Snowbird * SUVs packed nearly every space in Snowbird's parking lot Monday, along with at least one sunburn-pink Tesla. Skis and snowboards were unloaded from rooftop racks. Snow, if somewhat dingy, coated most of the mountains.
At a glance, it could have been just about any day of the ski season -- until a Yeti walked by. And an astronaut. And people in shorts. So many people in shorts.
It wasn't just any day. It was the official last day of the 2024-25 ski season for both Snowbird and for the state of Utah.
Austin Reed, a 21-year-old University of Utah student from Georgia, and some friends took in the unofficial parade while tailgating in the parking lot. They came outfitted in red-white-and-blue shorts and tutus. Reed capped off his bold look with a cowboy hat replete with an American-flag hat band.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Skiers skim the pond in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
As a snowboarder, Reed said he's envious of The Frank -- the boisterous closing-day celebration held at Alta Ski Area, a ski-only resort. So, he came ready to try to spark a similar celebration at Snowbird, which allows snowboarding.
"Everyone's coming in their funny clothes. They're saying, 'What's up?' Complimenting," Reed said. "Great time. I can't ask for anything more."
Most of Utah's 16 public ski areas, including Alta, shut down their lifts in April. By holding out until Memorial Day weekend, Snowbird once again shored up its reputation as the last ski area in the state to close. But this season it was close.
Solitude toyed with the idea of offering a second "bonus weekend" over the holiday, but ultimately closed up shop May 18 due to quickly deteriorating conditions. Its Big Cottonwood Canyon neighbor Brighton also wrapped up the season that day.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Megan Broadbent of Draper easily skims across the pond in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
Still, there is some solace for Solitude. As one of two resorts that kicked off Utah's ski season last Nov. 7, it can still boast having the longest ski season in Utah at 183 days. Snowbird, which opened Nov. 28, counted 170 days and 542 inches of snow in its season.
The last day may have been the best, said 19-year-old Megan Broadbent.
Despite having been "born at Snowbird" as a skier, Broadbent hadn't taken part in closing day in a decade. She made the most of this one, though. Not once but three times she pushed through the sun-warmed slush and skimmed gracefully across a natural pond that formed partway down Peruvian Gulch. Barely a splatter of water reached her cardinal-red blazer or even the cuffs of her jeans.
Others weren't as lucky. Some didn't get enough speed and sank into the icy water mid-pond. Others reached the far side only to confront the pond's lip upon exiting. They made sacrifices of skis and sunglasses to the pond, but otherwise emerged seemingly unscathed and smiling.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Bill Busse takes a swim in the pond in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
"it's such good vibes," Broadbent said of the closing-day atmosphere. "Everyone's just here in shorts and T-shirts. I'm loving it."
Yet while some tested the limits of their bodies, knowing it will be at least five months until they can get on skis again, others aren't quite so ready to call it quits on the season.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Skiers hit Mineral Basin as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
Josh Keller of Sandy has skied 119 days this season, and he plans to ski at least five more. For him, Monday only marked the end of the lift-served ski season. He expects to ski at least once every month this year, hiking into snow fields and hidden couloirs.
"It's happy and sad both," Keller, 40, said of closing day. He estimated that he's been to the last 30 of them at Snowbird. "Because I want to ski the lifts, but now I've got to earn my turns.
"But there's always next year."
Like the shorts, the countdown to next ski season is on.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Skiers hit Mineral Basin as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brighton High School graduate Andrew Quilter hits Mineral Basin as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Skiers make the traverse in Mineral Basin as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Skiers skim the pond in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jared Cannon dons the Yeti outfit as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Skiers hit Mineral Basin as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Sean Mullaney carries his son Lowell, 3, as they skim across the pond in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A party atmosphere forms at the pond in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Megan Broadbent of Draper easily skims across the pond in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Ski patroller Weston Keith joins the fun watching people attempt to skim the pond in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Skiers hit Mineral Basin as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Eva Bray goes for the panda suit as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Skiers hit Mineral Basin as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jon Fay of Alta wears a NASA suit as he skims across the pond in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Will Johnson pops out of the pond in style in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A party atmosphere forms at the pond in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brooke Adrian takes a selfie with Allison Six, Coulson Rich and Pamela Murray as they ski Mineral Basin while Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Bill Busse takes a swim in the pond in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A party atmosphere forms at the pond in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The snow gets thin as skiers take the Peruvian Lift as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A party atmosphere forms at the pond in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A skier skims the pond in Peruvian Gulch as Snowbird closes the book on the 2024-25 ski season on Monday, May 26, 2025. Snow and sun revelers took to the slushy slopes on Memorial Day as the resort was the last in the state to close.
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