Adventures

This is my favorite part of the trail,” muses Julia Geisler, executive director of the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance (SLCA), as she steps over a series of large, flat granite stones, grouted with smaller versions of the same. The trail is the Alpenbock Loop, a new hiking, snowshoeing and climbing wall-access trail on the north side of the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. With its sections of cobble-like paths and tidy stone staircases, reminiscent of stone masonry walkways you’d find in a centuries-old English garden, sections of this trail do indeed have has an almost artistic quality. And then there’s the breathtaking scenery: soaring granite walls and long views both up the canyon and into the Salt Lake Valley. But this section of the canyon wasn’t always so idyllic. Just a few years ago, the land where the Alpenbock Loop and its accompanying Grit Mill parking area are now located was marred by a spiderweb of social trails (paths worn into the land where no one ever takes the same route twice) and abandoned industrial detritus. That was until the SLCA figured out a way to accomplish the goals of a few by creating a resource for many. 

Historically and generally speaking, crags are developed without foresight as to how climbers will get to them. And so, because they carry heavy packs filled with ropes, harnesses, and other climbing gear, the path or approach to a crag is usually a straight line with little regarding for topography and plant life. Over time, the paths climbers beat to a crag can cause irreparable scarring, erosion and unnecessary danger—the steep and loose social trails leading to the Little Cottonwood crags were more challenging than the climbing routes they accessed.

“The popularity of climbing was really beginning to explode then, and so we knew we needed to do something in Little Cottonwood before that area was loved to death.” 

It took three years of fundraising before replacement of the treacherous social trails could begin in 2017. The Alpenbock Loop and Grit Mill connector trails were completed in late 2018. And the project’s last piece, the 34-stall parking lot and restroom, was completed in November 2020.

To date, the Alpenbock Loop Trail is the largest climbing access trail project completed on U.S. Forest Service lands in the nation. It was a major catalyst in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest’s current work in creating a rock climbing management plan. And, after cutting its teeth on this project, the SLCA is now focusing on more than just trails. They launched the Wasatch Anchor Replacement Initiative, a campaign to replace bolts and anchors on climbing routes throughout the state, some of which date to the Alpenbock Club’s active era.

Why should non-climbers care about the Alpenbock Loop Project? First, it’s an illustrative and refreshing example of how the public sector and private interests can work together for the benefit of many. Second, it is an important piece in a greater vision for potential connectivity to other trails in that area, including the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and Temple Quarry Trail (As it is now, this trail is not really a significant contribution to the Wasatch Mountain’s vast anthology of bucket-list trails—at just a mile-and-a-half long, most dedicated hikers will find it way too short.) Moreover, it is one more place where, during these tough times, families can get outside and immerse themselves in the healing power of nature. And maybe even meet their first dirt bagger along the way. 

Looking for more things to do outside? Check out our Adventures Page.

After a grimly dry and tragic beginning to winter in the Wasatch, the skiing and riding conditions have quietly been excellent since the calendar to flipped to February. Thanks to some record-setting snowfall around Valentine’s Day and a steady cavalcade of storms in the weeks that followed, the snowpack resembles Utah’s typical bounty and will provide at least a few weeks of prime conditions this spring. But the ski industry—waiting for precisely nobody—is already looking ahead and selling season passes for the 2021/22 winter. Multi-resort passes continue to dominate the landscape with more options aimed at increased flexibility, as long as customers are willing commit months in advance. In a surprise move, it’s Vail Resorts firing the opening salvo in the 2021/22 Pass Wars, announcing a 20% reduction in Epic Pass prices across the board.

Though it feels absurd to think about next season while snow is still falling during this one, perhaps skiers and snowboarders throughout Utah need something to hope for. The recently departed winter has been a dichotomous affair. People flocked to the hills as a COVID-safe escape from the doldrums of pandemic life, but common-sense restrictions at resorts led to operations difficulties across the state. Cottonwood Canyon traffic, already a pernicious problem, became untenable as carpooling morphed into a terrifying prospect. Socially-distanced chairlift rides created enormous lift lines at base areas in places like Park City Mountain even if the upper mountain was deserted. Parking was a nightmare. Lodges were off limits. Yes, the powder was still powdery and the turns cathartic as always, but I suppose we could turn the page on this past winter without dissent.

So, what’s on tap for 2021/22? For better or worse, ski pass consolidation has become the norm. The big two are still the Epic (Park City Mountain and about a million out-of-state resorts) and Ikon (Solitude, with some days at Deer Valley, Alta/Snowbird and a host of non-Utah hills) Passes, with the Mountain Collective offering two days at many resorts both in state (Alta/Snowbird) and out. The big news is the aforementioned 20% price reduction on Epic Passes. A full, no blackout date Epic Pass is now $783 (down from $979), and an Epic Local Pass, which cuts out some peak season holiday dates, is now $583 (down from $729). The Epic Day Pass lets people ski up to seven individual days for as little as $67 per day, which is no small thing now that day pass prices regularly cross the aneurysm-inducing $200 threshold. Vail Resorts is also getting rid of their maddening reservation system and recently extended the season at Park City Mountain through April 11, signaling they’d like to make amends after a difficult season.

Ikon Pass prices are holding steady from last season—$999 for a full Ikon, $729 for an Ikon Base, both with discounts for renewals—as are Mountain Collective prices at $499. Yes, ski pass consolidation tends to increase crowds and has had an undeniable numbing effect on the once eccentric culture at some ski resorts, but it’s also made skiing more affordable—if one doesn’t venture into the lodge for a $30 burger. The caveat is people need to buy early to lock in the best price.

The ski pass war of 2021/22 is just getting started. More announcements are sure to trickle out in the coming weeks, and we’ll be there to help readers decide which pass is the best fit.

Read more outdoor coverage here.  

Symbolic odes to the honey bee are all over Utah. It’s on the state flag. Honey bees are the State Insect. It’s even in “Deseret,” a heavily saturated word that means “honey bee,” according to the doctrine of the state’s dominant religion, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Utah beekeeping associations are thousands of members strong. Utah’s obsessed with the honey bee. 

Meanwhile, Utah suffered greater honey beehive losses in winter than any other state, according to the latest data (winter 2019–2020). Looking at the big picture, beekeepers across the United States lost 43.7% of their honey bee colonies from April 2019 to April 2020, according to surveys by the non-profit Bee Informed Partnership (BIP). This is the second-highest loss since the survey began in 2006. With losses up, and fewer productive hives, honey production was down in 2020. Oh also, a new report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found honey production dropped 6% in 2020 from 2019. 

“Our winters are not consistent—some have no snow, some see a ton of moisture—and that can make it hard to prepare,” said beekeeper Kyla Bachman, who helps run the family business Deseret Hive Supply in Ogden. “So Utah colony loss isn’t necessarily due to mites or poor management or anything like that. It can be due to the moisture and food availability and fluctuating winters.”

Utah beekeepers might also be reporting more than any other states, adds Kyla’s father-in-law Vic. “It might look somewhat artificially high compared to other states because every registered beekeeper here is really good about reporting,” he says. He started beekeeping before it was cool—popularized by various “save the bees” campaigns. (He flipped the messaging for his beekeeping supply store with the motto “save the humans.”)

Winter isn’t the only threat wiping out honey bee colonies. Beekeepers dread the varroa mite. “It’s actually the biggest threat that honey bees have ever had,” says Vic. “It’s what basically caused colony collapse disorder. [Varorra mites] appeared in about 2006 and started wiping out colonies worldwide.” 

2019–2020 also saw the highest summer losses ever reported by the BIP survey, and the varroa mite is likely a big part of what’s driving that summertime colony loss.

“Basically, the varroa mite is to a honey bee what a tick is to us. It gets underneath their glands and eats the fat of the stomach of the honey bees,” says Kyla. The Bachmans keep a varroa mite model in their Ogden shop. The mites look like tiny red spots on the body of an otherwise healthy-looking honey bee. The varroa mite also spreads diseases and weakens the honey bee’s immune system. 

Luckily, honey bees can bounce back even after heavy losses, as long as the keeper is left with one strong, healthy hive. “We can rebuild and build back up by splitting,” says Kyla. To split a hive, keepers take a portion of  bees from one hive and put them in a new hive with a new queen bee. “We split one hive into two then three, and they propagate pretty quickly.”

In an effort to bolster local bee populations, the Utah State Legislature recently passed a bill that creates a three-year pollinator pilot program to support public education and outreach and fund the propagation of pollinator-friendly native plants.

Local honey bee populations also got a boost from the pandemic. “People were at home, didn’t have things to do, and they want to be self-sufficient,” says Vic. “And hobbyists help (the bee population) because they usually keep them in the backyard. They’re not shipping them all over the country to pollinate them.”  Commercial beekeepers often ship colonies out of state to pollinate crops elsewhere. 

In addition to licensed professional and commercial beekeepers, Vic says Utah is home to roughly 800 registered beekeeping hobbyists. 

You Too Can Keep the Bees

Kyla started keeping her own honey bee hives six years ago. She started by taking the beekeeping classes Vic and his wife Anessa offer at their store. The introductory class breaks down all of the knowledge and supplies you’ll need to become a fledgling beekeeper. They also offer classes on managing the hives during winter and on harvesting honey—which is the goal, right? 

That year, the store had an extra package leftover and gave it to Kyla. A package contains a few pounds of bees—about 10,000 of them—and a single mated queen bee. Those bees are then installed in a hive. Beginning beekeepers can get started with a single nucleus hive—a cardboard box with five frames inside that can be transferred to a permanent hive. There are also other ways of getting your first hive… 

Kyla says she started small, but her operation didn’t stay that way for long. “I had one hive, and then we got a call from this house that was for sale, and they needed the bees removed from the house.” Kyla cut out the hive that had integrated into the home’s balcony and removed it, and it became her second hive. 

That method isn’t recommended for beginners. “Cutouts are pretty difficult,” says Vic, who’s had to cut out hives as long as 12 feet. “We’ve had people cut through powerlines, water lines; when you’re cutting into people’s houses, you need to know what you’re doing.”

After those first two hives, Kyla couldn’t stop. This past year, she was up to 25 hives. “It’s addictive,” she says.

While some hobbyists have up to 100 hives, it’s not for everyone. 

“You got to figure out whether it’s a hobby or it’s a job, you know?” says Vic. “So, I tell people to start out with a couple of hives. Don’t get to the point where it’s too busy and you don’t enjoy it anymore. Some people can handle five. Some people can handle two. Some can handle 20 or 30.” 

A hobby is exactly how it started for Vic, as well. “I bought a couple of hives. I had no clue how to be a beekeeper. I just bought them, and I just basically fell in love with bees. I mean, they’re just amazing.” 

But even in the Beehive State, he says there are still a lot of misconceptions people have about honey bees. One common misunderstanding is the idea that taking honey from the hive hurts the bees. “If you’re a good beekeeper, your hives should have an excess amount of honey,” says Kyla. A medium-sized hive could have more than 100 pounds of extra honey come October when keepers “put their bees to bed” for winter, leaving the bees plenty to eat until spring. 

While people outside the beekeeping world worry about stings, Kyla considers beekeeping a safe enough hobby to introduce to her 4-year-old daughter. “She has a full beekeeping suit,” says Kyla. “She helps me hold the frames and helps me find the queens. She enjoys it. She’ll last about 20 minutes before she gets distracted.” (Pretty good for a 4-year-old.) 

“We have a lot of young beekeepers,” says Vic. The youngest person to get started with their classes and their own hive was just 7 years old. 

For aspiring beekeepers, now is the time to get started. “The bees arrive in April,” says Vic. “Just in time to take a few classes first.” But, be careful, it could become more than a hobby. “They’re easy to fall in love with.” 

Deseret Hive Supply
1516 Washington Blvd., Ogden
deserethivesupply.com
801-866-3245

Want more bees? Read Salt Lake magazine’s story about beekeeping at the University of Utah. While you’re here, take a look at the latest print issue of Salt Lake magazine.

The rapid-fire reverb of surf rock is blaring through the Utah mountains. No, not literally. That’s just the wind. But ya know, in spirit, man. Utahns are starting to ride the powsurfing wave.

“Powsurfing? You mean like snowboarding?” you’re probably asking. Not quite. The nascent movement is the winterized extension of surf and skateboard culture. Unlike on a traditional snowboard, powsurfs eschew any sort of binding, forcing the rider to use balance and nuanced movements to make turns. While powsurfing is a bit more difficult than snowboarding to pick up for people who aren’t avid skateboarders and surfers, it requires less specialized gear. Thus, powsurfing is more affordable and accessible than traditional snow sports, especially when considering the fact it’s done outside of resorts, no lift ticket needed.

Motivated by overcrowded resorts and COVID-induced skier caps and reservation systems, Utahns are seeking a new way to ride the mountains this winter. The surge in backcountry skiing and snowboarding can be seen in the packed trailheads, gear shortages and an unprecedented demand for avalanche education courses. But historically dangerous avalanche conditions this year have highlighted the difficulty and dangers rushing into backcountry without proper preparation.

Enter powsurfing in Utah. The technical challenge of riding without bindings serves to enhance terrain, allowing riders to find fun and challenge without exposing themselves to avalanche terrain—typically understood as slopes which are over 30 degrees in steepness or which are underneath or adjacent to such slopes. The 100-foot hill in your backyard and the rolling terrain in the woods are perfect places for most people to go powsurfing. Think of all the places you’d take your kids sledding. They’re ideal for powsurfing. In fact, parents, go powsurfing when you take your kids sledding!

Powsurfing combines the aesthetics of snowboarding with the agenda-free simplicity and fun of sledding and playing in the snow. Anyone and everyone who enjoys riding on snow can give it a shot.

The sport’s roots can be traced back right here in Utah. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. Powsurfing is best done on soft snow, and what other place has reliably softer snow than the Beehive State? Grassroots Powdersurfing is the brainchild of Utah native Jeremey Jensen, who along with some friends started experimenting with binding-free snowboarding in the late 1990s.

“I grew up loving to surf, skate and snowboard. Powsurfing was a way to blend all the things I love, doing. There’s really no better place to do it” Jensen says. ”

Over time Jensen and crew created an entire line of powsurf shapes designed to excel in a variety of terrain and snow conditions, ultimately selling them under the Grassroots name. Now the industry leader, Grassroots is sticking to its roots continuing to operate from the same place it was born in built in Logan.

Jenson and the Grassroots team push the limits of what’s possible in powsurfing. They regularly shred terrain with speed and style that most people would find challenging on skis or a snowboard, as documented in their YouTube series “The Powsurf Chronicles.” Do note they frequently ride in avalanche terrain, and as Jensen is quick to remind, people should only ride in avalanche terrain if they have the appropriate education and safety gear.

You don’t have to aim for greatness like the Grassroots team to have fun. Take it from this 36-year-old lifelong skier, linking a few turns together down a mellow pow slope is plenty rewarding and fun. “Powsurfing familiar terrain fresh and new. Obviously it’s similar to snowboarding, but it requires more focus. And almost half our customers are skiers. They love getting out of their plastic boots,” Jensen says.

Powsurfs aren’t exactly cheap—they start at $420—but since all you need is a board and a leash like you’d find use on a surfboard the barrier to entry isn’t terribly high. Additional specialized gear is available, but a pair of winter boots, a ski or snowboard jacket and pants, and the willingness to walk up a hill is all you need to get started.

For beginners, Jenson recommends look for a powsurf like the Slasher 140. The three-dimensional base profile and surf-inspired shape make it agile and forgiving in variety of snow conditions and terrain. When you’re ready to give it a try, you can pick up a Grassroots Powsurf on their website. When you’re ready to get back to the roots of riding snow—simplicity and just plain having fun—take a powsurf to snow covered hill near you. We have plenty of those in Utah.

To most skiers and snowboarders, avalanches are a seemingly detached threat. They’re something either punctuating dramatic moments in films like Aspen Extreme or periodically popping up in the headlines from far flung locations. But lately, they’ve become an inescapable part of reality in the wake of a rash of accidents and an historic avalanche cycle in the Wasatch Mountains. The Utah Avalanche Center has even taking a central role in helping the New York Times cover the topic of avalanches and backcountry skiing. Avalanches have always been part of life and a present threat in Utah, and a perfect storm of circumstances has made them the center of conversation in 2021.

The tragic foundation of the surge in avalanche coverage is the spate of fatal avalanche accidents in recent weeks. Six avalanche fatalities occurred in the Central Wasatch over the course of a month, including two separate accidents along the Park City Ridgeline and a slide which killed four skiers in Millcreek Canyon. Nationwide, 15 people were killed during the first week of February, making it one of the deadliest weeks for backcountry users on record. Suddenly, avalanches became the focus of mainstream media coverage, and my phone started blowing up with text messages from people who’d never before used the term avalanche asking what was going on.

The “Black Rose” forecast form the Utah Avalanche Center indicating Extreme danger on all aspects and elevations on February 17, 2021.

What’s going on is Utah’s currently plagued by a nearly unprecedented unstable snowpack. A dearth of snow early in the season with long periods of dry weather left deeply embedded layers of weak snow throughout the Utah mountains. Typically, early season snowpack instability begins to heal as snow accumulates throughout the winter, but this season’s uniquely unstable weak layers have been overloaded by sudden copious snowfall, overloading the slopes and leading to frequent, dangerously large avalanches. On Feb. 17, the Utah Avalanche Center forecast “Extreme” avalanche danger on all aspects and elevations, meaning avalanches were a certainty.

A near constant string of natural and human triggered avalanches has been occurring throughout the Wasatch, and Little Cottonwood Canyon has been closed since Monday night with people in the canyon subject to interlodge restrictions inside buildings. Massive storm totals over the past week wrought historic avalanches, bringing debris piles across the S.R. 210 on numerous slide paths, impacting buildings and covering parking lots at Snowbird and Alta. Huge slides were visible across the Park City Ridgeline, and roadside slopes in Big Cottonwood were releasing dangerous avalanches. The mountains are coming unglued in a way not seen in the past 30 years.

A large avalanche visible on the Park City Ridgeline. Photo courtesy of Weston Deutschlander.

The uniquely unstable snowpack colliding with human factors is what has made 2021 the season of the avalanche. A surge in the popularity of backcountry skiing and snowboarding fueled in part by the pandemic making resorts less accessible has led to record numbers of backcountry travelers. Some inexperienced or unprepared backcountry users have been the victims of accidents, while other incidents have involved experienced users. Atypically sensitive avalanche conditions and increased pressure to avoid crowds are both likely contributing factors to the high number of accidents and close calls in Utah this year.

Ski resorts are wrestling with the combination of factors. Some resorts like Snowbird have been overwhelmed by new snow and widespread avalanche hazard, and have been unable to open for the past few days. Ski patrols are working furiously to mitigate danger and get the lifts spinning, but there’s only so much they can do in the midst of a relentless storm and avalanche cycle. Park City Mountain reversed course on decades of practice and indefinitely closed backcountry access from the resort. The resort has still not revealed how they plan to control access to the public lands beyond their boundaries, which have been the site of nine fatalities since 2000. Longtime backcountry skiers who have accessed National Forest land via the resort’s lifts generally advocate for some filter to help prevent unprepared or uneducated skiers from inadvertently accessing potentially dangerous terrain, but the community is anxious for resolution.

Utah’s finally getting blanketed in the snow it’s famous for, but the 2020-21 winter season has become dominated by avalanches, both literally and in the minds of skiers and snowboarders. Nary a chairlift ride goes by without someone broaching the subject, regardless of where they hail from. Anyone accessing the backcountry should have the proper tools and education, and those looking for a place to get started should visit the Utah Avalanche Center’s website. Enjoy the powder, but stay safe while doing so.

Read more outdoor coverage here.

Just hours after being sworn in, President Joe Biden signed an executive order calling for a review of the boundaries for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. The monuments—designated by Barack Obama in 2016 and Bill Clinton in 1996—were reduced by roughly 2 million acres by former president Donald Trump, and the executive order is seen as move towards restoring the original boundaries.

Fierce debate surrounding Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante is now standard fare in Utah. The monuments were created using authority granted by the 1906 Antiquities Act, allowing presidents to unilaterally designate monuments on public land. Trumps decision to remove lands from national monument protection under the same authority has been challenged by numerous lawsuits brought by American Indian tribes with ancestral roots to the land as well as environmental groups.

The majority of Utah’s conservative politicians—including newly-elected governor Spencer Cox— have pushed for local control on federally managed public lands, which comprises roughly two-thirds of Utah. Opponents contend the absence of federal management will lead to increased mineral extraction and development benefitting few at the expense of the greater public, to whom public lands purportedly belong.

When debating representation in Utah’s public lands decisions, “local management” often eschews input of Native American tribes—in this case the Navajo, Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, Zuni and Hopi tribes—in the region. The Bears Ears coalition, which represents these tribes, is already pushing the Biden Administration to restore the original Obama boundaries. Their requests have been bolstered by local governments in San Juan and Grand counties, where Bears Ears is located, to restore the monument.

No good-faith legal debate exists countering Biden’s authority restore the national monuments. The Trump administration’s questionably appropriate actions were regarded by some as a political favor to Utah politicians after he sent then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to investigate 25 national monuments in the American West to ensure they were “right sized,” and only the two in Utah were reduced. With three consecutive democratic administrations creating or moving to restore monuments in Utah and republican politicians at both the local and federal level trying to reduce their size, it seems as though public lands in Utah have become a political football.

As Utah’s republican leadership continues to press for local input, the Biden Administration is likely to push ahead on its own. It would be easier to take the request for local input seriously if it included the five American Indian tribes who had pushed the Obama Administration to create Bears Ears on occupied ancestral land. The future of Utah’s public lands is still unwritten, and we will continue to follow the issue as the story unfolds.

Read more outdoor coverage here.

More than 50 years after founding Sundance Mountain Resort, Utah’s adopted legend of the silver screen Robert Redford has agreed to sell the resort to a pair of companies, Broadreach Capital Partners and Cedar Capital Partners. Located in the shadow of Mount Timpanogos, Sundance has long maintained an independent identity amid a flurry of corporate consolidation in the ski industry. Fans of the resort’s unique atmosphere will likely feel anxiety about the changing of the guard—a duo of capital investment firms doesn’t have the quite the charm of the Sundance Kid, himself—but Redford shared assurances Sundance’s character would endure.

“Change is inevitable, and for several years, my family and I have been thinking about a transition to new ownership for the resort. We knew that at the right time, and with the right people, we could make the transition. Broadreach and Cedar share our values and interest in maintaining the resort’s unique character, while honoring its history, community and natural beauty. This makes them well-suited to ensure that future generations can continue to find solace and inspiration here,” Redford said in the resort’s press release.

Included in the announcement is news Redford and his family are establishing the Redford Family Elk Meadows Preserve. The preserve will provide permanent protection to 300 acres of wildlife habitat, streams and wetlands near Stewart Falls through a partnership with Utah Open Lands. Sundance had always positioned itself as a resort with natural beauty as its centerpiece, and the Preserve represents Redford’s attempt to secure and protect that legacy.

Broadreach and Cedar are saying all the right things as of now. “We are deeply honored to assume stewardship of this magical resort and its unique programming and are committed to maintaining the balance between responsible development and land preservation that the Redford family has passionately cultivated. We intend to thoughtfully enhance this experience and continue the Redford commitment to guests, staff, the Sundance Institute and community, and most importantly, the natural environment itself,” Philip Maritz, managing director of Broadreach Capital Partners said in a press release. With that in mind, a vague statement about balancing development and sustainability coming from a Palo Alto and New York City based real estate investment firm is unlikely to assuage fears people have about new corporate ownership of a formerly independently owned resort.

Just like the Sundance Kid says, “Change is inevitable,” but it’s still a tough pill for longtime Sundance skiers to swallow. There’s no word on how the ownership change will affect resort operations or season pass affiliation at this time, but we will update this story if that information becomes available.

Read more outdoor coverage here.

I’ve never been a huge fan of gondolas. Sitting in a cramped, stuffy box with an overhyped loudmouth who has seemingly no control of where his ski poles are at a given moment is unpleasant to begin with, and the thought of adding airborne particles of unknown origin to the mix amid a pandemic isn’t helping. So, I’ll be skipping gondi rides with strangers this season, but that won’t be the only unique thing about the 20/21 ski season. We’re here to help you pull off a successful ski trip even as a deadly illness rampages across the globe. I can hear you already. “Gee, thanks. But skiing doesn’t seem that important right now.” Well, dear reader, some of us have thrown our lives away in the service of this meaningless pursuit, and we’re not about to let a little thing like an unprecedented public health crisis get in our way. Like everything in 2020, an avalanche of uncertainty means we don’t know exactly what the ski season will look like, but clues from southern hemisphere resorts like Perisher point to reduced capacity, limited food and drink service and understandable fear of indoor spaces. They’ve informed these five tips for enjoying the pandemic powder and a COVID ski vacation.

TIP #1: PLAN AHEAD, BUY A SEASON PASS & AVOID PEAK TIMES “In this economy? Are you nuts?” Yes. And probably. Capacity is going to be an issue this winter. Park City Mountain implemented a Byzantine reservation system for all skiers, but even under Vail’s restrictions season pass holders will get first-right-of-refusal priority over other guests. Other resorts are enacting their own crowd-control measures for the season. Regardless of where you want to ski in the Beehive State, you’d be wise to plan as far ahead as you can, and think strongly about avoiding typically busy periods like Christmas and MLK weekend.

TIP #2: STAY SOMEWHERE WITH A KITCHEN  “Haven’t VRBO and Airbnb destroyed the housing and lodging structure of ski towns?” Yes, they have, but now that a pandemic has turned indoor dining spaces into terrifying enclosures of airborne infection, having a full-sized kitchen is wonderful. Sure, takeout can be great, but being able to quickly whip up some breakfast before heading to the mountains can save a lot of stress and money.

TIP #3: HAVE RENTAL EQUIPMENT DELIVERED TO YOU  “Mustn’t one endure the indignities of aloof, inattentive service for overpriced, mid-quality, rental equipment?” Thankfully no, as the rental world is evolving. Companies like Ski Butlers and Black Tie Skis will conduct fittings and deliver skis, snowboards and boots directly to your hotel room, condo or vacation rental. They even offer a slopeside delivery service for those who are really serious about keeping their lodging hermetically sealed. The more crowded indoor spaces you can avoid the better. skibutlers.com, blacktieskis.com

TIP #4: SKIP THE LODGE WITH POCKET SNACKS “Won’t I miss the indulgent feeling of paying $26 for a burger without fries?” Probably not. Ski lodge food has taken the express line to boujie town in recent years, and resorts have sternly discouraged skiers from brown bagging lunch in their buildings. This is our chance to reclaim the ski lodge lunch for the proletariat in the name of public health. Everyone already knows PB & J sandwiches are better once the bread is smashed nice and thin. Pocket bacon wrapped in tin foil is an excellent pick-me-up to get through a powder day. Best of all, monogrammed flasks will be making a comeback for jump-starting your après session. We’re here to feed ourselves, not the bloated corporate overlords who have taken over skiing.

TIP #5: TRY BACKCOUNTRY SKIING WITH A GUIDE “Are the lift lines going to be longer or shorter?” Yes. I honestly don’t know which though. Take lift lines out of the equation altogether by heading into the backcountry. Doing so on your own would be daunting and dangerous, but going with a guide service can be safe, fun and inspiring. Many guide services throughout Utah lead human-powered backcountry tours, where you’ll breathe fresh mountain air far from the possibly-contagious masses. It’s difficult getting to the top under your own power, but well worth the effort. The powder is far better beyond the resort boundaries.

See more outdoors coverage here.