Ski Utah, Even on a Budget
TheStreet.com has this interesting article about Utah ski resorts, and how to ski them even if you are on a budget. Below are excerpts.
Why Utah? The best reason to go is the snow. The ski resorts closest to Salt Lake City average 430 inches per year -- many received 700 last year (58 feet!) -- and it's almost always light, fluffy powder. Colorado, the Sierra Nevadas and even the Pacific Northwest get plenty of powder, too, but Utah's dry climate and the effect of Great Salt Lake means exceptionally dry snowflakes, containing as little as 4% water. The result? Ice, a staple for East Coast and Midwestern snow riders, is virtually nonexistent. And in February, the sun shines about 60% of days.
Access and variety also separate Utah from the rest of the country. Seven ski areas lie within 38 miles of Salt Lake City International Airport, a major hub with 800 nonstop arrivals every day. There's also the Utah Transit Authority, or UTA, a public transit system that can get you from the airport, downtown or just about anywhere else in the metro area to the lodge quickly and cheaply.
Park City, one of the truly great ski towns, offers glamour, world-class shopping and après ski activities, plus the Sundance Film Festival (Jan. 15-25, 2009, this winter, when lodging rates skyrocket). Lodging tends to be expensive, and the resorts are generally costly, with daily, midwinter lift ticket prices in the $79-to-$83 range. On-mountain and downtown dining and services also tend to be pricey.
Why Utah? The best reason to go is the snow. The ski resorts closest to Salt Lake City average 430 inches per year -- many received 700 last year (58 feet!) -- and it's almost always light, fluffy powder. Colorado, the Sierra Nevadas and even the Pacific Northwest get plenty of powder, too, but Utah's dry climate and the effect of Great Salt Lake means exceptionally dry snowflakes, containing as little as 4% water. The result? Ice, a staple for East Coast and Midwestern snow riders, is virtually nonexistent. And in February, the sun shines about 60% of days.
Access and variety also separate Utah from the rest of the country. Seven ski areas lie within 38 miles of Salt Lake City International Airport, a major hub with 800 nonstop arrivals every day. There's also the Utah Transit Authority, or UTA, a public transit system that can get you from the airport, downtown or just about anywhere else in the metro area to the lodge quickly and cheaply.
Park City, one of the truly great ski towns, offers glamour, world-class shopping and après ski activities, plus the Sundance Film Festival (Jan. 15-25, 2009, this winter, when lodging rates skyrocket). Lodging tends to be expensive, and the resorts are generally costly, with daily, midwinter lift ticket prices in the $79-to-$83 range. On-mountain and downtown dining and services also tend to be pricey.
posted by Utah Blog Admin @ 10:18 AM
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