Podcasts about ksl newsradio

We were hit with a wave of snow this morning… leaving the roads wet and the mountains ready for skiers and snowboarders.  KSL Newsradio’s Aimee Cobabe has been out on the roads all afternoon and conveys to Jeff what she is seeing across the valley

There are a million more people here in Utah than were here when the Olympics came to Utah in 2002. 1 in 3 Utahns did not experience our games back then, and by the year 2034, 4 in 10 will not have had that experience. What does the announcement that Salt Lake is the preferred city for the 2034 games mean to Utah? To her people? KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Amanda Covington, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at the Larry H. Miller Company, Susan Madsen, founder and director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project and singer/songwriter Cherie Call.  million more people 1 in 3 did not experience the Olympics. By 2034, 4 in 10 will not have had that experience.

There was interesting research released this week about Gen Z. More members of Gen Z feel lonely and isolated. They don't have as many family meals together, but they consume less alcohol, drugs and tobacco. KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests about this generation on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Amanda Covington, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at the Larry H. Miller Company, Susan Madsen, founder and director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project and singer/songwriter Cherie Call. 

40% of Americans say they would be afraid to walk alone in their neighborhhood after dark. Would you? How safe do we feel in our neighborhoods, and what happens to our behavior when we don't feel safe? What makes us feel less safe? KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests about this on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Amanda Covington, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at the Larry H. Miller Company, Susan Madsen, founder and director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project and singer/songwriter Cherie Call. 

A recent study found that young Americas want to move abroad in larger numbers. They want to leave the United States because of social programs in other countries, new cultural experiences and because of the toxic political environment in the United States. KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests about this trend on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Amanda Covington, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at the Larry H. Miller Company, Susan Madsen, founder and director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project and singer/songwriter Cherie Call. 

A new study shows popular diabetes drug Mounjaro is more effective than Ozempic for weight loss in overweight and obese adults... and one of KSL Newsradio's own has shared her journey with Mounjaro and now we are learning the drug is prompting some good news with her diabetes. Digital Content Producer Simone Siekely shares her experience with the drug.

KSL's Top Story A state lawmaker wants to regulate Life Coaches.  The proposal...comes as a result of a high-profile child abuse case... KSL Newsradio's Hugo Rikard-Bell has the story.

A new 2 billion dollar construction project will bring more than 3-thousand new homes to the Point of the Mountain at I-15.  KSL NewsRadio's Hugo Rikard-Bell has spent the day down in Draper at the site and has more on the details of the project.

We saw University of Utah star quarterback Cam Rising announce that he would be coming back to play another year. This will be his 7th year at the U. KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests on A Woman's View - what does it mean to be in "college" athletics now? Her guests this week include Natalie Gochnour, Associate Dean of the David Eccles School of Business and Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, Danielle Vasquez, Executive Director of the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome and Sarah Strang, Chief Operating Officer of The Road Home.

There was an interesting survey recently that asked Americans - how much MORE money do you need to be happy? KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests about this on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Natalie Gochnour, Associate Dean of the David Eccles School of Business and Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, Danielle Vasquez, Executive Director of the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome and Sarah Strang, Chief Operating Officer of The Road Home.

We learned this week that the final debate in the 2024 presidential election will be at Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah. What an honor for Utah! KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests about this on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Natalie Gochnour, Associate Dean of the David Eccles School of Business and Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, Danielle Vasquez, Executive Director of the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome and Sarah Strang, Chief Operating Officer of The Road Home.

We learned this week that Celeste Maloy will become the 5th woman Utah has sent to Congress. The first was Reva Beck Bosone in 1948, later followed by Karen Shepherd, Enid Greene and Mia Love. KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests about this on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Natalie Gochnour, Associate Dean of the David Eccles School of Business and Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, Danielle Vasquez, Executive Director of the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome and Sarah Strang, Chief Operating Officer of The Road Home.

An elderly couple is suing the Ogden Police Force and two officers for what they claim was excessive use of force.  KSL Newsradio’s Aimee Cobabe spoke to the couple this afternoon and she joins Jeff to discuss the situation

We see a spending gap measure pass through Congress last week that was bipartisan. Does that give you encouragement? KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Francine Gianni, former Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, and Kristin Sokol, professional relationship and dating coach. 

Are the behavioral issues we're seeing in K-12 schools in 2023 connected to behavioral issues in political leaders? Perhaps related even more to the behavior of parents? KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Francine Gianni, former Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, and Kristin Sokol, professional relationship and dating coach. 

The Supreme Court announced a new code of conduct recently. It begins with "Obey the law." There is no way to enforce the code, but there it is in writing. KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests about this on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Francine Gianni, former Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, and Kristin Sokol, professional relationship and dating coach. 

This is Thanksgiving week. From all of us at A Woman's View, we wish you and yours a warm and plentiful Thanksgiving. KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests about their holiday traditions on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Francine Gianni, former Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, and Kristin Sokol, professional relationship and dating coach. 

KSL's Top Story: Today's the day. Election officials across Utah say if you want your ballot to get where it needs to go on time... it needs to go out with today's mail.  It's Your Voice, Your Vote... with KSL NewsRadio's Adam Small. 

Formula One is in Las Vegas for the Grand Prix racing event this weekend... KSL NewsRadio's Carlos Artiles Fortun is in Las Vegas with what to expect from the race and what has already happened this weekend.

The war continues in Gaza. There have been brief pauses in the fighting, but the suffering is evident and extreme. KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests how they see the war, one said, "The trauma carries down in their genes." Her guests this week include former state Senator and Representative Patrice Arent. lobbyist Crystal Young and Lisa Walker, certified athletic trainer and teacher at Springville High School. 

As we watch demonstrations around the country, particularly on college campuses, in support of the Palestinians and against the country of Israel, is it possible those protestors are not antisemetic? In other words, can they be against the state of Israel and its policies but not against the Jewish people? KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include former state Senator and Representative Patrice Arent. lobbyist Crystal Young and Lisa Walker, certified athletic trainer and teacher at Springville High School.

Former Obama adviser David Axelrod said that President Biden should drop out of the race. He said, "The greatest concern is that his biggest liability is the one thing he can't change." KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests on A Woman's View what they think. Her guests this week include former state Senator and Representative Patrice Arent. lobbyist Crystal Young and Lisa Walker, certified athletic trainer and teacher at Springville High School.

When you think about retirement, what do you see? Do you think you will be able to retire? Do you want to travel or stay at home with your feet up? Will you keep working in some capacity? KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include former state Senator and Representative Patrice Arent. lobbyist Crystal Young and Lisa Walker, certified athletic trainer and teacher at Springville High School.

KSL's Top Story: Money is being spread around ...along the banks of the Great salt Lake.  Metaphorically speaking. We have team coverage on the future of the lake ...  we begin with the latest developments and  KSL NewsRadio's Adam Small. 

Host: Leah Murray On Wednesday, five GOP presidential candidates are taking the debate stage in Miami. Boyd Matheson, host of KSL NewsRadio’s Inside Sources joined the show to discuss what we can expect, and what they need to do to beat Donald Trump.

Host: Leah Murray Why Israel Is Not Agreeing to a Ceasefire There is a big discussion on whether there should be a ceasefire from Israel in Gaza. 3 unlikely politicians share the same opinion that there should not be. What are the benefits of a ceasefire and what are both sides saying about it? Trump Leads Biden in Almost Every Key State A recent NYT/Siena poll has President Biden in big trouble in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. There are major doubts about his mental acuity, there is also major discontent about the state of the economy. We are joined by the Associate Director at The Hinckley Institute of Politics, Morgan Lyon Cotti to discuss the poll. GOP Presidential Debate Preview On Wednesday, five GOP presidential candidates are taking the debate stage in Miami. Boyd Matheson, host of KSL NewsRadio’s Inside Sources joined the show to discuss what we can expect, and what they need to do to beat Donald Trump. Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio Headline Election Day 2023 Today is election day for every state in the country, except for Utah. There are many races to watch out for tonight, ABC News Correspondent Ike Ejiochi discussed what we should be paying attention to in Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio tonight.

The death rate for babies in America increased by 3%. That is the first increase in 20 years. Why in this country of plenty are we losing more of our newborns? What are we doing wrong? KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asks her guests on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Ginette Bott, President and CEO of the Utah Food Bank, Trish Hatch, coordinator of the CASA program and Jeanetta Williams, President of the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP. 

Governor Cox said this week, "We're either going to stop hating each other or start shooting each other." Are we not focused enough on stopping the hate and increasing our love for our fellow man? KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asks her guests on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Ginette Bott, President and CEO of the Utah Food Bank, Trish Hatch, coordinator of the CASA program and Jeanetta Williams, President of the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP. 

KSL's Top Story:  We're learning more details about an altercation at Copper Hills High School… that sent one to the hospital.  Students spent most of the day on lockdown at the school.  KSL Newsradio’s Aimee Cobabe has more on the situation.

As we watch the horrors continuing in the Middle East, we've seen demonstrations both in support of the people of Israel and in support of the people in Gaza. Can you be pro-Jewish and pro-Palestinian? Can you be in favor of the people of these lands and not in favor of the warring tactics of their leaders? KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asks her guests on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Ginette Bott, President and CEO of the Utah Food Bank, Trish Hatch, coordinator of the CASA program and Jeanetta Williams, President of the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP. 

If you've driven in downtown Salt Lake City lately, you notice groups of homeless people camping in various locations. Should sanctioned homeless camps be created? Does that help or hurt? KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asks her guests on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Ginette Bott, President and CEO of the Utah Food Bank, Trish Hatch, coordinator of the CASA program and Jeanetta Williams, President of the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP. 

Some Americans were able to leave Gaza for Egypt today... but hundreds remain trapped.  One of them is a University of Utah grad named Abood... and KSL NewsRadio's Hugo Rikard-Bell joined Jeff to discuss the updates

BYU tight end Isaac Rex caught up with Mitch Harper and Matt Baiamonte for his weekly interview on Cougar Sports Saturday on KSL NewsRadio. Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast! Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609 Google Play: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks Download the KSL Sports app Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id1435930251

Men are taking a greater and greater role in caretaking - both of children and aging parents. In fact, 47% of all caretakers of parents are now men. KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asks her guests about this on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Robin Ebmeyer, Director of Emergency Management and Safety for Utah Valley University, Luz Lewis Perez, Director of Development and Programs for the Kidney Foundation for Utah and Idaho, and Barb Smith, Director of Communications at Utah Valley University. 

Instances of violence against both Jews and Muslims have gone up in America since the start of the war in Israel and Gaza. That has prompted an increase in gun sales. KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asks her guests about this development on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Robin Ebmeyer, Director of Emergency Management and Safety for Utah Valley University, Luz Lewis Perez, Director of Development and Programs for the Kidney Foundation for Utah and Idaho, and Barb Smith, Director of Communications at Utah Valley University. 

Utah is among the dozens of states suing Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. Are these lawsuits akin to the lawsuits against opioid makers and tobacco companies? Is social media as addictive and dangerous as those substances - or even more so? KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asks her guests on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Robin Ebmeyer, Director of Emergency Management and Safety for Utah Valley University, Luz Lewis Perez, Director of Development and Programs for the Kidney Foundation for Utah and Idaho, and Barb Smith, Director of Communications at Utah Valley University. 

The news often focuses on the negative. Lately, many news stories are about inflation and how we can't afford groceries any more. Then we get positive economic news this week about the economy growing. So which is it? Or is it both? KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asks her guests on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Robin Ebmeyer, Director of Emergency Management and Safety for Utah Valley University, Luz Lewis Perez, Director of Development and Programs for the Kidney Foundation for Utah and Idaho, and Barb Smith, Director of Communications at Utah Valley University. 

Communities in Lewiston Maine are reeling after the devastating shooting last night.  KSL NewsRadio's Adam Small grew up half an hour away from this area... 

Jake & Ben teamed up with KSL News Radio's Tim Hughes to chat all things Utah Jazz as they face the Kings tonight in their season opener. 

Utah is joining 40 other states claiming that the social media site actively harmed children.  KSL News Radio's Lindsay Aerts talked to Margaret Woolley Busse, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, about why Utah joined in. 

As we watch the war in Israel and Gaza, it seems like no matter what your opinion is, it's going to be wrong and even racist with one group or the other. KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson tries to understand the context, to look at the big picture, with the help of her guests on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Michelle Arnold, professor of physics at Weber State University, Kimberly Gardner, elementary and middle school teacher with 33 years experience, and Heather Barney, long time government and communications director. 

It is often said that the people of Israel and Gaza are ready to move forward toward peace, but the leaders are reluctant. Where is the leadership that will lead us toward peace? KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests on A Woman's View. Her guests this week include Michelle Arnold, professor of physics at Weber State University, Kimberly Gardner, teacher in elementary and middle schools with 33 years experience, and Heather Barney, long time government and communications director. 

There was a recent poll that showed 2/3 of both Republicans and Democrats say the war in Afghanistan wasn't worth fighting. KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests on A Woman's View how they view this poll and the war. Her guests this week include Michelle Arnold, professor of physics at Weber State University, Kimberly Gardner, teacher in elementary and middle schools with 33 years experience, and Heather Barney, long time government and communications director. 

We learned this week that Oprah Winfrey approached Mitt Romney to see if he would consider a unity ticket to defeat Donald Trump. He turned her down, as we now know. KSL Newsradio's Amanda Dickson asked her guests on A Woman's View what they think of that revelation. Her guests this week include Michelle Arnold, professor of physics at Weber State University, Kimberly Gardner, teacher in elementary and middle schools with 33 years experience, and Heather Barney, long time government and communications director. 

From April to October, KSL NewsRadio's Brian Champagne has checked out classic, antique, and cool cars all over the state.  But now, he explains how car show-goers are seeing rides that were never cool.... getting a lot of love… and money. And you might have one in your garage.

Hosts: Greg Skordas and Taylor Morgan Pickleball has taken Utah by storm. The increase in popularity of this sport was noticed by Apple who recently released a study that showed Utah leads the nation on pickleball players. KSL NewsRadio reporter Lindsay Aerts joined the program to discuss Apple’s findings.  

Hosts: Greg Skordas and Taylor Morgan Rep. Jordan Fails a Second Time to Grab Speaker Vote This morning, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) failed for a second time to gain enough votes for Speakership. Hosts Taylor and Greg go over what happened this morning and how legislators are reacting. Would a Coalition with Democrats Work? After 2 weeks of no leadership in the House, more and more people are hoping a coalition is formed between Democrats and Republicans to form a coalition. We spoke with former Representative Ben McAdams to get his thoughts on how both parties could come together. Approval Voting May Fix Speakership Race There is a group claiming they have the solution to fix the way the House votes to finally elect a new Speaker of the House. The method is called Approval Voting, Ammon Gruwel of Utah Approves joins the show to discuss this method. Utah and Ute Tribe's Lawsuit Today, the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation released a statement claiming racism and discrimination are part of the state's motions to dismiss its lawsuit regarding the sale of Tabby Mountain. President Biden in Israel President Biden arrived in Israel today, this morning he delivered a speech showing strong support and solidarity for Israel.  Alec Baldwin Could Be Charged Again Actor Alec Baldwin could be charged again for the accidental incident while filming the movie ‘Rust’ that left one person dead. Host and KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas discusses why prosecutors are expected to recharge Baldwin for that murder. Utah Top State for Pickleball Pickleball has taken Utah by storm. The increase in popularity of this sport was noticed by Apple who recently released a study that showed Utah leads the nation on pickleball players. KSL NewsRadio reporter Lindsay Aerts joined the program to discuss Apple’s findings.

BYU football tight end Isaac Rex joins Mitch Harper and Matt Baiamonte every Saturday on KSL NewsRadio. Rex was in California for the bye week. He caught up with the guys to discuss what happened and where the team goes from here. Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast! Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609 Google Play: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks Download the KSL Sports app Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id1435930251

This podcast hit paid subscribers' inboxes on Sept. 29. It dropped for free subscribers on Oct. 6. To receive future pods as soon as they're live, and to support independent ski journalism, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription. You can also subscribe to the free tier below:WhoDave Fields, President and General Manager of Snowbird, UtahRecorded onSeptember 18, 2023About SnowbirdClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Powdr Located in: Snowbird, UtahYear founded: 1971Pass affiliations:* Ikon Pass: 7 days, shared with Alta, no blackouts* Ikon Base Plus Pass: 5 days, shared with Alta, holiday blackouts* Ikon Base Pass: 5 days, holiday blackouts* Mountain Collective: 2 days, no blackouts* Altabird: unlimited accessClosest neighboring ski areas: Alta (1 second), Solitude (:39), Woodward Park City (:39), Brighton (:42), Park City (:47), Deer Valley (:55) - travel times vary dramatically depending upon weather and time of day and year.Base elevation: 7,760 feet (at Baby Thunder)Summit elevation: 11,000 feet (at Hidden Peak)Vertical drop: 3,240 feetSkiable Acres: 2,500Average annual snowfall: 500 inchesTrail count: 140 (35% most difficult, 38% intermediate, 27% beginner – this is the official breakdown by trail name; anyone who has skied Snowbird knows that the count is closer to 99% Oh S**t, 1% for mortals)Lift count: 14 (1 tram, 6 high-speed quads, 4 doubles, 3 conveyors)Why I interviewed himSince I've skied hundreds of ski areas and I write about them incessantly, people often ask me which one is the best, or at least which is my favorite. It should be a hard question to answer. Nothing else in America delivers the drama of Big Sky, the energy of Palisades Tahoe, the aura of Aspen-Snowmass, the sprawl of Vail Mountain. How could I possibly choose a winner? But it is not a hard question to answer. Because the answer is Snowbird and Alta. And nothing else comes close. Not in Utah. Not in Colorado. Not in Tahoe. Not up and down the Rockies. Not in Alaska. Not in BC. Yes, I'm including Whistler. There is no better skiing.One lift to the top. Three thousand feet of sustained pitch. Five hundred inches of snow – on average. Last season, 838. That's more snow than the Poconos have tallied in every winter since the Lincoln Administration, combined. And all of it like a bag of cottonballs, so light it's a wonder the stuff doesn't float off into the sky. The terrain: vast, varied, labyrinthian, mesmerizing, scarcely groomed. Trees like Narnia, spaced for loping pow turns, chained one to the next by snow meadows smooth and ever-rising. Big open bowls. Chutes stacked off The Cirque like weapons arrayed along an armory wall. Hidden Peak. Mineral. Baldy up top. Alta through the gate. Amazing.That such a place exists at all is a stunning confluence of a dozen natural phenomena. That this snowy freefall sits not in some sawtoothed Alaskan range 600 miles from the nearest road, but 34 miles – half of it interstate – from a major international airport is one of the most amazing facts that I'm aware of. And I've witnessed human birth. Twice.Snowbird is so good that it's hard to imagine how we'd think about great ski areas if it didn't exist. Like contemplating the best basketball player if there'd been no Michael Jordan, or arguing over the best way to light a room prior to the invention of lightbulbs. Whatever you think of as the attributes of a great ski area - and by that I mean the skiing, not the shopping or the apres or the wacky tire-tube races - Snowbird transcends them all.Of course, Alta, as a brand and as an organized ski hill, was there first (by 33 years), and it shares Snowbird's every attribute, with a bit more soul and a bit more snow and a bit less flash and lift-served vert. Part of the Snowbird mystique is proximity to – and the direct connection with – its atmospheric neighbor. If Snowbird stood alone on some Utah steppe, perhaps it would not be so easy to notch the mountain above its peers. But the interplay of the two, their vastness and mystery, their videogame-like tap-dancing between realms, their surreal Cloud City patina, creates, in their fusion, the best version of skiing that we have.What we talked aboutLiving through 838 inches of snow; what happens when hundreds of employees have to spend the night to make sure the mountain can open; why Alta gets more snow than Snowbird; assessing Snowbird's new tram cars and related upgrades; why Snowbird didn't build an all-new tram; catastrophe installing the new tram cars; “I've never had an ocean-liner tracker on my phone until this came to pass”; dealing with disappointment; reminiscing on the mysterious pre-Olympics Utah; the legacy of Snowbird's former longtime GM, Bob Bonar; the transition from independent resort to member of Powdr; “I'm amazed at how quickly the marketplace has changed” from a multi-mountain pass point of view; why Snowbird didn't join the Mountain Collective for its inaugural season in 2012; why Snowbird and Alta joined the Ikon Pass as one combined “destination”; why Snowbird didn't follow Alta off the Ikon Base Pass and whether they'll reconsider that decision; how much we can really blame the Ikon Pass for LCC crowding; why the Altabird pass soared in price for 2023-24; Snowbird's “Freeloader” Pass; reflecting on Fast Tracks two years in; why the tram is excluded from Fast Tracks and whether that will continue to be the case; the potential for a Fast Tracks season pass at Snowbird (which Copper and Killington already sell); breaking down the proposed Little Cottonwood Canyon Gondola; “the highway only works as well as the worst car and bus in it”; why this lift would be the least-impactful solution to LCC traffic; paying for the gondola; how the gondola would alter the calculus of canyon closures; “the more people learned about gondola and how it works, the more they supported it”; the current state of the proposed Mary Ellen Gulch expansion; upgrading Wilbere to a new lift on a new line; potential to develop more green terrain at Snowbird; potential for a six-pack lift at Snowbird and where it could go; and phasing out the howitzers.      Why I thought that now was a good time for this interviewFrom 1992 to 2002, Utah recorded around 3 million skier visits per winter, plus or minus a couple hundred thousand. Then the Olympics hit. And the world was like, “Damn.” Like aliens had landed and shown them how to teleport. Or turn pinecones into pterodactyls. Or something else that would be as amazing as seven giant ski areas that all average 300-plus inches of fluffy light snow per winter being situated two sitcoms' drive-time from a major airport.By the 2005-06 ski season, four years after the Games, Utah skier visits crested 4 million for the first time. Which seemed amazing until the Ikon Pass landed for the 2018-19 season, the same winter that Utah skier visits (coincidentally or not), blew past 5 million for the first time. Setting aside the Covid-shortened 2019-20 ski season, they just kept accelerating, hitting an astonishing 7.1 million skier visits last winter.Whether you blame the Olympics or the megapasses or the fact that Utah's population has grown by more than a million people (a 50 percent surge) over the past two decades, the state's ski areas – and only 14 are public facilities that can manage any kind of volume – are getting crushed.Luckily, unlike Washington, where a surging population has no choice but to deal with traffic or drive to Idaho, Utah has no shortage of potential solutions to its high-altitude cluster. Deer Valley recently outlined plans to nearly triple in size. A proposed passenger train could thin traffic on Park City's cluttered roads. And the Utah Department of Transportation recently ruled that a gondola from the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon to the base of Snowbird and Alta was its preferred option to combat the untenable traffic on State Route 210.The gondola would be eight miles long and run high over the road, skirting the firing squad of 50 avalanche paths that run through the canyon. The highway has “the highest uncontrolled avalanche hazard index of any major highway in the world,” University of Utah professor Jim Steenburgh told KSL News Radio in April. Snowbird is in favor of building the gondola. So is Alta. Here's an overview:And a little explainer video:Just about anywhere else in the world, the gondola would be viewed for what it is: a rational solution to an untenable traffic problem. But this is U.S. America, and the lift has instead been recast as an existential threat to both the natural and manmade worlds. I can't even mention it on Twitter without sending a dozen Brobots into fits of feral rage. It's weird. SR-210 would never be built today – the most disruptive possible thing humans can build into the wilderness is a paved road. But this avalanche-prone, congested scar of concrete has been strangely lionized as the only acceptable conduit to the end of the canyon, while the gondola, a light-footprint machine with 22 towers that would run high above the rich natural environment on the canyon floor, is demonized.That's the reality that Snowbird officials are dealing with coming off a record snow season. In our conversation, Fields goes deep into this project, which is unquestionably the most controversial in U.S. American skiing. He has thoughts for the buses-will-fix-it crowd, for the environmental-doomsday crew, for the fiscal hawks fretting over the cost. I could write a book on this, but Fields makes a compelling argument to just build the damn thing.Questions I wish I'd askedI've always been curious why the Peruvian lift terminates where it does, rather than hoisting skiers up to High Baldy Traverse, or even making a turn up Baldy itself. The answer, I'm sure, is some combination of wind and desire to preserve a high-altitude hike-up experience. But that tunnel cutting over to Mineral couldn't have been cheap, and I'd like to hear the story behind how they landed on that configuration.What I got wrongI said that Snowbird had secured approval for the proposed Mary Ellen Gulch expansion from the U.S. Forest Service, but that approval actually came from the Utah County Board of Adjustment.Why you should ski SnowbirdSnowbird is the closest thing I've found to a perfect ski area. For capable skiers. Don't bother if you're a groomer god, or if you haven't skied - or don't like to ski - powder or bumps, or if carving Chip's Run with half the population of Texas doesn't sound fun (it isn't). I say that not to be an a-hole, but because I don't want you to be disappointed. Snowbird is only fun if you're a very good skier. And by that I mean a very good skier on ungroomed terrain. Because the mountain doesn't groom much. And if you're not so good, but you think you are, well, the mountain will have some news for you.It will have a message for you, regardless. This place is savage. Respect the double-blacks. Because Man do they mean it. There is no bailout on The Cirque, no cat-track oopsie-doodle exit. Move too far the wrong way and find yourself staring down Wilma's or Mach Schnell, sheer cliffs disguised as ski trails, mandatory airs between you and your ride home. Chip's is safe, but wander 50 yards off-trail and try not to miss the “Cliffs Ahead” signs. Because when Snowbird says “cliffs” they mean like 100-footers. And don't ski alone into the trees – tree-well safety bulletins were practically invented for this place.Please excuse me here. I'm usually allergic to tough-guy talk. But this place can kill you if you're not careful. Once, a few years back, a group of us skied off Black Forest and into Organ Grinder, a swatch of wooded snowfields skier's right off the Gad 2 lift. Organ Grinder, on the map, is a single run, a line arcing through Niehues whites. On the ground it is a multi-sheathed arsenal of fierce chutes stacked along a wooded face. After gliding through easy trees, we emerged at the top of one of these, a shot tilted at the approximate angle of a rocket launch. A four- or five-foot drop, a half-dozen steep turns to a wall of trees. Then the terrain cinched shut. The only exit a shot between trees and rock walls. Point and go.The run is a single black diamond.But put all that aside for a moment. Snowbird, and especially Snowbird together with Alta, should be the aspirational capstone for any skier driven to master this quirky sport. The vastness and quality and challenge of the terrain is absolutely unmatched anywhere in America. The two ski areas together are twice as large as Jackson and half as groomed as Palisades, with more and better snow than Whistler. And easier to get to than all of them. So go there. Just wait until you're ready.Podcast NotesMiscellany on items discussed in the podcast:On Jackson Hole's tramTo lend context to our discussion around Snowbird's tram upgrade, we talked quite a bit about Jackson Hole's $31 tram project, which stretched from 2006 to ‘08. I could try to explain it myself, or you could just watch this series of videos:On Powdr's portfolioSnowbird is one of 10 ski areas owned by Park City-based Powdr:On the Mountain CollectiveFields said that one of his regrets was not joining the Mountain Collective's inaugural class in 2012. The founding four were Alta, Jackson Hole, Aspen, and Palisades Tahoe. The pass cost $349 for two days at each ski area.On the varying Snowbird/Alta access on Mountain Collective and IkonOne of Mountain Collective's selling points is that rather than combining Snowbird and Alta days, as Ikon Pass does, the pass gives you two days at each, with no blackouts. As Alta, Aspen, and others have backed out of the Ikon Base Pass, the Mountain Collective has become a potent Ikon Pass Base Base, with most of the pass' top ski areas and a substantially lower price.On rope-drop days on Mineral BasinI don't know if this is inspiring or hilarious or horrifying:The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing all year long. Join us.The Storm publishes year-round, and guarantees 100 articles per year. This is article 79/100 in 2023, and number 465 since launching on Oct. 13, 2019. Want to send feedback? Reply to this email and I will answer (unless you sound insane, or, more likely, I just get busy). You can also email skiing@substack.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

BYU football tight end Isaac Rex joins Mitch Harper and Matt Baiamonte ever week on Cougar Sports Saturday on KSL NewsRadio. This week it was a podcast edition due to the Friday game. Rex and BYU are getting ready for the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Bearcats are the alma mater of Travis Kelce who is a popular celebrity these days. Rex reflects on the time he met him. They also discussed the Kelce/Taylor Swift relationship. Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast! Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609 Google Play: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks Download the KSL Sports app Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id1435930251