Utahns enjoy mountain snow for Memorial Day, unofficial summer kickoff
May 30, 2022, 5:10 PM | Updated: May 31, 2022, 11:34 am
Bailey Holland enjoying some sledding at Brighton.
SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah — On past Memorial Days, many Utahns have headed into the mountains to cool off. On this Memorial Day, with nearly a foot of new snow in some mountain locations, some people pulled out the winter toys again.
The rain and snow undoubtedly ruined plenty of Memorial Day plans. But, for those who geared up and headed into the mountains, it was an unusual treat for the unofficial kick off of summer.
“Perfect activity. Good to mix it up a little bit,” said Brad Marshall, who decided to backcountry ski at Brighton Ski Resort.
He and one of his ski buddies looked at the weather forecast, and decided it was a good day to break out the skis again and head up the hill. They skipped the road biking they had originally planned for the day.
“The snow was great,” Marshall said. “Good skiing up top. Just did one run. We’re a little out of ski shape already. But, it was fun to get out here.”
The snow was lighter than they expected, with surprisingly good coverage.
“We saw that there were some rocks and stumps buried. So, we avoided those bumps in the snow,” he said. “But, otherwise it was great. No issues. It felt pretty bottomless for Memorial Day weekend.“
Bailey Holland, and her siblings, were expecting to go to the waterpark. But, they ended up playing in some of the frozen water instead, sledding on the lowest slopes at Brighton.
Bailey Holland enjoying some sledding at Brighton.
“It’s actually really fun,” Bailey said. “Once I’m up there, I get focused on where I’m going to go. I steer, and then once I land, I go right back up.”
They’re from Florida, and her little brother was playing in the snow for the first time.
Further up the road, motorists checking out Guardsman Pass for the first time this season came across a fallen tree mid-morning blocking the road that slowed everyone down until Eric Florence showed up.
He doesn’t always have a chainsaw in his car. But, he did today.
He was on his way over the pass to Midway to play disc golf. Florence had his chainsaw with him because he was helping to clear a course in Salt Lake County yesterday.
“Came across this tree down across the road. So, luckily I had my saws with me, and was able to chop it up and get it out of the way,” Florence said.
The Utah Department of Transportation was able to get the rest of that tree cleared pretty quickly.
