SLC advice for Park City QuickStart 2/7/2013, etc.

[baldyskier]

I'll be flying into SLC at 9:30 AM on Thurs., 2/7/2013 with a friend. We plan to ski at one of the Park City resorts using their Quick Start program. It looks like there may not be fresh snow then. Which area would you all recommend for that day?
We'll be in town through Monday, 2/11. Hopefully we'll get some fresh snow while we're there. We'll probably go to Snow Basin and Powder Mtn., plus Park City one of those days (we have passes for another day at Park City). Alta or Snowbird is a possibility for a day. I would like to ski with people from Liftlines forums, if it works out.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Deer Valley probably has the best overall conditions and Canyons the worst if it hasn't snowed recently. Jupiter Bowl is the class of the Wasatch back in terms of both terrain and snow, but if you're doing another day at Park City anyway, I'd lean to Deer Valley for the Quick Start. You'll also appreciate lunch after a morning on a plane. :lol:

 

[Marc_C]

You'll also appreciate lunch after a morning on a plane. :lol:

And lunch at DV is not to be missed. It's simply spectacular and while seemingly pricy at first glance, you get what you pay for, and it's worth every penny.

There's also an excellent chance of finding untracked in the woods and other spots in between the on-map trails at DV even several days after the last storm. If it's been sunny and/or warm, watch your aspects. For example, the area served by the Mayflower lift is interesting terrain, but much of it faces SE and is below 8500'.

 

[Evren]

Marc_C is spot on about DV. Mayflower terrain has been getting quite a bit of interest recently (some article, I think) -- to the point that it's tracked out by 10:30 after a storm.

DV is best when there hasn't been recent snow. Canyons is up there, when there has.

My question is, is the Quickstart still ongoing? I thought they ended it this year.

 

[baldyskier]

Marc_C is spot on about DV. Mayflower terrain has been getting quite a bit of interest recently (some article, I think) -- to the point that it's tracked out by 10:30 after a storm.

DV is best when there hasn't been recent snow. Canyons is up there, when there has.

My question is, is the Quickstart still ongoing? I thought they ended it this year.

Yes, the QuickStart program continues through April 14th this year, although the 2nd half of Feb. and all of March are blacked out:
http://www.visitparkcity.com/quickstart ... tartstep=1

Thanks for the replies, Evren, Tony, and Marc. Looks like DV is the ticket, at least this time. Any more specific recommendations on where to focus at DV? Looks fairly spread out, with 6 peaks.

 

[Evren]

With just an afternoon, you probably don't want to get too cute. Bald Mtn. has plenty of interesting "just-right" double-blue to black trails. Bang for your buck. Flagstaff is for soccer-moms. Lady Morgan has some of my favorites but by the time you get there, it'll be time to get back. Little Baldy is a good contrarian move after a big storm -- hardly any traffic -- but doesn't apply here. Empire, also, is for big days. I like Crown Point lift as the last run of the day, staying high for a leisurely run by the mega-mansions instead of taking Homestake back.

Consider St Regis as your final destination instead of SnowPark. Have a drink at the bar and take the funicular back to the parking lot. It's the civilized thing to do.