So why is the snow in Utah called "the greatest snow on Earth"? First of all let me say it should actually in my opinion be, Why is Utah's snow the best snow to ski on? Because the more dense hard snow is on the bottom and the fluffy lightweight snow always ends up on the top. Ok that is one explanation but still why does it always end up gnice and soft? I can say it surely is more fluffy and soft, because when I skied in Colorado, namely Loveland Ski Resort, my body felt like it was run over by a semi-truck when I fell down. In Utah your butt literally doesn't feel so bruised if you fall. Not to say that Colorado skiing is not good, it certainly is and abundant at that, no doubt about it. But in general people would agree that Utah's snow is world famous for its nice fluffy powdery snow.
Most of the reason for being so nice is fluffy is for one the location of the ski resorts in Utah. Salt Lake City is for the most part a desert oasis surrounded by enormous towering Alpine peaks called the Wasatch Mountains. As the weather front comes through most of the precipitation or snow that falls is lighter and fluffier because of the Great Salt Lake west of Salt Lake City. Locals call it the Lake effect, and simply put its the difference in temperature between the air and the temperature of the Great Salt Lake itself. The contrast in temps brings more rain due to evaporation cycles of the Great Salt Lake. Also the salt in the air has some effect on the rain and snow.
The two major canyons alongside the Wasatch Front are Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons. Each canyon has a total of two ski resorts. Little Cottonwood Canyon at the very top has Alta and right below it Snowbird. Big Cottonwood Canyon has at the very top Brighton Ski Resort and below it lies Solitude Ski Resort. Each ski resort is unique in its own way and is beloved by the local skiers and worldwide skiing enthusiasts. Out of the major four ski resorts, Snowbird and Solitude have the best accommodations in regards to space. Both Alta and Brighton have ski lodges too, but not as much as the other two. Outside of the major four ski resorts in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, there are other sporadic ski resorts surrounding the Utah mountains, namely Park City and Brian Head Resorts, both of which are world class resorts in their own right.
As most of these western United States ski resorts, Park City first started as a silver mining town, turned into world renown ski resort. Park City is known also for being part of the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics. There is a Winter Olympics complex near Park City, where you can see the high jumpers and skiers training off season or during season. Brian Head is down south of Salt Lake City about a 3 and a half hour to reach. It is a beautiful resort that is also near lots nature parks, namely the Cedar Breaks National Monument. The closest ski resorts the major four, Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude are a mere 20 minute drive from downtown Salt Lake City.
Lets not forget there are also three other ski resorts near the city of Ogden, Powder Mountain, Snowbasin and Nordic Valley. Of course they are further away from Salt Lake City and they are up north of Salt Lake. But if your goal is to reach all the resorts within Utah, you might have to stay for a week or two more. Another ski resort that is top notch but very pricey is Deer Valley which is a stone throw from Park City. Deer Valley was founded in 1981 and since then has hosted many ski races including events for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Famous Norwegian Olympic Skier Stein Eriksen was the resort’s ski director till his passing in 2015.
Of course, the one ski resort that most know even if they aren't skiers is Sundance which is further south beyond the point of the mountain as the locals call it. It used to be run by the Sundance Kid himself actor and skier Robert Redford. Lets just say if you're planning on skiing, Utah has you covered.
Comments
Post a Comment