Wasatch 2/6-2/12/18: World's greatest snow, usually.

2/6-2/12 report:  Looked like Utah, felt like NY!  Driving up to Park City was weird as it was rocky brown the whole way, even into the village itself.  Looking up at the PC slopes it was clear that I wouldn't be dropping $135 to ski there - bare spots all over the lower slopes (the ones that were even open, that is).

Day 1 (Wednesday) - Headed for Brighton as it always seem to have the most snow.  Stopped at the Wasatch Powder House to pick up a ticket - saved $8.  BCC canyon road was dry as were the mountains.  Brighton, on the other hand was fully open (except Milly's Bowl) and perfectly groomed - ripped some corduroy on Milly's then made my way over to the other lifts.  Skiing was very good except for Great Western which was spotty at best.  All in all not a bad day.

Day 2 (Thursday) - Not wanting to drive far and having never visited there I headed over to Deer Valley for what I thought would be some lame rich people skiing.  Dropped $135 on my ticket and headed to the slopes.  No new powder for many days but slopes were groomed to perfection.  DV is not a whimpy or lame mountain at all.  In fact, it is both huge and has plenty of variety to keep any skier happy.  Groomers, trees, steep moguls and 3 or 4 true expert bowls.  Skied mostly groomers early in the day but later headed into some very nice glades; was surprised to find plenty of untracked powder even though it hadn't snowed much in days.  Glade started out as some nice low-angle terrain and got gradually steeper until it was "what in hell was I thinking?".  Had to manage a 15' drop out onto a trail - just pointed and prayed LOL!

Day 3 (Friday) - Rest day so my wife and I did a tour of SLC.  Nice city with lots of history.  Finished the day with a hike up Ensign Peak for some great views.

Day 4 (Saturday) - Time to check out my favorite place, Solitude.  Was snowing in the morning and the first hour or two was some nice semi-powder skiing.  Then it turned to "dust on crust" and then crust on crust.  Felt like typical east coast conditions.  Hardly recognized the place as the bowls off Powderhorn were full of rocks, shrubs, etc.  Left at 2pm as it just wasn't much fun.

Day 5 (Sunday) - Sightseeing day.  Went up to the Golden Spike museum in Promontory.  Surreal spot on earth - awesome place to visit if you are into railroad history.  Then on to Antelope Island for some hiking and wildlife viewing.  Bison were all over the place and very close to the road that day.  Stuck our feet in the great Salt Lake just for the fun of it.

Day 6 (Monday) - Almost spent the day w/wife touring some museums but I had an inkling that there may be some snow up in BCC.  Headed to Brighton and bingo - 4" had already fallen by opening time and another 4" fell throughout the day!  What a difference - actually had plenty of powder turns and headed into the trees run after run.  End of day was spent at Milly's - for some reason people don't go over there, so there is plenty of powder to be had.  Had a blast over on Evergreen; it gets progressively steeper and ends in a near impossible exit of massive narrow moguls.

All in all a decent week although not a typical awesome Wasatch visit.  Fortunately SLC is a great place for non-skiing activities.  May head back there in March if the conditions improve.

onscott wrote

.  Fortunately SLC is a great place for non-skiing activities..

Let's not go talking crazy here

Sometimes it doesn't work out.

This report needs more pics!

onscott wrote

Day 2 (Thursday) - Not wanting to drive far and having never visited there I headed over to Deer Valley for what I thought would be some lame rich people skiing.  Dropped $135 on my ticket and headed to the slopes.

Doh! Full-fare to ski DV during low-tide conditions?

Everyone is always so focused on the cost of the lift ticket.  

How much was your plane ticket? Lodging? How much did you pay for gas? What kind of tips did you leave? How much did Valentine's Day set you back?

(Not busting on you onscott, I have a grudge with bumps from another thread so I looking for opportunities to take him down! :)

During my France trip last week, I was asked at virtually every ski area if it was true how expensive lift tickets are in North America. Most tickets there were in the mid-$30s. The priciest one was $42 and the cheapest an astounding $19.

Harv has a minor point and I understand the kind of costs that are involved in running a ski area, especially one with serious snowmaking and grooming considerations. I simply wouldn't pay that kind of coin on sheer principle unless I was sure to be skiing thigh-deep untracked all day.

For the record, I've skied DV three times, all with the Quick Start promotion, where you show your boarding pass from a morning flight and they give you a free lift ticket at any PC resort.

onscott wrote

Then on to Antelope Island for some hiking and wildlife viewing.  Bison were all over the place and very close to the road that day.  Stuck our feet in the great Salt Lake just for the fun of it.

Last spring we asked the guy at the rental car counter whether it was worth going to Antelope Island.  He shrugged and said, "if you've seen one buffalo paddock, you've seen them all."  

Jamesdeluxe wrote

During my France trip last week, I was asked at virtually every ski area if it was true how expensive lift tickets are in North America. Most tickets there were in the mid-$30s. The priciest one was $42 and the cheapest an astounding $19.

Harv has a minor point and I understand the kind of costs that are involved in running a ski area, especially one with serious snowmaking and grooming considerations. I simply wouldn't pay that kind of coin on sheer principle unless I was sure to be skiing thigh-deep untracked all day.

For the record, I've skied DV three times, all with the Quick Start promotion, where you show your boarding pass from a morning flight and they give you a free lift ticket at any PC resort.

I don't think most US areas would be in business at $35. Especially in the east.

There are 10 costs in every trip and we focus on that one.  That you call it a minor point indicates that your bias is in line with the group think.


That quick start promo is a great idea.

You're right, Harvey.  Considering all of the other costs of the trip, ski tickets amounted to a mere 12% of the total cost.  I did, however, have a non-skiing partner along for the trip so the costs were almost double.  No complaints as the Mrs. is a great travel companion.

Jamesdeluxe wrote

For the record, I've skied DV three times, all with the Quick Start promotion, where you show your boarding pass from a morning flight and they give you a free lift ticket at any PC resort.

The link for the PC Quick Start is from several years ago.  Doesn't exist any more.

onscott wrote

2/6-2/12 report:  Looked like Utah, felt like NY!  Driving up to Park City was weird as it was rocky brown the whole way, even into the village itself.  Looking up at the PC slopes it was clear that I wouldn't be dropping $135 to ski there - bare spots all over the lower slopes (the ones that were even open, that is).

. . .

All in all a decent week although not a typical awesome Wasatch visit.  Fortunately SLC is a great place for non-skiing activities.  May head back there in March if the conditions improve.

Nice write up.

Are you think early or late March?  I'm locked into a late March trip to Alta because of my daughter's spring break.

onscott wrote

You're right, Harvey.  Considering all of the other costs of the trip, ski tickets amounted to a mere 12% of the total cost.

When you look at the percentage of a cheap price vs rack rate it's less.

marznc wrote

The link for the PC Quick Start is from several years ago.  Doesn't exist any more.

Thanks for clarifying. It lasted at least a decade, IIRC, which was impressive. I did it three times at DV and twice at The Canyons.

Thanks for the report.  Bad timing as it seems it snowing there now.  We bailed on Utah and drove 4 hours to the Tetons which was a good move this yr.

I had the same thought about spending 135 bucks to ski groomers even if they do carry your skis from the car to the snow and groom everything 3 times so it’s like butter.   I think the most I’ve ever paid for a lift ticket is around 80 bucks and it was at Park City which was the last time I’ll ever ski there.

marznc wrote

Nice write up.

Are you think early or late March?  I'm locked into a late March trip to Alta because of my daughter's spring break.

I'm supposed to ski a couple of days in Vermont during the week of the 12th (if there is any snow left) so possibly the following week if I can get away from my business.  These mild winters are killing me - used to be that things would slow down in the winter (business is loosely related to the construction season) and I could go skiing.  Now there isn't much of a break.

 
"Thanks for the report.  Bad timing as it seems it snowing there now.  We bailed on Utah and drove 4 hours to the Tetons which was a good move this yr."

I consider it my lot in life to show up in Utah and ruin skiing for all LOL!  As always I was +/- a week off.  Tetons seems to be even a safer bet than SLC - plus you have to love those 80mph speed limits getting up there.

As far as pictures, there just weren't many inspiring moments.  JJP24's pics are what it (should) be all about.  But seriously, the SLC area is great to explore even when the skiing is less than ideal.  Would love to live out there all winter - ski a few days, bike, hike, etc.