The "Real" Vertical at Park City and The Canyons

#1

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9/9/09 at 7:50pm

JoeSchmoe
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I'm thinking of taking advantage of the free ski the day you fly deal at the Park City area resorts. Deer Valley's out due to snowboarders in the crew. I hear good things about Park City and The Canyons, but from the mountain stats and trail maps, it doesn't look like it's possible to link together lifts to get runs of more than say 1500' or so of vert. Most of the runs don't seem to be much more than 1000'. This is all misleading as the post verts in the 3000' ballpark.

Can anyone tell me if the mountains ski bigger than the 1000-1500 I'm thinking?

If not, I'm thinking I'd rather pay the cash that day for either Snowbasin or Snowbird.

#2

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9/9/09 at 9:13pm

4ster
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Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeSchmoe

it doesn't look like it's possible to link together lifts to get runs of more than say 1500' or so of vert. Most of the runs don't seem to be much more than 1000'. This is all misleading as the post verts in the 3000' ballpark.
.

I think your research is pretty accurate. Both mountains are pretty broken up vertical wise, but there is still some good skiing to be had. Not bad for a first day warm-up.
JF

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#3

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9/10/09 at 5:24am

Jamesj
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Since when do schmoes from Ontario get snobby about vertical

9990 at The Canyons or Jupiter Bowl at PCMR should float your boat for a half day. But yeah, I know what you mean. First day ever at PCMR I said to myself, "this place reminds me of Killington." Of course, I've had some very fun days at Killington.

#4

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9/10/09 at 5:40am

prickly
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Hey, I like continuous vertical as much as the next guy, but the whole concept can be a bit misleading. I'd rather have 8 or 900 meters or so of quality vertical at high altitude than 15 or 1600 so-so meters at so-so snow levels. Course, 900 meters is almost 3000 feet anyway, so take that State-siders.

I don't want a holiday in the sun

#5

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9/10/09 at 10:52am

JoeSchmoe
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Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesj

Since when do schmoes from Ontario get snobby about vertical

9990 at The Canyons or Jupiter Bowl at PCMR should float your boat for a half day. But yeah, I know what you mean. First day ever at PCMR I said to myself, "this place reminds me of Killington." Of course, I've had some very fun days at Killington.

I can drive about 1.5-2 hours east on a lake effect day and get some decent low vertical shots at Holiday Valley or Bristol Mt (or even drive another 3 for Gore). If I'm going to go to all the time, expense, and hassle of flying west, I'd rather pay for a lift ticket at Snowbird or Snowbasin than get something that kind of reminds me of home.

#6

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9/10/09 at 11:07am

Stranger
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Does Ontario really have snow like that?

You don't have to like PCMR but you have to respect them. Most ski areas would love to have skier traffic like that when they grow up.

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#7

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9/10/09 at 11:15am

MattL
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Nothing wrong with half a free day at The Canyons, no matter where you are from. If I were going to pay and had boarders in the mix I would do Twilight/Night at Brighton.

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#8

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9/10/09 at 11:39am

JoeSchmoe
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Quote:

Originally Posted by Stranger

Does Ontario really have snow like that?

I do most of my skiing in Western NY with some in Ontario. And yes, we do get snow like that (until Lake Erie and Georgian Bay freeze over).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake-effect_snow#Phenomenon_in_the_Great_Lakes_region.2C_Southeast_Canada_and_the_U.S._Northeast

#9

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9/10/09 at 12:15pm

kbuzz
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With good luck-- and that is needed with respect to both air traffic and weather?LCC road conditions -- an early am flight from back east can get you skiing at the the bird by 1pm. Given the altitude a half day is probably plenty for most.

Generally speaking, on your post ive always gone through the same calculus re PCMR. Just never looked that enticing to travel to. OTHO im not charging anything like i did when i was younger and depending on your crowd, there is nothing to do and limited food choices in LCC. Your chances of snow are much better in the canyon then in park city. LCC has its own micro climate, and it can dump there while pc is sunny.

#10

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9/10/09 at 12:25pm

MikeC
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I'd agree with kbuzz that the 'Bird is your best bet for a good 1/2 day of skiing on the day you arrive though I wouldn't rule out the free ticket at PC or Canyons if the conditions are good. Skied at the Canyons last year on a day where about 18" fell and it was great. Plenty of challenging stuff on 9990, don't be put off by the lack of continuous vert. You'll be plenty tired out at the base of the 9990 lift after skiing down, especially on your first day at altitude.

Skied Brighton and liked it a lot as well. Lots of young boarder types, but all of the stuff on the skiers right side of the mountain along the OB markers is hard to get to on a board so we skied fresh all afternoon.

I'd rule out Snowbasin for a 1/2 day since it's a good hour north of SLC. Also skied there last January and loved it. It's definitely worth a whole day!

Mike

#11

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9/10/09 at 12:57pm

tromano
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JS, your analysis of the ski lifts is about right. However comparing these areas to holliday valley is laughable.

I would prefer to ski the bird or snowbasin to those two. But, a half day free is prettty nice. And the skiing isn't bad.

#12

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9/10/09 at 1:07pm

TheDad
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Quote:

Originally Posted by prickly

Course, 900 meters is almost 3000 feet anyway, so take that State-siders.

<shakes fist>

Curse you and your damned metric system!

#13

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9/11/09 at 1:21am

prickly
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Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDad

<shakes fist>

Curse you and your damned metric system!

Well, admittedly, I don't really know how it works.

I don't want a holiday in the sun

#14

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9/11/09 at 6:49am

BushwackerinPA
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I am a snowbird snob, and I would still go to Deer Valley to ski for a half day for free if I flew in.

Thats right Deer Valley, way better than the Park City or the canyons.

then I would spend one day snowbird, one day at snowbasin, one day at solitude, and repeat snowbird till I left.

"its not that you cant ski the bumps, its that you cant ski and the bumps prove it"

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#15

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9/11/09 at 9:31am

JoeSchmoe
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Quote:

Originally Posted by tromano

JS, your analysis of the ski lifts is about right. However comparing these areas to holliday valley is laughable.

I remember going to Breckenridge a year or two before they put in the Imperial Express. I had a little fun on the T-bar and Peak 10 (despite the cattracks at the end of each run), but my overall impression was "is this it... I had just as much or more fun at Mt Ste Anne!". I went to Vail the next day, and loved it...

#16

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9/11/09 at 9:52am

prickly
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Quote:

Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA

Thats right Deer Valley...
then I would spend one day snowbird, one day at snowbasin, one day at solitude, and repeat snowbird till I left.

Hard to argue with that.

I don't want a holiday in the sun

#17

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9/11/09 at 11:03am

TheDad
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Quote:

Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA

I am a snowbird snob, and I would still go to Deer Valley to ski for a half day for free if I flew in.

Thats right Deer Valley, way better than the Park City or the canyons.

Quoted for truth. DV is obviously known for its groomers, but that means that those of us who like to venture off piste get it all to ourselves.

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