I am traveling to UT to ski for the first time from Pennsylvania. My 13yr.daughter and 17yr.son will be accompaning me. How do the green/blue/black runs at Alta and Snowbird compare with the East, i.e. Killington,VT.? Any tips for how to ski here? We are used to Eastern ice and crud.
Thanks,
SKIMOM
I have no experience with east coast skiing, but I have heard that trails of a given rating (such as blue) in Utah are generally tougher than trails with the same rating in the east. Don't let that keep you from experiencing Utah. Just ease into it with caution. Between Alta and Snowbird, Alta has more accessible intermediate skiing. Start off at Alta to get the feel for the rating system. You could start with a run from Sunnyside (lots of green). Once that feels fine, go to Sugarloaf for some blue. If you are comprtable with the blue runs on sugarloaf, then the whole mountain is open to you. Try Snowbird after a day or two for more variety and the amazing scenery of Mineral Basin (which has two "blue" routes down).
It's just the opposite I think. Our snow is softer and easier to ski so however the runs are listed they are easier than the east coast.. Just relax and enjoy. Snowbird has more steep and expert terrain, so if you are not up for that stick to Alta, Brighton, Solitude.
I can only tell you what my experience was. I, too, am a long-time east coast ice/crud skiier (although it was 40 years ago, it seems like yesterday the first time I slid off a slab of ice--you know, the so-called "12-inch base"--and into the rocks and trees). Skiing in Utah was an absolute delight. There are plenty of blues that are wide and groomed and fun and easy to navigate and they are generally not crowded. Some are more steep than a typical eastern blue, but the snow was incredible. I did some blacks here and there and they were no more difficult and often easier than east coast blacks because I wasn't scraping ice. Now there were also plenty of slopes that I wouldn't even think about trying due to my age and ability (or lack thereof).
You and your teens will love it, and no doubt will want to get off the groomers and try some powder skiing if the conditions are right. (If your teens are boarders, you will not be able to go to Alta or Deer Valley.)
I have just one regret about Utah skiing, and it's a big one: Why didn't I start going there 20 years ago? Oh well, better late than never. We're going back again later this year.
Enjoy.
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