While most of us here in Cache Valley are complaining about the cold temperatures, Dustin Hansen is giving a huge shout out to Mother Nature. Hansen is the hill manager at Cherry Peak Ski Resort in Richmond, Utah.
Hansen said the ski resort was able to open earlier this year thanks to early snow fall and the colder weather.
“The colder temps have allowed us to make a lot of man-made snow to develop that base to get us into the spring months,” he said.
The resort officially opened December 14th and if you are a fan of night skiing, you’ll be happy to hear there is a new addition.
“We have the new Summit Lift that will be operating this year,” according to Hansen. He said the lift shuttles skiers to stronger terrain benefiting expert and intermediate skiers.
The new Summit Lift brings the total number of triple chair lifts on the mountain to three.
“We also have the Magic Carpet, which is a beginner’s dream.” Hansen said this area allows novice skiers “to ride a conveyor belt up a slight slope to help them learn how to ski.”
“We’ve done some new construction on our tubing hill to make it safer, more fun, more entertaining for the families,” added Hansen,
100 percent of the mountain is lit up at night and Cherry Peak boasts the highest vertical hill in the state for night skiing.
Interest in the resort has sky rocketed. Hansen said they increased their season pass sales 400% this year over last and can accommodate a thousand skiers a day.
The resort is located in Cherry Canyon, east of Richmond. The Cherry Peak Resort website has all the details on operating times and cost.