Terryl and I managed to get a break from the obligations of work and family, and spent four days skiing in Utah last week.? Skied Deer Valley on the first day, after a 12" snow fall -- no further comment...DV is just not our kind of place.? Nice grooming, great service and all that, but we just didn't care for the atmosphere of the place.
Skied the next three days at Snowbasin, and loved it! This may now be my favorite ski area, or at least tied with Lake Louise.? It's in the middle of a National Forest Reserve about an hour away from Park City and SLC.? This means no condos, no chalets, no hotels, no fast food joints -- just the lodges and the lifts --- perfect! As you may have gathered, we like out-of-the-way places with a non-commercial, unpretentious atmosphere, where the only reason to go is great skiing.
And the skiing is great.? This is a big area -? ~3000 acres, 2500 ft. vertical.? There's something for everyone -- great groomers of all skill levels, trees galore, wide open bowls, steeps, and acres and acres of untracked sweet Utah powder! Backside, out of boundary skiing is also possible, and opens up a huge area of untracked terrain.
The first two days there it just wouldn't stop snowing.? We gave up on trying to get through on our Supershapes, and rented wider skis (that's a subject for another thread).? The third day was brilliant sunshine and just the sweetest skiing you could ask for.? We learned a ton about how to ski soft snow, bumps, crud, and powder.? All that fresh snow was a first for us easterners, and was challenging, frustrating at times, but a lot of fun.? The wider skis definitely made it easier, and I see a 2-ski quiver for us in the crystal ball.?
The place is uncrowded, and there were mostly locals there.? As it's at least 30 minutes to an hour from any accommodation, it sure keeps the crowds down.? They say that you can find virtually untouched bowls and tree skiing a week after a dump.
I did say it was unpretentious, but Snowbasin really does pamper with over-the-top opulent lodges, delicious food, three gondolas, and great service.? Heated plaza and sidewalks at the entrance, wall-to-wall oriental carpets in all the lodges, gilt chandeliers, and whole quarries must have been emptied to make all the granite and marble for the bathrooms.? I think each bathroom in that place cost more than my house!? And hey Ron! There are espresso machines in each of the four lodges! La Spaziale, too - nice!? The barista at the summit lodge was so happy to make some espressos, because he hardly gets any call for them up there.? When I came back the second and third days to order some more, he was over the moon, and wanted to know if he'd done a good job.
For all the opulent furnishings etc., the staff and overall atmosphere is really friendly and down to earth.? No posers or snoots in sight.? People were there to ski and relax, not to be "seen".? My kinda place.? ?
Highly recommended!!!
Here are some pics....(for all you addicts of steep terrian, check out the skier at the top of the chute in the last picture -- looked like a near-vertical drop...yikes!)
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