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Alex Cabrero ReportingWe've all heard skiing on Utah's mountains is an experience like no other. So get ready to ski down to the next level.
There are several mountain tunnels throughout Utah. None of them, though, is quite like this one.
Jim Baker: "It's something that, like I said, is pretty unique."
Jim Baker sure likes this tunnel. He's in charge of its construction.
"Some days it's all right. Some days it's not as much fun."
Ahh... but once it's done, it'll be nothing but fun.
You see, it's not for cars or trucks. Just skiers and snowboarders who visit Snowbird this coming winter.
Jim Baker/ Snowbird: "This is one of the bigger projects we've undertaken here, and tried to do here at Snowbird."
The tunnel will be just under 600 feet long, and be at a seven degree angle up. But here's the thing-- skiers and snowboarders won't actually ski through the tunnel. They'll be on a conveyor belt.
Laura Schaffer/ Snowbird: "It's fun. There's no doubt about that. It's fun to talk about."
Laura Schaffer, Snowbird's spokesperson, says the main reason for the tunnel is to connect Peruvian Gulch to Mineral Basin, so intermediate skiers can ski Mineral Basin without having to ski down the more demanding section where the tram drops you off.
To get to the tunnel, Snowbird is building a new 8000 foot long chair lift.
Jim Baker: "It's got 29 towers, four of them which are specially built for any avalanche conditions we might have up here."
Still, the tunnel is getting the most attention. It'll be the only one of its kind in North America, leaving many wondering what's next?
Jim Baker: "Well, we keep saying we're going to take it easy one of these days. I don't know if that's going to happen."
Snowbird hopes to completely punch through the mountain in the next two weeks, with its first practice run through the tunnel sometime in November.
