Sometimes before I travel to a new ski area I will check out the mountain stats and review the trail map. I didn’t do that prior to skiing Powder Mountain (www.powdermountain.com). In fact I knew little about the mountain the day we arrived as a group to ski it. That made it that much more fun…
More of a locals’ gem, this mountain gets a significant amount of snowfall generally, averaging 500 inches a year of “pristine powder”. While this March trip did not produce the snowfall of powder we would have liked the skiing was great nonetheless. Once the sun’s rays softened the morning crunch it opened up tree trails and cat skiing to us. Unfortunately their back country skiing accessible by lift and return shuttle to the mountain was closed. One can only imagine that with pristine powder on it!
It touts 7,000 skiable acres however much of that would be only accessible via cat or back country shuttle as 2,800 of the acreage is lift accessible. What is key is its vertical at 2,500 feet! Don’t expect any fancy base lodge, dining or ski-in/ski-out lodging. This is a diehard skiers’ mountain!
The base lodge is functional with lockers, a cafeteria, fireplace and sofa seating around the fireplace. Picnic table seating in the cafeteria works for eating and for gearing up. On the main floor of the lodge you will find the restrooms and the pub, Powder Keg, where a sit down lunch and beer fits in well after such exhilarating skiing. It’s light on après-ski activity albeit it does have some limited night skiing…for the true diehards!
The mountain hosts/ambassadors are very friendly and prove excellent tour guides. I highly recommend hooking up with one to maximize your skiing experience there so you don’t miss out if the “pristine powder” has fallen.
This ski area also deserves a return trip to experience the pristine powder and back country…next year? Anyone want to join me?
The Canyons were a side trip for me while on a group ski vacation in Cottonwood Canyons Wasatch Forest and Ogden area Cache Forest. I had previously skied Deer Valley (
My ski mate returned with me to the Grand Summit Hotel and continued skiing to check out terrain on the skier’s right at the top of the Orange Bubble Express. We vowed to return to this mountain and spend more than one day doing the acreage justice and absorbing more of the views, the dining choices, hotel accommodations and the village shopping.
Go online and you won’t see Alta (
Since 1939 and the installation of the fifth chairlift in the US, Collins chairlift began loading skiers up the gulch for some great terrain experiences. Seventy-five years later there are a myriad of lifts connecting and bringing skiers some of the most challenging terrain to ski. Steeps and bowls abound for the intermediate and expert skiers to enjoy. This is not a ski area for the faint of heart.
Depending on your skiing level you need the full day to give Alta a fair ski. There is so much to ski some planning before you load your first lift is a good idea. As for grabbing lunch I recommend the Collins Grill mid-mountain in line with the Collins Lift. You can’t get off the Collins Lift mid-mountain at the lift elbow turn so ride to the summit and ski down. You won’t be disappointed. Located on the third floor of the Watson Shelter, I recommend during busy holiday periods you make a reservation by calling them at 801-799-2297. You walk in and find a seating area to remove your boots and put your feet in some comfy slippers as you enjoy a wonderful dining experience equal to dining on the slopes in Europe. The restaurant looks over the Collins Gulch runs and bowls and encourages some wonderful discussions about the next runs you will make after lunch. Such dining experiences on the slopes are unusual in the US in my experience and they are welcomed. We often eat a tasteless burger in an aluminum packet and welcome the sustenance without enjoying our food. Skiing such an area is such a great experience, why not make it extra special by enjoying the food we eat as well when a wonderful dining experience like the Collins Grill is there for the enjoyment.
My day started and ended at the Wildcat Base. There is plenty of après-ski activity at the base for anyone wanting to play after an exhilarating day of skiing. As a skier enjoy Alta and Snowbird but I bet you can’t enjoy both fully in one day!
While staying at Solitude you are a short hop and skip from Brighton…or vice versa. With 1,050 acres of skiable terrain, Brighton does little advertising because it really doesn’t need to. It is “found out” through word of mouth. Trust me there is plenty to ski for all levels. And no lift lines!
My ski day there was filled with sunshine and warm weather in March. Trails while well groomed were fast and crunchy at first giving way quickly to the warm fingers of the sun’s rays to soften the snow. Unfortunately some of the tree trails and steeps were gnarly from the loss of snow and closed for safety reasons. Poaching wasn’t an option. I’m betting some “freshies” on this mountain would make the closed acreage we experienced a ton of fun!
f you don’t like to boot up at your car (I find this to be a very Western skier practice) there are great changing facilities and lockers in the main lodge. After a great day of skiing we partook in some food and drink at Molly Green’s… a tasty personal pizza and beers in a cozy original chalet style bar with good music playing in the background. We longed for a deck on which to eat and drink there and take in the last of the sun for the day. For that a walk to the Alpine Rose Cafeteria would be required.
