Outdoors

Fish flops through the glassy water surface just out from the nose of my paddleboard. I glide lazily along under a clear, blue sky, watching for another. Eventually, I sit down, secure my paddle and roll off into the cool water. After swimming around for a few minutes, I hoist myself back up on the board and lower down onto my back, letting the warm sun dry my goose-pimply skin.

 If you’ve ever tried standup paddleboarding (SUP, for short), you’re familiar with this delicious summertime scene. Thanks to multiple reservoirs, natural lakes and rivers peppering the state from north to south, Utah has many SUP spots. But what many seasoned paddlers and paddleboard neophytes alike may not know about SUPing is what a fantastic workout it can be.

 “Done correctly, paddleboarding can be one of the best, full-body workouts,” says Trent Hickman, owner and operator of Park City SUP (801.558.9878, parkcitysup.com). Hickman offers SUP lessons and rentals, yoga and Surf-fit SUP classes and guided SUP tours at the Jordanelle Reservoir and Pebble Beach, a sandy beach at the Deer Valley Resort snowmaking ponds, just off the back deck of the Deer Valley Grocery-Café in Park City. Leveling up your SUP session from a leisurely outing to a calorie-torching, strength-building workout is not difficult, Hickman says but does involve tuning in to your movements and giving it a little practice. “Paddleboarding is all about transferring energy from your body to the paddle and into the water,” he says. “And, so, if you can master the paddle stroke, you can work your body from your feet on up.”

Hickman’s tips for achieving a dynamic paddle stroke

A) Place your hands on the paddle farther apart than feels natural. “Think of how you’d hold a shovel,” Hickman says. “The farther apart your hands are, the better leverage you have.” To locate the optimal paddle hand placement, stand in front of a mirror and grasp the paddle handle with your dominant hand, and the shaft with your other. Raise the paddle over your head and lower it vertically until it rests on the top of your head and your arms form 90-degree angles. This is how far apart your hands should be when paddling. To help you remember where to place your non-dominant hand along the paddle shaft, mark the spot with a piece of brightly colored tape.

 B) Keep your arms straight and hinge at the waist to place the paddle blade in the water. Instead of bending your arms back and forth to pull the paddle through the water, straight arms engage the larger muscle groups in your chest, back and core. “Having bendy arms,” Hickman says, “works just your arms which will fatigue much faster than those larger muscle groups.” And then as soon as the paddle blade is submerged, straighten your legs and drive your hips forward, which, in turn, drives the board forward.

 C) Keep the paddle vertical, or perpendicular to the water. This will keep the board moving forward in a straight line and allow you to paddle on one side several times before switching sides. A good way to maintain a vertical paddle is to make sure your hands remain directly over one another. “To get this you’ll have to lean over a bit on the paddle side of the board, which works your balance and taps into your core,” Hickman says.

D) Other tips for achieving an efficient stroke include: maintaining an athletic stance with your hips and knees aimed toward the front or nose of the board; stopping the paddle stroke at your feet; and lifting the paddle out of the water at the end of the stroke by rotating the thumb on the hand grasping the handle (the top hand) toward the sky, which turns the paddle blade parallel to the board and allows for a clean lift out of the water.

Staying Safe on a SUP

Whether you are paddling around a calm pond like Pebble Beach or embarking on an hours- and miles-long paddling tour around the 3,000-acre Jordanelle Reservoir, be sure your board’s leash is in good condition and use it properly; wear a PFD (personal floatation device); stay close to the shore; and consider going early in the morning, when the water is calmer and motorized boat traffic is at a minimum.  

Flatwater Paddleboarding Destinations in Utah

• Pebble Beach, at the Deer Valley Resort’s snowmaking ponds, Park City, is open daily in the summer, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “It’s the best place in Utah to learn and you can paddle a third of a mile on flat water while never being far from shore,” Hickman says.
• Mirror Lake, Trial Lake, Lake Washington, Smith Morehouse Reservoir and dozens more lakes in the Uinta Mountains. Some require a hike to reach (amplifying your workout!) and the water in most of these high-altitude lakes is very cold.
• Rock Cliff Natural Area is located on the Jordanelle Reservoir’s eastern arm. This section of the reservoir is a no-wake zone and tends to be much less visited than the reservoir’s popular Hailstone area.
• For advanced SUPers ready to progress to moving water, the Provo River offers gentler rapids surrounded by stretches of calm water. Hickman notes that a helmet, PFD and leash are mandatory for SUPing on moving water
• Causey Reservoir, located 15 miles northeast of Ogden, is open to non-motorized watercraft only.

Save the Date

The Park City SUP Festival will be held at the Jordanelle Reservoir on June 22, 2024. This annual event includes SUP demos, races, rentals, food and live music. For details, visit parkcitysup.com

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Nine low-mileage hikes offer great views, interesting destinations and, most importantly, post-work decompression

Though you may be unfamiliar with the term “wildland-urban interface,” if you live anywhere along the Wasatch Front, you bear daily witness to the unique shoulder-to-shoulder closeness of Utah’s biggest metro area and millions of acres of undeveloped forests, canyons, mountainsides and alpine meadows. What this means, of course, is that rather than having to relegate spending time in nature to the weekends, Utah urbanites can get from desk to walking on dirt in under an hour. As such, we encourage you to take advantage of this unheard-of proximity and spring’s balmy, longer days by ending your workday in a way that undoes the damage done by our technology-driven daily lives like almost nothing else: going for a hike.  

1. Adams Canyon, Layton—3.5 miles, out-and-back

This super-scenic and very popular trail runs along the North Fork of Holmes Creek to the impressive 40-foot-tall Adams Waterfall. The trailhead, with bathrooms and ample parking, is located just east of Layton off Highway 89 on East Side Drive. The route begins with steep switchbacks and plateaus as you work your way into the canyon past the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Leashed dogs are allowed in Adams Canyon. Climbing or attempting to slide down the waterfall is prohibited. 

2. Jack’s Peak, Salt Lake City Foothills Natural Area—2.8-mile loop

This loop trail begins at the end of Lakeline Drive, just north of Parleys Canyon. Short but steep, and with sweeping valley views throughout (i.e. lots of west-facing exposure), this excellent trail is best hiked in the spring or fall. Mailboxes at the summit memorialize Jack Edwards, a toddler who passed away from leukemia in 1995. On-leash dogs are allowed. 

3. Grandeur Peak (Face) Trailhead, Salt Lake City to Rattlesnake Gulch Trailhead, Millcreek Canyon

This newly completed section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail runs just under five miles (one way) through the foothills from the Grandeur Peak (Face) Trailhead at the very north end of Wasatch Boulevard to the Rattlesnake Gulch Trailhead in Millcreek Canyon—with a valley viewpoint located conveniently at the halfway point. Options for hiking this trail include walking to and from either trailhead to the overlook platform; hiking the entire section as longer out-and-back; or leaving a second vehicle (or a bike) at one trailhead to shuttle to the other. Note: mountain bikes are allowed on this trial and off-leash dogs are allowed in Millcreek Canyon on odd calendar days only.

4. Neffs Canyon, Olympus Cove, Millcreek—3 miles, out-and-back

This route is popular, especially with dog walkers, for good reason. Ample parking and multiple route length options—all shady—make Neff’s a convenient choice for both a quick, leafy jaunt or an all-day objective. Get there by turning off Wasatch Boulevard at Churchill Junior High onto E. Oakview Drive. Turn left onto Parkview Dr and follow the signs to the Neff’s Canyon Trailhead. Walk past the water tank up the dirt road. Bear left at the top to continue along the canyon trail (the right-side option makes a quick, mile-long loop back to the parking lot) that climbs steadily through the forest. You’re a mile-and-a-half in when you encounter the Mount Olympus Wilderness sign. If time allows, continue another mile along the continually steeper trail until arriving at a gorgeous high meadow flanked with aspen trees and craggy peaks. 

5. Mt. Olympus Trail, Holladay—3 miles, out and back to the stream

Looming large over the eastern Salt Lake Valley is the impressive Mount Olympus. While hiking to its peak is a popular bucket list item for both new and longtime valley residents, knocking out the first third of this route is easily done in two hours, and offers a heart-pumping workout along the way. The trail travels south along switchbacks from the Wasatch Boulevard trailhead and then heads directly up as it approaches an intersection with the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Keep right until the trail meets the BST again, where you’ll again keep right. The route continues to climb as it turns a corner into Tolcats Canyon. You’ll soon reach the stream, which runs year-round except in the driest years. Leashed dogs are allowed.

6. Heughs Canyon, Holladay—2.5 miles, out-and-back

In the spring and early summer, this steep but lovely hike ends at a gorgeous moss-flocked waterfall. Park in the marked stalls on Wasatch Boulevard just east of the Old Mill Golf Course. Walk half a mile along Oak Canyon Drive and to the end of the private Berghalde Lane to the trail’s start. (Please respect area homeowners by keeping your dog leashed until you’re at least .3 miles up the trail.) Once off the pavement, the 2-mile round trip route climbs steadily along the shaded Heughs Creek. After crossing a second bridge, the trail steepens until arriving at a boulder field. Make the short scramble over the boulders to the base of the waterfall.

7. Ferguson Canyon to Big Cottonwood Canyon, Cottonwood Heights—3 miles, out-and-back

A more rolling route along one of the newest sections of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail is the out-and-back route from Ferguson Canyon to the Dogwood Campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Begin at the new Ferguson Park, located just south of Big Cottonwood Canyon on Prospector Drive. Follow signage for a quarter mile up to the trailhead on Quicksilver Drive. Walk up the hill past the water tank onto the well-marked trail that alternatively runs through shady groves and sage-covered hillsides. Bear left at the first fork you encounter (right continues up Ferguson Canyon), crossing a seasonal stream. The trail continues through meadows, along an open hillside overlooking the valley and ends at the Dogwood Campground restrooms. Note: Though dogs are allowed in Ferguson Canyon, they are prohibited on this trail’s Big Cottonwood Canyon section.

8. Bell Canyon Upper Bridge, Sandy—3 miles, out-and-back

Though the full route to Upper Bell Canyon Reservoir is more of a full-day endeavor, hiking from the amenity-heavy Bell Canyon Preservation Trailhead (on the south side of the intersection of Wasatch Boulevard and Little Cottonwood Canyon Road) to the bridge offers a route more appropriate for an evening outing. From the trailhead, keep bearing left at each trail junction you come upon until reaching the bridge. Hungry for more? The canyon’s lower falls are 1 mile farther up the trail, but the route gets significantly steeper and rockier along the way. Before you go: pack a dinner to enjoy at one of the trailhead’s picnic tables with views of the Salt Lake Valley. Dogs are not allowed in Bell Canyon.

9. Rock Canyon Cave, Provo—3 miles, out-and-back

This popular Utah County hiking and rock climbing destination is located directly east of the cupcake-shaped Provo Utah Temple. The route begins as a paved road at the Rock Canyon Trailhead but quickly changes to a shady trail that meanders over five numbered bridges. About a mile and a half up the trail, between bridges #3 and #4 on the north side of the trail, is an old mining cave and an apt turnaround point for an after-work hike. If you have more time, continue on the main trail to a fork right after bridge #5: stay left to continue to Khyv Peak (formerly known as Squaw Peak); the lesser traveled right fork is a very steep route leading to Y Mountain. The 7-mile round trip route to Khyv Peak passes through evergreen stands, a meadow and a campground before becoming steep for the last half mile or so to the summit.

A Trail Tome for Ever Hiker

Ashley Brown wrote Urban Trails: Salt Lake City as a homage to her late grandmother. “My intent behind this book was creating something for every hiker, from the hardcore trail runner to people like my granny, who knew and loved the restorative benefits of getting out into nature,” Brown says. As such, Urban Trails is an apt tool for hikers of all abilities to explore more than 40 routes both within and adjacent to cities lining the Wasatch Front. Pick up your copy at REI, Kings English Book Shop or from mountaineers.org/books.  

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April is here and we have compiled a list of local events happening this week for you to enjoy. From playing Magic the Gathering to meditating with art to a family-friendly teatime, the city is as lively as ever. For even more events this week and throughout the month, visit our community events calendar! 

Monday 04/01

What: Monday Night Magic
Where: Blue Genes 
When: 04/01, 7 p.m. 

A weekly free-to-play Magic the Gathering event featuring free play, hourly raffle prize giveaways, drink specials and more. Play starts at 7 p.m. and ends at close, this is a 21+ event. 

What:  Low Cut Connie and Fantastic Cat 
Where: The State Room
When: 04/01, 7 p.m.

Don’t be a fool and miss Low Cut Connie’s high-octane rock ‘n’ roll show on Monday, April 1st. The State Room will be celebrating its 15th Anniversary (can you believe it?) To make it memorable, the supergroup Fantastic Cat will be opening. And there will be cake!

Tuesday 04/02

What: David Eagleman: What Does AI Mean for Humans? The Road to Augmented Intelligence
Where: Kingsbury Hall
When: 04/02, 7 p.m.

Natural History Museum presents their 2024 Lecture Series Keynote with neuroscientist and bestselling author David Eagleman. The conversation will address the possibility of artificial intelligence taking over creative roles. Tickets are $20, U of U students and faculty pay $10.

Wednesday 04/03

What: Drop-in Drawing Disco
Where: UMFA
When: 04/03, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Unleash your creativity in this free artist-led workshop at UMFA. Inspired by the recently conserved Horses screen by Chiura Obata, as seen in the exhibition Chiura Obata: Layer by Layer, this Drawing Disco will showcase a sumi ink demonstration by local artist Joon Bae. All experience levels welcome, space is limited to 50 people. First session is 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., second session is 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday 04/04

What: UMFA: Art + Wellness: Mindfulness
Where: UMFA
When: 04/04, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Practice being slow and mindful while admiring artwork with instructor Charolette Bell. Explore the UMFA galleries and participate in a free traditional guided meditation. This meditation practice is perfect for beginners and everyone is welcome. There will be seven sessions in total and guests are welcome to attend as many as they like. This event is included in UMFA’s admission fee, free for members and U of U students, staff and faculty.

Friday 04/05

What: Beauty and The Beast in PC
Where: Park City Eccles
When: 04/05, 7 p.m.

For one night only, Ballet West is performing the classic fairy tale Beauty and The Beast at Park City Eccles. Join them for a beautiful story of promise, friendship and love.

What: Gem Faire
Where: Mountain America Expo Center
When: 04/05 – 04/07, Fri. 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Gem Faire, one of the largest gem, jewelry and bead shows, is arriving in Salt Lake this weekend. Find fine jewelry, crystals, gems, beads, minerals, gold & silver, fossils and much more at manufacturer’s prices. Jewelry repair, cleaning and ring sizing are also available while you peruse the vendors’ shops. Admission is $7 for a weekend pass, purchase tickets at the door – cash only. Plus, parking is free! (No admission after 4pm on Sunday.)

What: 6th Annual Green River Rocks
Where: John Wesley Powell River History Museum
When: 04/05 – 04/07

Green River Rocks is hosted by Epicenter and the Bureau of Land Management on the grounds of the John Wesley Powell River History Museum. The festival is free, open to the public, and features expert-led natural history field trips, rock and mineral vendors, educational activities, and fun for the whole family. Find the full weekend schedule on Green River Rock’s website here.

Saturday 04/06

What: Meet Kaci Morgan & Samantha J. Rose
Where: The King’s English Bookshop
When: 04/06, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Meet local authors Kaci Morgan, author of Queen Immortal, and Samantha J. Rose, author of The Very Real World of Emily Adams, this Saturday at The King’s English Bookshop. The authors will be signing copies of their books and meeting fans from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.!

What: Vinyl Revival Saturday Spin off
Where: Millcreek Commons
When: 04/06, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Vinyl Revival will be joined by DJs this Saturday and hosted in the Public Market. New pop-up shops will offer special edition records along with the rest of the market’s vinyl collection and concert memorabilia.

What: Utah’s Indigenous Fashion Week
Where: The Leonardo
When: 04/06, 6 p.m.

The Leonardo Museum is thrilled to be hosting Utah’s Indigenous Fashion Week 2024 “As We Are.” The show will showcase work from multiple tribes including Hopi, Navajo (Diné), Ute, Northern Ute, Apache, Anishinaabe Ojibwe, and many more. Everyone of all peoples, nations, and tribes is welcome to attend this event celebrating contemporary Indigenous fashion, jewelry, and accessories. Doors close at 6:45 p.m.

What: Spring Orchid Show
Where: Red Butte Garden
When: 04/06 – 04/07, Sat. 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

The largest orchid show display in Utah! Join the Utah Orchid Society for a dazzling display of both common and exotic orchid varieties. Get tips from society members on how to keep your plants happy and healthy. A large selection of both plants and pottery will be on sale for those interested in starting their own collection.

What: Legendary Skate Loop Roll Out
Where: Millcreek Commons
When: 04/06, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

For their first weekend of rollerskating opening, Millcreek Commons is throwing a Legendary Skate Loop Roll Out! There will be music, food and skate performances throughout the night. 

What: Teatime at Tracy – Afternoon Niceties
Where: Tracy Aviary
When: 04/06, 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Tracy Aviary is putting on a family-friendly teatime inside their Historic Chase Mill featuring sweets, local pastries and soothing delicious hot tea. Each month from March through July, they will be offering a selection of both caffeinated and herbal teas provided by Tea Zaanti paired with sweets and baked goods by local vendors. Space is limited, so reserve your seat today!

What: Pond Skim
Where: Park City Mountain Resort
When: 04/06, 11:30 a.m.

Join the onlookers at Park City Mountain Resort’s epic celebration of their 3rd Annual Pond Skim! The action starts at 12 p.m. when the skimmers glide across the pond. It’s guaranteed to be a spectacle you won’t forget!

Sunday 04/07

What: Don’t Trip: Wine Walkaround
Where: Publik Space
When: 04/07, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Flora/Fauna and the Happy Wine Club are joining forces this Sunday by starting off their season with a massive procurement of limited & exclusive wine tastings from some of the industry’s most well-known producers. Join them at Publik Space for a wine tasting walkaround, accompanied with sounds by artist Andy Doors and food provided by Thank You For The Short Notice! Entry/tasting is via a donation of $40.

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“The gym makes your body strong but your mind soft” is an adage many seasoned rock climbers know all too well. And it’s no wonder. Even the most mindful climbers let their brains revert to autopilot while spending the winter cruising from one colored plastic hold to another in the climbing gym. But as the first hint of warmth hits the Wasatch in the spring, dusting off those outdoor climbing-critical decision-making and body-awareness skills you’ve let lie dormant all winter long can feel a lot like being a beginner all over again. 

To avoid the dreaded springtime two-steps-back feeling, spend time on the Spray Wall, Tension Board or the Moon Board. So says Natasha Hodges, Climbing School Manager at Momentum Climbing Gym in Millcreek. “People are often intimidated to try the training boards because they are where the really strong climbers tend to hang out,” Hodges says. “But the boards are really useful for all levels of climbers and everyone using them is there for the same reason: to get stronger, both physically and mentally.”

All three of the aforementioned walls are bouldering features, or climbing walls that don’t extend more than 15 feet off the ground. A Spray Wall is densely packed with holds of all shapes and sizes; a Tension Board has an adjustable incline and uses sleek wooden holds set in distinct patterns designed to maintain body tension and improve footwork; and the Moon Board is fixed at a 40-degree incline and is made up smaller, oddly shaped holds focused on improving finger strength and power. Both the Moon Board and Tension Board also feature LED-lit holds that offer an endless variety of problems accessed through free apps. Additionally, the Tension Board allows users to flip, or mirror, routes for symmetrical workouts. A few of the drills Hodges utilizes with her students include…

Timed movement: Set a timer for two, three or four minutes with the goal of continuous movement around the Spray Wall for that entire time. Rest for the same amount of time you worked and then repeat the set twice. Mix it up by finding holds where you can comfortably rest for 30 seconds. “Playing around with doing things like dropping a knee or opening up your hips to find a rest position, especially on holds that aren’t so good, will give you awareness of how to use your body to find rests on those long routes outside,” Hodges says.

Four by fours: Climb four routes or problems without resting in between. When all four are completed, rest for the same amount of time you spent climbing the four routes. Instead of running around the gym to find four problems in the same grade, stay at the Tension Board where you can do a problem, mirror it, do it again and then complete the same process with a second problem. “Doing problems back-to-back like that will help give you the power, endurance and confidence to do those hard, tension-heavy moves, typical of outdoor bouldering and climbing, while you’re pumped or fatigued,” Hodges says.

Project mimicking: Because the Spray Wall is packed with so many different types of holds, you’ll likely be able to find, or closely mimic, a move on an outdoor climb you were working on last season. “For example, maybe the outside move you’re working on is a hard gaston off of a crimp with a bad foothold,” Hodges says. “Because there’s so many holds and different options on the Spray Wall, you can replicate moves and continue to get better at a specific outside climb before the season starts.” 

Gear for Getting Outside

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, it is. The holiday period can’t hold a candle to this. Rocks are buried by the deep snowpack, the daylight hours are long, and for the most part, the notion of powder panic has evaporated until October when the diehards once again start champing at the bit the moment the mercury starts to dip. It’s like locals’ season 2.0, except the skiing is truly good this time without the ever-present threat of detonating one’s skis and knees on a post-Thanksgiving rock. It’s either late-season powder or some corn-snow-ripping fun in the sun, so keep those skis waxed and don’t lose the bug just yet. 

But wait there’s more. Not only is it prime time on the slopes, but spring brings the best of après and on-mountain festivities. We’ll start at Park City Mountain, where the annual Spring Grüv gets underway for 16 days of après, live music and more. On-hill entertainment in the middle of your ski or snowboard day includes live tunes from DJ Velvet on the Public House Deck at Park City’s Mid-Mountain Lodge—by far the best lodge in Park City—every Saturday, starting March 2. 

End each Saturday at Canyons Village, where live music on the main stage is the focal point of a ski beach bash. Highlights include a performance from roots-rock and southern soul maestro Anderson East with special guests Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds on March 30. Shows are free for everyone, so even if you didn’t hit the slopes you can still take the Cabriolet in your finest retro-ski regalia to join in the fun. 

Music may be the defining element of Spring Grüv, but the annual highlight is the Pond Skim Competition, which this season takes place on April 6. If you have the gumption, sign up for the competition, pack your most creative costume, wax your skis or board for maximum velocity and take on the 100-foot crossing yourself. Those who prefer staying dry or desperately want to maintain their dignity can come to watch from the sidelines to enjoy the successful crossings, the spectacular wipeouts and everything in between. 

Deer Valley perhaps has a reputation for being slightly more buttoned up, but they know how to après luxuriously. The resort is hosting a series of post-ski festivities including Fire and Ice Après-Ski on March 9 and 10 with Moët Hennessy and the High West Whiskey Lounge March 15-17 out of a retrofitted Airstream—both at Silver Lake Lodge—and every Saturday Brews and Tunes Après at Snow Park Lodge with live music and a rotating selection of brewery hosts. Snowboarders are welcome to join the party, even if they’re not allowed on the slopes.  

As I said, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, so don’t go chasing sand and sun in the desert. Full event calendars are available on Park City’s and Deer Valley’s websites. parkcitymountain.com, deervalley.com  

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Long ago, shortly after the 1932 Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York, meteorologist and avid skier S. D. Green told a Salt Lake Tribune reporter that Utah’s snow and skiing were superior to Lake Placid. He attributed his claim to the “natural advantages” found here and planted, possibly, seeds for the Utah Olympic movement.

On Dec. 4, 1960, a young Salt Lake Tribune editor named Tom Korologos coined the phrase “The Greatest Snow on Earth,” riffing on the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus tagline. We all know that P.T. Barnum was the king of Blarney, but this boast would prove to be true. (Could we trademark it if it weren’t?)

As weather forecasting technology advanced, scientists were able to actually prove that, yes, Utah truly has the Greatest Snow on Earth. And, if you ski, you know the thrill of a Utah powder day—you have even more reverence if you’ve experienced East Coast ice sheets or West Coast “Sierra Cement.” Our great snow is not a myth—it’s a reality we experience every winter.

Snow is made up of millions of tiny flakes. To understand snow, you must understand the flake, and we don’t mean ski bums in the bars. Jim Steenburgh, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Utah, has devoted an entire book to the flake, Secrets of the Greatest Snow on Earth.

Utah snow is great, Steenburgh says, because of its lower water content and the pattern of its fall. Wetter snow is heavier and falls faster; dry snow falls slowly and has time to become more complex. Snow that’s less than 7% water is considered light, and heavy is over 11%, and creates the Sierra Cement that falls on California and Nevada’s Sierra Range. Man-made snow is really, really dense, with an average of 24-28%. Utah snow, however, has an average density of 8.4 percent. Take that California. (Wait, is that why they all want to move here?)

But the key to our amazing snow is a quick-change temperature fluctuation common to Utah snowstorms. Often a storm starts when it’s warmer, which creates a water-dense base layer, and as the temperatures drop, lighter snow follows.

This is called “right-side up” snowfall (vs. “upside-down” snowfall). The fluffy stuff stays on top and skiers and boarders can float down the slopes (ideally right side up).

All, however, is not great. Utah temperatures are warmer now than recorded just a few years ago. Warmer winters mean more dust in the air and create “snirt,” brown and dirty snow. It’s a word that sounds as gross as the thing it represents. “The role of dust is one that most don’t think about when it comes to the snowpack,” explains Steenburgh. 

Dense dust in the atmosphere creates darker snow. Like wearing a dark-colored knitted sweater, the darker snow absorbs the sun’s light rather than bouncing off a clean, white snowpack. One study found that snirty snow accelerates melting by 25%.

And, as the temperatures rise, it doesn’t take a scientist to figure that more weather events will start as rain instead of snow, so we’ll have denser water-packed snow and suddenly our sneering jokes about Sierra Cement suddenly won’t be as funny anymore. 

And it’s also gloomy for those who don’t use the snow as a playground, but simply marvel at its quiet loveliness. 

As Steenburgh says, “The beauty of the snow is in the eye of the beholder and no science can prove that.”