Evren
New member
Not a typical trip report here but some general comments (and no pictures, unfortunately, if you have ADHD).
Snowbasin currently sucks. They have more of a base than Sundance but they need even more because of what's underneath which are jagged rocks instead of the flimsy shoots of undergrowth at Sundance. Until John Paul opens, it's dead to me. Strawberry might open thanks to snowmaking but it'll be more of the wide blue runs a-la Needles, not the areas that make Strawberry fun. Sad to say this about the one resort that I am most rooting for in the greater SLC area. Maybe Sun-Mon will improve things. Maybe, baby.
Park City was a pleasant surprise. They had a lot open and more opened up since I was there on Tue. What's left to open is the more interesting stuff. Yet again, Jupiter is wide open and the snow they reported this week fell on the entire mountain not just their snowstake just this side of BCC. I hiked up Jupiter Peak thinking the whole time this is not going to be worth it but it was. If you don't venture into marginal trees, your skis should survive intact.
Sundance was the star attraction this week. I was there two days. The 28-inch base skis much better than you'd think. All the groomers are in tip-top shape but even better, stuff off of Flathead which can stay marginal long into winter is very skiable. It is unconsolidated but deep. I was finding fresh lines three days after last snowfall. And skiing them by myself, run after run. Those are gone but there is still fun to be had, making allowance for a slight crust where the sun hits. And if you're thinking about the old Sundance, the new lift this year makes it a cinch to get to the backside, avoiding the paisans altogether. If something disappoints, a stiff drink at the Owl Bar should make it alright. Sundance is Christmas.
So, that's that.
Snowbasin currently sucks. They have more of a base than Sundance but they need even more because of what's underneath which are jagged rocks instead of the flimsy shoots of undergrowth at Sundance. Until John Paul opens, it's dead to me. Strawberry might open thanks to snowmaking but it'll be more of the wide blue runs a-la Needles, not the areas that make Strawberry fun. Sad to say this about the one resort that I am most rooting for in the greater SLC area. Maybe Sun-Mon will improve things. Maybe, baby.
Park City was a pleasant surprise. They had a lot open and more opened up since I was there on Tue. What's left to open is the more interesting stuff. Yet again, Jupiter is wide open and the snow they reported this week fell on the entire mountain not just their snowstake just this side of BCC. I hiked up Jupiter Peak thinking the whole time this is not going to be worth it but it was. If you don't venture into marginal trees, your skis should survive intact.
Sundance was the star attraction this week. I was there two days. The 28-inch base skis much better than you'd think. All the groomers are in tip-top shape but even better, stuff off of Flathead which can stay marginal long into winter is very skiable. It is unconsolidated but deep. I was finding fresh lines three days after last snowfall. And skiing them by myself, run after run. Those are gone but there is still fun to be had, making allowance for a slight crust where the sun hits. And if you're thinking about the old Sundance, the new lift this year makes it a cinch to get to the backside, avoiding the paisans altogether. If something disappoints, a stiff drink at the Owl Bar should make it alright. Sundance is Christmas.
So, that's that.
