Dear Mother Nature,

I’ve been thinking about what I want to say for a while now, mostly while riding up the chairlift, gazing out at mountains that, bless their hearts, were doing the best they could with what you gave them. So here goes: I love you. Deeply, unconditionally, and frankly, against my better judgment.

This season, you kept us snow-lovers a little humble. The snowpack was more of a slow build than a grand entrance. A quieter year, let’s say, that asked us to be patient and grateful for what we had. I won’t pretend there weren’t mornings when I watched the forecast refresh like a man with a problem. But the mountains were still there, still beautiful and honestly? Still worth every early chair.

And yet. Here I am. Writing you a love letter.

Because that’s what a real commitment looks like, doesn’t it? It’s not all bluebird days and chest-deep powder. Sometimes it’s watching the 10-day forecast the way a gambler watches a roulette wheel — with desperate, irrational hope. Sometimes it’s appreciating perfect corduroy on a crisp, bluebird morning and deciding that’s enough. I’ve done both this year. Often before breakfast.

Our relationship, you and I, is a marriage. I made that commitment well before I moved to Park City in 1998, the first time you buried me in Wasatch powder and I knew that Utah would be my forever home. I renewed it every season since. And like any long marriage, there are rough patches — years where you make me work a little harder for the magic. This was one of them. I’m not going to pretend it wasn’t. My powder skis and I had some conversations.

But “till death do us part” means something. It means I’ll be back in October, obsessively checking the snow report like a man possessed. It means I’ll tune my powder skis with the quiet optimism of someone who has clearly learned nothing. It means that when you really show up, and I know you will, I’ll be so embarrassingly grateful that I’ll probably cry tears of joy into my snow-choked goggles on that first November powder day.

So here’s what I’m asking: Let’s make next year a big one. I’m not trying to be demanding, but I think after everything I’ve given you — the unwavering commitment, the early mornings, the occasional dignity — a generous winter feels like a reasonable ask. A December to remember. Maybe a January too, while we’re at it. I’m not greedy. Just a few hundred inches of The Greatest Snow on Earth, piled high in all the right places.

I’ll be here. I’ll always be here. Skis tuned, hope intact, completely unable to quit you.

Yours, unconditionally and to an embarrassing degree,

Nate

Nathan Rafferty of Park City is the Ski Utah president and CEO.

The post A love letter to Mother Nature, even now appeared first on Park Record.

As president and CEO of Ski Utah, I have the privilege of working with all 17 of Utah’s ski resorts. They range from large destination resorts to smaller, family-focused mountains, each with a distinct personality and purpose.

What they all share is this: Chairlifts are the backbone of the ski experience. When they work well, everything works better.

That’s why Park City Mountain’s proposal to replace the Silverlode and Eagle lifts deserves to be met with celebration and unanimous community support.

These are not expansion projects. They are straightforward lift replacements aimed at solving well-known problems that skiers, riders, employees and residents have been talking about for years. Shorter lift lines. Better circulation. Easier access to terrain. A smoother, more enjoyable ski day.

Silverlode stands out as one of Park City Mountain’s biggest opportunities for improvement. It serves heavily used terrain and consistently experiences long lines. Replacing this lift directly addresses congestion in a critical part of the mountain and improves access to terrain that many guests come specifically to enjoy.

This is a practical fix to a persistent issue.

The Eagle lift replacement brings similarly meaningful benefits. A new Eagle will reduce pressure on the First Time area and help redistribute lift lines at Payday and Crescent. Anyone who has skied those base-area portal lifts during busy periods understands why this matters. Improving flow at the base improves the entire mountain experience from first chair to last run.

Just as important, the new Eagle will significantly enhance access to beginner and intermediate terrain, especially for ski and ride school guests. That matters. Ski schools are where lifelong skiers and riders are made. Better access, smoother progression, and fewer bottlenecks benefit guests, instructors, and families alike.

At the same time, the replacement improves connections to more advanced terrain, making movement around the mountain more intuitive for everyone.

Unfortunately, progress on these lift replacements was stalled for several seasons by an appeal brought by four individuals despite broad agreement that these lifts needed improvement. The result was not growth management, but delayed investment and improvements to the on-mountain experience benefiting our community, guests and employees.

These projects reflect exactly what the community has been asking for. They are logical, targeted responses to feedback, not speculative upgrades.

Over many years, I have worked closely with Park City Mountain and its parent company, Vail Resorts. They consistently show up as leaders in Utah’s ski industry and take a data-driven approach to decision-making. Guest surveys, employee feedback, and community input all play a role in shaping their priorities. These lift replacements clearly reflect that process.

There is also a broader context worth recognizing. Park City Mountain is planning to operate the first eight-passenger chairlift in Utah. That kind of investment signals confidence in the future of skiing here and a willingness to keep improving infrastructure that supports both residents and visitors.

Skiing is fun, but maintaining a world-class destination takes constant work and significant investment. Utah remains competitive in the global ski industry because our resorts continue to reinvest in their operations year after year, regardless of whether a winter brings abundant snow or lean conditions. That commitment supports jobs, tourism, and local economies across the state.

For these reasons, it is critical that Park City Municipal responsibly facilitate these important investments. Supporting smart, community-driven infrastructure improvements is how Park City maintains the quality of experience that Utah’s residents value and visitors expect.

I encourage anyone with questions or interest to attend the public open house at Legacy Lodge from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday. These conversations matter, and informed input makes good projects even better.

Replacing Silverlode and Eagle is a win for skiers and riders, a win for employees, and a win for the community. It’s common sense, and it’s the right next step for Park City Mountain.

Nathan Rafferty is the president and CEO of Ski Utah

The post Two new lifts are a smart, community-driven investment appeared first on Park Record.

I was fortunate to grow up here in Utah, where I discovered a lifelong passion for skiing and the mountains we call home. One of my first jobs after college was as a mountain host at Park City Ski Area during the winter of 1994–95. Today, nearly 30 years later, my love for the sport remains as strong as ever.

This deep passion for skiing has shaped my career. I’ve worked at ski resorts, promoted skiing throughout our state, and helped guide Utah’s skiing and tourism industries. 

What I love about this industry isn’t just the snow, it’s the people — individuals like me who began their careers on the mountain driven by a shared love of skiing, and who work hard to create a better experience for everyone. I like to think I “share” my passion for skiing more than I “promote” it.

As a resident of this community for over 25 years, following the daily news of the patrollers’ strike at Park City has been personally painful. Operating the largest resort in the United States is an incredibly complex undertaking. Mountain patrol plays a vital role in ensuring everyone’s safety, working as part of a larger team that includes lift mechanics, groomers, snowmakers, lift attendants, instructors, ticketing staff, parking crews, food and beverage teams, and many others — all coming together to make a ski resort function, often in challenging conditions.

I am not writing to take a side. The issue is complex, with many layers to the discussion.

However, I am writing to call out the lack of civility in the discourse. There are good people on all sides of this issue — people like you and me who share a love for skiing and the mountains.

Whether it’s the patrollers on strike, the employees working long hours to keep the resort running, or the resort’s management, everyone involved shares a common connection to the sport we love.

Deirdra Walsh is a great example. She is a longtime member of our local community. First moving to Park City in 2004, then starting as a banquet sales coordinator at the ski area in 2007, she worked her way up, honing her leadership skills on the front lines of the resort she now leads.

Deirdra and her family have been active members of our Park City community for two decades. She took her first snowboarding lesson at Park City and even got engaged on Main Street.

There are always two sides to any issue, and the best (and perhaps only) way to find resolution is by maintaining respect for everyone involved. You don’t have to agree with every point, but respecting others as fellow humans — and in this case, as fellow skiers and riders — can lead to common ground.

Each of us who weighs in on this issue, whether online, in a casual conversation at the grocery store or on a chairlift, shares the responsibility to engage in civil discourse. When the conversation devolves into toxic rhetoric, mudslinging, or threats, resolution becomes impossible, and new issues arise.

The biggest loser in this situation isn’t the patrollers, Vail Resorts, or even our understandably frustrated out-of-town guests — it’s our Park City community.

The vitriol being expressed in passionate social media rants and heated exchanges isn’t helping either side. It’s only deepening the divide and harming our community — and our sport.

We are not short on challenges these days. If we truly care about the people and entities that make Park City what it is, and if we cherish this community where we live, work, and play, let’s lead by example.

Let’s elevate our discussions, engage with civility, and show respect for one another. By doing so, we can honor the shared passion that unites us and present the best of our community to residents and guests alike.

Nathan Rafferty is the president and CEO of Ski Utah.

The post We each have a responsibility to be civil with each other, especially now appeared first on Park Record.