Skiing (Sandy, Alta: rental car, rental, live)

[Princeza]

Oooh, I like the volunteering idea. I can definitely do that. Or maybe even a little PT job for pass benefits... Hm. Thanks for all the replies

[easternerDC]

Illinoisboy: Powder Mountain is an intermediate-type mountain, comparatively. It it is what I call "mom and pop" - you won't find anything close to a fancy day lodge, and while there are some condos nearby, there is no lodging at the "resort". Also, there are really no amenities so to speak, but it is a great experience if you are not expecting anything fancy. You won't find anything terrible steep there. They do groom some of the runs - not sure who told you they did not. However, I don't remember a lot of long green runs there - although I don't really seek out that kind of terrain. It definitely is a pretty cool place and worth a drive up there. From the SLC airport, it is only about a 45 minute drive, and as long as the roads are clear, it is a pretty easy drive.

Did you try The Canyons? There is sooo much stuff there, I am sure there would be something you would enjoy. Personally, I did not like The Canyons when I was there. Too spread out, and a lot of traverses, and bridges and tunnels through TONS of real estate. Not my cup of tea. Alta and Solitude are great places for beginners because they have nice long easy green slopes. However, if it snows after they groom, then you are going to be stuck skiing "powder" all day long, which once you get.

[cinnabon]

Originally Posted by Princeza

Oooh, I like the volunteering idea. I can definitely do that. Or maybe even a little PT job for pass benefits... Hm. Thanks for all the replies

I volunteered for the past 8 years at Killington VT, and it's a pretty good deal if you want to spend all your free time on snow! There were many perks even besides the pass. For us it was 20 full days over the season. The places in UT I have spoken to seem to require about 1 day a week all season long, so it's a big commitment of your time and not all of that time is spent sking around at your liesure. But I see it as a good way to meet people since I am moving out on my own... not to mention that skiing for free is nice!

[illinoisboy]

Originally Posted by easternerDC

Illinoisboy: Powder Mountain is an intermediate-type mountain, comparatively. It it is what I call "mom and pop" - you won't find anything close to a fancy day lodge, and while there are some condos nearby, there is no lodging at the "resort". Also, there are really no amenities so to speak, but it is a great experience if you are not expecting anything fancy. You won't find anything terrible steep there. They do groom some of the runs - not sure who told you they did not. However, I don't remember a lot of long green runs there - although I don't really seek out that kind of terrain. It definitely is a pretty cool place and worth a drive up there. From the SLC airport, it is only about a 45 minute drive, and as long as the roads are clear, it is a pretty easy drive.

Did you try The Canyons? There is sooo much stuff there, I am sure there would be something you would enjoy. Personally, I did not like The Canyons when I was there. Too spread out, and a lot of traverses, and bridges and tunnels through TONS of real estate. Not my cup of tea. Alta and Solitude are great places for beginners because they have nice long easy green slopes. However, if it snows after they groom, then you are going to be stuck skiing "powder" all day long, which once you get.

Thanks! I was just going by the trail map I had picked up in Park City last year. It had many longer, green runs on it. It looked great, especially for me. I know they don't have the fancy lodging or restaurants there, but thats OK since we'd be spending the majority of our time in Park City.

As for The Canyons, I had looked at their trail map, too, and it did not seem like it would be worth me spending the money there, just because there were barely any green runs. I had visited Brighton last year and knew right away that that was where the locals ski! (which is fine, i have no problem with that) No fancy lodge or hotels, just mountain. There was this one really weird chairlift there, where you had to actually go UP a ramp to get to the lift. It was different.

Well, even if I can't get to Powder Mountain, Utah is awesome, and I'm expecting two trips there in the next year. One during the summer and one in the winter! I cant wait!!

[easternerDC]

I have only skied at The Canyons once. (really did not like it much). BUT, you may want to try it again if you will be staying in Park City. I know you say all you can handle is the green runs, but I remember the blue runs there being really easy.

My sister and brother-in-law came out to visit us in Utah this year. And up until they came here, my Bro-in-law had only limited himself to the green runs at their local mid-atlantic resort. He came out here, and with a little encouragement at first, spent the whole trip on the blue slopes - he started with some of the easier ones, and built his confidence to try some of the more challenging blues. It is worth a try - you get to experience more of the mountain and, hey, you may surprise yourself.

[cinnabon]

I really liked The Canyons - there was just so much terrain I felt like I would never get bored with it. I know what you mean about the tunnels and the real estate - I didn't care much for that part of the resort, but there is so much on the right half that I spent most of my time there. Since I've always been an eastern skier I am not that strong in powder, and the Canyons seems to offer lots of bowls & powder runs which are not terribly steep, so that appeals to me as well. I agree that the groomed blues are not very difficult, and would not be a big stretch for a "green" skier. They have blue-blacks which are a bit tougher...

As much as I liked Alta/Snowbird, right now I don't have an AWD or 4WD car, and to get into that Canyon without it would be a problem, so I need to stick mostly with Park City for now. Deer Valley was really nice too, but I wasn't that thrilled with Park City Resort.

[easternerDC]

Getting up the canyon without AWD or 4WD is not as much of a problem as you would think. Before we moved here, we always rented a sedan, and made it up the canyon just fine. Though, the days we were on vacation, there were never any restrictions, so we were fine.

If you were to make one of the resorts in LCC or BCC your home resort, then you would probably want to have something with at least AWD.

My personal favorites are Solitude and Alta. I am liking Snowbird more and more as I am able to access more of the terrain. I had a terrific lesson there in February where I skied stuff I never thought I would be able to, and would certainly never approached because I would have thought it was over my ability level.

Was a great season here this year. Hoping for a repeat next year!

[ShouldIMoveOrStayPut...?]

Yes, if you plan to ski the cottonwoods regularly, especially LCC, and AWD will be necessary....more so if you are a "Powderhound" or "Altaholic" and live for deep powder days.

The canyons can be closed for hours when it snows big, and when opened are restricted to AWD or tire chains only, people can start lining up in the early A.M. on the road waiting for the road to open to try to get fresh tracks.

Some diehards even head up before the storm and hang out at one of the lodges until the "interlodge" is lifted and lifts start running.

I have read where people who make the Park City side their base start to seek greater challenges as their skills improve and wind up frustrated thay now have to commute to the cottonwood resorts, which generally have more snow ad steeper terrain.

Note to Ski Utah.....any possibility of coming up with a blanket season pass that somehow covers all resorts....? Or at least a discount voucher book.

[illinoisboy]

Blue runs are no problem out here. Their easy. But, being in the mountains and everything, it's all different, and I found the ones I did try to be pretty difficult. With more expirience, of course, I will be able to do them... eventually.

As for all the real estate at The Canyons, that sounds pretty cool, being able to ski past all those nice homes. But, of course, I've never been there, so I wouldn't know how it really is.

[easternerDC]

Originally Posted by ShouldIMoveOrStayPut...?

Note to Ski Utah.....any possibility of coming up with a blanket season pass that somehow covers all resorts....? Or at least a discount voucher book.

YES! Coloradoans get the colorado pas, or whatever that is super cheap!
We need a utah pass... good for your choice of any 4 of the 13 Utah resorts!

There is some pass for like $2,200 where you can ski 30 days each of the Utah resorts.