The early snowfall attracts Utah skiers to take some turns in the mountains

Brian Head recorded a 5-inch drop, providing a good start toward the expected opening day of November 10th.

Later in the season, skiers and snowboarders might complain about how little snow there is at a resort. But on October 1st, a few centimeters are enough.

At Brian Head Resort, 5 inches of snow fell between Sunday and Monday, which was enough for Jeremy Sorensen to break out his snowboard on Sunday and take a few turns against a backdrop of golden fall leaves. Cedar City Resort has the highest base of any ski resort in Utah and therefore received the most snow in the first measurable storm of the season.

Still, it wasn’t the only ski resort where it snowed or where skiers and snowboarders could be seen.

According to the forecast site OpenSnow.com, Snowbird gained 4 inches in the storm, Eagle Point recorded 3 inches and Alta recorded an inch. Even in Brighton, where no measurable snow was reported, several centimeters of snow accumulated on the lift structures and covered the ground below. Traces could be found around Guardsman Pass.

The ski season is not expected to officially begin for another month. Brian Head has plans to open on November 10th, which could make it the first resort in Utah to open for the second year in a row. Last season it opened on November 4th, the earliest opening in the resort’s history.

Solitude, Park City Mountain and Alta, meanwhile, have all set their start dates for November 17th. Deer Valley has set December 2nd as its winter opener, as have Nordic Valley and Sundance. Meanwhile, Powder Mountain will begin night skiing on December 7th and Eagle Point has selected December 15th as its start date. The rest of the state’s resorts will wait to see what the storms bring.

All opening dates are of course dependent on requirements. However, if this storm proves anything, it’s that it doesn’t take much coverage to convince locals to pack out their boots and boards.