How are the Cottonwood Canyon resorts crowds the week after Presidents Day?

After President's Day, the crowds will drop off some, but the areas are still fairly crowded for the rest of the week (of course I think it's crowded when I have to queue up to get on a lift). Of the resorts you mentioned, Solitude usually is the least crowded. I like the resort and if Honeycomb is open, the terrain is really good. Of course for steeps, Snowbird is the best, but don't take that to mean that the others don't have good, hard expert terrain. One place that often gets overlooked for difficult terrain is Brighton (my least favorite of the CC resorts) but if you are willing to hike for it, all of the four you listed have the goods. Keep in mind that if we get a dump then all the locals like me will take the day off from work and many of us will head up LCC--so many times on those days I'll head to Solitude -- and the BCC road is often open while LCC is not.

I've skied SLC many times that week on a ski trip that traditionally started the Thurs after Presidents Day.  I think it's the best week of the year to ski.  That is just the very start of the time when you can feel it getting warm and after that, there is a chance of sun/warm ruining the snow.  We had good snow every single trip(but not necessarily powder). 

I wouldn't worry about the crowds at AltaBird at that time.  Lines will be manageable.  BCC doesnt' compare to LCC, but if you are going for 4 days Solitude is a good place for a half day.  Honeycomb Canyon is a cool place, but in reality it is a "novelty".  You are talking about traversing for a 400" shot, then running out in a narrow, winding canyon track, fun once or twice, but not big mountain skiing. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnowbirdDevotee 

I've skied SLC many times that week on a ski trip that traditionally started the Thurs after Presidents Day.  I think it's the best week of the year to ski.  That is just the very start of the time when you can feel it getting warm and after that, there is a chance of sun/warm ruining the snow.  We had good snow every single trip(but not necessarily powder). 

 

I wouldn't worry about the crowds at AltaBird at that time.  Lines will be manageable.  BCC doesnt' compare to LCC, but if you are going for 4 days Solitude is a good place for a half day.  Honeycomb Canyon is a cool place, but in reality it is a "novelty".  You are talking about traversing for a 400" shot, then running out in a narrow, winding canyon track, fun once or twice, but not big mountain skiing. 

Obviously you have never skied honeycomb from the top of fantasy ridge 2x's the  the vert and is as much big mountain xstreme terrain as you could handle.

sadly in the past two seasons sillytude went from one of the best at opening the whole mountain to the worst they open the west face of hcc but the eastface and EGP never open on dump days any more

Quote:

Originally Posted by skifishbum 

Obviously you have never skied honeycomb from the top of fantasy ridge 2x's the  the vert and is as much big mountain xstreme terrain as you could handle.

sadly in the past two seasons sillytude went from one of the best at opening the whole mountain to the worst they open the west face of hcc but the eastface and EGP never open on dump days any more

Certainly someone from Pennsylvania would know more about Solitude than you, so why don't you just shut your mouth?  ;)

Solitude sucks, I wouldn't spend even a half day there.