SLC resorts logistics

wrote:

Paid $93 for a three-day lift ticket good at all four of the SLC
resorts. At that price, the bus is as close to free as it's going to
get!

Ok. You've got three days to visit four resorts. One doesn't allow
snowboards, so that's out. So, spend one day at each of the other
three and form you own opinion. Simple problem, simple solution.



// Walt

wrote:

Two problems: Alta & Deer Valley don't look kindly on snowboarders, so
two-thirds of our party would have a tough time there (yes, it's a
cruel world ...); also, we already bought the lift tickets good only at
the SLC resorts.

How is the Mineral Basin area at Snowbird? There's supposed to be a lot
of intermediate terrain there.

It's a bowl. Lots of ungroomed snow. It faces south, so it gets the
sun. It's actually mainly black on the map, except for horrible dotted
line catwalk trails. Trail maps here; you can see it:

http://www.snowbird.com/ski_board/trailmaps.html

You might like better the Gad area on the frontside, to the right of the
main peak. The mid-mountain lodge there has killer views.

As you

In article om,
wrote:

Well, if the blues are "holy crap" and the blacks are "time to clean
the lift chair," I guess there are always the greens.

I think the terrain has expanded a bit since I last skied at Snowbird
15+ years ago. But I'm sure there's a nice easy green run somewhere
at Snowbird, the kind that would be a nice groomed cruiser at most
other western resorts.

I didn't find it, mind you, but I'm sure it's there. I would have
looked more, but my knees were worn out from the green runs.


--
---
"Wake up, everybody."--McFadden/Whitehead/Carstarphen

In rec.skiing.alpine Walt wrote:
wrote:

Paid $93 for a three-day lift ticket good at all four of the SLC
resorts. At that price, the bus is as close to free as it's going to
get!

Ok. You've got three days to visit four resorts. One doesn't allow
snowboards, so that's out. So, spend one day at each of the other
three and form you own opinion. Simple problem, simple solution.


You'd be lucky to get four runs at Alta on that weekend anyway.

-klaus

Walt wrote:
wrote:

Paid $93 for a three-day lift ticket good at all four of the SLC
resorts. At that price, the bus is as close to free as it's going to
get!

Ok. You've got three days to visit four resorts. One doesn't allow
snowboards, so that's out. So, spend one day at each of the other
three and form you own opinion. Simple problem, simple solution.

Can't deny that the logical option remains an option. However, I
had hoped to do 2,1 rather than 1,1,1 in order to reduce the
time-wasting "familiarize yourself with the resort" process. But we'll
see.

This brings me back to one of my original questions: Is there a direct
bus to each resort, or is transferring necessary?

Joe Ramirez

wrote:


This brings me back to one of my original questions: Is there a direct
bus to each resort, or is transferring necessary?

There are two canyons, Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood
Canyon. In the winter the canyons are dead ends - the only way out is
to go back down into town. Alta and Snowbird are in LCC, Solitude and
Brighton are in BCC. Each canyon has it's own bus, with a
bus-stop/parikng lot at the entrance to the canyon. The LCC bus goes to
Snowbird then on to Alta, the BCC bus goes to Solitude and then on to
Brighton. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes each way.

If you park at the base of the appropriate canyon, the bus goes right to
the resort. If you start your trip somewhere else, you have to find a
bus to take you to the base of the canyon which may involve several
transfers depending on where you start.

Since you seem to be keen on the bus thing, you should probably get on
the UDOT website and figure out routes & things: http://www.dot.state.ut.us/

My take on it is just rent a car and only bother with the bus if the
canyon is closed to non-4wd vehicles.

//Walt

wrote:

2. How long does it take the free ski bus to get from downtown SLC to
the four Cottonwood Canyon resorts? Is there a direct bus to each
resort, or is transferring necessary? What time do the buses stop
running the return trips from the resorts to SLC? We would like to
avoid renting a car since there's already a free shuttle from the
airport to the hotel. If the ski bus is adequate, that would seem the
way to go.

I rode the bus when I was in SLC, many years ago. I went to Brighton
for my never ever initial foray. For me, it was the only way to go, as
I had no rental car. The bus was not free for me, but perhaps your deal
has the bus fare built into it.

Here is the link to the UTA - Utah Transit Authority - bus to the
Cottonwood Canyon areas.

http://www.utabus.com/schedulesAndMa.../byCounty.aspx

Ski Utah ought to have a kiosk at the SLC airport where you can get any
last minute questions answered.

http://www.skiutah.com/

You'll have a great time. I should go too.

wrote:

Questions:
1. I've read that Brighton should be avoided on Saturdays because it
gets quite crowded from turnout by the locals, but that Sundays are
better because people attend church. True? I realize that the entire
weekend is going to be very busy because it's a holiday; I'm just
looking for whatever edge remains.
2. How long does it take the free ski bus to get from downtown SLC to
the four Cottonwood Canyon resorts? Is there a direct bus to each
resort, or is transferring necessary? What time do the buses stop
running the return trips from the resorts to SLC? We would like to
avoid renting a car since there's already a free shuttle from the
airport to the hotel. If the ski bus is adequate, that would seem the
way to go.
3. Comments/suggestions on anything else would be welcomed.

Thanks a lot,

Joe Ramirez

Joe,

Here's the deal. My family moved to Park City in '88, I've worked in
hospitality in PC for 10 years, and have settled into mostly Deer
Valley over the last 7. I've skied and ridden all resorts in Northern
Utah. They are all going to be absolutely nuts that weekend. Let me
share with you that the bookings have been gaining momentum over the
last few years at an exponential rate. This, of course, translates into
absolute pandemonium on the hill.

My advice to you: Snowbird is rad, as are the other Cottonwood
resorts. BUT, days spent at these resorts need to be chosen carefully.
I did, however, ride Brighton over President's in '04, and once I got
away from the bottom the crowds weren't so bad. So, here it is, I
don't care what anybody else says. If nightlife isn't the crux of your
trip, I'd look into going up north to Snowbasin/Powder Mountain. Check
'em out at skiutah.com. And, don't tell anybody I told you this
because they'll come after me. Powder Mountain is awesome, and make
sure you stop in the Hidden Lake Lodge for one of the best ski resort
$5 burgers you'll ever cram in your hole. At Snowbasin, make your way
over to the Strawberry Express Gondola...and ENJOY!!!

Otherwise, have a great time with everybody and their god damned dog in
the
Cottonwoods. And, even though I sell it for a living, I wouldn't ski
the PC areas over this period if you paid me. Oh wait, that is part of
what I get paid to do. But, I don't like it...really.

Good luck.

j wrote:
wrote:

Questions:
1. I've read that Brighton should be avoided on Saturdays because it
gets quite crowded from turnout by the locals, but that Sundays are
better because people attend church. True? I realize that the entire
weekend is going to be very busy because it's a holiday; I'm just
looking for whatever edge remains.
2. How long does it take the free ski bus to get from downtown SLC to
the four Cottonwood Canyon resorts? Is there a direct bus to each
resort, or is transferring necessary? What time do the buses stop
running the return trips from the resorts to SLC? We would like to
avoid renting a car since there's already a free shuttle from the
airport to the hotel. If the ski bus is adequate, that would seem the
way to go.
3. Comments/suggestions on anything else would be welcomed.

Thanks a lot,

Joe Ramirez

Joe,

Here's the deal. My family moved to Park City in '88, I've worked in
hospitality in PC for 10 years, and have settled into mostly Deer
Valley over the last 7. I've skied and ridden all resorts in Northern
Utah. They are all going to be absolutely nuts that weekend. Let me
share with you that the bookings have been gaining momentum over the
last few years at an exponential rate. This, of course, translates into
absolute pandemonium on the hill.

My advice to you: Snowbird is rad, as are the other Cottonwood
resorts. BUT, days spent at these resorts need to be chosen carefully.
I did, however, ride Brighton over President's in '04, and once I got
away from the bottom the crowds weren't so bad. So, here it is, I
don't care what anybody else says. If nightlife isn't the crux of your
trip, I'd look into going up north to Snowbasin/Powder Mountain. Check
'em out at skiutah.com. And, don't tell anybody I told you this
because they'll come after me. Powder Mountain is awesome, and make
sure you stop in the Hidden Lake Lodge for one of the best ski resort
$5 burgers you'll ever cram in your hole. At Snowbasin, make your way
over to the Strawberry Express Gondola...and ENJOY!!!

Otherwise, have a great time with everybody and their god damned dog in
the
Cottonwoods. And, even though I sell it for a living, I wouldn't ski
the PC areas over this period if you paid me. Oh wait, that is part of
what I get paid to do. But, I don't like it...really.

Good luck.

I appreciate your suggestions and recognize the good sense in what you
say. However, as I noted, our options are limited by two important
constraints:
1. We can't easily make this trip at a less busy time because my
brother-in-law is a teacher, and my son is a student, so they need the
three-day holiday weekend to avoid too much missed time.
2. We've already purchased our multi-day lift passes for the Cottonwood
Canyon resorts and can't just toss them out.

I don't doubt that Snowbird et al. will be a madhouse that weekend, but
I'm sure if we had gone to, say, Breckenridge, it would also be a
madhouse. Heck, our local resort will probably be a madhouse as well --
*if* it's cold and there's good snow. (That's the difference between
Utah and Pennsylvania -- we can't always count on the snow.)

I do hope, however, that others read your recommendation of Snowbasin
and Powder Mountain and head up there -- maybe it will reduce the
population in the canyons.

Joe Ramirez

Joe, you're certainly rigth that Breckenridge would be insane during
the Prez weekend, but to say Snowboid wont...well you'll see.

Simple fact is they're ALL (Utxx, Colorado...ALL) nuts that time. If
you can't avoid it, then you can't avoid but it...but trust the above
words. You'll feel like just as much of a sardine as you did when you
skid Hunter Mountain or Killington back in "the day".