Maybe biting the bullet.. First Utah Trip?

[snowave]

So I''m tired fo friends bailing and ruining my trips scheduled the last 2 years.. so I think I might make my first trip (likely solo) from Socal to Utah next month (Late January).. assuming the snow keeps adding up to or above average levels.

I'm just starting to think about it, (and will look back at some of the earlier threads here) but thought I'd get some insight as to some cheap places to stay, good deals, fun things to do, or any other pointers that would make a smooth and fun trip. I will likely be driving my own truck, so transportation isn't an issue.

i'm a boarder, so I think it's Deer valley and Alta are out.. but any advice on that front would be appreciated..

I'd kinda like to avoid staying IN SLC proper.. but I realize that's likely where I'll find the cheapest rates.(I also realize its not THAT far to some of the ski areas either). I'm just not really into the "city" thing.. but if anyone has any other lodging options closer to some of the ski areas, that would be great. I'd also like to stay in/near Park city for a couple nights.. which I realize will be $$... but I'm willing to splurge a little.

I also enjoy my beer and a good bar.. so some advice in that realm woudl be appreciates as well..

Thanks for the help!... more to follow later..

 

[Admin]

I'm just starting to think about it, (and will look back at some of the earlier threads here) but thought I'd get some insight as to some cheap places to stay, good deals, fun things to do, or any other pointers that would make a smooth and fun trip.

Yep. Not to sound like a smart-aleck, but the topic has been done to death -- take a look around the existing topics. It'll be easier to field specific questions once you've done that.

i'm a boarder, so I think it's Deer valley and Alta are out.. but any advice on that front would be appreciated.

True, but that still leaves you Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, PCMR, The Canyons, Powder Mountain, Snowbasin, and a small local hill called Wolf Mountain, too.

I'd kinda like to avoid staying IN SLC proper.. but I realize that's likely where I'll find the cheapest rates.(I also realize its not THAT far to some of the ski areas either). I'm just not really into the "city" thing.. but if anyone has any other lodging options closer to some of the ski areas, that would be great.

There are a couple of rooms in Brighton (but not much at all), a small Intrawest village at Solitude, and Snowbird's own mega-condotels and hotels. In the Cottonwood Canyons that's it (I'm purposefully not including Alta lodges in this assessment), so the Salt Lake Valley is your best option. And coming from LA, it's not "city" like you're thinking.

I also enjoy my beer and a good bar.. so some advice in that realm woudl be appreciates as well.

Good brew pubs include Squatters (downtown), Red Rock (downtown and Kimball Jct), Wasatch Brewing Co. (PC), and the Bohemian (Midvale).

 

[Tony Crocker]

The downside of Utah is that most visitors must make the decision between great ski town ambience and apres-ski (Park City) and the best skiing (Cottonwood Canyons). I have the best of both worlds since our Iron Blosam group at Snowbird in March provides as much apres ski as I can handle :lol:.

For your first visit dividing your time between the two as you are planning is not a bad idea. I'd steer you away from Park City outside the mid-January to mid-March core of the season, but with your timing it should be OK.

 

[snowave]

Thanks for the quick tips.. I'm sorry I've asked a question so many have asked before... but I did a quick search last night and didn't get many results.. now that I have more time I'll dive into it a bit more and play with keywords, etc...

I have found that late January is often the best time to go on trips as the snowpack in most areas is good, but the crowds and rates are usually not peak yet. I am somewhat flexible on my time this year, but I have to ask for time off a month in advance.. so I need to do it soon for late January.

 

[Admin]

Thanks for the quick tips.. I'm sorry I've asked a question so many have asked before...

By no means do I mean to discourage you, sorry if it came through that way. I just didn't want to have to repeat stuff if it's readily available, for it takes time to compose a complete reply to the "where do I stay in Utah?" question, plus others have contributed good advice as well. If you don't find what you're looking for, ask away.

I have found that late January is often the best time to go on trips as the snowpack in most areas is good, but the crowds and rates are usually not peak yet. I am somewhat flexible on my time this year, but I have to ask for time off a month in advance.. so I need to do it soon for late January.

Well, as you'd expect, snowpack tops out around early March, although Tony will correct me if I'm wrong by the numbers. Late January can be pretty good, though. Anecdotally speaking, it seems that we often have an inversion around that time of year, so it could mean pow, or it could mean early spring-like sun and snow for a few days.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I'd guess late March for average max snowpack in the Cottonwoods and early March for Snowbasin/Park City, which take more direct sun at lower altitude.

You don't need max snowpack, of course, you need adequate snowpack. And obviously late January's more likely packed powder is a trade many would make for the mid-March deeper snowpack with more likely spring conditions.

Snowbasin/Park City do not currently have adequate snowpack in much of the steeper terrain, but they should by late January if the currently average snowfall continues.

 

[snowave]

If you drove to SLC and had a subaru, would you just drive to the ski areas or take a buses? Although I think transit systems are excellent ideas, I myself don't like being dependent on others or riding a bus for 3 hours a day..

If we do take the bus...i have this question..

ok, not the most PC question, but I couldn't find it on UTA site.

Do all the buses have uh, bathrooms?

My morning coffee always seems to "kick in" on the way to the slopes when I see some big mountains with snow on them... :lol:

 

[Admin]

Never thought I'd see that question. :lol:

Nope, no bathrooms -- these are city transit-style buses, not motorcoaches.

 

[snowave]

Never thought I'd see that question. :lol:

Nope, no bathrooms -- these are city transit-style buses, not motorcoaches.

Well thats a bummer.. doesn't it take an hour or so to get to some of the ski areas futhest up the canyons? I can't imagine a bus full of people going up a mtn in the AM with coffee and not being able to do much other than ask to be let off the bus?

 

[Admin]

Well, I've never noticed anyone on board with their legs crossed.

 

[snowave]

Well, I've never noticed anyone on board with their legs crossed.

its wasn't the legs I was talking about being crossed.. It was other things to worry about that coffee tends to do in the morning! :shock: :lol:

anyway, I get yoru point.. I think we'll be driving our own car!

 

[jasoncapecod]

IMODIUM :shock:

 

[Tony Crocker]

If you're driving a Subaru to SLC it's a no brainer IMHO to use it instead of slower and less flexible public transit. If you're going for a week from SoCal I think driving makes sense. It's 11 hours of Interstate, very rare for weather issues, and you have the flexibility without the cost of the rental when you're there.

I have driven for most of my weeklong trips to SLC myself, most recently during the Olympics. But most of my SLC trips are for 4 days, so I fly for those, and some of them I don't need a car when I'm at the Iron Blosam.

 

[snowave]

I might postpone my trip to the 5th or 6th of Feb .

1. get my butt out of post holiday eating shape

2. give some more time to get more snow on the ground.

3. maybe have a friend join me instead of goign solo..

is this getting into "busier" time for the resorts.. or shoudl I still be OK?

 

[Admin]

You'll be fine. IMO, the busy-ness of Utah resorts is overblown. I seldom wait more than 5 minutes for a chair any time of year, but also use my head, i.e. I don't use the Snowbird Tram at 10 am on a powder Saturday, etc. Collins changed everything at Alta, such that it's seldom busy now. PCMR can get busy at times, but that's usually just on the lower mountain. Folks at the bar at the Shooting Star were complaining about 10 minute lines today for the Needles gondi at Snowbasin, but then added that the rest of the mountain was empty -- and that's Christmas week when there are many Eastern visitors this year thanks to crappy weather back there. You saw what Powder Mountain looked like during a holiday today, and the GM said that this was their busiest day this year. Solitude always is just that. I can't much speak for Brighton, Deer Valley or The Canyons, for I haven't spent more than a couple of days at each of those since moving here, but I have no reason to believe that they're any different -- just stay off key lifts during busy times. Think about what your average ski-weeker would do, then do just the opposite yourself.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Don't overthink the crowd issue. Christmas-to-New-Year's is really the only time it is likely to substantially degrade the destination ski experience. The demand is crammed into one week, exacerbated by it being early season when many resorts won't have everything open yet. Increased demand in February is caused by it being the most reliable ski month, a worthwhile tradeoff IMHO, and that demand is dispersed over several weeks. Spring breaks are also dispersed, though for April spring breaks you need to choose the high altitude north-facing places that preserve snow best.

admin is right about Utah. It gets 3+ million skier visits with the max for any single area being around 500,000. Colorado gets 11+ million with several areas near or over 1 million individually.

 

[snowave]

well, I got my time off approved.. Jan 28 - Feb 9. NOw I just need to decide where to go.. and that will likley depend on the forecasts leading up to the few days right before. I want some good snow for a change,(not many pow days on my last couple trips) and I've got some flexibility this year so thats the story on that!

New question.. without looking at every website, do you guys know if many of the SLC area resorts (or Tahoe) have those free "host" guided tours of the mtn? Being that I will likely be by myself, I thought this might be a good way to get a feel for the mtn.. granted, I know sometimes you can get a very wide range of riding leveles, which can limit exploring for a group, (my level of riding is in the advanced area in most cases) but the few times I've done this at various places its been helpful to learn the mtn a bit, and made the rest of the day/s alot more confortabel knowing a bit more about the mtn.

I've been a bit cautious (ok, I'm kinda turning into a wuss! ) the last few years about new mtns and exploring after a few bad experiences of getting lost in near zero vis and finding myself perched on a cliff at some resorts in Interior BC and at Big Sky Mt a few years ago..

as always, thanks for the advice..

liekly off to Mammoth tomorrow for a few days of hardpack riding! :?

 

[Admin]

AFAIK they're available, as I've heard stuff but admittedly haven't paid much attention.

 

[Tony Crocker]

You have 2 weeks. The first key to flexibility is to drive instead of fly; I think that is your plan already. SLC should be the tentative plan as you can always find reasonably priced lodging on short notice. On a 2 week trip Jackson/Targhee are within range (5 hours) if they get the snow.

It would take a dramatic change in weather (both positive for Sierra and negative for Utah) for you to consider Tahoe for this trip. Other drive options (Colorado, Bachelor) involve longer drives and/or less flexibility once you get there.

Guided tours are more useful at some areas than others. It's not necessarily a function of difficulty. For example Squaw Valley has lots of extreme terrain but nearly all of it is visible from lifts and you can figure out whether you're up to it. Red Mt. is the opposite. Most of the tough runs have blind approaches through trees and local guidance helps a lot. Altabird and Jackson are a mix. There's a lot you can see and figure out, but hooking up with a local you'll find much more. Of course, a lot of the "much more" is not likely to be included on a typical "mountain host" tour.

 

[snowave]

well, I booked 7 nights at the Homestead suites Midvale for $39.99 a night. May not be a 5 star place, but thats a pretty good deal if you ask me. Of course, I can cancel up to the day of the first night, so if something drastic changes, I'm still not out $$.

It looks like there is a TGR summit the forst weekend in feb, so it will be nice to have some fellow snowsliders to ride with.

Now the only question left is whether or not to bring my best friend, my pup. Most likley, it's a no, since I don't want to leave him in the truck every day while I ride..

Anyone know how far it is to the canyon entrances from this location? (redwood ave off the 215 I believe?) Any pubs around those parts? Do you need to get some sort of "membership pass" to drink in the city pubs? Where do you get it if so? what about liquor stores? Shoudl I plan on bringing my own booze to avoid a hassle? I guess I coudl look it up, but hey, why not ask here.