Several letters to this newspaper have bemoaned the crowds and lack of parking at the Salt Lake City-area ski resorts. I have heard the same on the slopes as well. Many folks blame various multi-resort ski passes which offer skiers to enjoy the sport at a big discount.
Do I hear some elitism here?
I remember when ski passes were priced to allow more people to buy them. Now they are so expensive that only wealthier people can enjoy a day on the slopes. How dare those discount passes bring in skiers who would not otherwise hit the slopes?
As for parking, how about taking the bus? Or is it a right to find a parking spot at 11 a.m. at the resorts?
The resorts should invest more money in public transportation, park-and-ride lots and higher bus frequencies instead of paving over more land. Widen the road in some sections and only let buses use the middle lane during peak hours, zipping past cars. Or how about counting vehicles entering and leaving the canyon and stopping cars when the lots are full?
There are many ways to manage the traffic and the crowds, but blaming people who also want to enjoy a day of skiing is the wrong approach.
Thomas Fritz, Sandy