preseason

It's that time of year again, that giddy time when all the ski resorts start hinting that Opening Day is just around the corner!  Here is a list of anticipated, condition-dependent openings (you can find further details and much much more over at Ski Utah too):

• Solitude - November 11
• Alta - November 18
• Park City - November 19
• Brian Head - November 19
• Snowbird - November 20
• Brighton - "mid-November"
• Canyons - November 25
• Powder Mountain - November 26
• Deer Valley - December 3
• Sundance - December 10
• Eagle Point - December 15

Snowbasin, Beaver Mountain and Wolf Mountain are all currently hedging their bets as "TBA."

Also, Ski magazine has published its readers' survey results for the country's top ski resorts and Utah makes out pretty well:  Deer Valley #1, Park City #6, Canyons #16 and The Bird #20.  More interestingly, I think, is the ranking for the resorts with the best snow, frou-frou amenities aside: Alta #1, Powder Mountain #3, Snowbird #4, Brighton #6, Solitude #7 and Deer Valley #10.  You know where my heart lies: you can have your haute cuisine, exciting apres ski and solicitous staff - give me snow, snow and more snow.  Alta, we're counting the days.