Skier numbers at Sun Valley Resort did not meet expectations in March, leaving the tally slightly off pace to equal those achieved at the end of the 2003-2004 ski season.
Sun Valley recorded 84,662 skier visits in March, some 6,000 short of the 90,951 tallied in March 2004.
Through the end of March this ski season, Sun Valley had tallied 361,750 skier visits. Through the end of March during the 2003-2004 ski season, the resort had recorded 365,347 skier visits.
Going into March, Sun Valley Resort's skier numbers were approximately 2,000 ahead of last year. However, resort officials have maintained that unusually warm weather in late winter prompted many would-be skiers into staying home, opting instead for warm-weather activities.
"Let's hope we can pick some up in April," said Jack Sibbach, Sun Valley director of marketing and public relations.
Sibbach said the resort typically records an average of about 1,000 skier visits per day in April.
April did start on a positive note. The resort recorded 2,612 skier visits on Saturday, April 2, and 1,436 skier visits on Sunday, April 3.
Sun Valley closed the 2003-2004 ski season with 384,897 skier visits. Its highest skier-number total was recorded during the 1981-1982 season, with 475,522 skier visits.
Sun Valley plans to offer skiing on Bald Mountain through Sunday, April 17. Dollar Mountain is scheduled to stay open through Saturday, April 9.
