Salt Lake City, UT (Friday, December 9, 2005) - On the heels of last year's record winter, when a massive late-November storm kicked off a season of up to 700 inches of snow accumulation, a recent series of snowstorms has set the stage for terrific early season skiing and a thriving holiday period. The most recent storm blanketed as much as 24" of Utah's famous "Greatest Snow on Earth" on Salt Lake's four ski resorts this week: Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude. Nearly ten feet of snow overall has already fallen this season in the Cottonwood Canyons.

Fifty inches in the past ten days has created a buzz among Salt Lake's avid local skiers, and has resort crews opening lifts and terrain to keep pace with the demand. All lifts are open at Alta, Brighton has their terrain park fired up and are starting night skiing this weekend, Snowbird is set to open their last major unopened terrain – Mineral Basin – this weekend, and Solitude is 100% open as of today, including their famed Honeycomb Canyon.

2004-05 was a record season for all of Utah skiing, when 3.9 million "skier visits" were recorded, an increase of 12% over the previous best year. Bountiful snow played a major role in this achievement, when the best snowfall in 24 years attracted throngs of visiting skiers and snowboarders. Although the snow did not begin as early as last year, the accumulation for this season is already approaching the prominent depths of December 2004.

"Snow drives reservations like nothing else," reports Laura Schaffer, spokesperson for Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort. "Our bookings are up double-digits over last year." The strongest growth is at Solitude Mountain Resort where bookings are showing nearly 30% gains over the record pace set last season. "Condos in our village are sold out for the holiday week," reports Jay Burke for the resort. "We do have availability at The Inn, and if you're only looking for a night or two in a condo, I would still contact reservations."

Some resorts are boasting similar snow levels to the same period last season. Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort, recipient of 53 inches since Dec. 1, has a higher mid-mountain base depth than they did at this time last year. At 105-inches, The Canyons Resort is within one inch of last year's snowfall for the same period. According to the National Weather Service, Utah ski area snow levels are 111 to 131 percent above average.

A surprise snow storm on Tuesday delivered up to two feet of light, dry powder on Utah ski areas. Base depths have now reached the 60 to 70 inch mark at many resorts, allowing them to open more terrain than in past years for early season skiers. Alta Ski Area and Solitude Mountain Resort are now 100 percent open as is Sundance Resort whose season kicked off today. Park City Mountain Resort opened its King Con lift this morning and will open Jupiter tomorrow to allow access to the high altitude expert terrain. This weekend they will be nearly 100 percent open. Wolf Mountain, formerly known as Nordic Valley, is gearing up for their Dec. 17 opening with natural snow coverage enhanced by snowmaking. Beaver Mountain, scheduled to open Dec. 13, currently has a 43-inch mid-mountain base depth which is slightly greater than last year's at this time.