Sundance, UT 01/11/16

Heading south from Salt Lake on I-15, you drive for dozens of miles along a hideous never-ending strip mall framed by snow-capped mountains. Just when your eyes are about to melt, you come to gorgeous Provo Canyon (watch out for all the radar gun-wielding troopers) and turn into a small entrance road.



Within two miles, you arrive at what I consider the most scenic and intimate of the northern Utah ski areas: Sundance.



Base lodge:



Lower lift framed by Mount Timpanogos



Stolen From Plattekill?



While the ski area claims 2,150 vertical feet, it's not continuous, but that's the cool thing about Sundance: how many surprisingly short but nicely pitched shots (and often quite steep) there are all over the place. Bishops Bowl:



Lower Bishops Bowl:





Similar to Snowbasin, there are lots of beautiful natural halfpipes, some of which go on for a while.



While standing at the top of Redfinger Ridge, I thought back to my previous visit to Sundance, ten years ago to the week (and virtually nothing has changed there since then), when I scored a perfect 14-inch overnight dump that I only had to share with about 50 other people. When I get home, I'll dig out and post those pix: easily a Top Ten ski day for me. Redfinger Ridge:



Because there were so few people, I couldn't take too many in-action shots and the ones I have here don't convey how striking it is. Take my word for it -- the next time you're out here, save a day for Sundance.

Looks like a neat spot!  Were you able to find any stashes?

Awesome TR James.  Great story telling along with great pics.

Looks like a nice intimate place without the pressure of the thundering hordes..

Did you see Redford?!?

Chris wrote

 Were you able to find any stashes?

Sundance got a lot of early-season snow that the more northern UT areas didn't so they have a big base, but it didn't look like they had received much snow in the last five days or so. I was able to find a few hidden spots where I could connect five or ten untracked turns, but most of it was soft, dry chop. Beggars (we northeasterners this season) can't be choosers!

That place looks cool. i really want to ski there my next time visiting that area.

Jamesdeluxe wrote

While standing at the top of Redfinger Ridge, I thought back to my previous visit to Sundance, ten years ago to the week (and virtually nothing has changed there since then), when I scored a perfect 14-inch overnight dump that I only had to share with about 50 other people. When I get home, I'll dig out and post those pix: easily a Top Ten ski day for me.

Here are the pix from January 2, 2006 -- as my mother would say, "put that in your pipe and smoke it!"

Bishops Bowl:











1 pm: Bishops Bowl Tracked Out:



Grizzly Bowl:









Far East Ridge:










Base Area:

Wow. Those are some great shots. Bob R has a true paradise.

Thanks for posting this. I have never been there but have wondered what it was like. Now I want to go and see for myself. There are a few smaller places like this that I want to go to scattered across the West.