Ski Utah MOUNTAIN MODERN CRUSH TRAVELER INSTAGRAM ACTIVE MID-CENTURY MOUNTAIN DIGS + ALL THE GEAR FROM CAPTAIN CARDIO TO ZEN MASTER UNLOCK THE POWER OF YOUR PHONE CAMERA
THE GREATEST SNOW ON EARTH
WINTER 2017–18
®
FIND YOUR BASECAMP
Mapping Out the Best Ski Trip Ever p.59
33 CRAFT BREWERIES
A Local Après Guide p.35
A SKIING LIFE
How I Became a Ski Mom p.52
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IT’S SURPRISING HOW CLEAR LIFE GETS WITH A LITTLE SNOW IN YOUR EYES. deervalley.com | 833-305-9831
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It’s time to start making memories. At Deer Valley, we believe that a vacation is far more than a ski trip. It’s an opportunity to create moments – recollections that live on long after the plane touches down at your home airport. DISCOVER Deer Valley Resort, located just 36 miles from the Salt Lake City International Airport, in the historic mining town of Park City, Utah, is the perfect choice for your next winter ski vacation. Founded more than 35 years ago on the then novel concept of combining the first-class services, luxury accommodations and gourmet food of a fine hotel with skiing, the list of Deer Valley firsts in the ski industry is extensive, and is why the resort consistently receives #1 rankings in service, grooming, and on-mountain food in SKI Magazine, as well as the #1 U.S. Ski Resort by the World Ski Awards four years running. SAVOR At Deer Valley, the act of dining together is celebrated every day in our restaurants, where gathering for a meal remains one of life’s simplest pleasures. From casual, family-friendly cafés and grills, to elegantly rustic restaurants, a delicious meal is the ideal complement to a perfect ski day. UNWIND We think of our lodging as sanctuaries: spaces where guests can make themselves comfortable, relax and just unwind. Deer Valley Resort Lodging and Reservations offers the largest selection of accommodations in the Deer Valley Resort area and is thrilled to now represent the award-winning Goldener Hirsch Inn among our stunning collection of properties.
Make your memories with us this winter. Visit deervalley.com or call 833-305-9831 to start planning your next winter getaway. the greatest snow on earth 1
SUMMIT VILLAGE
New Alpine Innovation Hub Heritage Modern Design Approach Regenerative Sustainability Initiatives Farm to Table Restaurants An Ethos of Social Entrepreneurism Summit Artist In Residency Program Landscape as Convening Space
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8,464 Skiable Acres 1,500 Daily Ticket Limit Snowcat & Helicopter Adventures 22+ Miles of Mixed Use Trails Surreal Outdoor Experiences Custom Retreats & Events
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Please contact our neighborhood advisory team for more information on Real Estate offerings.
435.714.1024 inquire@summit.co
Summit has turned the real estate development model on its head.
- Forbes the greatest snow on earth 3
N OT H I N G C O M PA R E S WITH
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THE DYE CLUBHOUSE The Hearth Fine Dining | Golf Pro Shop
THE KIDS’ ONLY CABIN Camp Promontory | Adventure Trail
TWO CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSES Nicklaus Signature Course | Pete Dye Canyon Course
THE RANGE HOUSE Golf Academy | Clinics | Private Lessons
THE SHED FAMILY CLUBHOUSE Bowling | Game Arcade | Basketball Arena Amphitheater | Art Studio | Theatre | Soda Fountain
DISTINCTIVE CLUBHOUSES THE NICKLAUS CLUBHOUSE The Peak - American Asian Cuisine | Golf Boutique
THE MOUNTAIN GARDEN Boat House | Garden Pond | Soccer Field | Dog Park
Obtain the property report, required by federal or state law, and read it before signing anything. No federal or state agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Plans subject to change without notice. © 2017 Promontory Development, LLC. Each individual office is Independently Owned and Operated.
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PARK CIT Y
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WORLDS LARGEST BACKCOUNTRY RESORT 110 Sq. MILES OF PRIVATE TERRAIn The world class snowcat & helicopter skiing is only a fraction of the adventure at Whisper Ridge. Our mountain top yurts are unlike anywhere else in the world. Imagine yourself under the stars at 8000 feet, unplugged from the world. No stress, no worries. Kick back and enjoy the 5 star amenities: Outdoor hot tubs, Ice bar, Billiards, Poker Tables and an unforgettable dinner fully catered by our 5 star chef. Experience the back country like never before.
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WHISPERRIDGEUTAH.COM
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Too Advanced I’ve heard Snowbird is a tough mountain, but this is ridiculous. It felt like every trail was a steep chute or littered with tree wells. How is anyone supposed to ride in that? Not fun! Greg, Los Angeles, CA
snowbird.com | 800.232.9542
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the greatest snow on earth 9
Perfect pairing‌
Award-winning restaurants and world-class skiing Find it here > www.ParkCityRestaurants.com Your complete guide to Park City area dining. Photos: Eric Schramm, Heidi Larsen, Ghidottis, Chimayo, Zoom
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the greatest snow on earth 11
Chris Pearson
59 FEATURES
46
NIGHT SCENES AND SUNSETS
The ends and beginnings of days bring a transporting sense of peace. Four Utah photographers share their best shots of their favorite resorts in transition. Photography shot on location at Alta, Brian Head, Park City and Powder Mountain.
DEPARTMENTS
35
BEER
BY MARY BROWN MALOUF
BEERS OF THE BEEHIVE — The unique brewing tradition here in Utah goes back to the early Mormon settlers. (It does.) A brief history and a guide to where to quaff the state’s best craft beers.
52
A SKIING LIFE
BY KRISTIN GOULD CASE
This Park City ski mom grew up skiing in Vermont, came West and met her man in the Park City powder. Together, they made skiing the centerpiece of their family life and now the tradition continues.
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SKI SCHOOL
BY MELISSA FIELDS
LEARNING TO TURN —Taking a lesson to ski or ride in Utah is anything but old school. Here’s your guide to getting kids of all ages going and the practical side of adult lessons.
46
Chris Pearson
52
Eric Nelson
Austen Diamond
contents
84
59
BASECAMP: UTAH
Here in Utah, our 14 ski resorts transform winter into a mountain playground. Ski and ride among red rock in the south and aspen glades to the north. We’ve meticulously mapped out every arch, beaver, moose and ski lift.
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84
MOUNTAIN MODERN
PHOTOS CHRIS PEARSON
Gearing up for the perfect luxury , ski-in/ ski-out vacation? We have you covered. From the perfect place to stay, a modern mountain dream, to the essential gear to keep you warm and dry and moving optimally down the mountain.
ACTIVE TRAVELER
BY ERIKA WIGGINS
WHICH TYPE ARE YOU? —You bring your workouts on the road and the ski hill. Here’s your guide for how to stay moving once the lifts have stopped running (or before they start for the day).
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FIRST TRACKS
20 EXPLORE
22 EATS
24 SOCIAL
28 MOUNTAIN
30 POWDER PEOPLE
32 TIPS
WINTER’S GLOW — The grandeur of winter’s display is on center stage at the Midway Ice Castles.
CUSTOM RUNS — There are over 1,300 ski runs in the Beehive State. We’ve cherry picked our favorites for every skier level.
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SUPER BOWL — Discover the extraordinarily simple pleasure of a warm bowl of soup.
A FAMILY AFFAIR — Snowboarder Jeremy Jolley has carved out a mountainfocused life—before and after kids.
GET THE PICTURE —Unlock the power of your smartphone’s camera and share up your vacay on Instagram.
LOCAL RULES — Perspectives, tips and tricks from real locals to help you have the best day ever.
26 DRINKS
FROSTY AND FIERY — This winter, sample the spectrum between chilly cocktails and hot concoctions.
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MORE DAYS MORE s
WITH SO MUCH TO LIKE, YOU’RE GOING TO NEED MORE DAYS. THERE IS ONLY ONE. PARK CITY. @PCSKI | Par k C it y Mo untain.com
the greatest snow on earth 13
letter from the editor
True Story
L
après-ski beers and stories that end with the day’s last light fading on Utah’s peaks. These are all true stories, and it’s an immense privilege to share them with you. Last winter, I spoke with 14 different people, each one captivated by his or her personal favorite of Utah’s 14 ski resorts (“Basecamp: Utah,” page 59). The college student who loves Beaver Mountain because cell service is unreliable and he can just be present or the mountain host at Powder Mountain who’s job is having his cake and eating it, too. There is the firsttime skier at Nordic Valley who learned to love winter, and the sage old guru of Snowbird who describes spring snow as sorbet. Then there’s empty-nester mom whose time on the slopes with her family is now sweeter than ever (“A Skiing Life,” page 52). Or, as you see in the picture on this page, just me, watching my 2.5-year-old-son, Owen, light up at Brighton for his first time.
This is what it’s about. These stories, real experiences that aren’t an advertisement or some marketing sleight of hand. They express the person-to-person joy of sharing how these mountains enrich our lives. Everyone I talk to on every lift ride I take has a story, a true story about how this place has changed them, shaped them. I invite you to read them in these pages and then get out here and listen to them for yourself. When you get back home, you’ll have your own story that belongs forever to just you. True story,
Brandon Ott, Editor
Chris Pearson
et’s get real. Travel and tourism billboards, banner ads, radio commercials and glossy magazines shout for your limited attention span with hyperbolic descriptions. “We put a GoPro on our eight-year-old’s head and you won’t believe what happened next!” Yeah. That. At some point, you just tune all that noise out, right? You already know that travel is for you and your family, otherwise you wouldn’t be perusing these pages. Travel is food for your soul and experience is not something that can be bottled up for clickbait. Now I confess for the past six years as the editor of Ski Utah magazine, I have indeed been trying hard to grab your attention. But here’s the deal: for me it’s all real. These stories from the mountains from those unbelievable powder days, stories from my kids’ first days sliding on snow, from old friendships renewed over clinking
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the greatest snow on earth 15
contributors//our favorite things
Dining Adventure Strap on snowshoes, then take one last glance back at the glow of the village before walking into the dark forest. The only noise is the muffled chatter of fellow hikers. Ahead on the path, the warmth of the Solitude Yurt emerges, where one of the best meals of the season awaits. Top chefs prepare celery soup with fried sage and Marcona almonds; rack of venison with herb pomegranate salad a la tarragon, mint, chives. Cheeks are rosy from the stroll and the wine. It’s an unforgettable night! —Pamela M. Olson, “Superbowl,” page 22 and “Frosty and Fiery,” page 26
Conquering Stairs in Ski Boots There’s not much that’s as awkward as navigating stairs while wearing ski boots. Here’s a tip that I’ve used ever since it was passed onto me by a Snowbird instructor, a technique he called the “Over the Edge.” Squarely face the stairs (aka the pitch line) with both feet situated so that your arches are directly over the edge of the first stair tread. Then simply begin walking down the stairs, taking care to place your arch on the edge of the tread in front of you with every step. It works every time. —Melissa Fields, “A Family Affair,” page 30, and “Learning to Turn, from A to Z,” page 39
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The Finer Things I’m from the South—Georgia and Texas, specifically. Skiing is not in my DNA. I learned to ski when I was 40 and it never really took me away. But I fell in love with the mountains and the chalets that adorn them. So, while my adult children are inexplicably out in a storm chasing powder, you’ll find me with a good book and a glass of Prosecco by the roaring fire in the cozy bar at Alta’s Rustler Lodge, watching snow fly outside those gorgeous floorto-ceiling windows. Snug and smug as I can be. —Mary Malouf, “Beers of the Beehive,” page 35
The Perfect Panini I’m already thinking about panini by the time I get on the first chair. Deer Valley has lots of great food, but they only serve their delicious, grilled sandwiches at Empire Lodge, so I must plan accordingly. I ski Bald Mountain early, then work my way to Empire chair and do my Daly Chutes hikes before lunch, ’cause I sure as heck can’t do them after with panini belly. Give me that roasted turkey and baked brie deliciousness with homemade potato chips every time! Bonus? The panini line is always the fastest. —Kristin Gould Case, “A Skiing Life,” page 52
Powder Days for Days When a classic Utah snow storm hits, I beeline to a resort near home to ski the storm day and its free-refill runs. But that’s not the big secret. Days later, I head to Powder Mountain where untouched powder stashes remain for days. My favorite spots are Powder Country and Sanctuary Ridge where I’ve been known to hoot and holler with glee! When my legs give out, I grab a burrito at Hidden Lake Cantina (killer views), then do it again until I can’t ski another run. This is my perfect day.—Erika Wiggins, “The 5 Archetypes of Active Travelers,” page 43
Burrito Tradition Shortly after I moved here eight years ago I discovered the Mt. Baldy breakfast burrito at Snowbird’s General Gritts. Eight years later, it is unchanged and still worth its weight in gold and an obvious tradition whenever I ski Snowbird. The mix of eggs, potatoes, cheese, vegetables, chipotle mayo—oh and I add bacon … duh—turns it into the heartiest of breakfasts and perfect fuel for that big powder day. Go crazy and add ketchup or your favorite hot sauce. The best part? This burrito won’t break the bank and won’t break into your pocket if double wrapped in foil. —Jay Dash, “Get the Picture,” page 24
Your Ski-in/Ski-out Lodging Know what makes us locals the most jealous? Your ski-in/ski-out vacation rental. Sure, my garage is a mere 35.6 minutes from Park City, but you wake up to a foot of powder and ogle it in your pajamas with coffee in hand. Pajamas! While I’m picking my way up Parley’s and hoping that all my gear made it into the car, you’re hanging with the fam, slowly donning your gear and waiting (waiting!) for the lifts to start running. You open the door, click into your skis and off you go. Jerks. —Jeremy Pugh, “Basecamp: Utah,” page 59
Toe-Warming Brisket Ski photography isn’t glamorous. Sure, nabbing the hero shot makes you feel all the feels. But, mostly, it’s hurrying up to wait and understanding the true essence of frozen feet. When skiing purely for pleasure, I never break for lunch. When skiing for photos, however, I ALWAYS lunch like there’s no dinner. For the ultimate warmer-upper, I get messy with Park City Mountain’s brisket sandwich at Tombstone Grill. This succulent, smoky goodness brings the tingle back to my toes and helps console the woes of missed shots. —Austen Diamond, “A Skiing Life,” page 52
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the greatest snow on earth 17
skiutah.com
Ski Utah
Tune Up Your Trip
Publisher Raelene Davis
Use this online tool to find the perfect mix along the spectrum of family fun to full-on powder-covered glory. Tweak your trip plans at skiutah.com. FAMILY Winter is on its way and mom, dad, the kids, Uncle Bob, Aunt Marge and all the cousins are ready to spend a week playing in The Greatest Snow on Earth. Use the Ski Utah Trip Planner to find the perfect place to stay, pick the perfect combo from Utah’s 14 resorts and get down to details with everything from transportation to ski school plans, dinner out for the adults and sitters for the children. The only thing we can’t help you with is remembering the two all-important Gs of family skiing: Gloves and Goggles.
SOCIAL It’s been too long since you and all your mates have gotten together to let loose. Be it a girls’ or guys’ trip, couples adventure or all the other moms and dads from your neighborhood sneaking off without the kids, Utah’s snowy peaks are the perfect place to make memories. Use the Trip Planner to dial your downhill adventures to your crew’s taste. From all-out powderhounds to foodies who are as concerned with the wine list as they are the snow conditions—create a custom itinerary to crush your #squadgoals.
Editor Brandon Ott Consulting Editor Jeremy Pugh Creative Director Chris Pearson Contributing Writers/Editors Kristen Gould Case, Jay Dash, Melissa Fields, Stacy Lippert, Mary Brown Malouf, Pamela M. Olson, Erika Wiggins Contributing Photographers/Artists Johnny Adolphson, Adam Barker, Dan Campbell, Matt Crawley, Jay Dash, Austen Diamond, Willie Holdman, Valerie Jar, Steve Lloyd, Lon Lovett, Eric Nelson, Marc Piscotty, Tim Roberts, Mike Saemisch, Will Saunders, Travis Seeholzer Advertising Sales Peter Rice (801) 359-4644 peter@skiutah.com
POWDERHOUND We understand. You care about one thing. Powder. The only question you have about the place you stay is “how many steps is it to the lift?” The only suitable food is one you can carry on the lift. The only nightlife you are interested in is the last chair of the day. We got you. Check out our online tools that focus on your focus and find those first tracks, track the storms and help you plan a trip that is all about sleep, ride, sleep, ride. Oh, and if you can manage a break, you’ll need some beers and a hot tub. That’s in there, too.
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President Nathan Rafferty VP Marketing & Operations Raelene Davis Communications—Paul Marshall Creative Guru—Chris Pearson Content—Brandon Ott Filmmaker—Tim Roberts Web/Interconnect—Luke Ratto Sales & Media—Peter Rice Marketing—Hailey Klotz ©Ski Utah, Inc. 2017–18 All Rights Reserved. Printed in the USA by Quad Graphics.
WHY HAVE JUST ONE? When it came down to choosing a cover for this year’s Ski Utah magazine we couldn’t make up our minds. A great family shot or a great ski shot? Utah skiing offers everything in-between so we figured, why not both?
SKI UTAH STAFF
Cover One: Yes, these moments happen. Beware the snowball fight to follow! Snowbird sets the backdrop. Photo: Dan Campbell
Cover Two: Salt Lake City local Katie Van Riper lines up a perfect turn on a bluebird powder day at Alta Ski Area. Photo: Chris Pearson
Ski Utah magazine is an annual publication of Ski Utah, Inc. 2749 E Parleys Way, Suite 310 Salt Lake City, UT 84109, USA skiutah.com
X[aY
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first tracks //explore
Winter’s Glow Otherworldly—Midway Ice Castles are a winter must.
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Lon Lovett
There is a warmth that captivates your attention and heightens your senses—a warmth capable of touching the inner child in each of us. That warmth of winter’s display is on center stage at the Midway Ice Castles.
Located near Park City, the Midway Ice Castles are open day and night during most winter months. Crews grow the castle by 10,000 icicles daily, assembling a structure that will dominate your Instagram feeds and stand as the most memorable non-skiing activity of your vacation.
Consider going just before sunset to capture the colors of both, day and night. Reservations are required. Dress warm, wear good boots, make sure the cameras/phones are fully charged and take time to warm up with creamy hot chocolate served inside the castle’s icy walls.
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first tracks//eats
Superbowl The extraordinary pleasure of a simple soup. by Pamela M. Olson
There’s something meditative about soup, a dish we consume with all of our senses. First, we see the steam rising seductively out of the bowl and we visually critique the contents. Next, we lift and inhale—soup is a food we instinctively smell. Finally, we take that first, tentative slurp, testing the heat, circulating the flavors over our taste buds. After a day dropping into bowls of powder, a bowl of soup warms you from head to toe.
Park City Mountain, The Farm, Oxtail Soup French Onion soup on steroids. This is no mere broth, rather a rich, beefy bowl of decadence. The Farm (Canyons Village) does it again. Powder Mountain, Powder Keg, Tonkatsu Ramen A beautifully presented bowl of pork broth with eggs, green onions, bamboo shoots and slabs of pork belly. Snowbasin, Needles Lodge, White Bean Chicken Chili Ride the Needles gondola to enjoy this spicy chili at 9,000 feet. It boasts a Southwestern kick featuring green chilies and smoky adobo.
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Deer Valley, Silver Lake Lodge, Bald Mountain Pho Having choices in broth—beef or ginger-mushroom—is a fun way to begin your pho journey, then add Wagyu beef and/or tofu and shiitake mushrooms. Top it with crispy rice noodles, bean sprouts, lime wedges, sliced chilies, Thai basil mint and housemade hoisin. Need we say more? Austen Diamond
SLOPESIDE
STREETSIDE Porcupine Pub and Grille, Creamy Chicken Noodle A perennial favorite, this twist on chicken noodle is best enjoyed with homemade rolls and paired with their excellent wings. Two locations: Cottonwood Heights and University.
Bambara, Silky Corn Bisque with Jonah Crab The name says it all. Rich, roasted corn flavor, topped with chunks of tender crab? No brainer. In downtown SLC, this is a good place to kick off a night on the town.
Kimi’s, Seafood Chowder At this chic, Swedish eatery, enjoy this savory yet delicate chowder with a glass of bubbly at the bar, or book a large table for a crowd. In Sugar House.
Bald Mountain Pho. Top it with crispy rice noodles, bean sprouts, lime wedges, sliced chilies, Thai basil mint and housemade hoisin.
THERE IS JUST AS MUCH MAGIC OFF THE MOUNTAIN.
Can one town really have it all? Two world-class resorts — Deer Valley and Park City Mountain — blanketed in The Greatest Snow on Earth® and offthe-mountain adventures like tubing, cross-country skiing, sleigh rides, and bobsledding at Utah Olympic Park. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Experience our endless après-ski locations with a drink from a local brewery or distillery before strolling down Historic Main Street. Here you can enjoy unique shops, art galleries and an array of award-winning restaurants. Then cap off your night at a local hotspot.
Yes, all this can be found in charming Park City, Utah, just a quick 35-minute ride from Salt Lake City International Airport. Discover the wonder at VisitParkCity.com.
the greatest snow on earth 23
first tracks //social
Get the Picture
Unlock the power of your smart phone’s camera and share your vacay on Instagram. an interview with: Jay Dash
“T
he best camera is the one that’s with you.” This old adage is so true. Luckily, the camera in your pocket has optically grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Jay Dash is a Salt Lake City–based professional photographer who hears the call of the mountains every day. He offered us his best tips on how to capture your snowy adventures on Instagram. #iphonephotography
Jay Dash
@jaydashphotography
AIRPLANE MODE Activate your phone’s airplane mode often. “Disconnect and just be present in the mountains,” Jay says. “It’ll help you see better shots.” You can fire away as many images as you’d like without notifications about your friend’s cats.
well for bold landscape images. When cropping your photos on your phone, you want to place the subject at the grid’s intersection. Leave a little space for the sky and put your peaks close to the top of the frame. Leave a bit of foreground to help lead the Instagram gawker into the image.
COMPOSITION
ACTION SHOTS
Use the rule of thirds. This rule can be applied to almost all photos but works exceptionally
Make your buddies ski close to where you are set up. Follow the skier with your phone to keep the
subject in focus. Shoot with the sun at your back. Burst mode is your best friend. Continuously hold down the photo button and you’ll likely capture every phase of that powder turn. SURVIVING THE ELEMENTS
charger. Mophie has great affordable options starting at $25. Airplane mode also saves battery life. THE SUN For nailing landscape images, always shoot away from the sun. EDITING
We’ve all pulled our phone out of our jacket pockets on the hill only to find a dead battery. So frustrating. Your best bet is to connect your phone to a small external battery
Every image needs some editing love. Jay’s two favorite mobile editing apps are Snapseed and Lightroom Mobile. He also uses Instagram’s LUX slider tool. While Jay confesses that he doesn’t know exactly how it works, he knows the LUX tool dramatically improves images. GO VIRAL
Use the rule of thirds. When cropping photos on your phone place the subject (skier) at the grid’s intersection. Follow this rule to guarantee interesting composition and more Instagram likes.
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Once you’ve captured that hero shot, it’s time to post to Instagram to draw some serious envy from your friends. Using hashtags will greatly up your reach. While you’re visiting us here in Utah, use #wasatchmountains, #skiutah, #visitutah, #utahisrad and the resort tag where the magic came together. There is no need to be shy; have fun with hashtags. It also helps to tag the location of the image.
YOU’RE DEVOTED BE TREATED THAT WAY To learn more, visit UofUhealth.org
the greatest snow on earth 25
first tracks//drinks
Frosty and Fiery Chilly cocktails and hot concoctions by Pamela M. Olson
Some unknown genius once explained why we need cocktails, saying “no great story ever started with a salad.” Imagine a play-by-play of an epic ski day told over a cold plate of arugula and goat cheese. Nope. Tales unfold layer by layer, as whiskey swirls in a glass, warmth unleashing complexities in the liquors—and loosening the tongue. Next question: Do you need to warm your cockles or cool your jets? We’ve found a diverse array of hot and cold drinks featuring liquors distilled right here in Utah.
Fire Cider Where to find it: Brian Head Resort, Cedar Breaks Lodge The name of this cocktail, featuring Porter’s Fire spiced whiskey has a new meaning after last summer when a fire threatened the town. When you sip on this one, enjoy the smooth cinnamon-bun flavor and toast the still-standing town and resort of Brian Head and the fire-fighters who made another ski year at this sweet little resort possible. Basin Connection Hot Cocoa Where to find it: Snowbasin, Cinnabar This cozy cocoa, featuring Five Wives Vanilla Custard Vodka, chocolate liqueur and heavenly house-made hot cocoa should be enough to draw you to the Cinnabar, but if not, go for the oversize lounge chairs, roaring fireplace and live aprèsski music.
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Warm Vanilla Cider Where to find it: Park City Mountain, The Farm This is a simple cider sipper, but that’s what makes it great. The High West Whiskey shines through the foundation of spiced hot apple cider, Laird’s Applejack and vanilla. The drink is finished with a candied walnut rim. Sitzmark Cider Where to find it: Alta Ski Area, Alta Lodge’s Sitzmark Club This warm, soothing drink is a tradition unlike any other at Alta. It has been served as long as anyone can remember and is the cidery aroma that fills the lodge. The simple, yet elegant recipe is the perfect fit to this classic ski lodge that has been standing since 1939. Legendary Alta Lodge bartender and SKI magazine cover boy Dan Withey will most likely be behind the bar to serve up this après goodness.
NOT COLD ENOUGH FOR YA? Yuzu Sling Where to find it: Solitude Resort Honeycomb Grill, This zippy cocktail has blessedly few ingredients because you really want the nuances of the Beehive Jack Rabbit Gin to shine. It’s floral, herbaceous, crisp—qualities enhanced by a shot of citrusy yuzu juice, a dash of simple syrup then topped with Club Soda. Porter’s Ruby Where to find it: Snowbasin, Cinnabar This refreshing blend features two local bevvies—Mountain West Ruby Hard Cider, brewed in downtown SLC, and Porter’s Peach, a smooth whiskey that highlights one of Utah’s orchard favorites, grown along “Fruit Way” north of Ogden, in the valley below Snowbasin. This is finished with orange juice, meaning you can enjoy it for breakfast?
Tim Roberts
SOME LIKE IT HOT
Dead Man’s Boots—High West Distillery
Dead Man’s Boots Where to find it: High West Distillery, Park Avenue, Park City Drink it for the name. Drink it for the setting— hard to beat the après scene at High West, the world’s only ski-in/ ski-out distillery. Or just drink it because it’s tasty and you’ll feel spurs growing on your ski boots
Warm Vanilla Cider—The Farm
when yer done. Featuring High West’s Rendezvous Rye, Resposado Tequila, fresh lime juice, cane sugar and ginger beer. White Bear Where to find it: Deer Valley Resort, The Brass Tag This is a great winter drink, says restaurant manager Josh Hockman,
because “it is creambased, which provides a nice, rich backdrop for the seasonal flavors,” including Outlaw Distillery Spiced Rum, with notes of clove, allspice and cinnamon; Frangelico Liqueur; Demerara Simple Syrup; and fresh cream, topped with a candied cherry and fresh nutmeg.
Technically, it isn’t lying if you tell your boss you had a “sick day” www.BRIGHTONRESORT.com
Louis Arevalo
Kaylin Richardson
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first tracks//mountain
Find Your Line
The Beehive boasts over 1,300 ski runs, here’s a hit list for any occasion or crew. AMAZING VIEWS
TROPHY LINES
The top of the Great Western lift at Brighton affords one of the best views in the biz—a mandatory stop even for the locals.
Alta’s Alf’s High Rustler has stood the test of time since 1938, capturing the hearts of skiers around the world. Ski it from top to bottom, if you dare.
LITTLEST ONES
GOOD GROOMING
POWDER STASHES
28 skiutah.com
Slide down the ridge 100 yards from the top of Snowbasin’s Strawberry gondola and you’ll see what all the fuss is about. Should we crown this view king?
Kick your feet up and treat yourself to lunchtime nachos from Sundance’s Bearclaw Cabin patio with wild views across Utah Lake. Hiking is required to gain the top of Jupiter Peak but the effort is worth the reward, with multiple chute options tucked deep into Park City Mountain.
From the fabled Snowbird tram, riders stare straight into the heart of Silver Fox. As fun to ski as it is to look at, it’s the Cirque’s crème de la crème.
Snowbasin Resort’s Little Cat terrain is a playground of awesomeness for your mini skiers. Why? Because Terrain Based Learning lives here.
36% of all terrain is beginner terrain. Affordable family prices coupled with mellow terrain, all of Nordic Valley is the jam with little ones. Plus the warming lodge is a barn. Family-friendly Beaver Mountain is the surprise inclusion within this category but there’s nothing better than arcing turns from D-Street to The Stump.
Good grooming should be a recipe of equal parts velvety corduroy, consistent pitch and WOW views—all of which Deer Valley’s Stein’s Way possesses.
Numbers don’t lie. Powder Mountain is the most uncrowded ski resort in North America. The snow stays fresh here, especially in Powder Country.
All of Eagle Point on a Thursday. Why? Because the mountain is closed Monday– Wednesday which means that any snow that falls on those days just stacks up.
Brian Head’s Navajo area is a mecca for families. Lap the magic carpet to the Terrain Based Learning course for hours of fun.
Park City Mountain knows a thing or two about grooming. They tune more terrain on a nightly basis than any other resort in Western Hemisphere. Send it down Another World.
120+
runs groomed most nights
It’s a dream team really, Solitude’s 500 inches of snow each winter and all of Honeycomb Canyon, where nooks and crannies filled with powder stay fresh for days after a storm.
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A Family Affair
From left, rockstar dad Jeremy Jolley, 40; Lucy, 13; Millie, 11; and Fisher, 9.
Jeremy Jolley shares how he’s carved out a mountain-focused life, both before and after kids. by Melissa Fields
T
hough Jeremy Jolley, a Utah rep for Rossignol snowboards and founder of the Sundance Resort Snowboard School, was born and raised in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains, he’s quick to admit that he didn’t start sliding on snow until later in life. “When I was about 9 or 10,” Jolley explains, almost apologetically. Though this comment may seem ironic to most, when put in the context of the mountain-imbued life that he and his wife, Hayley, have carved out for their three kids, you can see how he could consider learning to slide on snow so long after he learned to walk as “late.” Here, Jolley chats about the winter that launched his career in snowboarding, how he keeps his kids interested in the slopes, and the mountain life’s greatest gift.
30 skiutah.com
Ski Utah: What path did you take to make snowboarding not just a hobby, but a career? Jeremy Jolley: After I graduated from high school, a friend invited me to go to the California mountains for the winter. I had an amazing time there, teaching snowboarding at Mammoth Mountain and living in an A-frame at the base. I spent the following summer riding and teaching in New Zealand. I returned to Utah that winter and Robert Redford decided to open Sundance Mountain Resort to snowboarding in the middle of the season. The resort’s ski school director at the time, Scott
Nyman (also father of Olympic ski racer, Steve Nyman), asked me to start the snowboard school there. In the 20 years since then, I’ve remained involved at Sundance, spent nine years teaching and coaching at Snowbird, became a regional trainer for AASI [American Association of Snowboard Instructors], and eventually joined the staff at Rossignol. Ski Utah: How do you keep your three kids interested in sliding on snow? Jeremy Jolley: There’s no way to predict when kids are going to be motivated to go skiing or riding (all three Jolley
kids do both). Living in Orem, 15 minutes from Sundance, and having a season pass—or something like the Ski Utah 5th or 6th Grade Passport—allows us to act on an impulse to, say, run up to the hill at 2 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. I also try to tune into what’s motivating them on a particular day. Maybe it’s grabbing a fast food breakfast on the way to the mountain, packing a picnic, or bribing them with resort food—they love the John Paul Lodge at Snowbasin. Ski Utah: How do you think skiing and snowboarding has benefitted your family the most?
Jeremy Jolley: It’s instilled each of us with a sense of adventure. Skiing and riding are filled with lots of unknowns—the weather, snow conditions, gear issues, etc—which I think has made my kids more receptive to unpredictability. And that’s spilled over into other things we do like hiking, camping or biking. You have got to be ready for anything when you play in the mountains and I think my kids have come to appreciate that because of skiing and snowboarding. Mountain time has truly helped my kids grow more resilient—not a bad quality to have for all of life’s unknowns.
Jay Dash
first tracks //powder people
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first tracks// tips
32 skiutah.com
only stein Stein Collection offers three distinct Deer Valley hotels to suit your style. Providing the finest luxury lodging, award-winning dining, and Five-Star spa services, we’ll ensure your stay is a truly personalized experience. For those who seek the best, there's only Stein.
D EER V ALLEY
D E E R VA L L E Y
800.453.1302 | www.steincollection.com | resv@steinlodge.com park city, utah
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Blue skies and a blank slate. Your perfect day is waiting.
Find your perfect day. 34 skiutah.com
Fresh powder. Blue skies. 3,000 unspoiled acres just a gondola ride away. This is Utah’s undiscovered playground, where world-class terrain and shorter lines mean more chances to make this the day you’ll talk about all year. Discover Snowbasin Resort this winter, and discover your best day ever.
Austen Diamond
beer
Beers of the Beehive
Bartender McCall Gottardi pours a pint at Dick ’n’ Dixies, a neighborhood bar in Salt Lake City known for its selection of craft beers.
Pioneers, pints and pairings by Mary Brown Malouf
L
ocals call it the Big Lie: You can’t get a drink in Utah. And Utah’s craft brewers never pass up a chance to poke fun at the man, giving their beers names like Provo Girl, Latter Day Stout, Big Bad Baptist, Elder Brett, and Polygamy Porter. Utah makes beer at altitude with attitude. The truth is, you’ve always been able to get a drink in Utah—the early settlers brought beer along with their Bibles. Orrin Porter Rockwell, Brigham Young’s infamous hit man, established his Hot Springs Brewery Hotel in 1865, a year after a German immigrant, Henry Wagener, had opened
the first brewery in Utah. In 1892 John S. Becker and his sons, Gustav and Albert, established the Becker Brewing and Malting Company on the banks of the Ogden River. Even at the end of Prohibition (ended by Utah’s deciding vote), Utah still had four breweries in production. In 2016, the state produced almost 200,000 barrels of beer. The big break for beer came when Greg Schirf moved to Utah from Milwaukee, looked around the mountains and asked the question that echoed through the canyons: “Where’s the beer?” Schirf worked to change mindsets and laws and in 1986 opened Wasatch Brewery. In
1988, at the top of Main Street in Park City, he opened Wasatch Brew Pub—Utah’s first. After that, all beer broke loose. In 1989, Jeff Polychronis and Peter Cole opened Squatters Brew Pub in Salt Lake City. Wasatch and Squatters laid the foundation for all the ale to follow—Red Rock Brewery opened two years after Squatters, in 1993 Uintah Brewing came on the scene and in 2000, Wasatch and Squatters merged microbrewery operations for draft and bottle production, creating Utah Brewers Cooperative. In 2008, when the Utah State Legislature decided brewers could make and
sell heavy beer directly to the public, local beer horizons expanded again, with local breweries adding high-point lines. Now the state has 30 award-winning craft breweries, and local restaurateurs pay as much attention to their beer lists as they do their wine lists. And each year more brewers open up in
IN SALT LAKE CITY High octane Epic Brewing Company was founded with one big idea—strong beer. Owners David Cole and Peter Erickson were able to start their high-point brewery when Utah law changed in 2008. They hired longtime brewmaster Kevin Compton and
based in Provo. For a snack, try the green chile frites—fries smothered with green chile sauce, cheddar-jack cheese and green onions. Still hungry? Try the Beef Brisket Navajo Taco on fry bread. Both can stand up to a big beer like Epic’s Brainless Belgian-style Golden Ale from the brewery’s Elevated series.
Utah makes beer at altitude with attitude. Utah, eager to show off their skills. Here’s a selection of Utah’s craft beers with suggestions for what to chew between quaffs.
the idea became reality in 2010. Epic has a taproom and retail location as well as a full-menu pub run by Black Sheep, a Navajo-American restaurant
Beer revival German immigrant Albert Fisher started A. Fisher Brewing Company in the late 1800s. The brewery thrived and was
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beer one of the few breweries that survived Prohibition. It couldn’t survive big business, however, and after a series of acquisitions, closed in the 1960s. Fisher’s grandson and some friends revived the business in 2017 with the help of a Kickstarter campaign. To finish the thoroughly hipster tale, Fisher’s food comes from a rotation of food trucks. (For the schedule, go to fisherbeer.com.) The beer selection changes constantly, but Classic American Lager, a tribute to Fisher’s original lagers, is always on tap. It’s great with a coconut lemongrass chicken slider from the Chow Truck. Tip: Pick up a growler to take back to your ski digs. Side by side Proper Brewing Co. and Proper Burgers are, properly, on the same
property. Say it fast three times. Have a beer in the tasting room bar or have a burger and a beer in the burger house, which features a menu of old-fashioned and new-fangled versions of the classic American sandwich. This would be a good time to sample a true Utah tradition: the pastrami burger, known here as the Johnny Utah. The beef patty is piled with turkey pastrami, American cheese, Russian dressing (known in the Beehive as fry sauce) and a zucchini pickle side. Enjoy it with a Hopspital IPA—the hoppy bitterness will cut through the richness of the burger. Tip: The tasting room bar has a skee ball table, but you must be over 21. Sweet and smoky Red Rock specializes in specialty beers. The
multi-award-winning pub-brewery likes to push the boundaries in beer making and cooking, so that, besides burgers and pizza and other standard brewpub fare, you’ll find dishes like house-smoked salmon on the menu. Try it with a bottle of Le Quatre Saison and notice the contrast between the smoky fish and the lightly fruity beer. Tip: Additional locations in Park City and Fashion Place Mall. The big finish Squatters Pub Brewery’s Chocolate Chocolate Rye Stout is made with chocolate and caramel malts mashed up with chocolate nibs—it avoids being cloying by incorporating a crisp rye. On nitro, it comes out with a whipped-cream like froth. Obviously,
Red Rock Brewery, Salt Lake City
Stein’s Troll Hallen, Deer Valley
you want to pair it with Squatters’ Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie. And don’t think twice about the calories—a couple of runs will burn those right off. Tip: There’s another Squatters in Park City. IN PARK CITY
Wasatch Brew Pub, Park City 36 skiutah.com
Old school Bangers and mash is a true pub dish. Wasatch serves theirs with a southern touch, collard greens seasoned with bacon. A stout may be what you want with this fare—if so, try the Outer Darkness—but we prefer the less coffee-like but definitely substantial Polygamy Porter to go with the hearty bratwurst. You
Park City Brewery, Park City
may not be hungry until lunch tomorrow. Tip: Salt Lake City has a Wasatch Brew Pub, too. Session time Park City Brewery is newish so its beer selection is fairly small, and so far, the emphasis is on session beers that can be found on tap handles around its namesake town and in Salt Lake. These beers are perfect for an après-ski glass clink. Or two. There’s live music but no kitchen—if you want a pairing, we suggest riding the funicular up to the St. Regis bar and ordering a Park City Boogie Brown with your bavette steak sandwich and truffle frites.
IN OGDEN Rooster’s Brewery, housed in a century-plusold building on Historic 25th Street, is one of Ogden’s favorite gathering places. The crisp touch of sweet and citrus in Rooster’s Honey Wheat Ale—made with 40 percent wheat malt—balances out the creamy spice and richness of baked pepper-jack macaroni and cheese. Tip: Rooster’s also has a location in Layton. Talisman Brewing Company is a newcomer to Ogden, intent on making a full range of craft beers in all styles, from 4 percent up to 10 percent alcohol by
beer
Fisher Brewery, Salt Lake City
Utah now has 30 awardwinning craft breweries. volume, from heavy duty Iron Age Oatmeal Stout to Killer Grove, a honey wheat brew with a touch of blood orange. Talisman doesn’t have a kitchen but it does offer tasting tours and the novel opportunity to pair your beer with a yoga session—perfect to stretch those aching muscles. Call to schedule. ON THE MOUNTAIN Beer and skiing are natural partners—just look at the number of local brews honoring powder, lodges and runs. The Utah Brewers Cooperative brewed a special anniversary beer when Alta celebrated its 75th
anniversary. Wasatch created Snowbird Session IPA and Solitude Mountain Lager. Everyone noshes at Snowbird’s Forklift on the Plaza Deck, but if you want to sit and eat, check out El Chanate, Snowbird’s Mexican restaurant, and order a chile relleno. Remember, German brewing found a home in Mexico—hence all the great Mexican beers. But for a taste of the local, order an 1842 Czech-style Pilsner from Salt Lake’s Bohemian Brewery with your chips and salsa. Troll Hallen Lounge at Stein Eriksen Lodge at Deer Valley has one of the most ski-friendly
menus in the mountains—hearty but nuanced, crowd-pleasing but chef-created. And it’s backed by a good beer menu. Try Chef Zane Holmquist’s wild game chili with Epic’s Brainless Belgian Ale. If you’re at Solitude, you’ll want to try its namesake beer, Solitude Mountain Lager, which is a custom creation by Wasatch Brewery. Nosh on a charcuterie plate—a tempting arrangement of local cured meats and cheeses, fire-roasted flatbread, whole-grain mustard, seasonal marmalade, olives and cornichons—while you take a break and watch the skiing for a spell.
Powder Keg, Powder Mountain Take in the whole spectacular, snow-covered haunt from Powder Mountain’s authentic Powder Keg. Serving up 11 beers on tap, order up the Evolution, which is locally dubbed the Pow
Mow beer. The miso ramen or teriyaki wings go well with this namesake beer—winding down (or up) another best day ever. Soak in the sun and views at the outside tables at Park City’s
Cloud Dine with a Utah session beer, Uintah Brewery’s Cutthroat Pale Ale. Named after the native Utah trout, it’s a locally loved brew from the first wave of Utah’s microbrew movement. n
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You belong here At Westminster College, we welcome a diverse group of students who, like you, are driven by a desire to really matter. So come introduce yourself and chart your own meaningful course. Learn more at westminstercollege.edu
S A LT L A K E C I T Y — U TA H
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ski school
Austen Diamond
Alta Ski Area
Learning To Turn, From A To Z Lessons, camps and clinics, oh my! Learning to ski or ride in Utah is anything but old school. by Melissa Fields
Brighton Resort
T
here was once a time when the only option for kids’ ski and snowboard instruction was choosing between a private or group lesson. Well, those days are thankfully over. Not only are lessons more tightly tailored to age and ability, but on-snow learning has been fine-tuned based on terrain features and equipment
innovations. And, of course, having fun is now considered as critical as mastering technique. While each of Utah’s 14 resorts offers extensive sliding-on-snow instruction options, here are a few of the highlights, broken down into categories ranging from the youngest shreddersin-training to teens ready to go big—and maybe never go home. the greatest snow on earth 39
ski school
Deer Valley Resort Alta
Brighton Resort
Solitude
Solitude Mountain Resort
LITTLE KIDS (3 to 8) For kids age three years old who are willing to ski, Deer Valley’s full-day Fawn Special includes an hour-long, one-on-one lesson bookended by snow play, story time and art projects. Snowbird’s Chickadee Age 3 lessons are offered in both halfday and full-day increments, with hour-long, one-one-one lessons during the full-day option, mixed with plenty of on- and off-snow fun. Park City Mountain’s Ultimate 3 Ski Lesson for three-year-olds includes lots of fun, games and onhill time always with a 3:1 student-instructor ratio. The ski and snowboard
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“
Deer Valley Resort
A breakthrough at this age could be something as simple as walking on snow in ski boots.
instructors at Brian Head and Snowbasin use specially sculpted rollers, berms and banked turns to make learning easier and faster through a concept known as Terrain Based Learning. These two same resorts have also embraced Burton’s Riglet snowboard and the Riglet Reel, an equipment combo that gives the instructor more control over how the student acclimates to sliding on snow, thereby
dramatically lowering the age that kids can successfully learn to snowboard. Insider Tip: According to Mya Franti, Deer Valley Resort children’s program manager, there are three things parents can do to ensure their little ones have a great on-snow experience: “Talk to them about their lesson beforehand to get them excited; make sure they have the correct gear; and maintain realistic expectations.
”
A breakthrough at this age could be something as simple as walking on snow in ski boots.” TWEENS (9 to 12) This age is all about creating life-long snow sports lovers. Programs sure to solidify a love for skiing or riding for tweens include Alta’s Advanced Mountain Explorers, ability-based group instruction focused on just what the name
implies: exploring all the amazing terrain this internationally famous mountain playground has to offer. Has your tween never skied or ridden before but wants to jump into winter sports with both feet? Make the most of the season with Brian Head University or Snowbasin’s Earn to Learn, never-ever programs that reward participants for completing a series of three lessons with a season pass. Insider Tip: Utah residency is not required to get Ski Utah’s 5th and 6th Grade Passport, a unique ticket booklet allowing one to three days of skiing or riding (plus some great discounts
on gear and lessons) at Utah’s 14 resorts for $35 (or $45 after Jan. 31, 2018). Find out more at skiutah.com/passport. BIG KIDS (13 to 16) Independence is where it’s at with teenagers, a fact of life not lost on organizers of Alta’s Teen Camp (offered over the Christmas and President’s Day holidays) and Deer Valley’s Teen Escape (held during select holiday and high-volume periods throughout the season). Both camps provide skiers with a social, fun and supervised way to explore each mountain. The guides with Solitude’s
ski school
Adults just wanna have fun, too Just maybe you’d like to learn how to ski a mogul field without stopping. Or to finally master powder. Whatever your goals, sliding around with an expert for just a few hours can yield a big and satisfying breakthrough. Women’s-only camps and clinics—offered through the Alta Lodge, Snowbird, Park City Mountain, Snowbasin, Solitude and Sundance—continue to be a fun and effective way for ladies to make on-snow progress. Deer Valley also offers a men’sonly group lesson, as well as two Mahre Training Center Ski Camps hosted by twin Olympians, Phil and Steve Mahre. Deer Valley’s Ski with a Champion is another way you can rub elbows with one of the ski elite including: Kris “Fuzz” Federson, Shannon Bahrke and Deer Valley Ambassador of Skiing, Heidi Voelker.
Park City Mountain
Brighton Resort
new Hidden Tracks program take skiers and snowboarders off the beaten path to secret stashes and lesser-known nooks and crannies. Insider Tip: Night skiing is a great way to help your teen burn off some post-dinner energy or maybe even learn a thing or two. At Brighton, age eight and up can take a two-hour lesson (6 to 8 p.m.) and get a night skiing lift pass (valid from 4 to 9 p.m.) every Thursday of the season for just $50. At Sundance, mention the two-for-one promo at the ticket window on Wednesday nights and you’ll receive two night skiing tickets for the price of one.
Park City Mountain
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY If your family has similar skiing ability levels and on-snow interests, Park City Mountain’s and Eagle Point’s family lessons are each a great opportunity to stay together as a family, share in each other’s experience and
watch as everyone progresses during the day. (Also mom and dad learn teaching skills.) Or kill two birds with one stone with the new Peak-toPeak Guided Experience at Park City Mountain, a personalized journey through the mega resort’s 7,300 acres led by a ski or snowboard instructor of-
fering tips and technique analysis along the way. ADAPTIVE SKIING Adults and children with mental and physical challenges can learn through adaptive instruction offered at the National Ability Center and Wasatch Adaptive Sports. n
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Mix fresh powder with family fun When you hit the slopes at Snowbasin, make Davis County your basecamp. Here, you can choose from over 20 hotels, a wide variety of restaurants and tons of family-friendly activities. Plus, our Ski Connector bus will get you straight from your hotel to the resort in just 30 minutes.
Plan your next ski trip at PlayInDavis.com/Ski
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active traveler Skis and boards aren’t the only way to fly down a mountain in Utah. Try the ZipTour at Sundance resort.
The 5 Archetypes of Active Travelers Here’s how to keep moving from dawn till dark on your next ski vacation. by Erika Wiggins
W
hat is an active traveler? Could you be one? If you don’t lay by the pool on vacation but are swimming laps instead, and your idea of travel doesn’t necessarily equal leisure, then the answer is likely … yes! A day of skiing is the cherry on top, and they don’t call it a ski vacation for nothing, but sometimes you need to change it up—sometimes your toes need a break from your boots.
From Zen master to adrenaline junkie to night owl, we have some wildly different experiences to take for a spin on your next Utah snowy foray. Imagine the possibilities, imagine your Instagram feed—a collage of awesomeness from fat biking to ranger-led stargazing parties to SUP yoga classes in a geothermal crater. Just promise us that you’ll carve out some time to leisurely enjoy a hot toddy by the lodge fire (after your workout). the greatest snow on earth 43
active traveler CAPTAIN CARDIO You seek an endorphin-drenched workout high, and find yourself pacing like a caged animal during office meetings. If you crave a lung-busting challenge, these activities will deliver. On the flip side, if the altitude has you huffing and puffing, you can just slow it down. Swap the beach cruiser for a snow cruiser. Fat bikes are so … much … FUN! Thanks to chunky wide tires, they float over soft snow defying logic and giving riders another
silent winter sport to enjoy. Rent bikes at various shops across the state including The Bike Shoppe in Ogden, (801) 4761600, and Jans Mountain Outfitters in Park City, (800) 745-1020. Still want more heart-pounding, lung-burning, fun? Try snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, or ski six resorts in one day with the Ski Utah Interconnect Adventure Tour. SOCIAL BUTTERFLY The camaraderie of sweat motivates and energizes
you … and you like it with a side of conversation. If this is you, group fitness classes, tours and clinics are a great way to stay both active and social on your ski vacation and you have a lot to choose from. With encouraging coaches, pumping tunes and a kick-butt workout, Orange Theory in Park City, (435) 575-5575, and Salt Lake City, (801) 255-9050, burns away mountainside fries and hot cocoa in a structured interval workout alternating cardio and strength training.
Interconnect Tour
Homestead Crater
The camaraderie of sweat motivates and energizes you … and you like it with a side of conversation.
Want more? Check out Hardline HITT at Snowbird, or spinning classes at Spa Montage in Park City. If you’d rather play outdoors, check out Alta Lodge for a collection of ski programs (be sure to book in advance) or the Ladies’ Cross-Country Clinic at Sundance. ZEN MASTER
Orange Theory 44 skiutah.com
You value the intensity of deliberate movement and mindful living. When you’re ready, trade the flow-state of skiing for the rhythmic breath of a yoga session or meditation. Challenge your balance with a paddleboard
yoga session in a natural hot spring 55 feet underground with Park City Yoga Adventures, (415) 695-4502. Dubbed the oldest yoga studio in the world, the 10,000-yearold Homestead Crater is filled with 95-degree blue effervescent water. Not a yogi? This class is suitable for beginners, too. Besides, what’s wrong with a little swim in warm spring water if your chakras don’t quite line up? Looking for more mindful activities and classes? Start your day with a guided meditation at Sundance Mountain Resort or visit the Cliff Spa’s mountainside studio at Snowbird for
a selection of yoga and meditation classes. NIGHT OWL When the sun sets, you keep going by the light of the moon. Luckily, not all winter fun happens in the light of day. Fill your Thermos with something hot and check out: Explore the Night Owling Snowshoe Tour at Sundance Mountain Resort. Presented by the Great Basin Wildlife Rescue, this tour will lead you deep into the Mount Timpanogos winter landscape. Learn about winter wildlife from wildlife experts and actual owls, and then hit the trail to call and locate
active traveler
Steve Lloyd
Feed the Machine Feel good and play strong with these healthy eating tips. Winter sports demand a lot of energy, but fueling your body with empty calories won’t help. It’s hard to eat right when you’re traveling and don’t have access to healthy options throughout the day. Here are some tips that can help: Pack healthy snacks. Fill your pockets with nutrient-dense foods such as raw nuts and nut butters, dried fruits, CLIF Bars and jerky. Check online menus and plan your lunch. All of the resorts have healthy options, but sometimes you need to look past the junk to find them. Opt for grains, beans, lean meats and veggies. Great choices include the wraps at Brighton’s Alpine Rose, the delish Himalayan options at Solitude’s Roundhouse and Deer Valley’s famous turkey chili. Keep hydrated! Utah’s elevation and the cold air will dehydrate you faster than usual. This can lead to headaches, weakness, dizziness and irritability—symptoms common to altitude sickness. Proper hydration will help ward off any symptoms of altitude sickness and keep you going strong.
Heber Valley
owls in the area. Unguided full-moon outings are also available. In southern Utah, check out the Dark Sky Tours at Brian Head Resort—a designated International Dark Sky spot. Looking for more sliding time? Night skiing is offered at multiple resorts across the state.
Solitude Nordic Center
ADRENALINE JUNKIE Speed, danger and even loud music excite you and leave you craving more. Yes, the powdery steeps of Utah will deliver the goods but the thrills don’t have to stop with last chair. Have more with these adrenaline-packed activities.
With over 2,100 feet of vertical drop, the longest span of 3,871 feet, and speeds approaching 65 mph, the ZipTour at Sundance is in a separate class of zip-line rides. Uniquely open in winter,
it’s the top pick for adrenaline buffs who’d enjoy an unobstructed view of Mount Timpanogos. Want more speed? Check out the Utah Olympic Park’s bobsled ride, snowmobile with
Lofty Peaks or go tubing at Gorgoza Park and Brian Head. Powderhounds should consider getting their fill of freshtracks via snowcats or heli-skiing at several locations in Utah. n
the greatest snow on earth 45
gallery
Night Scenes & Sunsets
The ends and beginnings of days here bring a transporting sense of peace. We asked four Utah photographers to share their best shots of their favorite resorts in transition.
46 skiutah.com
gallery
photo
Eric Nelson
It was 5:30 a.m. and 15 degrees when I set out to capture the sunrise atop Alta. On my way, I looked up and saw this sight. The lights from the city were reflecting off thin clouds while still allowing a few stars to shine through. I worried stopping could make me miss sunrise, but I had to capture the moment. I made it to the top in time, but the photos from the summit did not have the same emotion as this shot. This image taught me that Utah presents beauty in places I can't always expect.
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gallery
48 skiutah.com
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photo
Willie Holdman On this particular night, those who continued night skiing or those who soaked up the evening in an outdoor hot tub were rewarded to a magical night of color. For many years I had envisioned photographing Park City and Deer Valley transitioning from day to night. I scouted the perfect hillside location and waited for the right atmospheric conditions that would allow enough ambient light to illuminate the landscape, while still allowing the town and resort lights to shine through. On this February night, it all came together. The clouds acted as a perfect reflector, helping pop the ski village's colors below.
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gallery
photo
Mike Saemisch Capturing the Milky Way above Brian Head Resort requires the right conditions—fresh snow, clear skies, no moon and timing the shot well after midnight. One April evening, the stage appeared to finally be set. So at 3 a.m., I headed to the scouted spot at Brian Head and captured this spectacular scene.
photo
Johnny Adolphson A March storm had just rolled through and conditions looked good for a sunset shoot, so I headed up to Powder Mountain. At the top, I saw the frosted trees beginning to glow in the evening light. It was so tranquil and almost dead calm as high pressure settled in behind the storm, but I was reminded by the twisted and gnarled white pines that this place gets some serious weather. The sunset provided a long slow burn, and I would alternate between clicking a few shots and just sitting there taking it all in.
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the greatest snow on earth 51
g n i i sk
A Life Story by Kristen Gould Case photos by Austen Diamond
She grew up on the storied slopes of Vermont, came West and met her man in the Park City powder. Together, they made skiing the centerpiece of their family life.
M
idnight. The house is quieting down after the ruckus of the boys’ homecoming for Christmas break. Jesse arrived first, late in the afternoon, so proud to have survived a semester at college, yet still the goofy 10-year-old he ever was, now packaged in the deep voice and strangely bearded face of a 19-year-old man-child. Caleb, ever the knowing older brother at the ripe old age of 22, tried to play it cool behind his California sunglasses and those skinny pants that are all the rage with campus dwellers his age, but I knew when he dropped his bags with a sigh, he was just as happy to be home. My husband Mark had been out snowshoeing the mountain trails behind our house. He came in the door with the dog and the whole pack pounced on each other like excited puppies wagging their tails. I simmered the boys’ favorite winter repast, spaghetti carbonara, smiling at the stove with my back turned to the beautiful chaos. Now the clock chimes the day’s final hour. Mark and I fall asleep to the sound of the boys’ laughter and the thumps of roughhousing. “Oh, CaDORK …” Jesse taunts. “I’m coming for you, Jesserator …” Caleb growls.
Morning breaks with a foot of fresh powder.
“Boys! Get up. We’re going skiing.”
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Father, Mark, left, and mom, Kristen, both grew up skiing and decided early on to continue the tradition with their two boys, Jesse (middle left) and Caleb (middle right).
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BEGINNINGS Mark and I both grew up in skiing families. Mark got his start at Huntsville’s Snowbasin, where he was a ski instructor by 17. His mom, Dorothy, taught there for 25 years. His family hauled their camper to the dirt parking lot each weekend, where his father took naps between runs and Dorothy’s chili warmed on the propane burners. My own father had me on the frigid single chair at Vermont’s Mad River Glen by the time I was seven. That moment might have been the first time I’d ever truly been alone. From behind the scratchy, wool blanket the lifties wrapped around me, I noted the ice-covered trees and how riding a chairlift felt like floating.
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Every Christmas, Dad tucked a season pass— Sugarbush, Mt. Snow or the Middlebury Snow Bowl—into my stocking. I met Mark in the ’80s at a dinner party in Park City. He was at the far end of the table. His dark good looks caught my eye, but when I heard him going on about windsurfing, with his shoulder-length hair at the time, I just assumed he was some surfer dude with no brain, on a permanent vacation, like many of the ski bum guys I’d met in town at the time. Another evening’s real conversation in a local watering hole, however, revealed otherwise. Aside from being a ski instructor at Deer Valley, he was an engineer, with his own (small) company. Oh. My.
A born-and-bred mountain man and a New England Yankee … could this work?
He was a reader, a hunter, a camper and a fisherman and had a big family he liked to spend time with ( just like me). And as it turned out, boy, the man could ski—so much better than I, so beautiful
to watch, graceful, light and powerful in the Utah powder I wasn’t yet used to. And he’d wait for me when I fell. A born-andbred mountain man and a New England Yankee … could this work?
I was slightly terrified of Mark’s mother, a tough Western woman who (still) drinks Jack Daniel’s on the rocks and has killed more than one rattlesnake with a stick. One Christmas morning shortly after Mark and I got engaged, Dorothy hands me a package. Inside is a T-shirt that says, “Shut Up and Ski.” I’m embarrassed, thinking she’s making fun of my frequent chatter. She puts her arm around my shoulder. “You’re like me. You think too hard about your skiing. You’re a great skier. Just go for it.” Then she passes me a small box. Inside is an Ullr medal. Ullr is the Norse god of skiing; a medal bearing his image is a good luck charm. Mark had never skied without one around his neck. The magic power of the medal is that you can’t get one for yourself. It must be given to you as a gift. Dorothy places in my hand the beautiful, antique Ullr medal she found for me and I know my future.
THE BOYS Caleb is a quiet, brownhaired, brown-eyed academic who got a perfect score on his ACT. Jesse is a chatty, curly-haired blonde with blue eyes and a learning disability that makes school tough. One played lacrosse, the other ran cross-country. One loves to curl up with a book, the other is always up for a party. Differences aside, my sons have one thing in common: They both ski like a dream. When the boys were born, they received Ullr medals, too. There was never any question that they would ski. It was just a given, like learning to walk or ride a bike. Being raised in Park City, I don’t see how you could avoid it even if you wanted to. The elementary schools get out at noon on Fridays so the local kids can ski the rest of the day, public busses are bedecked with ski racks and it’s pretty much accepted practice to
call into school with the “powder flu” the morning after a big storm. Skiing set the cadence for our lives. Early rising weekends. Bowls of oatmeal topped with brown sugar. Enduring the morning snarl of getting the boys to Deer Valley by 9 a.m. for Saturday ski school, or meeting other families for a gang ski at Park City Mountain. The never-ending hunt for matching ski socks. Leaning over the boys’ little bodies to tug ski boots on and off again. Teaching them to make “French fries” or “pizza” with their skis to go fast or slow down. Their bodies bobbing up and down like popping corn over woop-de-doos on an adventurous trail through the trees. Them pointing their skis straight down a mogul field—no poles— with that no-fear attitude that comes naturally to
little people so low to the ground. Years of backs aching from snowplowing with the boys between our skis or pulling them around on edgy-wedgies soon enough evolved to buying fat skis and powder cords. And then the day came. Mark and I were waiting to spot their lanky silhouettes emerge from a glade of trees we had just skied, and they weren’t there. I was fearing the worst, Jesse stuck in a tree well, Caleb with a broken bone. “Mommy! Daddy! Down here!” The boys were waving their ski poles over their heads. It had happened. We had officially been left in the dust. Mark smirked and said, “‘Follow me, mom’ are about to become the three most dangerous words in the English language.” Skiing was a metaphor for so many things in our family’s life. We taught the
Jesse
Mark
“
‘Follow me, mom’ are about to become the three most dangerous words in the English language.
”
Caleb
Kristen
boys about snow snakes and mogul mice. When you catch an edge and fall over suddenly for no apparent reason, a snow snake is the culprit. When you crash hard in a mogul field and get the wind knocked out of you? Blame a mogul mouse. The boys learned to survive these misfortunes and others. Not making varsity? Snow snake. The first broken heart? Mogul mouse. The small, sad envelope from a college admissions office bearing bad news. The death of a family dog, or hamsters. The death of Mark’s father, then mine. We all learned to get up and keep going.
JUST BREATHE Four years ago, we dropped Caleb off at college. It felt like the first time we put him on the chairlift alone, my heart in palpitations watching his little body looking so small on that big chair, drifting away from me until the chair rose over a hill and I couldn’t see him anymore. After the final hug goodbye on campus, Caleb strode away from us to his new life. Mark and I ran across the manicured green quad back to our car so that we could sob in private because we knew that from that moment, our family unit was never going to be quite the same again.
Left top: Mark, left, Jesse, Caleb and Kristen stop and admire the views from the top of Homeward Bound at Deer Valley on a family ski day. Above left: Ullr medals, named after the Norse god, must be received as a gift and are said to protect skiers from harm. Middle top: No Sophie. You can’t come skiing. Middle bottom: A closet full of ski jackets shows the years and fashion changes. Bottom left: Pasta on the stove means the boys are back home and, as usual, hungry. Right: Kristen and Mark look through the years of ski passes that adorn the family Christmas tree.
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Jesse leaves, too. It’s grief for me. Mourning. I feel like I’m missing a part of my physical body. I’m a grump. I don’t know what to do with myself at night. I watch all six seasons of Downton Abbey in a month. I drink too much red wine on weeknights. I walk around town in a daze, feeling naked without the boys by my side. I worry about them. “You were holding your breath down that last run, weren’t you?” Mark asks. It’s true. When I’m on something really steep or facing big moguls, I forget to breathe. I realize that as I once breathed through birthing my boys, I now have to breathe through letting them go.
do it. “Namaste, ladies!” I laugh as I hog the perfect line through the powder, linking my own turns to happiness. Skiing is my meditation, my challenge, my escape, my touchstone with nature. I heal myself with the ritual of skiing. And I am blessed. Because the boys come back for the ritual, too. All of the boys’ college friends want to come to Park City. I slyly suggest, “Why don’t you invite some of your buddies to ski?” and soon I have a house full of kids helping me cook the pasta, gleefully boasting about the air they caught that day and playing card games in front of the fire. Life, this skiing life, goes on.
Girlfriends take me to the slopes to cheer me up. These are the moms I’ve skied with all of the boys’ lives, women who know the sneaky thrill in picking up the kids at school or returning e-mails in the late afternoon, no one the wiser that we’d spent all decadent morning in powder. They (lovingly) want me to snap out of it. To trust Ullr and find the part of me who can forget about missing the boys for little bits at a time now, and focus on myself again. The sky is sharp blue and fresh snow sparkles in sunlight. We’re standing at the top of my favorite little shot on the mountain, and it’s untracked. And then I
POWDER DAY I wake early, the boys all still abed, resisting the morn. It’s Christmastime and I’ve decorated a tree with our collection of old season passes. In my yearly ritual, I spread them out on the floor around me, a pile of memories and emblems of pride—Alta, Snowbird, Park City Mountain, Canyons, the old Park West, Deer Valley and Snowbasin. Suspended from red ribbons, the passes are a photographic journey back through time, reliving the memories of our family’s skiing life. I lovingly hold them each in my fingers and consider them one by one in the quiet morning still.
I heal myself with the ritual of skiing. . . . the boys come back for the ritual, too.
MOM’S PARK CITY PICKS WHERE TO SKI SCHOOL: Deer Valley Resort (435) 649-1000 The best ski school for small children, starting at age three with one-onone instruction. Multiple magic carpets, divine Deer Valley cuisine for lunch and visits from four resort mascots. The Children’s Center babysits non-skiing kids age two months to 12 years. Park City Mountain (435) 649-8111 Caters best to teens/college students with multiple parks, rails and pipes and live music many weekends at Park City Mountain’s base or Canyons Village. Try the family private
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lesson or Peak-to-Peak Guided Experience for the ultimate tour of Utah’s largest resort. WHERE TO EAT: Loco Lizard (435) 645-7000 Kid-friendly, kids’ menu, used to large groups, large portions, rarely have to wait for a table, crayons and coloring books on the table. And the margaritas help soothe tired parent souls. Sushi Blue (435) 575-4272 A bit more upscale for teenagers and college students, but not crazy expensive, lively atmosphere, enjoy burgers to sushi to Pad Thai to Korean street tacos. Try the
elevated tatami seating for family fun. OFF THE SLOPES: Alf Engen Ski Museum and 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum (Utah Olympic Park (435) 658-4200 Open daily 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., free admission, kids can enjoy the virtual reality ski theater, interactive touch screen displays and more. Really worth the trip. Park City Ghost Tours (435) 615-7673 A 75-minute walking tour of historic Main Street where you’ll learn about town’s ghosts, mysteries and history from costumed storytellers.
MOTHER’S HELPERS: Ski Butlers (435) 658-0458. Pre-register online or by phone with the family’s measurements, and these friendly folks will show up at the door of your condo and fit all of your ski rental gear upon your arrival. They’ll pick it up and take it away at trip’s end, too. No waiting in lines at the rental shops. Windy Ridge Café (435) 647-0880 Simply genius, order a family to-go dinner. It will be ready for pickup by you in 20 minutes, is just $30, truly feeds a family of four (even with teenagers), and you can enjoy it in the comfort of your condo.
Left top: Replace “Home is Where the Heart is” with “Gone Skiing” and you will understand this family. Left Bottom: Family lift time at Deer Valley Resort. Above top: These days the family’s day of skiing is often punctuated with cocktails instead of cookies and milk. Bottom: Another best day ever with the boys.
Jesse’s wild childhood curls and how the collar of his ski jacket was bigger than his entire head. How young I looked in 1989. The chubby little cheeks of a four-year-old Caleb, and the long hair of his middle-school years, when he often was mistaken for a girl. The Mafioso mustache of Mark’s early 30s. Some really bad hair years on my part and a hideous purple headband I used to wear instead of a helmet. I see 2002, when I worked at the Olympic freestyle events. I see the boys’ teenage pass pictures, no smiles because of braces. And I see the slow progression of Caleb’s face turning into Mark’s, and Jesse’s into mine. “Boys? Get up. We’re going skiing,” I chide into the quiet house. “There’s a foot of fresh snow.” At that bit of news, the house erupts into mayhem. Bed blankets are heaped on the floor,
long johns are pulled on, and the whole motley crew—Mark, Caleb and Jesse—thump wide-eyed into the kitchen on full powder-day alert. Coffee is poured. As we rush through morning readiness, “Helmets, goggles, gators! Check. Skis, boots, poles, passes!” we each snag our Ullr medals off the hooks by the door in quick habitual motions and race to the car. Later, we ride a chairlift with another mom and her son, who’s maybe five years old. “So, you know,” I say to the kid, “these are my little boys.” He turns his head to look closely at Caleb and Jesse and their snow-covered beards and his mouth drops open. “They’ve been skiing with me since they were your age,” I say. “And they still like to ski with me. Especially when I buy them lunch.” The little boy breathes out a long “wow.” n
Turning up the
fun meter
The key to keeping young children interested in skiing is keeping it fun. If you get two or three runs in and they’re tired or bored, don’t push it. They might resist going back next time. Here are some tips for keeping the momentum going: Diversify: Just have fun in the snow. Sit near a lodge where it’s safe (away from skier traffic) and make a snowman, build an igloo or have a snowball fight. Go in for a hot chocolate. Have a repertoire of songs you sing on the chairlift. Bring a pack of cards and play games by the fire in the lodge while big brother might still be out skiing one more run. Snack Attack: Line thy pockets with treats. Keep those tummies full so no one bonks and cuts the ski day short. Gummy bears, granola bars, cheese sticks, dried fruit, tootsie rolls or crackers travel well. We have a tradition that if you spot wildlife— an ermine skittering across the trail, a porcupine in a tree, a hawk flying overhead—you get a piece of licorice. It’s fun and keeps the kids focused on being aware of nature’s surroundings. Treasure Hunt: Plant some little toys around the mountain in strategic locations—a Barbie sitting on a fallen log along a narrow forest trail, an action figure in a tree, a Gumby wrapped around a trail sign. Each time you ski, go looking for them. It sort of gives the kids a purpose to go exploring, and they’ll get to know the trails and your family’s favorite secret spots really well. Have a whiner at the end of the day? “Let’s just go check on Gumby and then we’ll go home.” Mantra: Use a group chant to double-check your necessaries before you walk out the door. “Helmets, gloves, goggles, jacket! Skis, boots, poles, passes!” Extra! Extra! Keep an extra pair of ski gloves in the car for every member of the family. You’ll thank yourself over and over again.
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WHERE UTAH’S
ZION + BRYCE CANYON MEET THE
GREATEST SNOW ON EARTH®
There’s more to your ski vacation when you visit Brian Head Resort. As the closest ski resort to Utah’s Mighty 5® National Parks; Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks are just an hour away, and the resort is literally surrounded by the red rock spires of Cedar Breaks National Monument. Travel to Southern Utah is simple with direct flights daily from Los Angeles International Airport and Pheonix Sky Harbor International Airport to St. George Regional Airport.
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UTAH YOUR GUIDE TO UTAH’S 14 RESORTS
Here in Utah, our 14 ski resorts transform winter into a mountain playground. Ski and ride among red rock in the south and aspen glades to the north. We’ve meticulously mapped out every arch, beaver, moose and ski lift. Here’s your guide to picking the perfect Basecamp for the greatest ski trip ever. pg 80
pg 70 pg 64
pg 60 pg 74
pg 76
by Brandon Ott, Jeremy Pugh and Erika Wiggins • illustrations by Valerie Jar the greatest snow on earth 59
PARK CITY MOUNTAIN Snowfall: 360"• Acres: 7,300 • Vertical: 3,200'
TERRAIN
PARK CITY Deer Valley | Park City Mountain
Variety and size set Park City Mountain apart from other ski areas, as it’s the largest ski area in the United States. Consisting of over 7,300 acres, including 300-plus trails, 41 lifts, eight terrain parks, and one Olympicsized half-pipe, there’s something for everyone. The mountain is divided into two distinct base areas, Park City and Canyons Village, and is connected in the middle by the Quicksilver Gondola. If you’re looking for blue runs there are a lot of great choices off King Con lift. Powderhounds will find the goods off Thaynes and Motherlode Express. There is so much variety you could spend a lifetime exploring.
SHELTER
Park City Mountain prides itself on offering lodging options for every budget and taste. Choose from nine hotels plus a collection of townhomes and condominiums outfitted with the comforts of home. Many properties, such as the newly renovated Grand Summit Hotel, are ski-in/ski-out for ultimate convenience. Budget tip: Pay a little more for a kitchen and save big by eating in.
PROVISIONS
With more than a dozen restaurants to choose from, the problem isn’t finding something to eat, it’s deciding! Try The Farm for elegant dining, including regionally sourced ingredients. On mountain, you can’t beat the views from Lookout Cabin where you can close out the day with a gorgeous glass of rosé and the infamous fondue. For a lunchtime break, find yourself at either Cloud Dine (have the doughnuts) or in the Miner’s Camp day lodge.
A
mining boomtown that went bust after the rich veins of silver dried up, Park City is clearly booming again. A true ski town on the back of the formidable Wasatch Range, Park City is home to two of America’s most iconic resorts: Park City Mountain and Deer Valley. Deer Valley, a skier’s-only resort, is known for its white-glove service and individual attention. Meanwhile Park City Mountain is the largest
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ski area in the United States with runs that literally pour onto Park City’s Historic Main Street. Both resorts are so intertwined with this historic mining town that it’s hard to tell where the town ends and the resorts begin. The historic town continues to reinvent itself, with a grand arts district in the works, devourable food, cocktails and craft beers served under most snow-covered roofs, as well as a brand new fleet of 100-percentelectric ski buses.
AFTER DARK
Ride a cat-drawn sleigh to the mountaintop Viking Yurt for an intimate dinner, live piano, beer and wine. Prefer stronger spirits? Visit the ski-in High West Distillery at the base of Park City’s Quittin’ Time run.
FOR THE KIDS
Park City Mountain defines “family-friendly.” Kids can join ski school from age three, and childcare services are available for infants as young as six weeks old. In addition to skiing, the Alpine Coaster, Flying Eagle Zip and sleigh rides will keep the younger set entertained.
DEER VALLEY
Snowfall: 300"• Acres: 2,026 • Vertical: 3,000'
TERRAIN
Deer Valley is known for its perfectly groomed runs and stellar service. Locals know that wherever you go on the mountain, you’ll find a friendly Deer Valley “Green Jacket” ready to assist you. With 21 lifts, including 12 high-speed quads, lines are the exception rather than the rule. Head to Flagstaff Mountain for a selection of blue cruisers. For a challenge, ride Sultan Express to Bald Mountain and head left to Mayflower Bowl, or keep it chill on Keno to the right of Wasatch Express. Designated slow areas allow room for skiers to build confidence and kiddos to safely “pizza” their way down. Sorry snowboarders, Deer Valley is a ski-only resort.
SHELTER
Lodging options at Deer Valley range from private homes and condominiums to luxury ski-in/ski-out lodges including the Montage Deer Valley, Stein Eriksen Lodge and The St. Regis Deer Valley. Need help with reservations or scheduling childcare? Concierge services are just one of the many benefits of choosing Deer Valley lodging.
PROVISIONS
Dining is a significant part of the Deer Valley experience. The Alps-inspired Fireside Dining at the Empire Canyon Lodge is a guest favorite. Kids can meet Quincy the Bear while building sundaes at Quincy’s Frozen Yogurt. Whatever you do, don’t miss Deer Valley’s famous turkey chili available at the Snow Park Restaurant. Also try the made-to-order pho at Silver Lake Lodge.
AFTER DARK
Relax and refuel at Edgar’s Beer and Spirits Lounge with a beer, wine or cocktail and gourmet appetizers. Their Haute Chocolate is the adult answer to a childhood favorite! The family-friendly Brass Tag offers children’s specials, as well as a li’l something for mom and dad.
Dan Campbell
FOR THE KIDS
Kids receive special attention at Deer Valley. Ski school is available for ages three and up, while state-licensed childcare options are available from two months of age. Kids can even meet Deer Valley’s furry mascots on Adventure Trails or in the Children’s Center.
CONNECTIONS PARK CITY TO: SALT LAKE CITY OGDEN LOGAN BRIAN HEAD EAGLE POINT SUNDANCE
30 min 1 hr 10 min 1 hr 50 min 3 hr 50 min 3 hr 30 min 45 min
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PARK CITY MOUNTAIN ONE COOL THING
Park City Mountain has 41 chairlifts. Use their EpicMix Time app to see accurate wait times and try to hit every chairlift in one day.
THE POWDER MOM Jan Madsen, 57; Makena, 25; Ella, 23; Emmett, 20; and Henry, 15 Mountain has something for everyone and isn’t intimidating, Jan explains. Mom’s Advice: Yes this is the largest mountain in the United States but don’t be overwhelmed. The hill is very well marked, which gives her the confidence to let her kids explore on their own, she says. Miner’s Camp day lodge is a great central location to regroup. The Epic Mix app is super fun for teenagers because it gives them a goal of trying to hit every chairlift.
S.Secchi®
Getting there for Santa Cruz, California-resident Jan means picking up the kids at school and heading straight to the San Jose Airport to catch a flight. “We’re easily settled in a Park City condo by 8 p.m.” Jan’s family makes this trip multiple times per winter. Why Park City Mountain? “If you’re going to spend the time and money, you might as well be skiing on great snow and enjoying fantastic conditions.” And for families, Park City
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THE POWDERHOUND Matt Baydala, 37
“I’ve lived in Park City for 11 years and each winter I fall deeper in love with Deer Valley on powder days. It’s truly one of the most overlooked powder destinations in the state,” says Matt. And get this, Deer Valley mountain hosts are local skiers who give complimentary tours and can help guide you to perfect powder stashes. Find Mike Wong and Geary Furin and you’ll be in especially great hands. Triangle Trees usually holds great snow if you’re looking for steep tree skiing, Matt says. The lower part of Ontario Bowl always delivers the goods for the intermediate skier, every time. Ways to fuel all that powder skiing. The Empire Lodge is far and away
Matt’s favorite place to eat at Deer Valley. Their grill line always offers up exotic specials, like venison or elk tenderloin. You’re getting a Main Street entree for $14. “Hands down, it’s honestly the best food deal in Park City. If it was possible, I’d probably eat there every night,” Matt laughs. Powderhound Tip. When you hear the words “southerly flow or southeast flow” on Wasatch Snow Forecast, pay attention because big snow is headed Deer Valley’s way!
DEER VALLEY ONE COOL THING
Deer Valley Resort makes handcrafted, artisan cheeses on site including a spectacular ash-ripened goat cheese called Moon Shadow.
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ALTA
Snowfall 551" • Acreage 2,200 • Vertical 2,020'
TERRAIN
Alta’s skier’s-only fabled terrain is among the most scenic in Utah. The famous resort, known for inspiring hikes to chutes and bowls well off-piste, is one of the oldest resorts in America and a key progenitor of the sport of skiing, period. Alta’s low-tech, rustic vibe (despite the high-speed lifts) and friendly throwback base area attract families who return year after year to spend time together on its slopes and share in the same high snow totals (average: 551 inches). Add to the acreage with an AltaSnowbird ticket.
SALT LAKE CITY Alta | Brighton | Snowbird | Solitude
SHELTER
The five lodges—Alta Lodge, Alta Peruvian Lodge, Alta’s Rustler Lodge, Goldminer’s Daughter Lodge and Snowpine Lodge—are all unique, each offering a singular interpretation of what locals like to call Alta-tude. From the modern refinements of Alta Lodge to the friendly rusticity of Rustler Lodge, each property is part of the true Alta experience of high-altitude thrills coupled with quiet relaxation.
PROVISIONS
Adam Barker
Rustler Lodge is famous for its community tables—singles and couples can request to be paired with other guests and make new friends over a fully coursed dinner. Goldminer’s Daughter’s beautiful views of the mountain make for the perfect start with its breakfast buffet, and don’t miss Alta Lodge’s menu plus wine list.
S
alt Lake City International Airport is the jumping off point for exploring the entire state of Utah. Salt Lake is, simply put, the largest base area in the world. Alta, Snowbird, Solitude and Brighton are all within 35 minutes of the city’s urban core. Salt Lake City is an actual city with museums, deep and interesting history, cultural and sporting events, music, food and nightlife. It is entirely possible, for example, to ski
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from bell to bell at Alta and go out that night to a touring Broadway musical at the Eccles Theater or to sit courtside at an NBA basketball game. Ride Snowbird in the morning and then take the kids to see the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum of Utah that same day. Ski the tree runs at Solitude all day and then check out an indie band at night. Spend the day exploring downtown Salt Lake City and then go night skiing at Brighton. Starting to get the picture?
AFTER DARK
The Peruvian Bar at Peruvian Lodge is a quintessential ski bar, with its famous shotski and bric-a-brac from Alta’s 80 years on the walls. The Sitzmark at Alta Lodge, so named for the mark your bottom makes in the snow when you fall, is a more sedate and cozy atmosphere. And for the ultimate drink by the fire, it’s the Rustler Lodge where you’ll watch the snowcats on the mountain.
FOR THE KIDS
Twenty-five percent of Alta’s terrain is designated for beginners. Its ski school takes the innovative approach of involving parents in lessons for the littlest ones, which teaches mom and dad tips and tricks for helping their kids progress when school is out.
BRIGHTON
SNOWBIRD
SOLITUDE
TERRAIN
TERRAIN
TERRAIN
Snowfall 500" • Acreage 1,050 • Vertical 1,875'
Unpretentious and friendly, Brighton attracts a diverse crowd, a large contingent of young snowboarders and enjoys the well-deserved distinction of being the resort where most Salt Lakers learn to ski and ride. Why? A combination of lower lift-ticket prices; free skiing for kids ages 10 (!) and under; an appealing mix of beginner and expert terrain; wide, forgiving runs; and a low-stress, mellow attitude that helps you remember “it’s all good.” As another bonus, Brighton shares a boundary with Solitude and offers a pass that allows you to access both resorts. It’s also home to Salt Lake’s most prolific night skiing with more than 200 acres of lighted runs to extend your day on mountain.
SHELTER
You won’t find any 10-story luxury lodges up at Brighton, but you came here to ski and ride, right? Its base area is a clustered selection of A-framed private cabins, outfitted with rooms to sequester the kids in, along with the Silver Fork Lodge, just down the canyon.
PROVISIONS
Snowfall 500" • Acreage 2,500 • Vertical 3,240'
Snowbird is known around the world for its steep terrain and long continuous runs. The resort is made up of three drainages (Mineral Basin, Peruvian Gulch and Gad Valley) all served by its iconic tram atop Hidden Peak at 11,000 feet above sea level. The challenging, big-mountain terrain is easily accessed from the ridgelines above each area, making it a magnet for boarders and skiers when the snow flies, which is often—the ’Bird averages some of Utah’s highest snow totals every year and boasts the state’s longest season. It’s neighbor to the east, Alta Ski Area, benefits from the same natural forces and skiers can purchase the AltaSnowbird ticket for both.
SHELTER
Snowbird’s base area is made up of four large lodges— The Cliff Lodge, The Inn, The Lodge and Iron Blosam— offering a range of services from family-friendly condo rentals to full-service hotel options. Each provides easy access to lifts and the tram deck.
PROVISIONS
Brighton keeps it simple—burger, beer and nachos on a sunny patio for your midday reprieve and a full menu at Molly Green’s afterwards, which includes the best resort nachos in Utah. The Silver Fork Lodge, below the resort, is both rustic and authentic and has great grub, notably a breakfast that includes sourdough pancakes made with a 100-year-old starter.
We love The Steak Pit, serving dry-aged, prime beef alongside a stellar wine list. Next on our list is The Aerie, serving modern twists on pub cuisine with local and seasonal ingredients. The classic salad presentation with the house-made Ceasar and blue cheese dressings, which locals know to mix, is a thing of beauty. For your midday lunch be sure to enjoy the carving station and the stunning veiws at The Summit Lodge, atop Hidden Peak.
AFTER DARK
AFTER DARK
No lie. Brighton after dark is sleepy. Its watering hole Molly Green’s, is bumping after the lifts stop moving, but things quiet down real fast when the sun sets. But that’s what we love about Brighton; it’s not trying to be something it’s not.
FOR THE KIDS
Brighton is a family affair. Those free tickets for the youngest kids mean generations of Salt Lakers have grown up bombing down Brighton’s tree-lined runs. Its ski school is one of the best in the state, featuring rowdy group lessons for the older kids and individual attention for the littlest ones.
As the lifts close, the party starts on the sunny plaza deck with beer and snacks from The Bird Feeder and below deck at The Tram Club, with its beer-and-a-shot special where you can watch the trams dock overhead. After the boots come off, Snowbird’s top nightlife spot is The Aerie, located on the top floor of The Cliff Lodge.
FOR THE KIDS
Snowbird’s mountain school starts for kids as young as three-years-old with daily lessons in the Chickadee area. The resort’s Camp Snowbird program offers winter childcare, nursery and even in-room sitting so mom and dad can sneak out for a night to themselves.
Snowfall 500" • Acreage 1,200 • Vertical 2,030'
Solitude is divided into two distinct areas from which to launch your mountain adventures, the Moonbeam and Village bases. Moonbeam generally services day skiers while the Village area is home to most of the resort’s lodging. Moonbeam Express serves much of Solitude’s beginner terrain, and you’ll find little packs of smiling ski schoolers playing follow-the-leader below. Eagle Express soars above a quiver of solid blue runs, some groomed and some left au naturel, as well as a few steeper black runs. From the Village base, the big show is the Apex Express that connects to the Summit lift. This lift accesses Solitude’s most daunting and rugged terrain, the famed Honeycomb Canyon.
SHELTER
Solitude’s range of spots to stay includes a collection of condominiums, townhomes and private homes as well as a full-service hotel, The Inn at Solitude. A full range of room types is available, from ski-in/ski-out hotel rooms to luxury condominiums and homes with full kitchens. No matter what you choose, you have access to Solitude’s concierge, ski lockers, pools and hot tubs.
PROVISIONS
On mountain, you’ll find the Roundhouse, a circular (naturally) day lodge that serves a surprising selection of Himalayan mountain food as well as mountain comfort food. For a real dining adventure, book a space at the Solitude Yurt, where after a lovely snowshoe into the woods, you’ll dine at communal tables for this one-seating-a-night gastronomic experience.
AFTER DARK
Argenta Pub at the Moonbeam base is your spot to watch the last skiers come in from its rooftop tables. After the kids are in bed, drop into the Thirsty Squirrel, where you’ll find a mix of locals and visitors.
FOR THE KIDS
Solitude’s Mini-Explorers program keeps things light for the little ones (ages three and four). Featuring teeny groups (one or two kids to an instructor) and an activity-stocked day room, the school allows kids to go at their own pace. Five-year-olds get a day room as well.
CONNECTIONS SALT LAKE CITY TO: PARK CITY OGDEN LOGAN BRIAN HEAD EAGLE POINT SUNDANCE
30 min 40 min 1 hr 23 min 3 hr 30 min 3 hr 7 min 58 min
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ALTA
ONE COOL THING
THE PATIENT DAD Reed Abott, 36; Addie, 9; and Grace, 6 Originally from Idaho, Reed’s family would pile into the car with their sights set on Alta, and during his college years at BYU, he really developed an Alta obsession. Fast forward to present day where most of his ski turns happen after 3 p.m. with his nine- and six-year-old daughters in tow. Why 3 p.m.? Because Reed has raised his two daughters on skis through Alta’s Ski After 3 program. For just $10 daily, you gain access to the rope tows, Sunnyside and Albion lifts. These areas represent primo beginner terrain tucked into the fabled mountain known worldwide for its steep skiing and abundant snowfall. Reed tries to keep skiing as simple as possible. “Alta has a nice, relaxed atmosphere for families,” he smiles. Reed is the type of papa bear who
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takes it slow and goes with the flow. This flow often means hanging around Alta’s great lodges. And with down time, comes snack time. Hands down, the girls’ favorite snack involves warming up to Alta Java’s rich hot chocolate. Now that the hot chocolate break is over and Reed and his girls are back on the slopes, it is as good a time as any to pass along some sage advice. “If your kids are leaning back on their skis, the slope is too steep for them,” says Reed. For Reed’s girls, keeping this perspective in mind means that some days they ski only half of the rope tow. “Take it easy and don’t expect to go too fast” is something that Reed tries to always keep in mind. And of course, keep your day with the kids in the mountains fun, something that Alta always delivers on.
Chris Pearson
Slip into slippers to give your barking dogs a break over lunch at Collins Grill. Perched mid-mountain, it serves the finest fare around.
THE GURU
Will Saunders
Guru Dave, 65
SNOWBIRD ONE COOL THING
Matt Crawley
The. Longest. Season. In. Utah. This past year Snowbird was open for eight months—November through June.
Guru Dave, as he’s known around Snowbird, moved to Utah in 1976 from Boston and has called Snowbird home for the last 41 years. If the mountain had a mayor, he’d be the unanimous choice. Guru Dave skis the mountain almost daily and creates his own, quirky mountain conditions report at gurudavepowers.com. Utah’s most iconic ride. The Snowbird Tram. “The tram ties everything and everyone together. It’s the core meeting place and immediately plugs you into the mountain,” he says. For someone new to Snowbird, the cool thing is that the whole mountain is visible from the tram’s cabled perch, and gregarious locals are willing to point out mountain features. Local pie. Guru Dave prefers the Wildflower after skiing, where he grabs a killer pizza for half price from 5 to 6 p.m. When to go. Last year, Snowbird’s season ran for eight months, so you have that going for you. Guru Dave says the last two weeks of January through the first week of February consistently deliver optimal conditions. But a close second is spring. The corn is every bit as good as the powder. “There are all kinds of perfect. Perfect powder, perfect groomers and perfect spring corn.”
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THE BOOKWORM Emma Crosby, 22 Snowboard. School. Sleep. Repeat. Emma snowboards Brighton three to five days a week while still managing to avoid the tardy bell at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. Favorite chairlift? “Milly for sure, as nothing beats the feeling of flying down that rolling terrain.” One of her favorite things about
this resort is the variety of ages found on the mountain. Hop on any chairlift and you’re just as likely to meet an eight-year-old as an eighty-yearold. “Brighton brings it all together, ” Emma says. On a college budget she chooses wisely, but the chips and salsa or nachos at Molly Green’s are usually winners for fuel. As a starving student, Emma also enjoys a burger on the patio on a lunchtime break.
BRIGHTON ONE COOL THING Most resorts offer kids-ski-free options but Brighton goes all in with its generous program: Kids 10 and under ski free.
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SOLITUDE ONE COOL THING
Think you know every powder stash at Solitude? Think again. The new ‘Hidden Tracks’ program offers a guided tour to explore the nooks and crannies.
THE FILMMAKING FAMILY Tim Roberts, 41; Tiffin, 40; Max, 11; and Penny, 7 Ski Utah’s filmmaker, Tim, has spent many, many hours behind his camera lens documenting the beautiful stories that unfold at Solitude. Tim has always been attracted to Solitude’s great light and dramatic views—with views to the east of the Park City ridgeline and to the west, down canyon towards the Salt Lake Valley. Tim is also a dad to Max, 11, and Penny, 7, and Solitude has played an influential role in their childhood. With family and kids, Tim recommends the Moonbeam chair at the base which can entertain younger and older kids, alike. The younger kids can wind their way
down on green runs while the older ones can choose their own adventures through intermediate, luge-like tree runs. And the beautiful thing about convening at the base is that hot chocolate and French fries are never far away. Tim says don’t miss skiing the runs off the Summit chair and catching Honeycomb Canyon with the advanced skiers in your group.
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SNOWBASIN
Snowfall: 300"• Acres: 3,000 • Vertical: 3,000'
TERRAIN
OGDEN
Snowbasin | Powder Mountain | Nordic Valley
Long runs; a balanced mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain; plus thin crowds define Snowbasin. Site of several 2002 Olympic Winter Games events, Snowbasin was revamped in 1998 to include two gondolas and a high-speed quad. For a long run, jump on the Strawberry Gondola to Elk Ridge. Next get some speed on the Olympic Super G courses off John Paul Express. The views from the top peaks of Snowbasin are jawdropping and give you excellent vantages of the Eden Valley and Odgen Valley. Be sure to stop and ogle for a few minutes and take some photos. Few would argue you could find better views anywhere else in the Beehive State.
SHELTER
Good lodging options are available in Upper Ogden Valley. Check out Lakeside Resort Properties, Wolf Creek Resort or private homes managed by Utah Lodging.
PROVISIONS
We can’t get enough of the 360-degree views and gigantic fireplace at the John Paul Lodge. The only hazard is you may not want to leave to continue skiing. Snowbasin’s Dining Discovery events offer themed dinners featuring locally sourced produce and innovative menus (check their website for details). Down at the base, Earl’s Lodge is the center of the resort’s base area action. During the season, there are often bands and food specials out on the patio where you can watch the skiers come in at the end of the day.
AFTER DARK
F
rom the top of the tram at Snowbasin you can look right down on Ogden, Utah’s second city, the perfect basecamp for a tour of Snowbasin, Nordic Valley and Powder Mountain. Ogden is an old rail town with a hip, convivial downtown. Over its history, Ogden has often been the yin to Salt Lake’s clean-cut yang. During Prohibition, its main drag, 25th
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Street, was famously known as Two-Bit Street—a place where a feller could get anything he wanted for 25 cents (or, where his life wasn’t worth a quarter, depending on which version of the legend you hear). And while that colorful past is long gone, its remnants have served to give Ogden a certain outlaw charm that makes for a rollicking après-ski scene with a decidedly underground vibe.
After the lifts stop, the fun begins at Cinnabar, inside Earl’s Lodge, with gastro-pub cuisine, a full bar, weekend/holiday music and a family-friendly atmosphere.
FOR THE KIDS
Skiing and snowboarding lessons are available for kids ages four and up. Classes are divided by age and ability to make sure each has a great experience. Snowbasin’s mantra is “Safety, fun and learning.” Full-day lessons include lunch, which means mom and dad can stay on the slopes. (Or have a tator tot-free lunch without the kids by a roaring fire at John Paul Lodge.)
POWDER MOUNTAIN
NORDIC VALLEY
TERRAIN
TERRAIN
Snowfall: 500"• Acres: 8,464* • Vertical: 2,205'
Powder Mountain’s massive size and limited crowds mean you’ll find untracked powder days after a storm. Acreage, divided by lift tickets sold, equals the least crowded resort in North America. Warm up on Clair’s Run off Sunrise. If you’re looking for ungroomed stashes, sample the black runs branching off Sanctuary. However, the real adventure lies in Powder Country—ask a mountain host for directions. Snowcat skiing from Lightning Ridge is a Powder Mountain must allowing you to access vast acres of untouched powder. If you find yourself on the fence, trust us and pay for at least one Snowcat ride.
SHELTER
Powder Mountain Getaways offers a selection of homes and condos for rent in the Eden area a short drive from the mountain (powdermountaingetaways.com). The Eden Valley is one of Utah’s most untouched and bucolic locations and you’re sure to find peaceful and serene scenery anywhere you stay. Your best bet for on-mountain shelter is the Columbine Inn. Or stay down canyon in Ogden and enjoy the nightlife on Historic 25th Street.
PROVISIONS
You’ll love the views and Mexican cuisine at Hidden Lake Lodge. The upper floor has a lot of seating, all of it with big views. Sundown Pizzeria is another yummy option.
AFTER DARK
Après ski at The Powder Keg, which features live music, flame-broiled burgers and beers on tap. After it closes at 6 p.m., move your gathering to the historic (and by historic we mean one of the oldest bars this side of the Mississippi) Shooting Star Saloon, just 20 minutes away in Huntsville. This friendly watering hole isn’t fancy, but the Shooting Star Burger (served with a split knockwurst atop the burger patty) and the giant stuffed St. Bernard on the wall are worth the drive.
FOR THE KIDS
Small class sizes, paired with enthusiastic instructors, mean kids as young as three can discover a passion for powder, while the adults explore their own winter playground. The three to five-year-old Powder Play classes max out at two children per instructor.
Snowfall: 300"• Acres: 140• Vertical: 965'
Nordic Valley packs a wide variety of terrain into a small, uncrowded, space. About half of the terrain is intermediate, plus a terrain park packed with features helps keep things interesting. Alpine lift delivers advanced runs including Chainsaw and Falling Star, while beginners can build confidence on Old Barn Run.
SHELTER
Nearby Eden offers a couple of lodging options including Wolf Creek Resort. A little farther away, Ogden has a wide selection of hotels.
AFTER DARK
There’s more powder to be had after dark at Nordic Valley, so skip the après and try night skiing instead. All the runs remain open until 9 p.m. For more options head to Ogden’s Historic 25th Street or the Shooting Star Saloon in Huntsville.
FOR THE KIDS
Nordic Valley is an exceptionally family-friendly resort. Lessons are affordable and its small size and open cruisers mean the smaller set has a safe and fun place to play and learn. Snow tubing is another activity kids will love.
PROVISIONS
Relax, warm up and grab a bite at The Grill, which offers BBQ, pizza, grilled items and sandwiches in their barn.
NORDIC VALLEY ONE COOL THING Last year Nordic Valley gave over 200 first-timer lessons during the Christmas holiday. Truly, a perfect place to learn.
THE SKI SCHOOLER Bill Parkin, 66 Delivering mail his entire life in Utah, Bill hated winter. But after recently retiring, he set out to change that mindset. In January of 2016, Bill took a ski lesson at Nordic Valley through January’s Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month programs and stepped on skis for the first time of his life. He was 66 years old. Where everyone knows your name. “I can’t say enough about Nordic’s ski school program. They’re friendly, affordable and most important, they know my name.” It’s that personal connection that Bill appreciates the most. These days, Bill hates to see winter end. Beginner skier tips. “Lessons will help eliminate the fear of skiing,” Bill says. It’s important to know your limits. Bill doesn’t mind when Nordic Valley’s eight-year-old skiers pass him by.
*Lift-served, cat skiing and hike-to terrain.
CONNECTIONS OGDEN TO: PARK CITY SALT LAKE LOGAN BRIAN HEAD EAGLE POINT SUNDANCE
1 hr 10 min 40 min 50 min 4 hrs 3 hr 40 min 1 hr 20 min
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POWDER MOUNTAIN ONE COOL THING
Season pass and day ticket sales are limited, providing Pow Mow the lowest skier density of any resort in North America.
THE MOUNTAIN HOST Roscoe Wilks, 62 Powder Mountain is a laid-back, old-school mountain, rich with aspen glades, 8,000+ acres and friendly people. It’s the perfect place for Roscoe, an easygoing, Pow Mow mountain host who comes all the way from New Orleans each winter. “It’s the best of both worlds to be a mountain host. You get to share your love of skiing with other skiers. It’s like having your cake and eating it, too.” Roscoe and other mountain hosts offer free guided tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., daily. Yes, they are free and will help mountain newbies gain a level of confidence and appreciation for this mountain. At the end of Roscoe’s tours, people often tell him they can’t wait to return.
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Roscoe came late to skiing. He didn’t click into skis until he was 49. Now, he can’t get enough of Powder Mountain’s exquisite powder. “Powder Mountain is a place where you can hear your own skis swooshing through the snow and not someone else’s,” says Roscoe. Many Powder Mountain first-timers have a similar epiphany. “The trees here are so gracious.” What Roscoe means is that the tree runs are low angle, spread out and help build and instill confidence in most skiers and snowboarders. After the snow melts each spring, Roscoe spends the rest of the year in New Orleans fishing. He has this “best of both worlds” thing figured out.
THE WISE ONE Kym Buttschardt, 50
SNOWBASIN ONE COOL THING
The bathrooms at Snowbasin are shockingly luxurious, including sitting rooms, marble tile, bronze chandeliers, wood inlay details and impeccable cleanliness.
Born and raised in Ogden, “Utah Kym,” as she’s known at Snowbasin, has a rich history with her favorite mountain. She skied there as a teenager and as a mom raising three boys. Today it’s always the destination for her girlfriend getaways. Kym’s family Christmas tree is decorated in 25 years of Snowbasin season passes. Kym loves the luxury at Snowbasin. Let’s start with the gondolas, which are the lifeblood of the resort and serve as a connecting point where you meet people from around the world or next door. And as owner of Roosters Brewing Co. in Ogden, Kym turns a sharp ear anytime she hears her business mentioned by her gondola mates. And the bathrooms are the nicest you’ll ever see, she giggles. Favorite view at Snowbasin. There are so many, but the 360-degree view from the top of the Olympic tram takes the cake. The Porcupine lift is otherworldly, housing the best powder on the mountain with an amphitheater of views.
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SUNDANCE
Snowfall: 300" • Acreage 450 • Vertical: 2,150'
TERRAIN
SUNDANCE Orem/Provo | Heber/Midway
Owned by film legend Robert Redford, who named the resort after his iconic role in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Sundance offers a dose of the Old West coupled with a dreamy ski village, rich in alpine beauty. The upper reaches of the resort are home to more advanced terrain and one of our favorite views in the state, from the Bearclaw Cabin. On the way down, Bishop’s Bowl is the place to be on a powder day. The lifts and runs surrounding the base area are home to varied and interesting beginner terrain.
SHELTER
Have you ever picked up a Sundance catalog? That’s the perfect way to understand the modern, rustic vibe that permeates the resort. Romantically cozy cabins with wood-burning fireplaces are tastefully decorated with native and local art. Larger group suites offer kitchens with modern, chef-worthy details for the family gourmet to whip up culinary masterpieces.
PROVISIONS
The Tree Room is Sundance’s most elegant and awardwinning restaurant. Locals often drive up the canyon just to dine at this restaurant so named for the giant tree around which it was built. Up on the resort’s highest peak, you can enjoy the views at Bearclaw Cabin while taking a break from the elements in this fast-casual lodge.
AFTER DARK
A
s in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Sundance Resort is the house that Robert Redford built. Set in the mountains above Provo, Sundance is an oasis of Western gentility in a rugged high-altitude landscape. Wooden walkways and cozy cabins surround the resort’s center, which has an actual bar from Thermopolis, Wyoming,
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where Butch and Sundance and their Holein-the-Wall Gang used to bend an elbow. The resort is also known for its emphasis on artistic enterprise. Working artisans practice glass blowing on-site and offer demonstrations, classes and workshops. Sundance straddles the Wasatch and offers easy access to the Orem/Provo area as well as Heber City and Swiss-inspired Midway.
Robert Redford had the wooden 1890s bar in the Owl Bar packed up and moved from Thermopolis, Wyoming to Sundance. It was once frequented by Butch Cassidy’s Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. You can order a shot of whiskey at the same bar where the famous outlaws plotted their next heist. Ask to see the bullet hole from the gunslingers’ past.
FOR THE KIDS
The Sundance ski school employs a novel approach to all levels of ski and board education. They call it the “Home Base Technique.” Rather than filling young students’ heads with a confusing array of technical movements, the method emphasizes learning essential skills that can be used in any circumstance and on any type of terrain.
THE NEWLYWEDS Paul and Charlotte Marshall, 28 and 31 Just two years ago, Paul used Sundance as the hook to convince Charlotte to move to Utah. Sundance’s unshakable beauty, Western charm and comfy feel sold Charlotte immediately. That first Sundance foray started with brunch reservations at the Foundry Grill. Charlotte admits that she could spend every Sunday brunching at Sundance, and that a little bite of everything is the way to go. Cowboys and campfires. Paul’s favorite thing (after skiing, of course) is bellying up to the Owl Bar, where great whiskey selections and live music live. “I have dreams of being a cowboy, and that’s the closest I can get to it,” he
chuckles. While the crackling fire accompanies many cowboys’ soundtracks, Charlotte lights up at the thought of warming up around one of Sundance’s many fireplaces in the guest rooms, the spa and the snow’s edge. Sundance is a quiet, laid-back place. And you know when it snows and everything becomes that much quieter? This is the perfect time to be at Sundance because you feel like you’re deep in the mountains—you feel very much like the place is yours. “You go to Sundance with no plans. The idea is to let go in a beautiful environment and to be with the one you love,” Paul says. One exception: make sure you get a reservation for The Tree Room.
ONE COOL THING Ziplines at ski resorts are often open in summer only. Not so at Sundance. The resort’s ZipTour boasts a thrilling 2,100 vertical drop, the steepest in the United States and open year-round.
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EAGLE POINT
Snowfall: 350"• Acres: 650 • Vertical: 1,500'
TERRAIN
SOUTHERN UTAH Brian Head | Eagle Point
Eagle Point is basically one giant surprise located in the largely untracked Tushar Mountain Range. It’s only open Thursdays through Sundays, so if a storm hits early in the week, there is fresh powder on Thursday morning and honestly, there will still be fresh pockets on Sunday. While there is plenty of beginner terrain, some of its best runs are so steep that the small resort doesn’t have the ability to even attempt to groom them. Combine a high probability of powder and some of the steepest pitches in Utah and you have Eagle Point.
SHELTER
Eagle Point is a small village mostly comprising slopeside rental properties that sleep as few as just you and as many as the whole crew. This range (and low prices) make it the kind of place to round up a few families or a bunch of your guy-or girlfriends and make a weekend of it.
PROVISIONS
There are exactly two places to eat at Eagle Point: the lunch counter at the day lodge and the full-service restaurant at the Canyonside Lodge. But many folks supplement their trips with cooking in—all lodging includes a kitchen.
Mike Saemisch
AFTER DARK
K
nown literally around the world for the red rock scenery that surrounds five of the United States’ most beloved national parks, southern Utah holds many wonders, including a high-elevation mountain range that gets a healthy portion of Utah’s powder. Two resorts—Eagle Point and Brian Head—take full advantage of the topogra-
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phy. Accessible from both the north—Salt Lake City—and from the south—Las Vegas—these two resorts offer a unique twist on the traditional ski vacation. Can you imagine visiting Zion National Park one day and skiing the next? You really can. Three of the five national parks located in Utah— Zion, Bryce and Capitol Reef—are in close proximity to both southern Utah resorts.
There is exactly one bar at Eagle Point, the aptly named Bar and Grill, and you and your crew can pretty well take it over for what feels like your own private party. The restaurant and bar’s patio are great spots to watch the sunset and has three open-for-the-taking hot tubs to soak your bones while you wind down from the day. So pack your bathing suit.
FOR THE KIDS
Beginner terrain is plentiful and served by a short lift that makes it easy to take laps and practice with your learners on some nice, gentle slopes. The optimal learning terrain is also convenient to the day lodge so you can take breaks often and keep your little ones happy and warm. No need to be a drill instructor. Private and group lessons are arranged by age starting with the “Eaglets” for kids as young as three.
BRIAN HEAD
Snowfall: 360"• Acres: 650 • Vertical: 1,320'
TERRAIN
From the top lift below Brian Head Peak you can gaze off into Utah’s famous red rock country. This mix of desert snow and sky makes Brian Head a very special place. The mountain is divided into two sections: the Navajo Peak area where beginners can test their skills and the main mountain (Giant Steps), which offers a wide range of terrain for skiers and boarders of all levels. Make it a long weekend with the family and you’ll likely get a taste of The Greatest Snow on Earth.
SHELTER
Brian Head Resort is in the town Brian Head, a rustic village of vacation rentals and private homes. Its Grand Lodge is a hub of activity and a full-service hotel and spa with live music most weekends. People who travel to Brian Head tend to stay a few days or over a long weekend and this creates a friendly atmosphere of vacationing folks who feel the freedom to stay up a little later.
PROVISIONS
Brian Head’s owner is from Kansas City and he is known for his weekend BBQ feasts at the Last Chance Saloon where he presides over the smoker himself. Lenny’s Steakhouse is another carnivore-friendly destination for your special night out.
AFTER DARK
Mike Saemisch
The nightlife at Brian Head is just plain fun. Los Angelinos and Las Vegans who frequent the resort usually stay for the weekend, and the town’s two bars, the Last Chance Saloon and the Lift Bar, are bumping with bands, DJs and—lucky you—karaoke. The resort also partners with the nearby Cedar Breaks National Monument to offer a series of evening “Dark Sky” events. Rangers from the monument lead fascinating tours of the night sky while local astronomers share their telescopes and celestial knowledge with visitors. Also there’s hot chocolate and a warm lodge to get out of the cold.
FOR THE KIDS
Brian Head’s tubing hill is a fun way to bring all your ages (and ski levels) together. So, while the little ones can’t keep up with the older kids on skis (yet), they can certainly show off on the tubing hill.
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EAGLE POINT ONE COOL THING Bring your swim suit. The Canyonside Lodge patio has a “hot tub garden” and there is no better place to toast the day on the hill than watching the sunset with a cold beverage while up to your neck in hot water.
THE ROAD TRIPPER Jeremy Pugh, 45 Salt Lake local Jeremy loves the thrill of a road trip. Three hours south of Salt Lake in the Tushar Mountains, you wind your way into a little village with a small base lodge and condos. Welcome to Eagle Point where “there’s no stress, there’s no pretense about it.” Here’s the thing: the mountain is only open Thursdays to Sundays, which means that powder can be found days after a storm. This mountain is such a hidden gem, with so few skiers, that moguls do not live here. Plus southern Utah often gets its own storms.
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Maybe your legs will be a little less tired at a resort with no moguls? Even so, a well-deserved soak in the hot tub garden on the Canyonside Lodge deck is in order. Sunset is spectacular from this hot tub and the bar is conveniently just steps away. After sunset, take a short walk to your condo. Because Eagle Point doesn’t spin chairlifts daily, it’s a great launching point to Bryce, Zion and Capital Reef National Parks. Use the weekdays to combine a national park trip with a ski trip.
THE WEEKEND WARRIORS Mike, 49; and April Sullivan, 44
Las Vegas residents Mike, April and their three kids put the Vegas glitz and heat in the rear view most weekends in exchange for the cool mountain air with just a two-hour-and-45-minute drive to Brian Head. Mike and April have fallen in love with Brian Head, which they say doesn’t feel like a cookie cutter resort that you might find in, say, um, other states. “It has a true family atmosphere. Recently, I was in line ordering pizza, and I look up and John [Grissinger, the owner] is serving pie,” Mike recalls. A day in the life of this mountain town perched high in the desert finds Mike and April’s kids starting the day on Chair 2, then skiing both Giant
Steps run and Bear Paw run and then traversing across the catwalk over to Navajo. If you’re looking for non-skiing activities, Mike recommends checking out the snowmobile outfitter Thunder Mountain by day for a tour to Cedar Breaks National Monument and hanging out by the fireplace, and then grabbing dinner and catching live music at The Grand Lodge at night. Brian Head boasts Utah’s highest base elevation at 9,000 feet above sea level. With this high-altitude air hydration is hugely important, but with it, comes commanding views across the Great Basin and exceptionally dry Utah powder that arrives in copious quantities when the storms line up.
BRIAN HEAD ONE COOL THING
Mike Saemisch
Dark Sky Rangers from the adjacent Cedar Breaks National Monument host stargazing parties on the weekend—some of the darkest skies in the country.
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BEAVER MOUNTAIN
Snowfall: 400"• Acres: 828 • Vertical: 1,700'
TERRAIN
“The Beav,” as many call it, delivers old-school charm and an abundance of intermediate terrain with some beginner and advanced tossed in for variety. It’s known as a friendly place where everyone can ski at their own pace. The Stump and The Ridge are popular runs off Beaver’s Face Lift, but a more advanced but quieter option is Sour Grapes off Marge’s Triple.
NORTHERN UTAH
SHELTER
Rent the Beaver Mountain Yurt if you want first tracks waiting right outside your door.
Beaver Mountain | Cherry Peak
PROVISIONS
Visit the grill located in the lodge for insanely big and delicious burgers and other traditional ski-day chow.
FOR THE KIDS
Group and private lessons are available for kids ages three and up.
CHERRY PEAK
Snowfall: 322”• Acres: 200+ • Vertical: 1,265’
Travis Seeholzer
TERRAIN
Utah’s newest resort includes three triple chairlifts, a 500-foot magic carpet, night skiing, ice skating and a tubing hill. New this year, the Summit lift adds 672 vertical feet delivering 1,265 feet of skiing top to bottom.
SHELTER
A wide selection of hotels are available in Logan, 15 miles from Cherry Peak.
PROVISIONS
N
amed for the trappers and mountain men who used to cache supplies and furs during the early days of Western exploration, Cache Valley is the gateway to two of Utah’s most down-home resorts— Beaver Mountain and Cherry Peak. The idyllic valley (think Norman Rockwell meets Bayden Powell) is home to Utah State University, and its main city, Logan, is a friendly college town that pours delicious cups of Ibis
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coffee. Logan makes an excellent basecamp for a ski trip that includes exploring the rugged mountains and canyons above that are also popular with the backcountry and snowmobiling crowd. While Beaver Mountain has been serving up Utah pow since 1939 (you’ll find resort owner Marge Seeholzer at the ticket window most days), Cherry Peak is new on the scene and is a favorite of local families who appreciate its family-friendly terrain and night skiing lights.
The lodge at Cherry Peak offers a cozy place to warm up and grab a bite at the Peak Cafe. Make sure to ask for some “fry sauce” with their hand-cut French fries. It’s a Utah tradition!
AFTER DARK
Stay on the slopes for night skiing from 5 to 9 p.m. Priced at $19, it’s an affordable way to close out the day.
FOR THE KIDS
Kids ages five and under ski free with an adult ticket, plus group and private lessons are available, too. When your little shredders are ready to try something new, head over to the tubing hill or the outdoor ice skating rink.
THE FAMILY MAN Joel Hoellein, 35
CHERRY PEAK ONE COOL THING
Your own private resort. Rent the entire mountain for your friends, church or work group.
Joel, his wife and their four kids live up the road in the college town of Logan, Utah. When his family is not traveling the world, documenting their adventures as professional YouTube’rs, the family loves making a day or night of it at Cherry Peak. (100 percent of the resort is open for night skiing.) “There’s magic in that magic carpet,” he says. Joel loves the fact that Cherry Peak hires lift operators to help new skiers get on and off the magic carpet. And if everyone in the family isn’t up for a day of skiing, the tubing hill is a great option. Pepperidge Farm has a plant just minutes away from Cherry Peak, so be sure to load up on cookies before or after skiing.
THE COLLEGE KID Cory Habbenstock, 21
BEAVER MOUNTAIN ONE COOL THING
Travis Seeholzer
Cory followed his dad’s footsteps and left the forests of Ashville, North Carolina, for Utah’s Rocky Mountains. Cory landed at Utah State University (USU) in Logan with Beaver Mountain in his backyard. Cory’s favorite thing about skiing The Beav—it’s all about the mountain. “Cell service is limited, so you can just BE present. It’s not the type of place where you see people checking their email on the chairlift. Truly my favorite thing is that I can go up there in the morning and disconnect before heading back to school.” Don’t miss saying hi to Marge Seeholzer, the friendly face and owner of the resort who has been selling lift tickets since bell bottoms were en vogue when Cory’s dad was a student at USU. Visit twice and chances are good that Marge will know your name.
Beaver Mountain is family owned and you’ll likely meet owner Marge Seeholzer while buying your ticket. Truly a locally owned business!
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UTAH RESORTS SUNDANCE
HEBER Midway
ALTA
BRIGHTON
SNOWBIRD
DEER VALLEY SOLITUDE PARK CITY MOUNTAIN
PARK CITY Utah Olympic Park
Kimball Junction
INTERSTATE
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SNOWBASIN INTERSTATE
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POWDER MOUNTAIN
Huntsville
Ogden Valley
NORDIC VALLEY
Eden
BEAVER MOUNTAIN Brigham City
INTE
LOGAN CHERRY PEAK
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BRIAN HEAD
CEDAR CITY
EAGLE POINT BEAVER
INTERSTATE
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PROVO
KIDS SKI FREE
Utah Lake
Ski Utah's 5th and 6th Grade Passport
One way to help minimize the cost of a Utah family ski vacation is to take advantage of Ski Utah’s 5th and 6th Grade Passport program, offered to kids all over the country. Fifth graders ski or ride free, three times at each of Utah’s 14 mountain resorts; sixth graders ski or ride free, once at each resort. Plus, Passport holders get all sorts of additional deals from Utah’s resorts and ski and snowboard shops. Simply register online and pay a $35 administrative fee. You could end up spending just $35 in total for all of your child’s lift tickets on your vacation. Now that’s “shredding!”
Sandy INTERSTATE
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Register at skiutah.com/passport
SALT LAKE CITY
INTERSTATE
v
80
Bountiful
Davis County
BUNDLE UP: 6 MULTI-RESORT PASSES These days, resorts are teaming up to create multi-mountain passes with multi-state benefits and combo packages that bring added value to season pass purchases.
Salt Lake City International Airport
Epic Pass ($859)—Vail Resorts owns and operates 15 ski resorts throughout the world and this pass offers unrestricted access to all of them— including Utah’s Park City. For even more affordable rates, with a few restrictions, there are the Epic Local Pass, Epic 7-Day Pass, Epic 4-Day Pass, Park City Youth Pass and Park City 4-Pack.
Great Salt Lake
OGDEN
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Mountain Collective Pass ($469)—This pass offers you two days at each of the Mountain Collective destinations for a total of 16 unrestricted days at some of the best resorts in the world, including Utah’s Alta, Snowbird and Snowbasin. It also includes up to 35 percent off lodging and 50 percent off additional tickets. Ski Utah Yeti Pass ($649)—This pass is valid for one day of skiing at each of Utah’s 14 ski resorts. That’s just $46 per day. A perfect pass for parents with kids rocking the Ski Utah Passport. M.A.X. Pass ($679)—With 44 mountains across North America offering five days each, the M.A.X. Pass has max appeal with Utah favorites Brighton Resort and Solitude on the list.
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Ski City Super Pass ($ Varies)—Looking for flexibility? The Ski City Super Pass allows unrestricted skiing at Alta, Snowbird, Brighton or Solitude. The pass can be loaded with a range of three - 10 days of skiing at any of the four resorts. Ski3 Pass ($157)—This new, fully loaded pass includes a full day of skiing at Snowbasin, Powder Mountain and a half day at Nordic Valley.
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Mountain Modern
Ski-in/ski-out tradition meets updated luxury. photos by Chris Pearson
The late, great Stein Eriksen has long been credited with popularizing skiing in America. The ski legend’s elegant, distinctive skiing form inspired the phrase, “ski like Stein,” and his namesake extended-stay residences at Deer Valley carry forth Stein’s love of mountain living with the same grace and style. The luxury residences, located slopeside on Deer Valley’s Last Chance and Silver Dollar runs are oases of modern elegance in a ski-in/ski-out complex (with a hybrid indoor-outdoor infinity pool you have to see!). Where the world once wanted to ski like Stein, now they want to stay like Stein.
1. Skida Alpine neckwarmer ($26) 2. Hot Chillys performance 8k baselayer in black/ white ($70) 3. Eider Edge pant in Galactic Purple ($180) 4. Rossignol Alltrack Pro 130 ski boots ($650) 5. Rossignol Pure Pro 100 ski boots ($600) 6. Hot Chillys youth baselayer in Sweetness ($35) 7. Eider Camber jacket in Cabernet/Rouge Eider ($430) 8. Hot Chillys youth baselayer in Glamping ($45) 9. Hot Chillys youth baselayer in Holiday Fever ($45)
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Traditional mountain style, featuring heavy timber and dark cozy rooms, is giving way to a leaner, brighter style. New building techniques and stronger, lighter materials allow for large light-filled designs that also functionally keep out high-mountain elements.
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Mid-Century Mountain
Designed with a nod to the mid-century modern revival, the Stein Eriksen Residences are designed for comfortable retreats with family and friends and accented with the Stein Eriksen tradition of world-class service. Starting with small touches like the cozy robes and slippers and ski valet services that greet your arrival, to the stunning indoor/outdoor pool complete with a splash pad for the kids, the Residences offer a fully contained ski getaway right on Deer Valley's slopes.
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1. Eider Crisp Light Hoodie in Galactic Purple ($130) 2. Hot Chillys MTF4000 print legging in Selah ($70) 3. Eider Ampezzo jacket in Dark Night ($150) 4. Smith Holt Jr. helmet in white ($60) 5. Smith Grom goggle in Reactor Tracking ($70) 6. Smith Zoom Jr. helmet in Acid ($60) 7. Smith Grom goggle in Pink Monaco ($70) 8. Rossignol Fun Girl J3 ski boots ($180) 9. Eider Rush jacket in Rouge Eider ($200) 10. Eider Monterosa Fur jacket in white ($550) 11. Eider Edge pant in Dark Skyfall Camo Flowers ($180) 12. Rossignol Sky 7 HD skis ($800) 13. Smith I/07 goggle in Navy Camo Split ($200) 14. Smith Quantum helmet in Matte Olive ($300) 15. Eider Telluride jacket in Dark Night ($700) 16. Eider Ridge pant in Rouge Eider ($200) 17. Rossignol Soul 7 HD skis ($850)
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SOREL JOAN OF ARCTIC SHEARLING BOOTS IN COLLEGIATE NAVY ($220)
EIDER SPENCER PANT IN GHOST ($549)
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1. Eider Montana half zip in Misty Grey Stitch ($100) 2. Eider Ampezzo jacket in Chili Pepper ($150) 3. Linda Richards knit hat with fur pom ($94) 4. Hot Chillys printed socks ($20) 5. Eider Ridge beanie assorted colors ($20) 6. Eider Twin Peaks hoodie in Moss Green Angle ($280) 7. Eider Monterosa Fur jacket in white ($550) 8. Eider Innsbruck down jacket in Dark Skyfall ($350) 9. Eider Radius jacket in Nebula Pink ($330) 10. Eider Rocker pant in Wild Orange ($250) 11. Eider Men’s Shaper jacket in Dark Skyfall ($550) 12. Eider Women’s Shaper jacket in Spruce Green ($550) 13. Smith Valence helmet in Matte Grape ($180) 14. Smith I/0S goggle in Grape Split ($200) 15. Smith Cheetah sunglasses in Matte Honey Tortoise ($169) 16. Rossignol Temptation 88 HD skis ($750) 17. Smith Valence helmet in Matte Sunburst ($180) 18. Smith I/0S goggle in Sunburst Zen ($200) 19. Smith Sidney sunglasses in Flecked Mulberry Tortoise ($89) 20. Eider Ridge jacket in Dark Skyfall ($360) 17
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SOREL JOAN OF ARCTIC SHEARLING BOOTS IN COLLEGIATE NAVY ($220)
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ERGONOMIC INNOVATION YKK PATENT. EIDER ORIGINAL APPLICATION Stemming from a collaboration between Eider and YKK, FIX A SHAPE™ is a revolutionary innovation. Thanks to its unique design, the zipper describes a convex then concave curve that perfectly follows the shape of the face while opening and closing in fluid motion.
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Imagie©
Find out more on www.eider.com
where to stay: alta/snowbird
Alta Peruvian Lodge
Goldminer's Daughter Lodge
Snowpine Lodge
Relax in our outdoor heated pool and two hot tubs after a spectacular day of skiing. Three meals per day, masterfully prepared and served in our elegant dining room, are included with our lodging packages. You’ll enjoy the atmosphere of our bar and the convenience of our gift shop, ski rental and repair shop, and self-service laundry. End your day by one of our roaring fires, taking in a movie, or simply planning the next day’s adventure!
Ski-In/Ski-Out! Experience one of our 90 rooms and discover your Alta home at Goldminer’s Daughter Lodge. Steps away from the Collins and Wildcat lifts, Goldminer’s Daughter Lodge combines comfort, service, and community with a superior location for an unbeatable Alta vacation. It wouldn’t be a great ski vacation without delectable dining! To make sure you are property fueled breakfast and dinner are included in our rates. We look forward to welcoming you during your stay in Alta.
T he Snowpine Lodge is currently closed for an 18 month renovation and will reopen for the 2018–19 ski season. The Snowpine will retain the same warmth and charm, with great improvements and added amenities. You can follow the progress at Facebook.com/ snowpinelodge with up to the minute pictures of the construction.
800-453-8488 altaperuvian.com
800-453-4573 goldminersdaughterlodge.com
801-742-2000 thesnowpinelodge.com
Alta Lodge
Alta's Rustler Lodge
Snowbird Cliff Lodge
“Alta’s most august and celebrated accommodations” – SKI Magazine. Alta Lodge features fine food, traditional lodge atmosphere and a perfect ski-in, ski-out location. Enjoy après ski camaraderie in the Sitzmark bar or unwind in hot tubs with spectacular views of Alta’s High Rustler. Our free Kids’ Club features supervised after-skiing activities and a special kids' dinner. Full breakfast and four-course dinner included in nightly rates. Come experience the classic ski vacation and see why over 75% of Alta Lodge guests are returning visitors to the Lodge!
Ski, Eat, Sleep and do it again at Alta’s Rustler Lodge! Alta’s finest ski-in/ski-out location and tradition of excellence distinguish the Rustler from the rest. Enjoy our amenities, including an outdoor heated pool, indoor/outdoor Jacuzzis, sauna, steam room, spa services and ski shop. After a fabulous day of skiing, ride our chair lift back to the lodge to enjoy the best après including complimentary appetizers in our Eagles Nest Lounge. Rates include full breakfast and gourmet dinner. It only takes one visit to see why we are ranked #1 on TripAdvisor.
Enjoy ski-in/ski-out convenience and excellent service at The Cliff Lodge. Within walking distance to Snowbird’s pedestrian village, The Cliff Lodge offers comfortable lodging for the whole family. An on-site ski rental and repair shop and complimentary ski lockers add to the convenience of the hotel. New for the 201718 ski season the rooftop pool at The Cliff Lodge Spa has been upgraded with sensual surroundings of new radiant heated decks, gas-fed fire pits, and expanded outdoor seating areas.
800-707-2582 altalodge.com
801-742-4200 rustlerlodge.com
800-232-9542 snowbird.com
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where to stay: park city
Arrowleaf
Black Diamond Lodge
Deer Valley’s Signature Collection
Arrowleaf’s two alpine lodges offer luxuriously appointed two and three bedroom residences with state-of-the-art kitchens and comfortable living areas. Guests enjoy amenities such as skiin/ski-out access to the Silver Strike Express chairlift at Deer Valley Resort, personalized service, private ski lockers, gas fireplaces, daily housekeeping, complimentary in-resort shuttle, a game room with pool tables and two outdoor hot tubs.
This luxury ski-in/ski-out condominium lodge is situated slope-side next to Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Lodge and Wide West ski run. Amenities include daily continental breakfast, après-ski, fully equipped kitchens, fireplaces, private hot tubs, complimentary in-resort shuttle provided by Cadillac, bell and concierge service, ski valet, on-site check-in, sauna, steam room, fitness center and daily housekeeping.
Offering a variety of individual condominiums and private homes in the Snow Park and Silver Lake areas, each property is uniquely decorated and varies in size from one to seven bedrooms. All homes and condominiums offer full kitchens, comfortable living areas, daily housekeeping services, wireless Internet and complimentary in-town transportation provided by Cadillac. Many properties are equipped with private hot tubs.
Deer Valley Resort Lodging and Reservations
Deer Valley Resort Lodging and Reservations
Deer Valley Resort Lodging and Reservations
800-558-3337 deervalley.com
800-558-3337 deervalley.com
800-558-3337 deervalley.com
Flagstaff Lodge
Goldener Hirsch Inn
Lodges at Deer Valley
Located near the base of Deer Valley Resort's Flagstaff Mountain, Flagstaff Lodge offers luxury ski-in/ski-out accommodations and features exquisite appointments throughout. Guests enjoy such amenities as continental breakfast, après-ski, concierge services, children's entertainment/game room, fitness area, Internet workstations, oversized common area hot tub facility, heated underground parking garage and complimentary in-resort shuttle.
Lodges at Deer Valley is the perfect choice for families vacationing at Deer Valley Resort. Amenities include an on-site restaurant and bar, ski rental, complimentary breakfast buffet, outdoor heated pool and hot tub, in-town shuttle provided by Cadillac, on property liquor and general stores, coffee bar, complimentary wireless Internet, daily housekeeping, fitness room, 24-hour front desk, bell and concierge service and full-service meeting facilities.
Deer Valley Resort Lodging and Reservations
Located just steps from the ski runs of Deer Valley Resort, the Goldener Hirsch Inn plays home to a European environment, featuring award-winning ski-in/ski-out luxury accommodations, personal five-star service, and a renowned full-service restaurant and lounge. The hotel’s 20 rooms feature European King-sized beds, hand-painted furnishings, private balconies and wood-burning fireplaces. Guests can also enjoy the on-site restaurant, which has earned “Extraordinary” ratings from Zagat Restaurant Guide and Four-Diamond recommendations from AAA.
800-558-3337 deervalley.com
800-558-3337 deervalley.com
800-558-3337 deervalley.com
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Deer Valley Resort Lodging and Reservations
where to stay: park city
Shooting Star
Silver Baron Lodge
Stag Lodge
Nestled in the heart of Deer Valley Resort's Flagstaff Mountain, Shooting Star offers two-and three-bedroom deluxe ski-in/skiout accommodations. Shooting Star features elegantly appointed accommodations with cozy fireplaces, granite countertops and jetted tubs. This property offers common area hot tubs, personalized guest service, a heated underground parking garage and complimentary in-resort shuttle.
Rustic meets refined at Silver Baron Lodge, where unparalleled accommodations and service come together in a beautiful setting. Located near the Snow Park Lodge, Silver Baron features a hot breakfast, heated outdoor pool with slide and water features, private hot tubs, on-site check-in, daily housekeeping, complimentary in-resort shuttle provided by Cadillac, concierge and bell service, Wi-Fi and yoga.
Situated atop Deer Valley Resort's Bald Eagle Mountain near Silver Lake Village, guests of Stag Lodge enjoy direct ski access to Last Chance and Success ski runs. Amenities include on-site check-in, ski rental shop, concierge, bell service, personal in-town transportation, private hot tubs, ski lockers, fitness room, outdoor heated pool and hot tub, daily housekeeping, private restaurant and bar.
Deer Valley Resort Lodging and Reservations
Deer Valley Resort Lodging and Reservations
800-558-3337 deervalley.com
800-558-3337 deervalley.com
800-558-3337 deervalley.com
The Grand Lodge
Trail's End Lodge
Resorts West
Located at the base of Deer Valley Resort’s Northside Express chairlift, The Grand Lodge is a luxury condominium property featuring stunning native stone and timber exteriors, breathtaking views and ski-in/ski-out access. Amenities include on-site check-in, concierge, complimentary shuttle service, daily housekeeping, fireplaces, ski lockers and ski valet service, two outdoor hot tubs and a state-ofthe-art fitness center with a steam room.
The standard for luxury and service, Trail’s End Lodge is a first-class, ski-in/ski-out condominium lodge with personalized service and a dedicated staff. Located adjacent to Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Lodge, amenities at Trail’s End include a complimentary full breakfast and daily après-ski buffet, personal in-town transportation provided by Cadillac, private hot tubs, fitness center with steam room, outdoor heated salt water pool and on-site check-in. Deer Valley Resort Lodging and Reservations
Resorts West by Natural Retreats represents the finest on-mountain ski vacation homes paired with comprehensive private concierge service. Serving the Deer Valley, Park City, and Sundance resort areas, our exceptional properties range from 2-to-8 bedrooms, including slopeside lodges and one-of-a-kind mountain ski homes. Incredible amenities include spacious living areas, gourmet kitchens, home theaters, steam showers, ski lockers, and oversized hot tubs. Guests enjoy personalized pre-arrival itinerary planning, in-home check-in, and 24-hour care.
800-558-3337 deervalley.com
877-582-7799 resortswest.com
Deer Valley Resort Lodging and Reservations
Deer Valley Resort Lodging and Reservations
800-558-3337 deervalley.com
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where to stay: park city
Snow Flower Lodge
Hyatt Centric Park City
Park City Resort Lodging
SKI-IN/SKI-OUT to Park City Mountain, the largest ski resort in the United States. Enjoy a variety of condos with competitive prices, exceptional amenities, and superior service at Snow Flower Condominiums. We are centrally located in Park City with easy access to shopping, dining and recreation. Choose from 100 condos ranging from premium to economy, studio to 6-bedroom with a collection of amenities to keep you comfortable, entertained and connected.
AAA Four Diamond Resort, ideally located slopeside with a dedicated "Sunrise" chairlift offering true ski-in/ski-out access. Accommodations include deluxe guest rooms, one- to four-bedroom residences with large living/dining area, full-size kitchen and fireplace in every room. Enjoy the Escala Provisions Company serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and après ski with a full-service bar. Stop by the Escala marketplace offering specialty coffee, allday dining and grocery items. Complimentary winter transportation provided to historic downtown Park City.
Creating memorable Park City vacations since 1984. Our unique collection of condominiums and private homes are located just steps from the best skiing, shopping, dining, and nightlife. Our local experts will help you choose the perfect rental for your vacation, whether you prefer the action of Main Street, the ambience of Deer Valley Resort, the convenience of Park City Mountain’s base areas, or a quiet luxury retreat. Call our destination specialists for exclusive deals on lodging. Voted Park City’s Best!
800-852-3101 snowflowerparkcity.com
800-233-1234 parkcity.centric.hyatt.com
877-713-1068 ParkCityLodging.com
Wyndham Vacation Rentals
Identity Properties
Grand Summit Hotel, A RockResort
At Wyndham Vacation Rentals, we help travelers feel at home no matter where their journey takes them, by offering unique, home-like experiences in Park City—all backed by one of the most trusted names in hospitality. Our local experts will help you choose the prefect vacation rental for your trip, whether it’s in historic downtown, slopeside at Deer Valley Resort, in the base area village, or off the beaten path. Call our lodging experts for exclusive deals on winter lodging.
Identity Properties offers a distinctive collection of resort lodging throughout the Park City area. Locally owned and operated for over 37 years, our convenient locations are of the best that Park City has to offer. Our amenities include on site check-in offices, outdoor heated pools, hot tubs, complimentary Wi-Fi access at most locations. Whether you’re looking for a cozy, intimate inn or a ski-in/ski-out condominium for your next getaway, make Identity Properties your home away from home.
Grand Summit Hotel is now open after a $15 million renovation. From luxurious guest suites, the new RockResorts Spa and the First Tracks Café open concept, no stone was left unturned in the rebirth of this iconic ski-in/ ski-out property. Nestled in the heart of Park City Resort’s Canyons Village, the Grand Summit is steps away from America’s largest ski resort. Guests will find an elegant ambience throughout this distinctive property, now part of Vail Resorts’ premium RockResorts lodging collection.
855-890-9321 parkcityski.com
800-245-6417 ext 2 pclodge.com
888-226-9667 ParkCityMountain.com
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where to stay: park city
Waldorf Astoria Park City
The Lowell
Westgate Park City Resort & Spa
At Waldorf Astoria Park City discover a thrilling adventure vacation or tranquil retreat with an on-property restaurant and award-winning spa. Unwind in the comfort of one of 160 unique guest rooms and spacious residences, offering custom-designed furnishings and grand fireplaces. This Forbes 4 Star Hotel is located at the largest ski resort in the U.S., Park City Mountain, offering easy access to over 7,300 acres of mountain terrain via the hotel’s dedicated Frostwood Gondola, situated just steps from the hotel.
The Lowell offers a new mountain contemporary ski-in/ski-out boutique condominium experience at the base of Park City Mountain, offering two, three and four-bedroom penthouse condominiums each over 3500 sq. ft. Units feature gourmet kitchens with Wolf, Subzero, Asko, wine coolers and Keurig one-cup coffee machines. Amenities include daily maid service, complimentary high-speed internet access, fitness center, spa, underground parking, and on-site ski & snowboard rental shop and storage.
Indulge in luxury at Westgate Park City Resort & Spa at the base of Canyons Village, just 35 minutes from SLC Airport. Westgate Park City boasts true ski-in/ski-out convenience with ski valet service, heated indoor/outdoor pools, fitness center & spa and award-winning dining, including Edge Steakhouse and Drafts Sports Bar & Grill. Guests enjoy opulent suites up to grand four-bedroom villas loaded with the finest amenities. Â
435-647-5500 WaldorfAstoriaParkCity.com
888-PARK-CITY thelowellparkcity.com
844-388-4488 WestgateParkCity.com/PC
GOLD MEDAL
ADVENTURES THREE VENUES WITH UNLIMITED WINTER FUN FOR ALL
SOLDIER HOLLOW NORDIC CENTER Midway, Utah
UTAH OLYMPIC OVAL Kearns, Utah
UTAH OLYMPIC PARK
Park City, Utah
UTAHOLYMPICLEGACY.ORG
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where to stay: salt lake city
Ramada Salt Lake
Super 8 Salt Lake Midvalley
Marriott University Park Hotel
Conveniently located at I-80 and I-15. Minutes from Salt Lake Airport, downtown Salt Lake and seven world-class ski resorts. Stay at the Ramada and enjoy complimentary continental breakfast, free shuttle service, free local calls and parking, cable TV, fitness room, heated pool and Jacuzzi and high-speed internet. RamadaMart in lobby. Call and book your ski vacation today!
At the Super 8 in Midvale you’ll find excellent amenities, an ideal location, affordable rates and great deals on rooms and ski packages. Amenities include: complimentary continental breakfast, free high-speed wireless internet, guest laundry, hairdryers, HBO, full cable, 24-hour hot tub and many restaurants in walking distance. Call and book today!
A newly renovated hotel with spectacular mountain views, free parking, indoor pool, fitness center, complimentary local shuttle, adjacent to the Univ. of Utah. Stylish lodging only 35 minutes from world-class skiing. Full service Starbucks, gourmet comfort food in Allie’s Grille, and full bar with local craft beers in Pitcher’s Lounge. Nestled in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains makes you feel like you are away from it all, yet minutes from all that the city has to offer.
801-486-2400 ramadasaltlake.com
801-255-5559 super8saltlake.com
801-581-1000 marriott.com/slcup
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I am
Belonging
I am
Year-round adaptive outdoor sports and educational programs, plus camps, custom family vacations, competition programs, and more for individuals of all abilities.
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Sign up. Volunteer. Get involved!
www.discovernac.org | 435.649.3991
#IamNAC
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Say hello to your brand new, bigger, better Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), arriving in 2020. The new SLC will replace the three existing terminals with one large, modern terminal that has the capacity to meet the ever-growing demands of a major air transportation hub. To learn more, visit SLCairport.com
@slcairport
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marketplace DEER VALLEY RESORT SKI RENTAL
DEER VALLEY RESORT LODGING AND RESERVATIONS • Largest selection of
accommodations in the Deer Valley Resort area
• Hotel rooms, one to
800-558-3337 435-645-6528
deervalley.com P.O. Box 3149 Park City, UT 84060
six-bedroom condominiums and four to seven-bedroom private homes
• Offering a variety of lodging
packages for your ski vacation
• Experienced onsite
888-754-8477
Located in Snow Park Lodge and Silver Lake Village, our Rental Shops offer a full line of high-quality Rossignol equipment tuned by certified technicians. Try out the latest ski technology!
435-645-6648
deervalley.com P.O. Box 739 Park City, UT 84060
(Advance reservations are recommended.)
Vacation Planners to assist you
DEER VALLEY RESORT SKI SCHOOL
Whether you’re a novice or expert, Deer Valley Ski School’s highly trained instructors offer customized instruction to help you and your family get more enjoyment out of your ski experience.
888-754-8477 435-645-6648
deervalley.com P.O. Box 739 Park City, UT 84060
Private and small group programs for children and adults.
SPEC AW E I A L I Z I N S G S I N CO M E N E S I N E 20 S 08
Skis/Snowboards Rentals & Demos Apparel Accessories -Tune/Repair
1825 Three Kings Dr. Park City, Utah SilverStarSkiandSport.com
DEER VALLEY RESORT SPECIALTY PROGRAMS
RATED #1
WASATCH BREW PUB
These ski school programs involve you in planning the focus of the day. Programs offer stance, balance and alignment analysis, video analysis and test-ski equipment.
888-754-8477 435-645-6648
deervalley.com P.O. Box 739 Park City, UT 84060
Programs include Men and Women only sessions, Co-ed Steeps & Stashes and Mahre Training Center Ski Camps.
888-304-7669 WWW.POWDERUTAH.COM
(Advance reservations are required.)
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parting shot
Words of Wisdom George Jedenoff celebrated his 100th birthday on skis July 5, 2017 at Snowbird. We caught up with this remarkable centenarian and asked him to share his keys to longevity.
George started skiing at the age of 43 and hasn’t missed a year of skiing in the Wasatch Mountains since. A resident of California’s Bay Area, this hipster centenarian flies to Utah each February to ski, with his iPhone 7, a driver’s license, and of course, a perfect powder turn. George makes the slopes and this world a better place with his genuine demeanor, sharp wit, utmost respect for all of humanity ... that and his vintage goggles.
H Watch George ski at skiutah.com/george
“Age is just a number.” “Skiing is like having a fancy dessert. It just adds SO much to your life.” “Powder makes you happy. You don’t always have it, but when you do, you gotta go for it.” “Challenges are just opportunities.” “You have to love all types of weather, otherwise you’re not a skier.” “Maybe you’ll never be able to ski like you used to, but you can still ski well enough to have fun.” “Don’t let the negative things weigh you down. Stay positive and you’ll be a lot happier.” “Exercise, just a little bit, each day.” —George Jedenoff
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Five national parks One iconic American road trip VisitUtah.com
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the greatest snow on earth 3
W ELCOME TO
SKI CITY. W ELCOME TO SA LT L A K E.
No other ski destination gives you more. World-class ski resorts and a seemingly limitless number of bars, brewpubs, sporting events, museums, restaurants, food trucks, and concerts – all packed into a vibrant urban city. Welcome to Salt Lake. Welcome to Ski City. PLAN YOUR TRIP AT SKICITY.COM» 4 skiutah.com