Built by RCI Adventure Products, which also built the original course, the expansion includes such challenging elements as a lumberjack-like test of balance called a Roller Log—which RCI marketing manager Zack Loeprich calls “probably the hardest element” in RCI’s menu of features—and a Roller Rail. The idea with the latter element is to pull yourself along, while suspended by harness from an overhead rail, using regularly spaced hand grips suspended from the 60-foot-long rail. “It’s a real adrenaline rush when you’re dangling 25 to 30 feet above the ground,” says Loeprich. With these additions, the summer activity mix at Snowbird now matches a broad range of visitors, including fami - lies, who can also enjoy summer tubing, various inflatable climbing structures, gemstone mining, and experiences such as guided hikes and a fishing pond for kids ages 12 and under. All the activities, save for the gemstone mining, guided hikes, and fishing, are in - cluded in the all-day activity pass, which in 2024 is $71 for those taller than 42 inches and $52 for those less than 42 inches tall. A toddler pass for ages 2-5 is $19 and includes a handful of activities suitable for little ones.
Snowbird’s expanded ropes course offers new levels and types of challenges.
mer recreation was that the capital costs of installing summer-activities facilities were a relative drop in the bucket for a resort more familiar with the high capital costs of winter infrastructure. At press time, the ropes-course addition had yet to be completed, but according to RCI’s Ronda Hulst, “Most of these ad - ditions fall in the $200,000 to $700,000 range.” That’s not cheap, but it is a rel - ative bargain when compared with the price tag of lifts, grooming machines, snowmaking hardware, and other com - ponents of winter operations.
the flow and clarity of the water, which in large part is produced by snowmelt, that comes out of the canyon into facilities that serve the Salt Lake City basin. More than 60 percent of the city’s drinking water supply comes from Little Cottonwood, neighboring Big Cotton - wood, and other nearby canyons. Furthermore, the configuration of the canyon, steep and narrow, presents both opportunities and limits on what Snowbird can build, whether in winter or summer. While activities such as the alpine slide and mountain coaster are enabled by the sloping topography, strict limits in the canyon are in place on new construction and other human interventions due to the high potential for avalanches in the winter and other natural hazards during the summer. That said, the impact of skier business on the canyon in winter, when automo- tive traffic can be considerable and av - alanche danger high, is far greater than the impact caused by summer activities and visitors. The positive impact that summertime activities have on business, however, appears to be worthwhile, according to Sherman, who says, “We continue to find value in investing in our summer - time experiences for guests.” And who knows—maybe summer-ori - ented adventure parks will follow the ski-resort template and figure out a way of turning winter into a reve- nue-generator, too.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Relatively reasonable investment. One plus for Snowbird in venturing into sum -
Another inherent asset for attracting summer business is Snowbird’s breath - taking mountain beauty, embellished by mid- and late-summer wildflower blooms. But the scenic setting also comes with an operational caveat: in addition to the need to be protective of a sensitive alpine environment, Snow - bird must also take into account that the canyon in which it is located, Little Cottonwood Canyon, is an important component in the Salt Lake Basin water - shed and water supply. To take proper precautions and abide by regulations in building and operat - ing its summer (and winter) activities, Snowbird must interact with various public entities, in particular the U.S. For - est Service and Salt Lake County. The resort bears a responsibility to “protect the water for the Salt Lake valley,” says Sherman, by taking care not to impact
The ZipWhipper, a combination climbing wall and free fall, shown during construction.
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