Day 13: Under New Management.
I opted to spend Monday checking out what Deer Valley has done thus far with Solitude Mountain Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It's long been a local witticism that it's called Solitude for a reason. Now, I'm well aware that it's a Monday in early December with little natural snowfall this season to date, but really...I'd be shocked if there were 30 people on the hill before lunch, an amazingly small number when you consider how much fun the skiing is right now.
Looking down at the Roundhouse, Moonbeam Lift and the Village at 9:40 a.m. - 1 skier visible
At 10:09 a.m. the only person sitting in the entire dining area of Moonbeam, the resort's day lodge, is an employee.
The main day skier lot at 10:22 a.m.
Solitude is currently running its Eagle, Apex, Moonbeam and Link lifts with a selection of groomers available off of each that tie together all four lifts. With the exception of the beginner lift Link, all are high-speed quads, and I rode those three over and over again, typically ascending Apex and speeding down Wall Street/Same Street/Little Dolly to Moonbeam, then up Moonbeam and down Sundancer to Eagle. Once at the top of Eagle I'd ski Sunshine Bowl and Same Street to Moonbeam, then Main Street back to Apex to start the cycle all over again. I'd mix it up a bit on occasion, but that was the typical plan. Lather, rinse and repeat. Carving huge arcs at warp speed down Main Street is a hoot! And with absolutely no one to get in the way, either at the lift or on the runs, I racked up an uncounted but seriously substantial amount of vertical.
Skies alternated between mostly cloudy and partly sunny throughout the day, with light accordingly alternating from flat to excellent. With the exception of Sundancer the snow on the lower half softened nicely and more quickly than Sunshine Bowl on the upper mountain. Coverage is wall to wall and blemish-free, and with that much room to move I honestly had a ball. There's less snow than there is in LCC, and I didn't even think about venturing off the groomers even though I was allowed to in numerous spots.
More snow, please.
From the rooftop patio at Moonbeam
Riding Moonbeam
Riding Moonbeam
Looking down Wall Street from the top of Apex
Midway through my morning I was joined by the affable Ryan from Deer Valley's marketing crew, the only other person with whom I'd ride a lift all day. That gave me the opportunity to pepper him with questions on the lift rides. I tried to talk my way under the rope and down to the new Summit Quad for a look-see, but despite my best effort that wasn't happening. Word has it that the new lift is scheduled for load testing this week. The glimpse I got of the new liftline from Apex shows an alignment somewhat to looker's right of the old Summit Double that traverses some pretty amazing topography. They're doing their best to get as much snow made as possible, but it's warm during the day this week and apparently the water delivery system from Twin Lakes isn't very efficient, something that the new management is looking to rectify as they acclimate to their new acquisition, analyzing systems that need to be redesigned, processes that need to be streamlined, etc.
Deer Valley is committed to not trying to turn Solitude into Deer Valley #2. Their big focus is on guest service, and not on trying to alter the character of Solitude that has endeared it to so many people. Of course, Deer Valley would be remiss if they didn't apply their famous epicurean touch to the resort's restaurants. Deer Valley's famed turkey chili will find its way this winter into the Last Chance Mining Co., which is scheduled to open this weekend, but not into any other dining outlet as they're looking to give each its own character and menu. The on-mountain Roundhouse will feature a menu of Himalayan and Wasatch-inspired mountain cuisine. Moonbeam's new menu is highlighted by a Wagyu Sirloin Steak available as a sandwich or a salad for $14.50, complete with baby mixed greens, white cheddar and a fresh herb chimichurri sauce, or grilled Atlantic salmon with baby mixed greens, marinated onions, garlic dill aoli and a citrus marinade ($12.50). Both appear to be an excellent quality/value to price proposition.
Ryan and I had lunch in the village at the revamped Honeycomb Grill, which now features numerous small plates (including an adaptation of Québeçois staple poutine, with mustard pork added), salads and soups including an elk chili, several flatbreads that are reportedly huge, and a number of sandwiches and entrées. I opted for the Cajun Mac and Cheese ($18), which unlike my first thought thankfully featured a thinner sauce than is used in the traditional dish, and is tossed with sautéed shrimp, andouille sausage, green peppers, onion and celery. It was delicious, and I couldn't possibly finish it all. Ryan's Watercress Farro Salad ($12) looked to be exceptional as well. Honeycomb Grill will keep its lunch menu going to 5 p.m. when it switches over to dinner, so the small plates and more will all be available on its beautiful slopeside patio or in the bar for après-ski.
After lunch I accompanied Ryan on one more run back to Moonbeam, and as he returned to work I kept taking "one more run" that turned into a half dozen. I was having too much fun to leave before 2 p.m., tired and very satisfied.
I opted to spend Monday checking out what Deer Valley has done thus far with Solitude Mountain Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It's long been a local witticism that it's called Solitude for a reason. Now, I'm well aware that it's a Monday in early December with little natural snowfall this season to date, but really...I'd be shocked if there were 30 people on the hill before lunch, an amazingly small number when you consider how much fun the skiing is right now.
Looking down at the Roundhouse, Moonbeam Lift and the Village at 9:40 a.m. - 1 skier visible
At 10:09 a.m. the only person sitting in the entire dining area of Moonbeam, the resort's day lodge, is an employee.
The main day skier lot at 10:22 a.m.
Solitude is currently running its Eagle, Apex, Moonbeam and Link lifts with a selection of groomers available off of each that tie together all four lifts. With the exception of the beginner lift Link, all are high-speed quads, and I rode those three over and over again, typically ascending Apex and speeding down Wall Street/Same Street/Little Dolly to Moonbeam, then up Moonbeam and down Sundancer to Eagle. Once at the top of Eagle I'd ski Sunshine Bowl and Same Street to Moonbeam, then Main Street back to Apex to start the cycle all over again. I'd mix it up a bit on occasion, but that was the typical plan. Lather, rinse and repeat. Carving huge arcs at warp speed down Main Street is a hoot! And with absolutely no one to get in the way, either at the lift or on the runs, I racked up an uncounted but seriously substantial amount of vertical.
Skies alternated between mostly cloudy and partly sunny throughout the day, with light accordingly alternating from flat to excellent. With the exception of Sundancer the snow on the lower half softened nicely and more quickly than Sunshine Bowl on the upper mountain. Coverage is wall to wall and blemish-free, and with that much room to move I honestly had a ball. There's less snow than there is in LCC, and I didn't even think about venturing off the groomers even though I was allowed to in numerous spots.
More snow, please.
From the rooftop patio at Moonbeam
Riding Moonbeam
Riding Moonbeam
Looking down Wall Street from the top of Apex
Midway through my morning I was joined by the affable Ryan from Deer Valley's marketing crew, the only other person with whom I'd ride a lift all day. That gave me the opportunity to pepper him with questions on the lift rides. I tried to talk my way under the rope and down to the new Summit Quad for a look-see, but despite my best effort that wasn't happening. Word has it that the new lift is scheduled for load testing this week. The glimpse I got of the new liftline from Apex shows an alignment somewhat to looker's right of the old Summit Double that traverses some pretty amazing topography. They're doing their best to get as much snow made as possible, but it's warm during the day this week and apparently the water delivery system from Twin Lakes isn't very efficient, something that the new management is looking to rectify as they acclimate to their new acquisition, analyzing systems that need to be redesigned, processes that need to be streamlined, etc.
Deer Valley is committed to not trying to turn Solitude into Deer Valley #2. Their big focus is on guest service, and not on trying to alter the character of Solitude that has endeared it to so many people. Of course, Deer Valley would be remiss if they didn't apply their famous epicurean touch to the resort's restaurants. Deer Valley's famed turkey chili will find its way this winter into the Last Chance Mining Co., which is scheduled to open this weekend, but not into any other dining outlet as they're looking to give each its own character and menu. The on-mountain Roundhouse will feature a menu of Himalayan and Wasatch-inspired mountain cuisine. Moonbeam's new menu is highlighted by a Wagyu Sirloin Steak available as a sandwich or a salad for $14.50, complete with baby mixed greens, white cheddar and a fresh herb chimichurri sauce, or grilled Atlantic salmon with baby mixed greens, marinated onions, garlic dill aoli and a citrus marinade ($12.50). Both appear to be an excellent quality/value to price proposition.
Ryan and I had lunch in the village at the revamped Honeycomb Grill, which now features numerous small plates (including an adaptation of Québeçois staple poutine, with mustard pork added), salads and soups including an elk chili, several flatbreads that are reportedly huge, and a number of sandwiches and entrées. I opted for the Cajun Mac and Cheese ($18), which unlike my first thought thankfully featured a thinner sauce than is used in the traditional dish, and is tossed with sautéed shrimp, andouille sausage, green peppers, onion and celery. It was delicious, and I couldn't possibly finish it all. Ryan's Watercress Farro Salad ($12) looked to be exceptional as well. Honeycomb Grill will keep its lunch menu going to 5 p.m. when it switches over to dinner, so the small plates and more will all be available on its beautiful slopeside patio or in the bar for après-ski.
After lunch I accompanied Ryan on one more run back to Moonbeam, and as he returned to work I kept taking "one more run" that turned into a half dozen. I was having too much fun to leave before 2 p.m., tired and very satisfied.
