Welcome to the Solitude Blog

Snow certianly has the letter ‘S’ on our minds. First and foremost, it snowed much of the weekend up here, leaving a blanket of fresh white above 8,000 feet. How exciting is that?  So exciting, in fact, that the resident bloggers are dreaming up headlines all starting in ‘S’ in hopes of continually pleasing the snow gods.

As for the other half of the headline – the one dealing with sweet singletrack, consider this the official unofficial unveiling of Solitude’s newest sweet singletrack. While I am not ready to divulge location or directions, I am more than happy to divulge some photos from the maiden voyage mission. Yes, working here does come with rewards such as this. Full details to come, we promise! Just to pique interest it is some of the smoothest flowing new singletrack around. The switchbacks feature nicely banked turns, which means there is no need to tap the brakes. That is not to say you shouldn’t pull over from time to time to check out the vistas. Most of the time you are cruising through an old-growth forest with towering trees (think Return of Jedi chase scene on those space cruisers).

The grade will be primo for both climbing and descending, with several high-speed flowy sections. When the trees do allow a few peeks down canyon you’ll be treated to views of Honeycomb Canyon, SIlverfork Canyon and Mt. Raymond.  Oooh, I think I just gave away a tip on location. Let’s just suffice to say many new loop options will be opened up!!

Check the photos…

Posted by Nick under Mountain
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This one comes from our favorite guest blogger, pro-skier and unofficial poster-girl of Utah skiing, Caroline Gleich.

Solitude’s been getting a lot of press lately. In Powder Magazine’s September Issue, they did a feature on “The Greatest Season Ever.” The award for the “Deepest Day of the Year” went to Solitude, for January 9.

Here’s what they had to say:

“A lift ticket at Solitude is $55. But it’s amazing how few pass holders from Alta or Snowbird are willing to pay it, even when Little Cottonwood Canyon is gridlocked or closed half the morning. Which makes the money even more worthwhile on days like today. It’s been snowing for almost a week, but today is the big one. Wind effect on open slopes creates chest-deep blower in the trees of Evergreen and the Black Forest. Empty chairs serve as a constant reminder of the traffic jam next door. Big Wednesday is the cliché tag for deep days that happen to fall on hump day, both of which apply today. Until Lee gives us another name. ‘This is the deepest day of the year,’ he portends as we cross paths en route to the Honeycomb lift. The description would hold through the end of the season.” –Derek Taylor

So even if you get your Alta or Snowbird pass, be sure to pick up at least a day or two at Solitude (custom season passes start at $249). You can also purchase an eleven day pack starting at only $40 a day. And finally, one of my favorite options is the 50 ride ticket for only $310. With this option, you can come up, take two lifts and go for a tour. And the system won’t let you use more than 10 rides in a day. Whichever option you chose, it’s totally worth it. Now hurry up because these rates change Nov. 1!

Also, keep your eyes peeled around the Salt Lake valley for these billboards with my image on them:

Caroline Gleich rips it up on Solitude's billboards all over SLC

Posted by Nick under Mountain
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WOW. The peak of color season is most certainly here. Like an over the head powder day or deserted beach, a picture is worth a thousand words. So, here are a few thousand words on the majestic beauty of the Wasatch in autumn.

Posted by Nick under Mountain
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The age old question “So, what have you done for me lately?” is number one on every skier and boarder’s mind once the first chilly breezes of fall descend on the mountains. This time the answer, at least from your favorite resort of Solitude, is a whole lot!In a Nutshell:

Solitude Mountain Resort unveils two new high-speed quads for the 08/09 season, allowing visitors from both Solitude Village and Moonbeam Center quick access to the heart of the mountain. Both of these new lifts will provide easier loading and unloading for our guests, along with a quicker ride time by eliminating the frequent starts and stops of fixed-grip lifts. The new lifts give direct access to our intermediate terrain, which supports Solitude’s ongoing commitment to offering a family-friendly experience conducive to learning snowsports.
Apex Express will replace the existing Apex double lift with the same convenient lift access, the bottom terminal will remain unchanged, just a few steps from the village skier bridge. The Moonbeam base area will see its fourth Moonbeam Lift, dubbed Moonbeam Express. The original Moonbeam lift, built half a century ago, had a different lift line, offered night skiing and was a 10-plus-minute lift ride on a double lift.
Additionally, the area near the top stations of these lifts has undergone extensive grading work. An improved transition from the lift to trail, as well as a gentler overall grade will appeal to the beginner and intermediate skiers who frequent this area.

With visitors gaining quicker access to this popular area Solitude has added 4 new mobile snowguns. The snowmaking system, which is continually being expanded, allows for addition coverage in higher-traffic areas to provide a consistent snow experience throughout the season.

Off the hill, Creekside at Solitude’s vintage European fare will be served by new chef Matt Anderson, who will lend his culinary skill to satisfy any hunger worked up on the hill. This relaxed dining experience offers a fabulous and exceedingly diverse menu to taunt even the most perceptive tastes.

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The lift installation is going according to plan. Actually, we are a bit ahead of schedule. The trail grading is complete, which will really change the way the mountain skis. The areas in the photo that are that bright yellow / brown color is the area that has been worked on. Basically what you see is a nice smooth run that has a consistent grade down the mountain. What used to be in that same location was a large flat spot that led up to a steep drop-off. With this small transformation Solitude has made this central “heart” of the mountain much more conducive to the abilities of newcomers to the sport. Add to that high-speed access via the new Moonbeam Express & Apex Express and you have one of the state’s best learning areas becoming even better.

Posted by solitude under Mountain
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