First Trip out West.

When do you plan to go.??

I certainly suggest Utah. Great people there. I suggest the Park City area with a day trip or 2 to Alta.

Utah is a great get away and the skiing is fantastic

Jackson Hole is closed & Alta is closing this Sun. Alta might open up on weekends after that but I wouldn't count on it. Snowbird will probably be open till June. I don't know about the other Utah resorts. Skiing was good at Snowbird from Tues. on but it got very warm Thurs & the forcast is the same for the rest of the week. They still have a ton of snow it's just a matter of weather it gets to soft by afternoon & if it gets cold overnight the snow will be hard in the morning. Go to the places with higher elevations like Snowbird or Solitude.

if this is your first trip out west, I'm not sure I would recommend Snowbird. The blues and blacks are probably quite a bit harder than those in WV and NC. However, I'm just guessing having never skied in either state. Also see the other thread involving Esumsea who was warned that he probably shouldn't go to Snowbird given his level. Afterwards, he agreed. Of course, you can stay in SLC and ski 9 different areas or fro resort experience, stay in park City which has 3 different ski areas. Plenty intermediates, and a healthy dose of hard stuff if you feel up to it. Just my 2 cents. 

I will re-iterate. Go to Park City, Utah. Get some turns under your belt and be certain to visit Alta for at least one day. There is terrain there for your ability and the mountain scenery is of the charts beautiful. Not to be missed.

Deer Valley is a gorgeous place to spend a day skiing.

 As someone who has skied Snowbird and Snowshoe, I'll concur with Maui Steve.  If you aren't totally comfortable with the blacks at Snowshoe then a big chunk of Snowbird will be over your head.  There will be more at Alta or Solitude for you to enjoy.  I haven't skied any of the Park City resorts but Deer Valley is known for their extensive grooming which should allow you to ski a good portion of the mountain.  Plus Park City has lots of restaurants, shops and galleries.

At your level, in Utah, snowbird would be the only one i would avoid. I agree with surgaree. PC will have much more of what you want than BCC. Stay in PC for a resort experience and simply drive to LCC or BCC.The PC areas are quite big and have tons of runs for your level.  In addition to those, snowbasin is a 1 hour drive from  PC. With the exception of the John paul side of the mountain, it is a great mountain for your level. Also, great lodges, food and of course bathrooms. A good start would be to go to skiutah.com and request a vacation planner. 

Park City area resorts are designed more for tourists in the sense that you have to walk through a village at 2 of the three to even get to the snow.The terrain you can find in LCC / BCC is typically more difficult and you can get to some nasty stuff with little effort. I would suggest that a Park City area resort would be a great first day to stretch your legs and adjust to the altitude. 

The terrain is generally more laid back in Park City. Park City is a resort town. Salt Lake City is not, but lodging prices reflect this.

If you are weighing your finances and considering accessibility to terrain. Utah will win this hands down. From lift tickets, to plane tickets, to hotel lodging costs. Park City area resorts cost more for lift tickets.


Since you are in the appalachian mountain range, I assume that long groomers are not what you are in need of. I have nothing but love for BCC / LCC, especially if you find yourself progressing quickly.

If you stay on 7200 in SLC you can take a bus to any ski resort in BCC / LCC for just a few bucks. There are tons of restaurants around your hotel, and you have a good amount of hotels to choose from. 

Actually re PC lift tickets, Costco in SLC sells tickets to Canyons and PCMR for about $52 per day. That's actually cheaper than anywhere else. Even for the discounted tickets for cottonwood canyons  in the SLC ski shops. Now Deer Valley, that is unfortunately expensive no matter what. However, Canyons and PCMR have a lot of terrain. i would guess they would look pretty massive compared to resorts in WV and NC.Also, both have what most people would consider difficult terrain. Not by Snowbird standards I know, but still for someone just getting comfortable with WV and NC blacks, I would guess that Jupiter and 9990 would provide plenty of challenge. 

Ironically enough Park City in my opinion is just "the place" to be if you are going to Utah to ski. The atmosphere is there, and you are in a town full of people there to do what you do and that is really the icing on the cake for a ski vacation. If you can afford the lodging in Park City and a rental, by all means do it. Salt Lake City is great for the low cost lodging, but after 4:30 P.M comes and you have to go back to your car, and figure what to do....messing around in Salt Lake City is not what I look forward to doing. SLC has a wicked smog problem due to inversions, the traffic is pretty terrible, and you just feel like you are visiting some large city rather then on a vacation.

You will definitely thank yourself for staying in Park City if you do. I stayed in Park City (for $10/night )  and I will do everything possible to not stay in SLC after my stay in Park City.

I don't like to comment on food necessarily because I am really at places to ski. But Deer Valley does have some wicked food at the Silver Lake lodge when you compare it to other places. The lodge was huge, and there were empty tables to sit at (a table at a inexpensive restaurant in BCC / LCC is a luxury sometimes). Tried this "Colorado" chili pizza, and it was definitely worth the $7-8 I paid for it. There are groomers from every peak (for. People stay off the powder, and the trees are the best to ski in of any Utah area resort (been to 11 ski areas in Utah). Also there is no other resort in Utah that gives you the chance to ski while looking at a lake. Some sense of scenery besides mountain spines and cliffs in LCC / BCC.

9990 / Jupiter are the 2 best lifts in the Park City area in terms of difficulty, but I still would go to Deer Valley over The Canyons (close second), and Park City last.


If it dumps when you are in Utah it will appear as if the entire city has taken the day off to go skiing up the cottonwoods. The determination people have for powder is amazing, and you are fighting tooth and nail essentially with everyone from 6 year olds to retirees. Because of this heading up to Deer Valley / Powder Mountain / Snowbasin is a great option on one of those days. They are the least busy, the lift lines non-existent, and you do not deal with the the canyon roads (not in line at 8:30 A.M on a powder day and you have a serious traffic jam to deal with). Lift lines are sometimes a logistical problem when trying to ski powder in Utah. Little Cloud lift at Snowbird will have a 30 minute wait on the right day. The limited knowledge you have as a tourist will leave you searching for the goods, meanwhile locals have the biggest a grin from ear to ear.

Get some topo maps, and satellite imagery and start studying!

Trey ... if this is your first trip out west, I second Maui Steve's comments ... steer clear of the "Bird".  Snowbird is a steep mtn with little slopes for the intermediate skier.  As such a lot of intermediate skiers flock to the few slopes and soon these become icy, packed out and not fun at all.  Solitude is similar as well, although I've not seen the crowds at Solitude that I've seen the Snowbird.  Not to slam the resorts here in NC and W.Va, but there is little comparison to going out west.  Aside from the snow differences, the steepness of the slopes there is dramatically different.  Black slopes there are TRULY Black rated slopes

Utah is a great to place to go, and my recommendation is to hit The Canyons ... this is a pretty good cruiser mountain with lots of intermediate slopes that do not get crowded.  Snowbasin is another, which is north of SLC in the Eden area.  The lodges there are simply awesome and the slopes are fantastic.  Powder Mtn is another fav of mine and it's in Eden as well. Powder Mtn is the best place no one's ever heard of ... not super steep, tons of snow and noooo crowds.  The lodges there are very spartan; i.e. pretty clapped out.  But the snow and no crowds there are truly awesome. 

 Id go to Alta or Snowbasin personally if I was that level of skier but the resort scene of PC never has done it for me.

alta has ski and stay packages and is the most unitimidating mountain there is in central  utah.....but it still has plenty of steeps as well. It also has better snow, and better scenery than anything in park city or the ogden area mountain.

Don't let the talk about Snowbird intimidate you. Yes they have lots of steep terrain but they also have plenty of intermediate terrain. Chips Run off the top is just a traverse back & forth & Regulator Johnson is usually groomed & very manageable as are trails off The Road to Provo. The backside (Mineral & Baldy) offers plenty of intermediate (even beginner) terrain  & is easily accessable by either the tunnel, Lindy's Loop or even Path to Paradise.  The Peruvian & Gadzoom chairs have nice long intermediate cruisers as does Gad II. The Baby Thunder lift is I guess there beginners area but also offers some steeper drops. I used seek out more challenging terrain myself & still do on occasion but have mellowed with age, I 'm no spring chicken anymore. Snowbird offered everything I needed & more. It's a great mountain & if you feel it's to challenging Alta is right next door ( 1 1/2 miles base to base). I would also go for the altitude in LCC for consistently better snow & the scenery is awesome. You said nite life doesn't matter so I think it would be right up your alley (works for me). It can be a little pricey staying in LCC though.
Edited by steamboat1 - 4/21/10 at 10:22pm

I have to agree with everyone above. LCC / BCC has better snow than Park City. Solitude lacks the lift lines. I would ski Snowbird or Alta no matter what anyone on the internet says. The fact is every resort has something unique under every lift, and they all have something for you to do. Park City has a lot of confidence building runs though because they are the longest groomed runs where as thing in LCC / BCC just might be bumped out. I have to say though what you find at Alta and Snowbird can not be found really anywhere else. BCC has its own feel to it, as does LCC, as well as the PC area.

Never been up to Pow. Mow, or Snowbasin, but everyone has raved about the small crowds up there and the fact that Snowbasin is Deer Valley's competition for best dining.

Trey,

 

Good choice- ski Alta, Solitude, Brighton, and go to Bird if you are getting the hang of it- Bird is not to be missed.

 

January is fantastic, Feb is even better! 

 

Stay in Sandy and all four of the above are within 30 minutes drive, including the drive up the canyon.  And if the roads are clear, even faster.

At your level, conditions should be fine. It would be a very unusual year that intermediate terrain did not have good coverage. Especially, cottonwood canyons.  I still think you'd be happier at PC, but as long as your committed to doing a bit more adventure sking (off groomed runs) then there will be a ton of stuff at Bird/Alta. However, if you're thinking of sking mostly on piste, PC areas will actually feel a lot bigger. Depends on what you're looking for. Also of course, what mother nature dishes out.    

First week in January is typically fine, but Feb typically has the most snow of any month in Utah.  March is #2 with January #3.  Of course this year April was #1, so you never know.

 

Have fun!

 

Mike
 

My vote is Deer Valley for sure. It's a great place to ski although somewhat pricey, and you can make a trip to one of the resorts in the big and little cottonwoods. I would suggest staying in the Park City town (mainstreet) rather than a Deer Valley property.

Since I will be in PC at the time of your planned vacation and I am obligated to say the snow is terrible, and you did know that Alta was flat right?

Trey -- Hardly anyone here mentions The Canyons, so I will:

• more skiable acreage and more blue runs than any of the other SLC resorts
• great scenery
• free shuttle to PC for dinner and other apres ski activities
• because it doesn't have the rad vibe of Alta/Snowbird or the posh vibe of PC/Deer Valley, you can awesome deals on great lodging. 

Canyons is in posts 11, 13 and 14. PC is usually a generic term referring to DV, PC and The Crayons. The Canyons is my favorite of the PC bunch as well.

 

PC area is going to be the best bet. While the Bird is my favorite SLC area, someone who can handle "some blacks" in WV will be essentially be relegated to cat tracks at Snowbird, whereas the PC areas and Snowbasin have a lot more terrain that would be in your league that you could have fun on.

 

It you want to go to the Bird for a day, you'll see the best (IMO) area in Utah, but you may be frustrated at lack of terrain you'd find enjoyable.

 

Oh, and the conditions on my January trip this year (Jan 8-14) were just dreadful - like being on the least coast, all icy and partially bare. The March trip was good and the April trip was awesome (7 ft in 7 days).  So, how are the conditions in January? -Depends on the year - any other response is nonsense.

Actually treytheman's ability (and that of his wife) are not well defined.  Given that he has stated apres is not that important he should stay in SLC and try out the various areas.  Snowbird is a disaster for low intermediates like Esumsea, but strong and adventurous intermediates will be inspired by the challenge for at least a day or two.  The mid-January timing is good for the normally poorer snow preservation at the Park City group and Snowbasin/Powder Mt.  First trip, make an effort to get around and try lots of areas. 

 

Make the call day by day based on weather.  Do NOT try to compete with the local powderhounds at Alta/Snowbird if there's enough new snow at Solitude/Snowbasin/Powder Mt.  If you hit a dry spell or a low snow year (which 2009-10 was until about January 20) you'll want to be in Cottonwood resorts most of the time for the deeper base and better snow preservation.  Another advantage of stayijng in SLC is the discount lift tickets you can get at Canyon Sports, etc on the spur of the moment when you decide which area you want to ski.

My info is quite old but mostly still valid.  I concur that Utah is the best bet for a good first or even last western ski trip.  There is fine skiing at all the resorts and the most reliable snow in the lower 48.  One important consideration: have you skied much powder?  Moderate-to-deep powder is different, forgiving, 1000x easier than ice, and insanely fun.  Learning powder is *very* fast even for a hack skier, under a day if you exert yourself (I'm not kidding.)  If you can ski powder, there is little difference between a 35-40 degree slope (common at Snowbird) and a 25 degree slope.  For deep powder, 35deg is often *easier* than 20deg.

 

Many great skiers here and at TGR will sing praises of Snowbasin--small crowds, fine food and lodging, excellent lifts and terrain (just as big as Snowbird, lots of steeps, just not as steep), non-intimidating base area.  I'd look *hard* at that.  Snowbird has the skiing of a lifetime--if you are fairly fit and have a good attitude, you will treasure the day(s) you skied there.  Here's a nice sample, the terrain is typical Bird (terrain, not speed/talent).  Just look at how open, soft, and fun it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uCBpmDEb-w&feature=related

 

As for Alta...very pretty (but so is the Bird), but not-so-great lifts and traverses to get to the best runs; many great rocks and short, great, narrow chutes all over but they're beyond your ability now.  When people tell me they skied Alta, I say,  "Great, did you ski Snowbird?"  "No."  "Pity."  It is the best mountain there, better in some ways than Jackson (snow quality, open 35deg+ faces).  But...lodging is scarce, so you may need to drive or ride a bus up the ~3000' climb of LCC each morning.  But that's not far or bad unless it's closed.

 

Then there is the super ticket to consider, 4 great areas connected, lodging at 3, but examine the rules, there are some options:

http://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/SaltLakeCityAreaUT/activity/buySkiSaltLakeSuperPassTickets.cfm

 

So perhaps start and stay at Snowbasin, and get to the Bird at least one day if you're feeling good about your skiing.

 

Best of luck.

I myself want to try Snowbasin / Powder Mountain to avoid the crowds, but considering the timing of your trip (early winter essentially). And the location of Pow Mow / Snowbasin. You will need to consider the weather first of all.

 

Snowbasin and Powder Mountain are lower in altitude. So the snow might not be as abundant. I've never been to Snowbasin, but if I recall due to the direction the mountain faces, the weather can be pretty iffy.

 

Powder Mountain's lift capacity is a bit different. And if you study the Albion Basin in LCC (basically all the terrain at the end of the canyon that is lift accessible leading down to the sunnyside lift). You will notice it is rather laid back.

 

Finally after considering the weather, you have to consider the drive. It can be a lot easier to just drive up to Solitude. I've mapped out the trip from the SLC airport area....and it is a good 1 hour long plus drive if I recall.

 

Basically what I am getting at is....I am avoiding, and would suggest avoiding Pow Mow / Snowbasin unless there is without a doubt half a foot of fresh snow. In which case everyone in Was-angeles will be up trying to get the powder in BCC / LCC!