts and provided another point of view while I was on the rope. Unfortunately, even after 7 hours in the field, we were not able to find Mujah. As our team bundled up the wet, heavy ropes and equipment, I apologized to Dan for not being able to find his lost dog. I felt a deep sadness for him and his grief was evident. He hiked out on his own while the team gathered and packed the rescue equipment for the hike out.

At the end of the day, the search lasted over 10 hours and was unsuccessful. The next day broke clear and cold. Dan went back out into the field with some of his friends. They did find Mujah about 60 feet from the base of the cliff. He was not alive, but Dan was happy to have found him and took his body home for burial.

Major Changes at Canyons (Name Change - No More "The")

At times during the past seven winters, Rebekah Abrams has looked down from a Canyons ski lift and pondered changes.

“Sometimes I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if this was here and that was there?’ ” said the 35-year-old Canyons season pass holder from Park City.

“And, voilà, some of it is happening. This is the beginning of the future and I’m excited to see how it goes.”

For starters, Canyons officials (the The from The Canyons has been dropped) have brought in the first bubble quad lift with heated seats in North America, opened up 300 more acres of mountain with the new Timberline lift on the south edge of the resort and designed a sexy new ski beach to give the après crowd even more of a reason to hang out on the mountain.

There is also the new mile-plus-long sic terrain park (which should leave boarders sore), double the snow-making capacity and too many lodging and food service changes to mention.

At a time when other ski resorts across Utah, North America and the world are making no or only minor improvements, Canyons has moved forward with a master plan and will spend tens of millions on capital improvements this year.

“We have been refreshing the plan over the past two years. Once it was complete, we were excited to get the projects under way. The timing is right,” said Mike Goar, managing director of Canyons.

Goar said the improvements make sense despite the poor economy, or perhaps because of it, as visitors to Canyons will feel like they are getting their money’s worth.

La Nina has Strengthens

The Pacific Northwest should brace for a colder and wetter than average winter, while most of the South and Southeast will be warmer and drier than average through February 2011, according to the annual Winter Outlook released today by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. A moderate to strong La Niña will be the dominant climate factor influencing weather across most of the U.S. this winter.

La Niña is associated with cooler than normal water temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean, unlike El Niño which is associated with warmer than normal water temperatures. Both of these climate phenomena, which typically occur every 2-5 years, influence weather patterns throughout the world and often lead to extreme weather events. Last winter’s El Niño contributed to record-breaking rain and snowfall leading to severe flooding in some parts of the country, with record heat and drought in other parts of the country. Although La Niña is the opposite of El Niño, it also has the potential to bring weather extremes to parts of the nation.

“La Niña is in place and will strengthen and persist through the winter months, giving us a better understanding of what to expect between December and February,” said Mike Halpert, deputy director of the Climate Prediction Center – a division of the National Weather Service. “This is a good time for people to review the outlook and begin preparing for what winter may have in store.”

“Other climate factors will play a role in the winter weather at times across the country,” added Halpert. “Some of these factors, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation, are difficult to predict more than one to two weeks in advance. The NAO adds uncertainty to the forecast in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic portions of the country.”

High Resolution (Credit: NOAA)

Regional highlights include:

• Pacific Northwest: colder and wetter than average. La Niña often brings lower than average temperatures and increased mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest and western Montana during the winter months, which is good for the replenishment of water resources and winter recreation but can also lead to greater flooding and avalanche concerns;

• Southwest: warmer and drier than average. This will likely exacerbate drought conditions in these areas. All southern states are at risk of having above normal wildfire conditions starting this winter and lasting into the spring;

• Northern Plains: colder and wetter than average. Likely to see increased storminess and flooding;

• Southern Plains, Gulf Coast States & Southeast: warmer and drier than average. This will likely exacerbate drought conditions in these areas. All southern states are at risk of having above normal wildfire conditions starting this winter and lasting into the spring;

• Florida: drier than average, with an equal chance for above-, near-, or below-normal temperatures. Above normal wildfire conditions;

• Ohio and Tennessee Valleys: warmer and wetter than average. Likely to see increased storminess and flooding;

• Northeast and Mid-Atlantic: equal chances for above-, near-, or below-normal temperatures and precipitation. Winter weather for these regions is often driven not by La Niña but by weather patterns over the northern Atlantic Ocean and Arctic. These are often more short-term, and are generally predictable only a week or so in advance. If enough cold air and moisture are in place, areas north of the Ohio Valley and into the Northeast could see above-average snow;

• Central U.S.: equal chances of above-near-or below normal temperatures and precipitation;

• Hawaii: drier than normal through November, then wetter than normal December through February. Statewide, the current drought is expected to continue through the winter, with several locations remaining on track to become the driest year on record. Drought recovery is more likely on the smaller islands of Kauai and Molokai, and over the windward slopes of the Big Island and Maui;

• Alaska: odds favor colder than average temperatures with equal chances of above or below normal precipitation. The interior and southern portions of the state are currently drier than normal. A dry winter may set Alaska up for a greater chance of above normal wildfire conditions in the spring.

This seasonal outlook does not project where and when snowstorms may hit or total seasonal snowfall accumulations. Snow forecasts are dependent upon winter storms, which are generally not predictable more than several days in advance.

NOAA's National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. NOAA’s National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy. Visit us online at weather.gov and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/US.National.Weather.Service.gov.

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov.

3-day Weather Forecast and Outlook for Sun Valley/Ketchum

Discussion.. A storm system along the West Coast will be moving through northern Utah on Saturday. This is not a cold storm like the one the first part of the past week.

Today.. Partly cloudy with highs in the 50s. Lows tonight in the mid 30s.

Saturday.. Cloudy with a 40% chance of rain in the afternoon and evening. Highs in the mid 50s and lows in the mid 30s.

Sunday.. Partly cloudy with highs around 50. Lows near 30.

3-day Weather Forecast and Outlook for Vail/Beaver Creek

Discussion.. A storm system along the West Coast will be moving through northern Utah on Saturday. This is not a cold storm like the one the first part of the past week.

Today.. Partly cloudy with highs in the 50s. Lows tonight in the mid 30s.

Saturday.. Cloudy with a 40% chance of rain in the afternoon and evening. Highs in the mid 50s and lows in the mid 30s.

Sunday.. Partly cloudy with highs around 50. Lows near 30.

3-day Weather Forecast and Outlook for ParkCity/Deer Valley

Discussion.. A storm system along the West Coast will be moving through northern Utah on Saturday. This is not a cold storm like the one the first part of the past week.

Today.. Partly cloudy with highs in the 50s. Lows tonight in the mid 30s.

Saturday.. Cloudy with a 40% chance of rain in the afternoon and evening. Highs in the mid 50s and lows in the mid 30s.

Sunday.. Partly cloudy with highs around 50. Lows near 30.

Heated Lift Seats at The Canyons Ski Resort

Skiers and riders at The Canyons Resort this winter will be treated to heated seats and ski lift chairs covered in weather-protected orange plastic.

The "bubble" chair lifts were purchased from Austria and will be the only ones of their kind in the U.S., said Mike Goar, the resort's managing director.

"That heated chair — it changes your whole outlook on a cold day," Goar said.

Mike Goar announces changes at The Canyons while Paul Boardman takes shelter under a new bubble enclosed quad lift chair, which offers comforts such as heated seats.

From the archive

The resort also plans to change its name to "Canyons," leaving off "The" and "Resort." It will rebrand itself, starting with an ad campaign that asks, "How do you mountain?"

Some of the transformation will take place in about 18 months, but changes on the slopes could take five years or more.

Beyond the new-age bubble chairs, Canyons and its owner, Talisker, have purchased a snow-making machine and a 20 million-gallon reservoir, plus a lift to Iron Mountain that opens 300 acres of new terrain. If everything goes as planned, that would put the resort at about 4,000 skiable acres, with a total 176 trails.

That terrain, especially in high elevations, will allow an increase by about 50 percent in the number of skiers who get to the top, due to the lift featuring the orange bubble seats. The new lift replaces the Golden Eagle.

New amenities will come with "a small amount" of increase in both daily and season ticket prices starting this year, Goar said. The figures have yet to be announced.

Citing its privately held status, Canyons also declined to comment on how much was spent on the upgrades, how many visitors it has annually or how many more visitors it expects in 2010/2011.

However, resort managers said they plan to add about 100 employees during peak times, bringing the total to 1,700. This summer, the company has had about 150 construction workers at the resort.

Park City Chamber of Commerce spokesman Craig McCarthy, himself a skier, attended Thursday's announcement. Like all other news conference attendees, he was soaked in a chilly rainstorm that broke out just as the orange lifts were unveiled.

"It's great news in a lot of ways," he said of the resort's plans. "It's good for Park City, for the ski industry and for employment."

McCarthy added that the increased uphill capacity will be great, especially during winter holidays.

Announcements in the near future will include news of additional restaurants and bars at the "Canyons ski beach." Additional parking space also could be on the agenda.

"We want to focus on the skier experience" said Paul Boardman, a new member of the Canyons executive team. "We believe that a mountain is a lot more than a pile of rocks."

Snow in Vail

Vail got its first blast of snow Monday, inspiring many local skiers and snowboarders to check out Arapahoe Basin's opening day.

Only problem: Getting there was pretty epic in and of itself.

Stuck in standstill traffic on Interstate 70 Monday morning, Eagle resident Eric Tarkanian hit a snag in his trip to A-basin.

Earlier that morning he looked at the mountain's web cam and liked what he saw: Lots of snow and not-too-large crowds. So he set out to try A-basin's new chair lifts — and enjoy winter's sudden arrival.

“I've been waiting a long time for this,” the 38-year-old skier said. “It came on so quickly. I couldn't pass it up.”

Getting over the pass was another story.

With many cars and trucks getting stuck in the snow, eastbound traffic on I-70 between Vail and the top of Vail Pass slowed to a crawl and, periodically, a dead standstill, throughout the day, Colorado State Patrol Sgt. Shawn Olmstead said.

“The road are just nasty,” he said.

Although neither Vail Pass nor Eisenhower Tunnel closed, traffic traveling east from West Vail to the top of Vail Pass had been traveling at 20 to 30 mph on average from about 11:30 a.m. to at least 3:30 p.m. Earlier in the morning, traffic slowed to a crawl east of Vail from mile marker 179 to 180.5. Olmstead said drivers should check their windshield wipers and carry proper supplies in their cars, now that snow is officially here.

Snow in Vail

In Vail, excitement is building for the mountain's opening Nov. 19.

Snowmaking started Monday on the Golden Peak Race trail with about 25 snow guns starting up around mid-day, said Paul Fillion, senior director of mountain operations for Vail Mountain.

He expected the guns to continue blowing snow throughout the night and into the next two days. The guns turn on automatically when temperatures drop below 32 degrees, he said.

The racecourse will once again attract some star power this year. Lindsey Vonn is scheduled to start training there Nov. 2, along with up to 30 members of the men's U.S. Ski Team, said Nigel Cooper, director of program development for Ski and Snowboard Club Vail. As many as 30 members of the womens' U.S. ski team are scheduled to begin training at Golden Peak Nov. 5, he said.

Another 1 to 3 inches could be in store for Vail today, said Meteorologist Mike Chamberlain from the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.

He said a winter storm warning remains in effect through noon today.

Things should warm up a bit throughout the rest of the week, he said.

“By Friday, we're expecting low '50s,” he said.

Another snowstorm could be possible this weekend, he said.

#9 - Sun Valley

Skiers pushed Sun Valley down two spots in Ski magazine's 2010 ranking of North America's winter resorts.

The magazine has done the survey for 23 consecutive years, asking its readers to rate the continent's ski mountains. The end result is a list of the top 30 downhill destinations, and Sun Valley fell from seventh to ninth place over the last year. While this year saw a two-spot drop, Sun Valley climbed four spots from 2008 to 2009, ascending from 11th place to seventh.

Why the reversal?

The explanation comes in the survey's 18 categories of evaluation covering satisfaction with both on- and off-mountain amenities. The magazine only shows those placing in the top 10 of these categories, and Sun Valley made the cut 10 out of 18 times, one more than last year. However, Sun Valley more often than not fell a few spaces per category compared to last year.

Sun Valley's lifts were ranked as fourth best in all North America in 2009, but placed 8th this year. Sun Valley's service ranking dropped from second to third. It dropped from third to seventh place for lodging, third to fourth for dining, from third to eighth for off-hill activities and from seventh to eighth for family programs. Whereas it earned seventh in après-skiing in 2009, it didn't make the top 10 this year.

However, skiers awarded Sun Valley a higher position for three categories, placing it 10th for scenery. Last year, it didn't make the top-10 cut in scenery, which can also be said for Sun Valley's weather. But the weather ranking changed to eighth place this year. Sun Valley's largest gain came in its grooming score, jumping from seventh place in 2009 to fourth this year.

Sun Valley repeatedly didn't make the top-10 cut for snow, terrain variety, challenge, value, access, terrain parks and overall satisfaction.

But some skiers told the magazine they see lower scores as a good thing, especially when it comes to access. Sun Valley's isolation keeps the crowds away.

"[It's a] well-kept secret and the locals like it this way," remarked a reader.

One reader wished Bald Mountain was "more challenging" while another contended "the blues are blacks."

The magazine said last year's lack of snow left some patrons wanting. The resort reported 186 inches of snowfall last season. The average is 220 inches. However, skiers liked what the resort did with the snow it had, giving it high marks for grooming. The resort also did well in on-mountain food.

"No wonder," remarked Ski magazine. "At Seattle Ridge, one of the resort's extraordinary day lodges, they'll cook trout to order. Upscale appetites will flock to the renovated Roundhouse restaurant and the nice addition of the new gondola that serves it all."

However, the magazine said Sun Valley's calling card has become its service.

"You're treated like royalty," a reader wrote.

Striving for "100 percent customer satisfaction" has been the self-stated goal of Tim Silva, Sun Valley Resort's new general manager, who oversaw the business for his first winter in 2009-10. Survey responders put staff in high regard for "remembering names and faces" and "carrying skis from the shuttles."

One skier summed up 75-year-old Sun Valley as "the last of the really special ski resorts."

Major Fall (Winter-Like) Storm Heading for the Sawtooth Mountains of southern Idaho

Discussion: A major storm in the Pacific Northwest will be moving into southern Idaho today with the wet and cold weather continuing until Tuesday night.

This storm promises to bring the first significant snow to the Sun Valley/Ketchum area with 8-14 inches of snow expected.

Major Fall (Winter-Like) Storm Heading for the Rockies of Colorado

Discussion: A cold and very wet storm over the Pacific Northwest will be tracking into Colorado later today and continue into early Wednesday.

This storm promises to produced the first significant snowfall of the fall season with 8-16 inches anticipated.

Major Fall (Winter-Like) Storm Heading for the Wasatch of Uah

Discussion: A major fall storm is poised to move into Utah this afternoon and will produced cold/wet weather through Tuesday night.

This has the potential to produced the first significant snowfall of the season with 12-18 inches expected above 8000 feet.

#4 Beaver Creek

Beaver Creek is like the perfect woman: glamorous yet full of gritty substance; nurturing one minute and surprisingly feisty when provoked. Sure, she serves fresh-baked cookies every afternoon, but she also doles out challenge aplenty. That’s news to many, as the scores for Challenge attest. And that’s just fine with those who know that when “Vail gets the crowds, the Beav gets the locals.”

For example, the Stone Creek Chutes and the Royal Elk Glades have tough tree lines that remain virtually undiscovered. Less hidden but still under-explored, are the 23,000 vertical feet of black and double-black pitches descend from the top of the Grouse Mountain Express. But the resort’s bread and butter are all the things that make life easy, including Grooming (No. 2), Service (No. 2), On-Mountain Food (No. 5) and Lodging (No. 4). The Osprey, Westin, Park Hyatt and Ritz-Carlton set the lodging standards high. And the prices: “Bring your platinum card.” But the Beav is a gracious host, attending to guests’ needs and indulging their wants: “The near-ultimate experience from arrival to departure” says one reader. Among BC’s greatest conveniences is the Eagle Airport, 15 minutes away.

Though the Dining (No. 7) is top-notch, the village doesn’t rock late. “Nonexistent nightlife,” is a complaint, so après hounds will want to look elsewhere. Conveniently, Vail and the mining town of Minturn are close.

Easing the family ski vacation has always been Beaver Creek’s M.O., and in the last few years, it’s perfected the art. (“Best mountain for families with kids or older parents or grandparents.”)

Beaver Creek climbed two spots this year, and we don’t think it’s done. The top three resorts shouldn’t get too comfortable.

#2 Vail

Let’s be clear: No ski resort can be everything to everyone. Some are specialists—focusing on, say, customer service that’s a squeeze shy of suffocating or terrain challenge that requires the legs and lungs of a 22-year-old. They endear themselves to the fringes but marginalize the masses. Other resorts are generalists. They satisfy the middle but leave passionate outliers unimpressed.

Vail doesn’t fall neatly into either category. It pampers its guests, but it doesn’t smother them. It serves up “everything a serious skier would look for,” along with “outstanding” grooming (No. 5) for the more casual participant.

The recent Vail Renaissance and the new Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton add sparkle, but they haven’t whitewashed any of Vail’s well-seasoned charm. (“Thank god Bart and Yeti’s wasn’t ousted. It’s the essence of why I keep returning.”)

Vail gives almost everyone almost everything. And it’s not just because it’s humongous. Sure, Vail has more terrain in its back bowls (2,600 acres) than most mountains have within their permit areas. (“Seems like each time I ski terrain that I didn’t notice before.”) But quantity is of no consequence without quality or, for that matter, equality.

At Vail, every guest is valued; none is favored. That goes for the ones who ski and the ones who don’t. On the mountain, hardcores appreciate 31 lifts (No. 6) that make quick work of Vail’s seven-mile wingspan. Families and cruisers are pleased to find every type of terrain imaginable (Terrain Variety, No. 4). And everyone loves the back bowls: “Nothing compares.”

Nonskiers can find plenty to do, too, from spas to shopping to snow tubing. Even if you ski bell to bell, you still have 18 hours to fill. No worries. Vail ranks No. 4 in Après, No. 5 in Dining and Off-Hill Activities and No. 6 in Lodging.

Even Vail’s biggest fans will admit it can be pricey—a common complaint—but expensive and overpriced are very different beefs “Considering its size, terrain, snow and weather, you get the most bang for your buck,” says one reader. Still, the resort responds to the gripes with value-based programs such as the Epic Pass—which more than a few readers praised—and Lunch for Less (get an entrée, side dish and drink at any on-hill restaurant for $10 every day). Vail, like any resort, will always have its Grinches: “It has a Disneyland feel.” But then, there are worse comparisons than a fun park dubbed the
happiest place on earth.

#1 Deer Valley

Can’t anybody else out there groom trails with such precision you could roll a quarter between the corduroy ridges, from the top of Sterling lift all the way down to the Silver Lake Lodge? Can’t anybody else offer up a salad bar of exotic chanterelle mushrooms, finely chopped walnuts, fresh bread and savory slabs of Gruyère beautifully arranged in concentric circles? Can’t anyone else marshal—and competently train—an army of ambassadors, greeters, staffers and just about everyone on the payroll to consistently solve any problem that pops up, from minor to vacation-changing?

Clearly the answer is no; nobody can.

Deer Valley, with its pastry chef’s attention to detail—to say nothing of its pastry chef’s attention to pastry—cares about every aspect of the skier experience. From the moment you pull up and a helpful resort employee saves you from the drudgery of lugging your kids (and all of their gear) off to ski school by helping you unload the car, to the final moments of the day when you can check your skis in for the night at the on-mountain ski valet—at no charge.

These are just a few of the reasons Deer Valley tops the charts in Service, not to mention On-Mountain Food, Lodging and Dining.

To be sure, every Silver Lake Lodge has its cloud. Despite recent additions to the mountain’s expert terrain—the Lady Morgan Express with its steep pitches and wide open bowls and an extension of the Sultan Lift that services the Triangle Trees, to name a few—the resort ranks low in terrain categories, and is “not challenging enough” according to a good number of readers. To be honest, at least in this local’s opinion, those polled must have eaten one too many of the fresh, warm, manhole–cover sized chocolate chip cookies and never made it over to Daley Chutes. There they would have found 40-degree pitches that would challenge even the most experienced skier.

Not surprisingly, most readers still loudly applaud Deer Valley’s skier–only policy (“No snowboarders!” many rejoice). And whether they skied the groomers all day or tested themselves in the trees and the back bowls, everyone agrees—time and time again—a day spent in the greatest snow on earth, under the warming Utah sunshine, with a coda of a—yeah, expensive—beer is just about impossible to beat.

#5 Park City

Given that it’s ranked fifth, one might assume Park City is a skiers’ mecca—a place where hardcores let it all hang out.

But the fact is, Park City ranks so high because it’s a skiing family’s paradise —where there is an activity to satisfy almost every skier’s or rider’s taste.

For some it’s all about the skiing: “awesome blend of groomers, bowls and trees,” says a reader. For many others it’s the fact that PCMR is connected to one of the best ski towns in the world. “Walking distance to a fantastic downtown. Great music, great bars, art and entertainment.” Important additions to an already rich entertainment core include the High West Distillery and Saloon and the Silver Star development, complete with its own lift, restaurants and lodging.

But don’t underestimate the alpine goodies. One attraction is the multiple terrain parks and pipes, which are like flypaper for buzzing teens. There’s nothing better than a playground that occupies your kids while you head up to the double-black diamond steeps of Jupiter Bowl to make laps in the fresh powder.

Add a top-notch ski school where the class size is a miniscule maximum of five, and you’re starting to get the big picture. Literally. The place is big, with 3,300 acres and 16 lifts spread over seven peaks and nine bowls.

Another big plus: As readers note, all of this is easy to get to. It’s ranked No. 2 in Access, with the Salt Lake airport an easy 40-minute drive or shuttle away.

So, if you’re looking for a single resort to make nearly everybody in your family happy (we make no claims about your 15-year-old daughter), consider a place ranked No. 4 in Off-hill Activities, No. 7 in Family Programs and No. 5 in Après. And whatever you do, look both ways when leaving the saloon.

Sun Valley 9th in Ski Magazine's 2010 Rankings

Skiers pushed Sun Valley down two spots in Ski magazine's 2010 ranking of North America's winter resorts.

The magazine has done the survey for 23 consecutive years, asking its readers to rate the continent's ski mountains. The end result is a list of the top 30 downhill destinations, and Sun Valley fell from seventh to ninth place over the last year. While this year saw a two-spot drop, Sun Valley climbed four spots from 2008 to 2009, ascending from 11th place to seventh.

Why the reversal?

The explanation comes in the survey's 18 categories of evaluation covering satisfaction with both on- and off-mountain amenities. The magazine only shows those placing in the top 10 of these categories, and Sun Valley made the cut 10 out of 18 times, one more than last year. However, Sun Valley more often than not fell a few spaces per category compared to last year.

Sun Valley's lifts were ranked as fourth best in all North America in 2009, but placed 8th this year. Sun Valley's service ranking dropped from second to third. It dropped from third to seventh place for lodging, third to fourth for dining, from third to eighth for off-hill activities and from seventh to eighth for family programs. Whereas it earned seventh in après-skiing in 2009, it didn't make the top 10 this year.

However, skiers awarded Sun Valley a higher position for three categories, placing it 10th for scenery. Last year, it didn't make the top-10 cut in scenery, which can also be said for Sun Valley's weather. But the weather ranking changed to eighth place this year. Sun Valley's largest gain came in its grooming score, jumping from seventh place in 2009 to fourth this year.

Sun Valley repeatedly didn't make the top-10 cut for snow, terrain variety, challenge, value, access, terrain parks and overall satisfaction.

But some skiers told the magazine they see lower scores as a good thing, especially when it comes to access. Sun Valley's isolation keeps the crowds away.

"[It's a] well-kept secret and the locals like it this way," remarked a reader.

One reader wished Bald Mountain was "more challenging" while another contended "the blues are blacks."

The magazine said last year's lack of snow left some patrons wanting. The resort reported 186 inches of snowfall last season. The average is 220 inches. However, skiers liked what the resort did with the snow it had, giving it high marks for grooming. The resort also did well in on-mountain food.

"No wonder," remarked Ski magazine. "At Seattle Ridge, one of the resort's extraordinary day lodges, they'll cook trout to order. Upscale appetites will flock to the renovated Roundhouse restaurant and the nice addition of the new gondola that serves it all."

However, the magazine said Sun Valley's calling card has become its service.

"You're treated like royalty," a reader wrote.

Striving for "100 percent customer satisfaction" has been the self-stated goal of Tim Silva, Sun Valley Resort's new general manager, who oversaw the business for his first winter in 2009-10. Survey responders put staff in high regard for "remembering names and faces" and "carrying skis from the shuttles."

One skier summed up 75-year-old Sun Valley as "the last of the really special ski resorts."

3-day Weather Forecast and Outlook for Sun Valley/Ketchum

Discussion: A major fall storm will be moving into Utah over the weekend and into the first of next week with the coldest air of the season.

Today.. Cloudy with a 20% chance of showers this evening. Highs in the upper 50s and lows in the mid 30s.

Weekend.. A 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms on Saturday drops to a 50% chance on Sunday. Highs Saturday mid 50s and Sunday near 60. Lows 30-35.

Monday and Tuesday.. A 60% chance of rain or snow on Monday and mostly snow on Tuesday. 2-4 inches of snow possible above 8000 feet. Highs in the lower 40s. Lows in the 20s.

3-day Weather Forecast and Outlook for Vail/Beaver Creek

Discussion.. A major fall storm is moving into Colorado with some of the coldest air of the fall season.

Today into the weekend.. A 50-80% chance of snow or snow showers with much colder temperatures. Highs upper 30s to near 40. Lows near 30. 1-2 inches of snow in town and 3-5 inches of snow above 8000-8500 feet.

Monday and Tuesday.. A 60% of snow showers on Monday lowers to a 30% by Tuesday. Another 1-3 inches of snow possible in the mountains. Highs 30-35. Lows near 20.

3-day Weather Forecast and Outlook for ParkCity/Deer Valley

Discussion: A major fall storm will be moving into Utah over the weekend and into the first of next week with the coldest air of the season.

Today.. Cloudy with a 20% chance of showers this evening. Highs in the upper 50s and lows in the mid 30s.

Weekend.. A 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms on Saturday drops to a 50% chance on Sunday. Highs Saturday mid 50s and Sunday near 60. Lows 30-35.

Monday and Tuesday.. A 60% chance of rain or snow on Monday and mostly snow on Tuesday. 2-4 inches of snow possible above 8000 feet. Highs in the lower 40s. Lows in the 20s.

La Nina Winter 2010-2011 Anticipated

The following are some more ideas about the winter 2010-2011 from the Vail Daily Newspaper.

You can't predict the weather, but it doesn't mean that people aren't going to try.

Short-range weather predictions can even be flawed, let alone long-term predictions about such variable conditions as temperature and precipitation.

The La Nina weather pattern this coming winter means one thing for sure — there will be unusually cold ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean near the Equator. The conditions tend to bring wetter than normal conditions across the Pacific Northwest and dryer and warmer than normal conditions across much of the southern tier of the United States.

Colorado sits right in the middle, meaning things here could go either way.

The last La Nina winter was 2007-08 and brought tons of snow to the valley. Powder days became the norm, but you never would have known it based on some early winter weather predictions that year, though.

Both the Farmer's Almanac and Klaus Wolter, a Boulder-based climatologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who studies snow in Colorado, didn't hold out much hope that white stuff would fall from the sky in large amounts that winter. Wolter, a skier, even chose not to buy a season ski pass that year. He didn't even buy a 4-day pass.

Wolter called 2007-08 the winter of “low expectations,” but said he hoped he would be wrong. He was.

Wolter said this coming winter is a “big La Nina year,” but that doesn't necessarily mean previous La Nina patterns in the area mean anything about what's to come.

"2007-08 was a La Nina that was very beneficial for us, and unfortunately that doesn't mean it will happen again,” Wolter said.

Wolter said he was uncomfortable talking about more specific long-range forecasts with the media because he hadn't yet shared them with a group of regional water managers.

Ethan Greene, director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, said his organization puts out forecasts for up to 36 hours in advance, but nothing farther in advance than that.

“That's where we can feel like we have some skill,” Greene said. “We look at those long-range forecasts, probably for the same reasons we all do — it's fun and it's interesting and it gives you something to talk about while you're drinking coffee in the morning.”

With La Nina and El Nino weather patterns, Greene said Colorado is kind of in “no man's land,” meaning it falls in an area where the weather phenomena don't necessarily affect our region one way or another.

Glass half-empty or half-full?

Colorado does have regions that are included in the La Nina and El Nino forecasts for above average or below average precipitation, but the Vail area sits right in the middle of where the certainty typically exists.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's long-range weather prediction for Western Colorado for the upcoming December, January and February months shows a 7.5 percent probability for record high amounts of snowfall, a 30.4 percent chance for above normal snowfall, a 36.1 percent chance for near normal snowfall, a 33.4 percent chance for below normal snowfall and an 8.7 percent chance for record lows of snowfall.

Greene said looking at data like that and interpreting it “kind of depends on if you're a glass half-full or glass half-empty person.”

“A good way to look at it is that the last La Nina was great,” he said. “Hopefully we can find something to be excited about.”

The Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy is doing just that — getting excited about snow. Head of School Geoff Grimmer said he's planning a Ute Indian snow dance with students, the public and members of a nearby Ute Indian Tribe in early December.

“It's to celebrate snow and to respect the Mother Earth,” Grimmer said. “It's about a respect for the environment and two cultures and communities coming together.”

Whether the snow dance will rile any snow gods is a mystery, but the right intentions are there.

Some people look to things as simple as signs from wildlife. Local Bernie Boettcher said the last time Vail and Beaver Creek had a big snow year he saw hundreds of woolly bear caterpillars on the roads and trails before the season.

“Ninety-five percent of them were headed north — go figure,” Boettcher said.

Eagle business owner and valley local Matt Jones said, based on previous La Nina years, that he expects a warm, dry end of October and November and maybe even a delay to the mountains opening because of warm temperatures.

“December can typically be a crapshoot for snow in La Nina years, but January and February have deep (powder) written all over them,” Jones said.

Sundance Film Festival in 2011

The critically acclaimed Sundance Film Festival will be celebrating its 27th anniversary in 2011. Dates for the 2011 Sundance Film Festival are January 20-30, 2011.

Founded in 1978 as the Utah/U.S. Film Festival, the Sundance Film Festival has evolved into the largest independent film festival in the United States and today is known as the premier showcase for new and innovative work from American and international independent filmmakers.

Many of today’s most acclaimed filmmakers got their big break at Sundance such as Quentin Tarantino, Jim Jarmusch, Kevin Smith, Robert Rodriguez, Steven Soderbergh, James Wan and Paul Thomas Anderson. In addition, many critically acclaimed films received wider attention as a result of the Sundance Film Festival such as Reservoir Dogs, Clerks, Napoleon Dynamite, Maria Full of Grace, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, An Inconvenient Truth, Trouble the Water, Central Station, Saw, Little Miss Sunshine, The Blair Witch Project and Sex, Lies and Videotape. The Sundance Film Festival is hosted by the Sundance Institute, a not-for-profit cultural organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981.

Make your reservation now at http://www.skitriphomes.com

3-day weather forecast for Vail/Beaver Creek

Discussion.. Another mostly nice and beautiful colorful fall weekend is anticipated.

Today and Saturday.. Sunny days and 1/4 moonlite nights. Highs today in the lower 60s and Saturday near 60. Lows in the upper 30s.

Sunday.. Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms by evening. Highs near 60. Lows in the lower 40s.

3-day weather forecast for Sun Valley/Ketchum

Discussion.. A nice end to the work-week will turn to a slight chance of showers over the weekend.

Today.. Fair to partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 60s. Lows in the upper 30s.

Weekend.. Partly cloudy with a 10-20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs Saturday in the lower 60s and Sunday near 60. Lows in the in the mid 30s.

Enjoy the fall colors - they are about over.

3-day weather forecast for ParkCity/Deer Valley

Discussion.. Another mostly nice and beautiful colorful fall weekend is anticipated.

Today and Saturday.. Sunny days and 1/4 moonlite nights. Highs today in the lower 70s and Saturday in the mid 70s. Lows near 40.

Sunday.. Partly cloudy with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms by afternoon. Cooler with highs in the mid 60s. Lows in the lower 40s.

Opening Dates for 2010-2011 Ski Seaon Announced

Utah's ski resorts are hoping for snow soon as they plan their opening dates.

Solitude plans to be the first Utah ski resort open this year with an anticipated start date of Nov. 13.

Anticipated opening dates

• Nov. 13: Solitude
• Nov. 16-21: Brighton, Alta, Park City and Snowbird
• Nov. 26-28: The Canyons, Powder Mountain, Snowbasin
• Dec. 5: Deer Valley

La Nina Update as of Oct 7

La Nina continued during September 2010 as reflected by the large expanse of below-average sea surface temperatures (SST) across most of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Consistent with nearly all the the forecast models, La Nina is expected to last at least in the Northern Hemisphere until spring 2011.

The impacts for the upcoming late fall, winter and early spring months would be a more active storm track through the northern and central Rockies. This would translate to above normal snowfall in southern Idaho and northern Utah and perhaps as far south as west-central Colorado.

The attached graph depicts the SST observed as of September 29th. The blue indicates colder than normal waters in the Pacific and the darker blue (-3 deg C), is where the coldest water has been measured.

3-day weather forecast for Vail/Beaver Creek

Discussion.. Still wet today but the weekend looks dry and warmer.

Today.. Mostly cloudy with showers. Highs near 55. Lows tonight near 40.

Weekend.. Partly cloudy with warmer days. Highs 55-60. Lows in the mid 30s.

Beaver Creek ranks 3rd in the 2010 addition of Ski Magazine.

3-day weather forecast for Sun Valley/Ketchum

Discussion.. A mostly dry period with a threat of showers late in the weekend. Warmer days.

Today and Saturday.. Partly cloudy. Highs 55-60. Lows in the mid 30s.

Sunday.. Partly cloudy with a threat of showers late afternoon. Highs in the mid 60s. Lows near 40.

3-day weather forecast for ParkCity/Deer Valley

Discussion.. One more wet day followed by an dry and warmer weekend.

Today.. Mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of showers. Highs in the mid 50s. Lows in the upper 30s.

Weekend.. Partly cloudy and warmer days. Highs Saturday mid 60s and Sunday upper 60s. Lows near 40.

Enjoy the fall colors!!!!

Spectacular Fall in the Sawtooth Mountains

Driving from the south valley up into the Sawtooth National Forest is like driving through the entire fall season.

In Hailey and south of Ketchum, the predominant color is still green, with a few aspens just beginning to display their familiar fall gold. The trees on the streets of downtown Ketchum are starting to develop their fall displays, with red maples and a few oaks adding variety.

The degree and type of color displayed by the area's trees depends on a number of factors, said Deb Taylor, botanist with the Ketchum Ranger District. The late, wet spring the valley experienced might lead to a particularly good show this season, Taylor said.

Park City Ranked 5th

Park City Mountain Resort has once again been ranked amongst the top five resorts in North America by the readers of SKI Magazine. The Resort was ranked fifth behind Deer Valley, Vail, Whistler Blackcomb and Beaver Creek. The Resort first broke into the prestigious top five in the 2004-05 season and since then, has received this top ranking six of the past seven years.

According to SKI Mag, "Park City ranks so high because it's a skiing family's paradise." Snowmamas®, Kids Signature Programs, Adventure Alleys and Snowbugs were created to enhance the overall planning and mountain experience! These are things you'll only find at Park City Mountain Resort. Our passion to help families create lifelong memories is a driving factor in the programs we create and has helped us to also be named a top three resort in the Family Ski Trip category.

Deer Valley is Number Uno

For the fourth year in a row, 20,000 readers of SKI Magazine have selected Deer Valley Resort as the No. 1 resort in North America.

The results of the closely watched survey were announced Thursday night, said Jessica Kunzer, spokesperson for Ski Utah.

No other resort has topped the rankings four years in a row.

"It's quite an honor pretty darn incredible," said Bob Wheaton, president and general manager.

It also marks 10 years Deer Valley finished in the top three.

3-day weather forecast for Sun Valley/Ketchum

Discussion.. A warm weekend will be followed by a cold fall storm the first of next week.

Today and Saturday.. Sunny and hot days and mild tonight. Highs in the lower 80s. Lows in the mid 40s.

Sunday.. 30-40% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cooler. Highs in the mid 70s. Lows in the mid 40s.

Outlook (Monday-Wednesday).. 30-40% chance of showers and thunderstorms Monday and Tuesday with some snow showers likely Monday night and Tuesday. Sunny skies will return on Wednesday. Highs 55-60. lows 30-35.

3-day weather forecast for Vail/Beaver Creek

Discussion.. Another nice weekend is in store with a storm expected the first part of next week.

Today.. Sunny and warm today and cool tonight. Highs in the lower 70s. Lows near 40.

Sunday.. Mostly sunny with a threat of showers late in the day. Highs near 70. Lows near 40.

Outlook (Monday-Wednesday).. Partly cloudy with a 20-30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 60s. Lows 35-40.

3-day weather forecast for ParkCity/Deer Valley

Discussion: The will be the last "hot" weekend as a significant fall storm heads for Utah the first of next week.

Today and Saturday.. Sunny and hot days and coolist tonight. Highs in the mid 80s. lows in the upper 30s.

Sunday.. 30-40% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cooler with highs near 80. Lows in the lower 40s.

Outlook for next week (Monday-Wednesday).. The wettest day will be Monday with daytime temperatures dropping to near 60 with snow down to 7500 feet. Lows near 30 -35 except on Wednesday morning with clearer skies with temps in the upper 20s.