EDEN — An unusually warm December is putting a chill on business for some of Northern Utah’s winter recreation companies, who are anxiously awaiting the first big snowstorm of the season.
Casey Pratt, co-owner of Club Rec, can’t remember a December quite like this in his nearly 20 years in business, renting out snowmobiles and tours in the Monte Cristo area.
“There have been some bad ones,” Pratt recalled. “Hopefully this turns, and it’s not a bad one. Hopefully we’re, you know, in a couple of weeks we’re looking back at this and not stressed out as much, but you just never know.”
Casey Pratt has been a co-owner of Club Rec for nearly 20 years. (Mike Anderson, KSL)
Pratt said customers are still making some reservations, but fewer than normal for this time of year.
“People aren’t excited about booking tours and things like that until there’s some snow on the ground,” he said. “They want to know what they’re getting into.”
Just down the road, Lori Mortensen, owner of Diamond Peak Winter Sports, is trying to remain upbeat. She said she remembers similarly warm early winters about 30 years ago when their shop first opened.
“Early business years, it was kind of scary,” Mortensen said. “But now we know it’s going to come, and we’re snow lovers. And so we’re pretty optimistic.”
Lori Mortensen says business has been slow during the warm December so far. (Mike Anderson, KSL)
Even so, she said, the lack of snow has an immediate impact, as many out-of-town visitors cancel their plans.
“You know, a lot of local ski shops, like anybody, are prepped and ready to go for Christmas,” Mortensen said. “And so we get a little worried, you know, because that’s a definite revenue stream for ski shops and snowboard shops.”
“This time of year it gets a little scary,” she added.
Both Mortensen and Pratt said they are confident the snow will eventually arrive, as it always does, but they hope it comes sooner rather than later, so Utahns can get back to the winter activities they love.
“It’s the best, watching people have fun,” Pratt said. “A lot of times we take some of this stuff for granted.”
This story was adapted from a TV broadcast script using artificial intelligence. Every story, including those adapted with AI, is reviewed by a human editor before publication to ensure that KSL’s editorial standards are upheld.