Solitude & Brighton, January 11-15

[RachelV]

We just got back from 5 days at Solitude and Brighton. It was a lot of fun. They've gotten about 120" so far this year with a base of about 50-60", which I guess is a little low for this time of year out there. I'm not one to complain about the conditions in Utah, but you could see where some of the trees and steeper areas could use a little more cover. It snowed maybe 6-8" on our first day there - Thursday - and then didn't snow for the rest of the weekend. Honestly I was glad, since the temps Friday-Monday never got above 15 or so, and if it had been cloudy or windy it would have been really, really cold.

Pictures here: https://flickr.com/photos/rachelv/sets/72157594483782567/detail/

Overall I liked both areas a lot. I'm a solid intermediate skier, and I felt like they both had a lot to offer that was challenging without being too intimidating. The trees off the Snake Creek Express lift at Brighton were especially fun for me. I also really liked the "expert cruisers" (Solitude's term) off the Powerhorn lift at Solitude - Vertigo, Paradise, etc. Honeycomb Canyon was beautiful and still had some powder 2 or 3 days after it snowed, but personally I felt like it wasn't worth the effort - the traverse was pretty tiring and the runout is looooong. And of course both had great groomers of all shapes and sizes.

That's all for now - I'm beat. I'd love to hear what others who have been to these areas thought of them, especially compared to other SLC area resorts. Personally, I liked Alta and Snowbird better, but prefer Brighton and Solitude to Park City, Deer Valley and The Canyons.

 

[ski diva]

Great pictures! Sounds like a fantastic trip. 120" of snow this year and a 50-60" base sounds pretty good to me. Wish we had that in the east!

 

[Kimmyt]

Nice pics! I love the comments

Also how'd you do that thang where you made your reflection in Danny's googles outlined when I roll my mouse over it? That was cool!

Technically savvy I am not.

 

[RachelV]

Thanks!

Flickr.com lets you add notes to photos that were taken by you or any of your contacts. When you're looking at a picture you're allowed to add notes to there's a little "add note" button up above it. I love flickr... best photo website ever.

 

[smpayne]

Personally, I liked Alta and Snowbird better, but prefer Brighton and Solitude to Park City, Deer Valley and The Canyons.

Interesting! What did you like better about Alta & Snowbird? I will be in SLC on Feb 1-4. My dad always liked Solitude above any of the SLC resorts. It has been 15 years since I skiied Utah, so I would love your input.

 

[RachelV]

Yeah, you know, it's a close call... If you want minimal crowds and most of the same skiing, I'd say go for Solitude. We were there over a holiday weekend (MLK) and still never waited in a lift line. Amazing, especially for someone used to Killington-level crowds.

I just had more fun at Alta and Snowbird, though, especially in Mineral Basin at Snowbird (and I think Mineral Basin is pretty new - opened in 2001 or 2002?) and in Alta in general. Alta had some cruisers that I *really* liked in addition to all the harder stuff, whereas I didn't think Solitude had anything really unusually fun in that department (good groomers, yes, but I just preferred the ones at Alta). I just don't see how you can beat the Snowbird/Alta combo. Solitude and Brighton are also connected, but the trails were closed when we were there due to "not enough snow" (they looked covered to me, but we weren't about to duck the rope).

Anyways, I could ramble on about this forever and not make any coherent points. Suffice it to say that I enjoyed all 4 resorts a lot, but Alta and Snowbird just slightly edged out Solitude in my mind. Alta because I felt like it had slightly more variety, and Snowbird because Mineral Basin is probably the most fun area I've ever skiied in.

My overall SLC-area ranking is:
1) Alta
2) Snowbird
3) Brighton (I *loved* the easier tree skiing off Pioneer)
4) Solitude
5) Deer Valley
6) The Canyons
7) Park City
with 1-4 all being reaaaally close, 5-6 being pretty close, and Park City being solidly last.

 

[Cambridge Kate]

They're all wonderful...

I spent two days at Solitude last winter - supposedly "easy" days after I'd torn a muscle at Alta the day before. I agree that Honeycomb Canyon isn't worth it, although it's fun to do once or twice and soooo beautiful. But a little exploring netted some very challenging off-trail terrain. And there sure weren't any crowds.

I'd have a hard time choosing a single favorite SLC spot. Snowbasin is one that few people go to, but the wide-open terrain and lack of people is really fine. I wanted very much to try Powder Mtn last year but couldn't talk my companions into it. Next time I'm going, no matter what they want!

Yeah, Alta is my favorite. Challenging without being outrageously scary. Snowbird takes it up a notch - I actually found myself at the edge of a cliff and opting to walk back up and out of that one. Lots of very difficult mountainside there.

Of the three Park City resorts, Canyons gets top rating simply for enormity. There's so much to explore, some wonderful tree skiing, and I had the best skiing day of my life there when there was a 3' snow dump one year. Deer Valley is the best-kept secret, IMO. They have some real nice bowls, some glades, and the people who ski there tend to stick to the trails so you can find fresh powder for a lot longer than you could at, say, Park City. Plus the "scenery" (e.g., gold lame' ski suits, face lifts, furs) is a lot of fun. And no snowboarders.

My favorite Deer Valley story is from the first time I was there. I'd heard about all the celebs that ski there and was on the lookout for someone famous all day long. The Clintons, maybe. Or - be still my heart - Brad Pitt. But no, everyone looked pretty ordinary. So at the end of the day I was riding up on the quad lift with three people I didn't know, and I was complaining that I'd spotted no one of note. The young man sitting next to me said, "Well, I won the World Cup a few years ago. Would that do?"

CK

 

[Pequenita]

LOL. That's a great story! Who was he?