Picabo Street is the most recognizable of the nominees for Vail Resorts’ board of directors submitted by activist investor Oasis Management, which seeks changes in how the ski company that owns Park City Mountain manages itself.

The company announced Friday morning it had received notices of intent to nominate the following individuals on these dates: 

• Via Oasis Management, on Sept. 9 and 10: Robert A. Chapek of Florida; M. Ashton Hudson of Florida; Bryce Roberts of Park City; and Picabo Street of Park City. 
• Via Gregory Syvert Meyer, on Sept. 10: The company received a self-nomination of Gregory Syvert Meyer of Florida. 

Vail Resorts said it “prioritizes consistent engagement with shareholders and welcomes ongoing dialogue around the shared interest of continuing to drive long-term shareholder value. As previously announced, the company has an active, fulsome search underway for a new independent director, which it expects to complete in early 2027.”

In other words, um, no. Not unless they can drum up a majority of shareholders to upend the company’s current path.

According to online news outlet SnowBrains, Oasis, which holds 6%-8% of Vail Resorts’ stock, seeks changes in the company’s management that could include selling some of its mountain properties.

Park City-based Cloudflare cofounder and CEO Matthew Prince has been loud about his desire to purchase Park City Mountain and publicly critical of the ski company’s management. Prince and wife Tatiana own The Park Record.

According to SnowBrains, because Vail Resorts is the largest ski resort operator in North America and the only major publicly traded ski resort company, a successful activist campaign could influence more than just the company’s future:

“If Oasis is able to enact changes, the outcome could also have implications for how major ski resorts are operated and invested in across the industry.”

“After evaluating all candidates, the board will include its recommended slate of director nominees in the company’s proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and distributed to all shareholders eligible to vote at the annual meeting,” Vail Resorts said. “Vail Resorts shareholders are not required to take any action at this time.”

Stockholders can obtain free copies of the company’s proxy statement (when available) and other documents that will be filed by Vail Resorts with the SEC at sec.gov, the SEC’s website, from the investor relations section of Vail Resorts’ website, investors.vailresorts.com, or by emailing Connie Wang at InvestorRelations@vailresorts.com.

Street charted a new course for American women in winning World Cup season titles and taking silver in the 1994 Olympics, gold in 1998, and began to show what American women could do on the slopes. Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin went on from there to dominate. Street’s last race was during the 2002 Olympics, finishing 16th in the downhill.

She has since started a school for winter athletes in Park City, Picabo Street Academy, and is a commentator for NBC Sports.

“I’ve spent my life skiing, winning Olympic medals, and giving back to the sport,” Street said Friday morning. “Over the years, I’ve learned that real success isn’t just about gold medals — it’s about passing that love on.”

She said she wanted in a director’s role to help bring back the magic of skiing for more people and families.

“Whether visitors are strapping on boots for the very first time or chasing powder on a cold morning, I want them to feel the same spark I felt as a kid. It’s time to make the most of these mountains that we all love so much,” she said.

On Sept. 2, Vail Resorts announced the departure of Sue Decker from the board after 11 years. In July, Vail Resorts added MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle, a Park City second-home owner, to the board.

Why is Park City so pivotal in the board of directors battle?

Discontent over Vail Resorts ownership has been simmering there for years, with complaints about crowding, infrastructure and worker pay wreaking havoc during recent seasons, including a debilitating ski patrol strike.

In an interview this summer with the Vail Daily, Prince again urged Vail Resorts to sell the ski area to him so he could properly invest in the employees and the mechanical infrastructure of the mountain where he once taught skiing before launching Cloudflare.

Prince said that the shareholder activist strategy is fairly straightforward in acquiring enough stock to force a board of directors vote on the direction of the company, either by changing leadership, taking the company private, selling off individual resorts, or all three. He emphasized at the time that he was not part of any activist takeover and doesn’t own Vail Resorts stock.

“Every one of the activist firms that is sniffing around Vail, and there are lots, has called me because I’m part of the strategy,” Prince said. “If they can find me and a handful of other people at the other resorts who are willing to pay to take over the resorts, then it becomes really inexpensive for them to actually launch this campaign because they’ve basically got a guaranteed source of financing to do it.”

Oasis officials did not respond to requests for comment for that story, in which some longtime Vail residents also discussed the future of the company and the possibility of Vail Resorts being compelled to spin off individual ski areas.

Vail Resorts in July launched Epic Experience to try to improve dining, customer service and other aspects of the ski experience at its various resorts.

The post Activist investor Oasis nominates Picabo Street and others for Vail Resorts’ board of directors appeared first on Park Record.

And the 2026 Myles Rademan Spirit of Hospitality Award goes to … Randy Barton!

Barton, best known as manager of the Egyptian Theatre, was honored with the Park City Chamber/Bureau’s annual award at its meeting last week. In Barton’s words, however, it’s a “recognition,” not an award.

“I don’t accept on behalf of myself, but on behalf of all the folks who love arts and culture,” Barton said.

He added that he appreciated that the award was not competitive in what can be a very competitive town.

Since moving to Park City in 1975, Barton founded the iconic late-night fast food chain Sconecutter, organized a cow ballet, hosted a drive-time radio show, saved the Egyptian Theatre from financial ruin and, most recently, was seen riding a camel through Main Street at the Miners Day parade.

“I was always involved with the Egyptian Theatre from the day that it was renamed the Egyptian in 1981,” Barton said. “I was never in charge but always there.” 

As a member of the Park City Players, Barton was involved at the theater as an actor and worked concessions at the Sundance Film Festival. 

Over the next few decades, Barton’s involvement around town ranged from television to concert promotion to radio. His TV show, “Park City Faces,” spotlighted the people and personality of Park City every weeknight live for nearly a decade. 

“It was really fun to do that show during the Olympics,” Barton said. 

For two weeks, the program filmed from Main Street instead of the usual studio, and Barton interviewed a horse. 

“I just love that we hosted the world,” Barton said, “and speaking of hospitality, we did such a marvelous job of it.”

After a stint on television, Barton moved to radio.

KPCW ran “The Local View” for four hours a day, five days a week for 20 years. During his time on the radio, Barton was known to make what he called “outlandish” statements. Outlandish, maybe. Radiantly positive, definitely. 

Barton said he would advise people to get out and learn to drive in the snow instead of being afraid of storms. During traffic jams, he’d tell listeners to embrace it, relax and enjoy the music. 

Barton was organizing a concert series in Salt Lake City in the ’90s and wanted to bring the same energy to Park City. In 1997, he started Mountain Town Stages. That evolved into Mountain Town Music, which programs, produces and fosters live music performances in the area. 

“Radio, theater, television, all kinds of at the same time as doing music and concerts. That was kind of my deal,” Barton said.

In 2009, Barton added “Saved the Egyptian Theatre” to his resume. 

“Everybody tells me, you know, ‘You saved the theater. Without you, it wouldn’t be there,’” Barton recalled. “I say, ‘Yeah, but I’m one of many, going all the way back to the 1800s, of people that would rise up and save the theater.’”

As Barton tells it, in the spring of 2009, the theater had closed and canceled all productions because it was out of money. The board of directors had in mind a schedule full of community theater programming, but Barton had a different vision. 

“I told them that was a bad decision for the community and (to) give me 90 days to show you what it should be,” he said. 

Barton luckily negotiated a contract at the beginning of the 90 days; the board tried to fire him three times during that period.

By the end of the three months, Barton had built a model of the theatre that still stands today.

“That is, something on stage every week, building a Pharaoh Club for the support of the theater and making the Egyptian the centerpiece of social life in Park City and a real gathering place,” he said. 

As Barton accepted his recognition, he proudly described the theater as “historic, authentic, intimate, genuine, social and, because of me, slightly irreverent.”

There are many opinions about what makes Park City unique. Is it the skiing, the history, the proximity to Main Street or the culture?

“(Arts and culture) has always been a part of Park City from the very beginning, and it is always what makes Park City a real town,” Barton said. “People talk about going to other ski areas, and what they love about Park City is it is real because of the dining, the arts, the culture, the history.”

If it were up to Barton, Park City would market itself as a “stationary cruise ship.”

“We have all the things that you would go on a cruise for: entertainment, shows, great food,” he said. “Base (the city) on that model. If somebody’s here, they’re going to be entertained.”

Barton is quick to share business strategies, and as a father of three, he’s well-versed in giving life advice.

“You know, I tell my kids and others, be careful with what you decide to do because you just might end up doing that and nothing else for the rest of your life,” Barton said. “I’ve done more than the arts. I’ve done business and I’m a runner. I’m a golfer. I have great joys. Best is being a parent, always.”

He enjoys what he calls “goof-off golfing,” a discipline of the sport where points aren’t counted and improvement isn’t the goal. Unlike his openness toward business matters, his favorite golf course is top secret.

Barton was recognized with a hospitality award, so why all the talk of entertaining? Entertainment and hospitality are one and the same, he said. Barton was born in Hollywood, after all.

“When you say that you’re entertaining tonight, that doesn’t have to mean that you’re dancing or on stage with a mic,” Barton said. “(When) you’re entertaining people, you’re bringing them into your home and showing them a nice time. Hosting is the same thing.”

According to Barton, entertaining and hosting go hand in hand with kindness and openness. 

“The divisiveness of the world is based on a lack of hospitality and ‘I will welcome anybody’ attitude,” he said.

As he accepted the Chamber/Bureau’s recognition, Barton reminisced about the days when he was new in town and faced with the common question: “So, how long have you been here?”

Barton said he feels like he’s on the other side of that question after 50 years in Park City. 

“People want you to talk about what makes you mad or upset, what you hate about the town,” he said. “But I love this town more every year.”

The post Perspectives on hospitality and entertainment from Randy Barton appeared first on Park Record.

Deer Valley installed the final lift of its Expanded Excellence plan this week as the parts for the Hail Peak Express lift were flown into place by helicopter early Wednesday morning. 

“We’re getting really excited for winter,” said Garrett Lang, senior director of mountain operations at Deer Valley Resort.

Hail Peak is the 11th new lift in Deer Valley’s East Village expansion since 2024. The new lift will open seven runs and 200 new acres of beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain. With the addition of Hail Peak, Deer Valley now has 32 lifts in operation throughout the resort.

The seven new runs off Hail Peak will feature a mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced groomed terrain. Lang compared the area to Flagstaff Mountain, for people familiar with the western side of the resort.

Deer Valley adds to its collection of over a dozen Doppelmayr high-speed detachable quad lifts with the Hail Peak Express. The new lift can move 2,400 skiers per hour through its 86 carriers. The slightly smaller Neptune Express can move the same number of people with 74 chairs, and the longer Pioche Express lift moves 1,800 people per hour.

The chairs on Hail Peak Express, along with the other lifts in the east expansion area, are designed to be more comfortable with higher backs and smoother suspension. 

Its proximity to the East Village parking lot makes Hail Peak a great candidate for early morning runs or as a location to start out the ski day before exploring the rest of the mountain. Parking at the East Village lot is free all day in its 1,200 spaces. Lang said the resort’s complimentary trams will run from the parking lot near the lift to transport skiers closer to the hub.

The installation of Hail Peak marks a milestone in the resort’s expansion. After three years working on mountain developments like its new lifts, the resort will now focus on finishing the East Village and Park Peak lodges. 

“We’re excited for, hopefully, a great snow year so we can really showcase what we have to offer and what this expansion is truly capable of,” said Riley Elliot, communications manager at Deer Valley Resort.

The resort has plans for the rest of the mountain, but there’s no set timeline on when those developments would start.

Alterra Mountain Company, Deer Valley Resort’s parent company, announced on Sept. 9 its investments for the 2026-27 season across all resorts total over $350 million. The improvements to snowmaking systems and the addition of the Hail Peak Express lift are the primary focuses this season at Deer Valley.

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The Park City Historic Mine Route officially opened to the public on Miners Day.

The route, organized by the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History, combines two of Park City’s most important attractions: history and outdoor recreation. 

The Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History worked with the Mountain Trails Foundation to incorporate existing trails along 24 historic silver mining sites to create the 7-mile route. The pinnacle is the recently restored Silver King Mine sitting near the eastern boundary of Park City Mountain.

“There’s a genuine destination (to the hike),” said Colleen Logan, marketing manager for the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History. “It’s so rich, there are so many stories to learn about.”

Almost the entire route follows existing trails, with new wayfinding signs marking the Historic Mine Route. The Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History also created interpretive signs to tell stories at specific sites and QR codes linking to the trail’s audioguide via the TravelStorys app. 

Logan said another great thing about the trail is the variability.

The route starts on Main Street and stretches 7 miles with 1,200 feet of elevation gain when hiked in full.

“You definitely feel a good workout, but it’s in sections, so you don’t feel like you’re just walking straight uphill,” Logan said. 

A more moderate option is to ride the Town Lift or Payday Express lift from Park City Mountain to the mine, and hike down Empire Canyon. This shortens the route to 3.4 miles and reduces elevation gain while allowing hikers to visit 15 historic sites. The easiest way to explore the historic mine route is by an out-and-back trail from Main Street to Empire Canyon. 

There’s a 10-mile bike trail to view the Historic Mine Route, too. It follows the same path as the 7-mile hike, with a short diversion around the hiker-only Trestle trail.

The downhill section past the Silver King Mine and through Empire Canyon is densely packed with mine sites, including the Silver King Mill, the next Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History restoration project.

Logan said one of the nonprofit’s goals for the route is to “make Main Street your trailhead.” Parking, water and restrooms are easy to find at the start of the route near the Park City Museum.

The route is described by the nonprofit as an “open-air museum,” but Logan still recommended stopping by the Park City Museum before hitting the trails.

“It really is a complement to go to the museum before or after you do the hike,” Logan said. “The museum helps explain things at a level of detail you can’t get when you do the hike, but the mountain experience brings an ‘ah-ha’ moment to what you see at the museum.”

Whichever route is taken, the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History hopes the new Historic Mine Route can teach people about the sites they might have often skied, biked or hiked past. 

“It takes something that may be familiar, but now (you) know something about it. Now you know the stories,” Logan said.

Details of each route can be found online at hmr.parkcityhistory.org.

The post New hiking trail combines Park City’s history with recreation appeared first on Park Record.

This Miners Day, Barry Hanover marched in the parade with the League of Women Voters. Hanover first became involved with the league because of his wife, Allison, but before he marched on Monday, his family had a long history of advocating for the rights of women to vote.

“Since it was the League of Women Voters, I couldn’t wait to get (to the parade) because of this tie with my family,” Hanover said.

Hanover is from Tennessee and moved to Utah in the ’70s. His great uncle, Joseph Hanover, was a representative in the Tennessee House of Representatives when the state voted to ratify the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote in the United States. 

In 1920, Tennessee was the last state to vote on the amendment. Joseph Hanover, or Uncle Joe, as Barry calls him, led the fight on the House floor. 

Hanover knew his uncle well, he said. 

Uncle Joe was a Jewish immigrant from Poland who came to the United States as a young child. When Joseph was young, he often asked “why mother can’t vote,” the family said. 

“That was a question he repeated,” Barry said. “He understood it, but he didn’t like it. He didn’t think it was right, even as a young boy. They never had a very good answer for him because there wasn’t a very good answer.”

When it came time for the House to vote on the amendment, the League of Women Voters, the same group Hanover marched with in the parade, asked Joseph to fight on their behalf. The amendment passed, with much effort, largely credited to Joseph’s work in the House of Representatives. 

“It’s a great heritage to be tied to that,” Hanover said. “I can’t think of anything better.”

During the suffrage movement of the late 1800s and early 1900s, the League of Women Voters and those in support of giving women the votes could be seen wearing yellow roses and white dresses. The League of Women Voters wore the same outfits this Miners Day.

At the parade, Hanover could be seen running back and forth asking people if they were registered to vote and handing out voter registration cards. Hanover said he specifically wanted to make sure the younger people and women in the crowd had the information. 

“My wife and I try to do our part largely by encouraging young people to get involved,” Hanover said. “I tell young people, ‘Whether you know it or not, I’m voting for you. I’m voting for your future.’”

As Hanover ran around handing out voter registration cards made by his wife, he was inspired by the crowd, he said. 

“Most of the people that I asked, and it was mostly young people, and especially women, when I asked them if they were registered to vote, they said, ‘Of course,’” Hanover said. “‘Yes’ is good, but ‘of course’ is great.”

The post Family legacy honored during Miners Day Parade appeared first on Park Record.

Following a weak snow year, Park City’s tourism and economic leaders are emphasizing what makes the town unique during the other seasons.

At its annual meeting on Thursday, the Park City Chamber/Bureau recognized outgoing board members, introduced incoming members, reported on the tourism economy and presented the Myles Rademan Spirit of Hospitality Award. 

Deirdra Walsh, vice president and chief operating officer of Park City Mountain, was selected as the incoming chairperson of the Chamber/Bureau’s board. Walsh opened the meeting discussing Utah’s “economic strength” as a tourism destination and the major role Park City plays in that identity. 

Jennifer Wesselhoff, president and CEO of the Chamber/Bureau, spoke about making the city more sustainable by becoming more than just a winter tourism town and expanding to a four-season destination. 

The loss of the Sundance Film Festival, Wesselhoff said, is an opportunity to focus on other strengths of the city’s tourism industry.

She noted recent booms in the dining industry, such as the inaugural Chef’s Table Festival in Park City and Southwest Michelin Guide awards, as well as the continued success of the Kimball Arts Festival. Wesselhoff also noted that Shaun White’s Snow League is coming to Park City and that the television show “Marshals” is returning to film another season.

Wesselhoff said the lack of snow during the 2025-26 ski season wasn’t a failure but a point of inspiration for marketing initiatives and reinforcing other aspects of community entertainment.  

“When the snow was scarce, the industry didn’t shatter. We’re more than a ski town; we’re a community that stands together,” Wesselhoff said. 

The Chamber/Bureau reported $2.2 billion in tourism economic impact and $1.6 billion in visitor spending in Summit County.

Wesselhoff also provided updates on the Chamber/Bureau’s 10-year sustainable tourism plan, which launched in 2022. Objectives include fostering local pride, advancing sustainable infrastructure, protecting natural areas, building economic resilience, promoting economic equity, aligning messaging and strengthening arts and culture.

In the 2027 fiscal year, 17 sustainable tourism grants were awarded, totaling $150,000. 

Summit Bike Share, the Summit County Green Business Program and the Certified Sustainable Destination certification have all contributed to those initiatives, she said. Wesselhoff also referenced the Wheel the World partnership, verifying Park City as an accessible destination. 

“Adventure and meaningful experiences should be accessible to everyone,” she said. 

Looking ahead, factors such as energy costs are expected to increase domestic travel and tourists visiting from drivable locations, alongside a continued decrease in international visitors. The Chamber/Bureau anticipated more intentional planning, with tourists turning to travel advisors to plan trips. It also expects an increase in multigenerational travel, as well as visitors seeking culinary, sports and wellness activities at their destinations. 

Wesselhoff added that the Chamber/Bureau will continue its Mountainkind marketing strategy.

“The care for each other and our community sets us apart,” she said. “The Mountainkind community is passionate, prosperous and sustainable.”

Responsible tourism and sustainability were common themes throughout the meeting in local and state initiatives. 

Natalie Randall, the deputy commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism and Film, provided information about the state’s broader tourism industry and its expected growth.

Economic, environmental and political barriers are weakening international travel across the country, she said. However, domestic travel is still booming. Randall highlighted several unique traits that help the state hold up in a destabilizing travel environment, such as its national parks and outdoor recreation.

“Travel is connection,” Randall said. 

Domestic travelers are specifically looking for immersive connections with nature and local communities, something Park City has always succeeded at. 

Randall also pointed to a “dynamic visitor economy” driven by diverse attractions throughout the state. Outdoor recreation continues to be a stronghold for state tourism, but new industries like agritourism, astrotourism and film tourism, or “set jetting,” are also drawing in new visitors. 

“We have a visitor economy that is rare, strong, valued and perpetual,” Randall said. 

Randall cited a recent study from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute that reported $13.7 billion in traveler spending in 2025, generating $2.7 billion in state and local tax revenue. 

A 2026 statewide resident sentiment survey showed 62% of people thought the positive effects of tourism outweighed the negative effects, 76% recognized tourism’s importance to the state economy, 76% said natural resource protection and tourism can be compatible, and 86% agreed the Utah Office of Tourism should educate visitors on environmental impacts and responsible travel.

In the spirit of hospitality, the Chamber/Bureau also bestowed its annual award named after Myles Rademan, who founded and directed the Leadership program for more than 25 years and has been influential in shaping Park City.

Rademan introduced the award, saying there is a “fundamental need” for personal interaction in the current high-tech era. 

“The need for human touch is the bedrock of hospitality,” he said. “Hospitality remains beautifully and stubbornly human.”

Rademan said genuine hospitality makes guests feel like they matter, something that everyone wants. 

Rademan also issued a challenge to the audience ahead of the 2034 Olympics:

“I ask all to practice hospitality skills as we prepare for the next challenge,” he said.

Randy Barton, manager and director of the Egyptian Theater, received the award. It’s given every year to a community member dedicated to making Park City a great place to live, work and play, according to the Chamber/Bureau. 

Barton is best known for his work at the Egyptian Theatre, but his community service extends to hosting a radio show on KPCW and founding Mountain Town Stages. Barton turned the meeting into a party, playing disco music and handing out pink glasses and chocolates. 

Those who spoke also recognized and honored the recent passing of Colin Hilton, president and CEO of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, who died by suicide last month.

Randall said Hilton inspired her with the connection behind hospitality and tourism. Wesselhoff recognized the importance of reaching out and supporting each other in a leadership community that faces unique challenges, while others shared anecdotes and similarly emotional sentiments.

The post Park City Chamber/Bureau wants to build a four-season destination appeared first on Park Record.

The Alterra Mountain Company Community Foundation recently announced Robert Foley as its executive director. Foley’s appointment follows a two year gap in executive leadership at the foundation, during which the board of directors has been restructuring the position.  

Foley said his new role at the charity, inspired by Deer Valley Resort’s parent company, sits at the intersection of personal and professional passions.

Professionally, Foley’s career in nonprofit and philanthropic leadership has focused on mental health initiatives with various organizations throughout the United States.

“Personally, as a person who loves the mountains and what they represent, being able to support these specific communities, these resort communities, these mountain communities, and tackle some challenges that we don’t often get to talk about, is really appealing and exciting,” Foley said. 

Based in Denver, where Alterra is also located, Foley has family ties to Utah and often visits Deer Valley.

The Alterra Mountain Company Community Foundation is a nonprofit affiliated with, but separate from, Alterra Mountain Company. Alterra is a donor to the foundation. The foundation focuses on mental and behavioral health and wellness of people living and working in mountain towns, like Park City and greater Summit County.

“Alterra Mountain Company is about mountain adventure, and the Community Foundation is going to be about mountain wellness,” Foley said. 

Since 2024, the foundation has primarily given individual grants, offering them to individuals facing what Foley described as emergent needs for expenses like medical bills, food and rent. The foundation also has what it calls “psychotherapy grants,” designed specifically for those working at Deer Valley. 

“Some of our ski patrollers … are seeing significant trauma and accidents,” Foley said. “We want to make sure that even though it’s part of their job, they still have access to wellness services to help them process and deal with (what they see).”

The grant initiatives and organizational partnerships will continue. He recognized his position in the Deer Valley and Alterra communities and the importance of respecting the ongoing work.

Alterra owns 19 resorts, so Foley’s job is to support and advocate for the mental health of people in each of those resort communities. His approach to this is to identify the specific needs of the communities and respectfully meet the need.

Foley said it’s important for him to stay mindful of the fact that, although he’s visited Park City and skied at Deer Valley, he still doesn’t live or work here. 

“When I say it’s important to respectfully address those needs, there’s got to be community connection, collaboration, partnership and humility,” Foley said. “Because that’s the only way we’re going to authentically begin to address some of the challenges that people within those communities are facing.”

His role involves finding funding and facilitating connections so professional and community experts can continue their work more effectively. In the past, the foundation has awarded over $500,000 through the hardship grants. The psychotherapy grants enable Deer Valley employees to pay for mental health service and receive help finding providers. 

In addition to facilitating direct mental health support, Foley said the foundation will continue to work with community organizations like the Park City Community Foundation that are already established in the area.

“It’s really about connecting with the people who already know, and sharing that knowledge,” he said.

One project already in the works is a behavioral health toolkit. The toolkit is a book of mental health resources that can be used across all mountain communities. It’s designed to be accessible for everyone, not just mental health professionals. Once completed, the toolkit will be a roadmap for identifying and discussing specific challenges within each community, Foley said.

Many mountain and resort towns face similar challenges and mental health risks, Foley said, but it’s important to note that each community is different.

Some of the unique challenges in Park City come from the differences between Park City as a resort town and Summit County as a whole. Because of the wide economic differences in the community, the challenge in accessing mental health care for some might be financial or transportation barriers, while others might not feel shame for asking for help.

“These spaces and places, they’re beautiful. They’re physically breathtaking,” Foley said. “The beauty, the magnitude of those spaces can put a mask on the struggles that people experience there.”

Foley’s goal moving forward with the foundation is to unmask the difficulties with mental health that are still so common in mountain towns. 

“We just want to be a resource and make sure that those communities can be beautiful for everybody,” Foley said.

The post Mental healthcare in mountain communities continues to be a priority for Alterra-founded nonprofit appeared first on Park Record.

I remember being a kid and the joy my bike brought me. It was my main mode of transportation, from piano lessons to the gas station for a summertime treat. I rode as fast as I could around the park where I grew up in Eagle Mountain and learned the consequences when I flew over my handlebars for the first time. There were mountain bike races, long fundraising road rides and evening rides around the town in the summer. 

When I went off to college, I was gifted a new bike, an exciting upgrade from the mountain bike I had in middle school. During my sophomore year, I crashed on the way to class and broke my knee. In the years since then, I’ve found reasons not to ride: Not strong enough, bad weather, no bike lanes, too busy with classes, etc.

A few weeks ago I decided there weren’t any more excuses and signed up for the Summit Challenge with the National Ability Center. 

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to sign up for the 25-mile loop. I don’t think I’ve gone on a ride that long since I was 14. My thought process was something like, “I can do 10 miles on a stationary bike in the gym, no problem. How much harder can this be?” Actually, it was a lot harder.

The Summit Challenge is an annual fundraiser for the National Ability Center. This weekend marked 20 years of the fundraiser. Through donations and registration costs, the center raised over $183,000 this year. The funds contribute to the general mission of the National Ability Center, to provide opportunities for adaptive recreation for people with disabilities.  

Like everything the nonprofit does, the ride is centered on inclusivity and accessibility. 

On the day of the ride, I saw so many different kinds of bikes, each designed to fit its riders’ needs. I have a moderate understanding of adaptive equipment, but this weekend I learned about a new one: the tandem bike. 

The morning before, I had breakfast with the Daring Sisters, a group of blind and low-vision women. The group is based in Utah with members all over the world. They host retreats at the National Ability Center, but this was the first time many participated in the Summit Challenge. They ride tandem bikes, many with their partners as pilots, through the challenge.

“I wanted connection in meaningful ways and wanted to be active,” said Becky Andrews, the founder of the group.

All of the women experience a form of vision impairment. Some can see colors, some have their peripheral vision and others have a small field of vision directly ahead. There’s a mix of congenital and progressive conditions, too. 

“Regardless of the eye condition, there’s a shared experience,” said Daring Sister Nicole Kass.

One of those experiences, Nicole said, is “a lot of assumed ‘You can’t.’”

I wish everyone could see how much these Daring Sisters proved that assumption wrong. 

Kass and her partner said they’re still mastering the art of the tandem bike, but they completed the 16-mile loop on Saturday and ended the day with smiles. 

Gina and Scott Meredith from Erda in Tooele County are without a doubt tandem pros.

Gina is experiencing progressive vision loss. She can still ride a bike by herself, but she said it takes so much to focus on the road that it’s not fun.

I asked her what it’s like riding the tandem bike with her husband. Immediately and without hesitation, she responded: “Freeing.”

“With Scott on the front, I can enjoy cycling again,” Gina said.

I had the chance to talk to another adaptive rider, Emma Paden, the day before the race. 

Paden works as an instructor at the National Ability Center and as an adaptive trail assessment program coordinator for the Mountain Trails Foundation. She rides a Bowhead RX, a three-wheel hand-pedal bike. 

For those unfamiliar with this bike, check it out. It’s a really cool bike. The size and suspension make it feel much more like a traditional two-wheel mountain bike. It’s safer to ride and opens up more terrain because of its design.

Paden has been an instructor at the National Ability Center for a few years, but about a year ago she acquired a spinal cord injury and is now an adaptive athlete herself. 

Before the accident, Paden enjoyed biking, but her primary interests were climbing and running. It’s harder to do those things from a wheelchair, so lately she’s turned to biking to get outside and explore trails and solve puzzles like she did before. 

“It’s important for me to do this for my quality of life,” she explained. 

Paden rides with the National Ability Center’s para off-road cycling team. The team challenges each other by going on difficult rides together and entering competitions. 

“It’s easy with an individual sport like cycling (to become competitive), but instead we try to stay together, push each other and support each other,” Paden said. “Being competitive isn’t as important as staying together.”

The para off-road cycling team planned to ride the 100-mile loop, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up with them. Gina and Scott were riding 25-mile loop, so I decided to stick with them.

I started out the ride with the Merediths and Cassidy Craige, a program specialist at the National Ability Center. I’d talked my dad into joining the ride, along with two of his old cycling buddies. One of his friends, Linde Smith, was a semi-pro cyclist until he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis about 20 years ago. He was riding a gravel e-bike on Saturday.

The skies were gray and rain loomed as we geared up to start the ride. Of course, we all had concerns about riding in the rain, but more importantly, we wanted to dodge the thunderstorms. 

Craige had an eye on the radar, and I was nervously counting the time between flashes of lightning and the loud claps of thunder.

It sprinkled at the beginning of the ride, and the foothills around the Round Valley trails looked like a scene from “The Lord of the Rings.” Less than 5 miles in, brakes were screeching, my shoes were full of water and the glitter Craige and I had on our faces had washed off. 

The heavy rain came in a few rounds throughout the morning. The lightning was never too close to our group. Overall, being cold and wet was preferable to the extreme heat earlier in the week.

Around mile 7 or 8, the rain let up and we hit the first major elevation increase of the route. The Merediths and Craige rode ahead, but I had to stop. My dad and his friends stayed back.

Once we started riding again, I was trying as hard as I could to push through the hill. I was about to hit the “puke factor” from the physical exertion. 

About halfway up the climb, I felt a hand on my back and got a burst of speed as my dad pushed me up the hill. Then there was more speed as his friend gave him a push, and again, as Smith joined the chain. 

There were a few more times throughout the ride where I needed to borrow energy to get through the climbs. 

“It’s amazing what a little help can do,” I heard.

Paden said something that was on my mind throughout the whole ride on Saturday.

“Before, I was seeking freedom, joy and peace in outdoor recreation, like so many people do,” she said. “After the accident, those doors closed. They were suddenly gone.” 

She added, “(Since then) biking has been one of the most consistent forms of freedom.” 

While I was riding on Saturday, I couldn’t stop thinking about how Gina and Paden both said biking gives them freedom.

The National Ability Center embodies this connection between “help” and “freedom” through everything it does. 

Those two things mean something different to everyone. 

In my life, freedom is being able to push back against the things that kept me off my bike. And the help getting there came from riding with familiar faces and borrowing strength. Smith’s e-bike helps him have the freedom to ride as he did before his MS diagnosis. For Gina, freedom is riding with confidence and joy, and the help comes from her partnership with her husband. Paden finds freedom when she’s challenging herself outdoors and her help comes from her Bowhead RX bike. 

The Summit Challenge was without a doubt a challenge for me. But I’ve never been more ready to get back on my bike and experience the joy and freedom I felt on Saturday.

The post What I learned from the National Ability Center’s Summit Challenge appeared first on Park Record.

Deer Valley Resort has been working hard this summer to prepare for the winter season, with most projects centered around the resort’s east side.

New lifts and snow guns have been installed at Deer Valley since terrain expansions began in 2024, and construction has started in the East Village area, which will feature luxury hotels, retail and dining.

Garret Lang, senior director of mountain operations, said there isn’t one project he’s most excited about, but instead a large number of small improvements across the resort. 

“(There are) little perfections from last winter,” Lang said. 

Lang called the tasks a “punch list” that they’ve been working through all summer. On that list is adjusting the grade of certain runs around the mountain, moving trees and managing erosion. 

“The punch list is going to make operating so much easier and make things better for our guests,” he said. 

The mountain operations team has made significant improvements to the Redemption run this summer. Snow guns were moved for better placement and to optimize snowmaking conditions. The run has been widened, too. 

Lang said Deer Valley added two new snowcats this year, bringing the resort total to 33.

“(This will help) keep up the groomed terrain Deer Valley is known for,” he said.

The Hail Peak Express will be installed mid-September and will be operational at the start of the 2026-27 season. Hail Peak will add seven new runs and 200 acres to the resort’s total 4,500 acres this season. With this addition, the resort will now have a total of 32 lifts and the capacity for 932 acres of snowmaking.

After the initial 2024 expansion, the Hail Peak area was one of the first to have ski runs cut into the mountain, so Lang is looking forward to the area being skiable this year. 

Construction on the Park Peak and Deer Valley East Village Lodges has been moving quickly this summer, too. Both lodges are planned to open for the 2027-28 season. 

Each lodge is being designed with gondola storage space underground. The cabins will be detached from the lift for temporary storage overnight or during large storms. This will also allow easier access for cabin maintenance. Lang said this system was inspired by European standards for gondola storage. Special gondola cabins are designed for food transport to the Park Peak Lodge, as well as freight loading areas near the regular gondola access points.

The goal is to have each building “dried in” before winter, Lang said, meaning the external work will be completed to the point where no plastic or temporary coverings are needed around the buildings. Construction will continue through the winter on the interiors of the buildings. 

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Black bear activity has increased dramatically in much of the western U.S. this year, with Utah seeing double the reports from 2025. 

The state Division of Wildlife Resources said in a news release that it has responded to 168 bear issues as of Aug. 25, compared to 83 responses all of last year. In May of this year, a bear migrated into Park City and had to be relocated. The same bear was just found in a Provo community. Earlier this week, a bear cub, separated from its mother in Mount Pleasant, was euthanized.

The Division of Wildlife Resources said the increased activity is due largely to weather conditions like late freezes, warm spring temperatures and severe heat and drought. 

Black bears, the only species in Utah, primarily eat plants, berries and acorns, which were impacted by the summer weather. Bears are searching for other food sources, leading them into areas with higher human populations, now that their natural diets have been limited.

“This time of year bears are trying to build fat reserves and are consuming as many calories as possible,” said Michael Packer, a conservation outreach manager with the Division of Wildlife Resources. “A shortage of a natural food supply and a need to put on fat increases the likelihood of bear-human conflicts.”

In residential areas across the Wasatch Back, unsecured trash cans are the biggest risk for bear activity.

“Bears frequently target garbage cans left on the curb the night before pickup. Putting cans out the morning of trash pickup and securing them once emptied helps prevent human-bear conflicts in communities like Park City and Summit Park,” Packer said.

Pet food, bird feeders and fruit trees can even attract bears out of their habitat into residential areas. 

Although black bears are leaving their habitats more than usual this year, they’re mostly found in canyons and mountains above 7,000 feet in elevation, including the Wasatch and Uinta mountains. 

Packer said people should still go out to enjoy camping and hiking, but they should take necessary precautions. Watching for fresh tracks and scat can indicate nearby bears, but it’s best to remain careful in bear country even when these signs aren’t visible.

“This year especially we recommend carrying bear spray, staying in groups, and properly securing food, trash and scented items,” Packer said.

Other safety tips include never feeding a bear, no matter how cute it might be, keeping campsites clean and bear-proofed, and telling rangers immediately if a bear enters a campsite.

State wildlife officials advised being aware of bear behavior, too. 

If a black bear gets close, stand your ground, they said. Don’t try to run away or climb a tree. Instead of playing dead, remain calm and wait for the bear to leave. When a black bear stands up or growls, that’s not aggression, just the bear showing interest and curiosity. If the bear does attack, use bear spray and always fight back. 

“Never give up,” officials said. “People have successfully defended themselves with almost anything: rocks, sticks, backpacks, water bottles and even their hands and feet.”

Chad Wilson, game and mammals coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, also addressed the general risks of black bear encounters.

“Even though they’re incredibly strong and surprisingly fast, black bears will typically do everything they can to avoid people,” Wilson said. “When a bear finds food, though, that can all change. A bear may become aggressive toward animals or people it perceives as threatening the area where it found the food.” 

Black bears often return to areas where they found food, and if this happens, officials have to relocate the bears to keep animals and people safe. 

Sometimes, if the bear becomes violent and relocation isn’t a solution, officials have to turn to euthanization. 

“We got into the wildlife profession because we love wildlife,” Wilson said. “We enjoy managing and protecting animals so Utahns can get outdoors and enjoy them. Having to euthanize an animal — because someone didn’t do something as simple as keeping their campsite clean and storing food in a secure area — is tough. Please don’t put us in that situation.”

For information about black bear safety, visit wildawareutah.org.

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