Beaver Mountain owner Ted Seeholzer knows that traditionally the ski season at his location in Logan Canyon begins the second or third week of December. But there are never hard and fast dates because it all depends on the snow. “Up there right now we have about a half dozen inches at the bottom,” he said, “and probably eight to nine inches at the top and we’ve had as high as 14 inches but this inversion we’ve had has really taken the snow down.” Seeholzer said the opening the last two years was delayed until Dec. 22. “Most seasons it’s usually been between the 10th and 15th of December, which is a pretty good time for us.” Seeholzer said in order to open the resort for the season there must be at least two feet of snow on the ground. “We don’t make snow up there so if we don’t have good coverage to start the season, then the high use areas get worn down and it takes a good part of the winter getting those areas built back up.” Routinely the off-season at Beaver Mountain is spent making improvements to the facilities and since the end of last season a conveyor belt lift was added. “Our ski school has been after us for years to get one of lifts. It’s about 240 feet long and it’s something you stand on like those moving sidewalks in airports. It takes you up the hill and when you get to the top you just ski or board off of it. It’s ideal for new skiers, it’s a learners lift.” Beaver Mountain was a forerunner among northern Utah seasonal businesses in marketing admissions months in advance of the season. “We needed a method by which we could have some revenue to carry over the summer with,” said Seeholzer. “We started selling season passes to the public in March to be used the rest of that season and all of the next season.” He said that idea was followed by the sale of discount season lift passes to students (college, high school, junior high). Seeholzer said last season Beaver Mountain averaged 788 skiers a day and the capacity is about 2200 in a day. “The crowds got that big a couple of times last year and when that happens, we’re full,” he said. “We like big numbers but we also want people to have a great time at our resort.”