smpayne
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
We flew into SLC on Thurs Feb 1, it was snowing. We had planned on taking advantage of the Park City ski free deal on the day you arrive, but the weather had closed the roads that morning and we didn't want to chance it is as the temps were dropping, it was still snowing and our rental was not a 4x4.
We got to our hotel and there were a whole bunch of Russian athletes in the lobby. Then we saw a bunch of Chineese athletes milling around, later on the Italian and Swiss teams were spotted on the elevators. Apparently the DeafOlympics were being held in town (not sure what resort the events were at).
On Friday, we skied Snowbird. I felt like a beginning skiier again. I am used to groomed runs and the blue run off of the "Peruvian Express" had 4 foot high moguls, in the chutes, or was narrow trails. The Gad Valley area was better, it had some wider blue runs, but still there were a lot of narrow trails. We did find a nice area where there was a short mogul field and some nice powder, but if you dropped your speed, you found yourself pushing with your poles. Granted, it was our first day out in a new territory. Frankly moguls still terrify me somewhat, I'm just not used to skiing them.
On Saturday, we went to Solitude. I knew immediately why my dad liked Solitude above the rest of the Cottonwood resorts, it services a much wider spectrum of abilities. Most of thier groomed runs were wide with varring degrees of steepness. You can access large mogul fields just to the sides of the groomed runs, knowing you can get out of the moguls if anytime you wish or you could venture out and hit some really harry stuff. There are some really steep groomed runs where you can get some nice speed. I did not venture into Honeycomb Canyon.
I ventured into a mogul black diamond area, and found myself just behind a couple of guys getting a lesson, so I paid attention and followed them down. It wasn't really pretty, but I was vertical and I did not get hurt. When I turned around to look at what I just skiied, I felt great and decided to get a picture the next day. The steep groomers near the top began to get icy.
Unfortunately Sunday, was foggy and snowing (good thing) with terrible visability. I really missed my flat light lense for my goggles (lost it somehow). I was not able to get any pictures of what I actually was willing to brave on Saturday. I was glad that we decided to go back to Solitude and I did not try to ski an unknown area with such bad visibility.
It surprised me to see both Snowbird and Solitude blowing snow, but considering how many rocks and tree branches I found, it did make sense. Utah is just not getting the normal coverage they are used to.
Both resorts were very pleasant. The minute I got off the shuttle at Snowbird, there was a guest services person asking if we needed help. I asked where to get tickets and she immediately escorted us up three floors right to the ticket window. Solitude was similar, the guest services person insisted on carring my skis for me. It was nice.
Hopefully, I will have more experience in the moguls the next time I go back so I won't be so intimidated. I really wanted to try Mineral Basin at Snowbird, but was way too chicken.
Solitude is a great place if you are with a group with a wide range of abilities. You can take the same lift up and ski completely different terrain, from intermediate to expert and meet up again halfway down the mountain, split off agian from begginner to advanced and meet up at the bottom of the lifts.
We stayed at the Red Lion in SLC. They had a special ski package, that included the hotel room, two lift tickets to any of the 4 Cottonwood resorts plus two breakfast buffets. This brought the room to about $65/night, not bad. We could have gone without renting a car, because the bus that goes directly to the ski hill picked up right outside our hotel and the lift ticket passes gave us free access on the bus.
We have decided we have to save up some money and bring the kids in a couple years and have a few more days to play.
We got to our hotel and there were a whole bunch of Russian athletes in the lobby. Then we saw a bunch of Chineese athletes milling around, later on the Italian and Swiss teams were spotted on the elevators. Apparently the DeafOlympics were being held in town (not sure what resort the events were at).
On Friday, we skied Snowbird. I felt like a beginning skiier again. I am used to groomed runs and the blue run off of the "Peruvian Express" had 4 foot high moguls, in the chutes, or was narrow trails. The Gad Valley area was better, it had some wider blue runs, but still there were a lot of narrow trails. We did find a nice area where there was a short mogul field and some nice powder, but if you dropped your speed, you found yourself pushing with your poles. Granted, it was our first day out in a new territory. Frankly moguls still terrify me somewhat, I'm just not used to skiing them.
On Saturday, we went to Solitude. I knew immediately why my dad liked Solitude above the rest of the Cottonwood resorts, it services a much wider spectrum of abilities. Most of thier groomed runs were wide with varring degrees of steepness. You can access large mogul fields just to the sides of the groomed runs, knowing you can get out of the moguls if anytime you wish or you could venture out and hit some really harry stuff. There are some really steep groomed runs where you can get some nice speed. I did not venture into Honeycomb Canyon.
I ventured into a mogul black diamond area, and found myself just behind a couple of guys getting a lesson, so I paid attention and followed them down. It wasn't really pretty, but I was vertical and I did not get hurt. When I turned around to look at what I just skiied, I felt great and decided to get a picture the next day. The steep groomers near the top began to get icy.
Unfortunately Sunday, was foggy and snowing (good thing) with terrible visability. I really missed my flat light lense for my goggles (lost it somehow). I was not able to get any pictures of what I actually was willing to brave on Saturday. I was glad that we decided to go back to Solitude and I did not try to ski an unknown area with such bad visibility.
It surprised me to see both Snowbird and Solitude blowing snow, but considering how many rocks and tree branches I found, it did make sense. Utah is just not getting the normal coverage they are used to.
Both resorts were very pleasant. The minute I got off the shuttle at Snowbird, there was a guest services person asking if we needed help. I asked where to get tickets and she immediately escorted us up three floors right to the ticket window. Solitude was similar, the guest services person insisted on carring my skis for me. It was nice.
Hopefully, I will have more experience in the moguls the next time I go back so I won't be so intimidated. I really wanted to try Mineral Basin at Snowbird, but was way too chicken.
Solitude is a great place if you are with a group with a wide range of abilities. You can take the same lift up and ski completely different terrain, from intermediate to expert and meet up again halfway down the mountain, split off agian from begginner to advanced and meet up at the bottom of the lifts.
We stayed at the Red Lion in SLC. They had a special ski package, that included the hotel room, two lift tickets to any of the 4 Cottonwood resorts plus two breakfast buffets. This brought the room to about $65/night, not bad. We could have gone without renting a car, because the bus that goes directly to the ski hill picked up right outside our hotel and the lift ticket passes gave us free access on the bus.
We have decided we have to save up some money and bring the kids in a couple years and have a few more days to play.
