Marmot Basin saw more single-day visitors on the last Saturday in January than it has in more than a decade, according to the resort’s tally.

Marmot recorded a total of 4,529 visits on Jan. 28, which didn’t set a record but came close.

“The last time Marmot exceeded 4,500 visits was on Jan. 29, 2000, when there were 4,563,” said Brian Rode, vice-president of marketing and sales.

The popularity of the resort that day was likely influenced by the Jasper in January promotions, the relatively mild temperatures and, of course, the snow.

Marmot Basin is on pace to break its all-time record for snowfall this year, having already received a total of 3.72 metres – 93 per cent of its annual average. If the resort receives normal amounts of snow over the next three months, it expects to exceed its snowfall record of 5.29 metres, set in 1965.

Rode said many skiers and snowboarders who come from the Edmonton area were pleasantly surprised by the conditions they found once they arrived at the Jasper ski resort.

“There is very little snow on the ground in Edmonton and when some people get to the mountain they are really surprised at how much snow we have,” he said.

And while this winter has seen several unusually warm days and even some early-January rain in town, the resort hasn’t been hit by the same wet weather.

“Marmot’s base elevation is very high, so the rain that has fallen at lower elevations this winter has been all snow at Marmot,” Rode said.

Between the visitors, the snow, and the two new chairlifts that opened this season, Rode said the resort has a much different look and feel than it has in the past.

“I’ve talked to people who have come back to Marmot after a few years away and they are blown away by how different and how much better the mountain is,” he said.

Marmot Basin expects to stay open for the season until May 6.