Greg: First of all, good talking with you the other day about current snow at Alta/Snowbird…. and the olde days too.
Per your question: I have perused Dick Bass’s comments in his book “Seven Summits” and conclude that he must have opened Snowbird in the winter of ’71-’72. So I’d offer the guess that the area opened for business in Nov or Dec of 1971.
Total side comment. I worked at Vail at Lionshead in ’73 – ’75. We took side trips to other areas. In ’73, we went to Snowbird because Utah was buried in new snow. I had just exited the Tram and was studying the trail map at the head of the bowl. Everyone had headed down slope except for one gentlemen and me.
We began a short conversation about Utah skiing. He said he owned a small area nearby. Yes, it was Robert Redford scoping out the competition. He was much shorter in person they I had imagined. Very personable though.
April 2, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Greg: First of all, good talking with you the other day about current snow at Alta/Snowbird…. and the olde days too.
Per your question: I have perused Dick Bass’s comments in his book “Seven Summits” and conclude that he must have opened Snowbird in the winter of ’71-’72. So I’d offer the guess that the area opened for business in Nov or Dec of 1971.
April 2, 2011 at 8:00 pm
You are correct! It was December of 1971.
Always good talking with you as well and thanks for your response.
April 2, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Greg: my guess is that Snowbird opened in Nov or Dec of 1971.
February 26, 2012 at 3:23 pm
Total side comment. I worked at Vail at Lionshead in ’73 – ’75. We took side trips to other areas. In ’73, we went to Snowbird because Utah was buried in new snow. I had just exited the Tram and was studying the trail map at the head of the bowl. Everyone had headed down slope except for one gentlemen and me.
We began a short conversation about Utah skiing. He said he owned a small area nearby. Yes, it was Robert Redford scoping out the competition. He was much shorter in person they I had imagined. Very personable though.