Opening day at PCMR full of stoke and schussing

Skiers on the run Snow Dancer at PCMR. Photo: TownLift // Kevin Cody.

PARK CITY, Utah — Wednesday marked the earliest opening day for Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) in over 20 years. The resort opened with seven lifts in operation, 24 runs open, 10 of those being groomed. With a well-above start to the snow year, skiers and snowboarders of all ages were visibly excited to get back on the slopes.

Opening day at PCMR brought a crowd of skiers excited to get their first taste of the 2022-23 winter season. The first chair was occupied by a group of skiers, all wearing matching red t-shirts saying, “I got here first.”

The Canyons side of PCMR was not crowded as parking, the lifts, and ski runs were free of bottlenecks and lines. Many local families were out across the mountain, with some taking their kids out of school. One group of teenage boys said that they called out sick from school as they had come down with the “ski flu.”

“When it comes to skiing and riding, we know every day on the mountain counts, and we are excited to welcome guests back earlier than planned for the 2022/23 winter season,” said Deirdra Walsh, Vice President and COO of Park City Mountain. “I am so grateful to the entire Park City Mountain team who has shown incredible passion, commitment and hard work leading into the season.” 

A ski resort’s opening day is normally not without its hazards, as runs typically don’t have the snow coverage that would be present later in the year. Even rarer are the tree and off-piste areas having enough snow to use without the risk of hitting rocks and other debris. Neither issue was present at the Canyons as snow coverage was pristine on every open run, with upper-elevation trees having plenty of snow depth to enjoy.

For an updated list of ski run status, see the Park City Mountain Resort website.

Sunshine, smiles, donuts and DJs – it's been an awesome opening day here at Park City Mountain. pic.twitter.com/hHxC7Cx7z2

— Park City Mountain (@PCski) November 16, 2022