Northern Arizona experienced snowfall today of three to five inches in many areas, although temperatures were mild and the snow melted in most locales. Estimates put this October 10th snowfall as the earliest in 83 years.
New Snow and 50 Days to Skiing and Snowboarding
Fresh snow in the high county has outdoor enthusiasts pulling out their snow gear in anticipation of what Arizona Snowbowl expects to be its best season yet.
As a reminder that the ski season is only 50 days away on the San Francisco Peaks, the ski resort received three to five inches of new snow last night, a sign for skiers and snowboarders to get those boards waxed and those discounted season passes picked up.
Arizona Snowbowl crews are preparing the snow guns that soon will be fired up and spraying out a solid base that will blanket many of the trails on the mountain.
“Given the typical cold temperatures that we anticipate around Thanksgiving, we are planning to have enough snow, even without natural snow, to open the trails and lifts on Sunset and Hart Prairie for Black Friday,” said Arizona Snowbowl General Manager J.R. Murray.
For the first time in the ski resort’s 75-year history, Arizona Snowbowl can guarantee a ski season with four months of snow. All Unlimited Season Passes now provide 120+ days of skiing and riding at Snowbowl from late November through early April. Unlimited Season Passholders also will be able to magnify their winter recreation experience through the Powder Alliance, a more than $2,000 value that adds three free days of skiing at each of the 11 other well-known participating Western ski resorts, including Crested Butte, Snowbasin and Sierra-at-Tahoe.
The Midweek Season Pass is now the Snowbowl Select Adult Pass with more days. It is valid Mondays through Fridays, except over the Christmas holiday and Saturday blackouts, plus early and spring season Sundays. Martin Luther King and Presidents’ Day also are included. In addition, Snowbowl Select Adult Passholders receive 50 percent off window lift ticket rates on blackout dates. “This is the right pass for those who have the opportunity to ski midweek and are more selective about when they ski,” said Murray.
Arizona Snowbowl Season Passes are available for the pre-season rate through Oct. 16, online and at the Drury Inn & Suites this weekend, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11 and 12; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. onSunday, Oct. 13. For a complete listing of Arizona Snowbowl Season Passes, including student and senior rates, visit www.arizonasnowbowl.com
