What's your favorite Utah resort?

[AshleyLynn]

I'm moving out to Salt Lake City this summer. I'm a CO skier who is having a hard time conceptualizing that I will only be able to afford a season pass to a single mountain. (That Colorado Pass sure spoils us!) Although I'm sure I'll have plenty of input from people I meet out there, I figured I'd ask here:

What's your favorite Utah resort, and why?

I'd love to hear what everyone thinks!

 

[altagirl]

Alta, mostly because it's home - I know so many people there at this point.

But to help you pick - what are you looking for in a home resort? What kind of terrain, what kind of vibe, what sort of amenities?

 

[altagirl]

So this isn't a cheap option, but there is a Utah Silver Pass for $2200 that lets you ski 30 days at each resort:
Powder Mountain
Alta
Park City
Solitude
Deer Valley
Brighton
Snowbird
The Canyons
Beaver Mountain
Brian Head
Snowbasin
Sundance
Wolf Mountain

I know it wouldn't be in my budget every year, but if you have the schedule to ski several days a week and want to explore all your options, it might make sense. Just wanted to throw that out there since a lot of people aren't aware it's an option. There's also a gold pass that gives you 40 days at each resort and is transferrable for $3200.

 

[tradygirl]

You might want to try out a few places before you decide, but be sure to check out the deals you can get as a student (I mentioned this in your other thread). I'm defecting back to Alta this year, not only for the cheap pass I can get through school, but for the smiling faces of the smartasses who ski up there (*cough* Altagirl and Altagal *cough*).

I've been a Solitude junky for the last few years and I have to say I'll really miss that place next year.

As AG said, each resort definitely has its own feel and community, so you may not want to tie yourself down until you know what you like. I personally love all of the Cottonwood resorts for one reason or another, so it's hard to go wrong.

 

[AshleyLynn]

While it would be wonderful to get the silver pass, thats considerably outside my budget as a very poor student. Maybe someday, right? I'll definitely do a bit of exploring, but will pry end up just choosing a single mountain pass to stick to. I'm glad to hear there's some student deals!

But to help you pick - what are you looking for in a home resort? What kind of terrain, what kind of vibe, what sort of amenities?

As for what I'm looking for, I can only compare my desires to what I do love here in Colorado: Vail. I love the variety and quantity of terrain... trees, bowls, small cliffs, cornices, moguls front-side... there's a little bit (or a lot!) of everything. I'm always looking for new challenges. I've heard that the Utah resorts are all about the steeps, so that'll be different for me, as I don't really think Vail is very challenging in that department. Overall, I guess I'm just looking for a home mountain that has a bit of everything and isn't too tiny.

Vibe and amenities don't really matter to me... once the snow is falling that's the only thing that really matters!

 

[Sheena]

Man, I would love to be able to afford that pass. I would also have to quit working in order to be able to ski that many days. Hmmmmm, maybe I will have to have a talk with Mr. Sheena - I am sure he will see the value in buying me the pass and see how it will benefit us both for me not to work anymore. hmmmm, I just told him and he has yet to respond. strange.

Ok, that being said. Alta and Solitude are two of my favorite places here. I don't get down to SLC as much as I would like, and have a season pass to Beaver Mountain, which is all the way up here in Logan. I do like the place, although it does not have as much extreme terrain as Snowbird or Alta for example. The only place I really did not enjoy was the Canyons.