Park City/Deer Valley in early March

[berkshireskier]

We're thinking about doing a family ski trip to Utah in early March. We vacationed in Park City/Deer Valley a few winters ago around the middle of February and had a great time with great conditions. However, because of our daughter's different vacation time, we would have to go in early March this time. I assume (but not sure) that the snow conditions are usually still good (most years) at that time in the PC/DV area? The other option I would consider is Jackson Hole but I know March is always dicey because of JH's orientation. We don't want to do Colorado.

 

[Admin]

Typically (and we know that winter weather is never "typical"), spring conditions don't move in until mid-March or late in the month. In the event that it arrives early you're more likely to find more winter-like conditions on the Wasatch Front than on the Wasatch Back.

 

[Tony Crocker]

You'll likely see some spring conditions at lower elevations at the Park City areas in early March. Most of that terrain tends to be fairly flat and will be groomed every night. By late March it tends to get sloppy much faster. So I would tend to draw the line at March 15 in terms of avoiding those areas for an extended trip.

There are many destination resorts that fall into this category. Core of the season mid-January to mid-March tends to be safest unless you know the area you're considering has a a good early snowfall record and/or good late season preservation. As we know LCC rates highly on both counts and the Park City group on neither.

 

[berkshireskier]

Yea, I would vote for vacationing at Alta/Snowbird in early March but I'm afraid I will be outvoted by the wife. She has skied at Snowbird before and was somewhat freaked out about how steep it was (and she's a good skier). This concern may also put the veto on Jackson Hole.

 

[Admin]

Yea, I would vote for vacationing at Alta/Snowbird in early March but I'm afraid I will be outvoted by the wife. She has skied at Snowbird before and was somewhat freaked out about how steep it was (and she's a good skier). This concern may also put the veto on Jackson Hole.

FYI, Alta's much more intermediate friendly than Snowbird. So are Solitude and Brighton for that matter, and lodging to access all four from the Salt Lake Valley will cost about a quarter of what Park City lodging will cost. Of course it lacks that ski town atmosphere that PC provides.

 

[berkshireskier]

Yea, I would vote for vacationing at Alta/Snowbird in early March but I'm afraid I will be outvoted by the wife. She has skied at Snowbird before and was somewhat freaked out about how steep it was (and she's a good skier). This concern may also put the veto on Jackson Hole.

FYI, Alta's much more intermediate friendly than Snowbird. So are Solitude and Brighton for that matter, and lodging to access all four from the Salt Lake Valley will cost about a quarter of what Park City lodging will cost. Of course it lacks that ski town atmosphere that PC provides.

Yea, I realize that and if it were solely up to me I would stay in the SL valley and just drive to ski where we wanted to each day (and save the money and give us more flexibility), but the rest of my family likes the concept of a vacation with a "ski town atmosphere" which makes the PC/Deer Valley area more inviting, despite the higher costs and lack of flexibility. For reasons that not everyone on the board might understand, skiing is only part of the whole vacation experience for them. I was sort of shocked at how expensive PC/Deer Valley was last time we went, although we were staying on Main St. within walking distance of the town lift.

 

[Marc_C]

I was sort of shocked at how expensive PC/Deer Valley was last time we went, although we were staying on Main St. within walking distance of the town lift.

That would be why. There are a lot of cheaper options, though they would require some type of commute. Deals really pick up once March starts.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I was sort of shocked at how expensive PC/Deer Valley was last time we went, although we were staying on Main St. within walking distance of the town lift.

That would be why.

LOL. The classic

 

[berkshireskier]

I was sort of shocked at how expensive PC/Deer Valley was last time we went, although we were staying on Main St. within walking distance of the town lift.

That would be why. There are a lot of cheaper options, though they would require some type of commute. Deals really pick up once March starts.

LOL, yea, I understand the economics of ski town lodging - the closer to the mountain that you stay, the more you pay. Although, I guess, at least in PC, if you stay in town within walking distance of the town lift or bus route, you can avoid renting a car for your vacation, saving some money there.

 

[Admin]

Actually, Park City has a rather extensive free transit system that reaches all the way out to Kimball Junction at I-80 and connects virtually all lodging with both the slopes of all three resorts and the town. There is no need for a car rental whether you're walking distance from the lifts or not.

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[Marc_C]

Actually, Park City has a rather extensive free transit system that reaches all the way out to Kimball Junction at I-80 and connects virtually all lodging with both the slopes of all three resorts and the town. There is no need for a car rental whether you're walking distance from the lifts or not.

And now that there's UTA bus service up Parley's Canyon (I-80) to Kimball Jct., theoretically one could stay in the PC area and still get to Alta without a car. However, with stops and transfers, I'd suspect that might be a 2+ hr trip one way.

 

[Admin]

as I understand it that is an express bus to the park city main terminal. and the UTA service will continue all the way to deer valley.

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[Marc_C]

as I understand it that is an express bus to the park city main terminal. and the UTA service will continue all the way to deer valley.

That's obviously better than merely Kimball Jct., but the transfer(s) still remain. Also, I just checked - there is no SLC/PC service on weekends.