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Do you remember middle school dances? You know, the one’s where the guys were on one side and the girls on the other. Both wanted to dance with each other, but neither group knew how to make the first move . . . until the DJ played that special song that broke the ice.

Where am I going with this?Allow me to explain. Before this big storm, this winter had been like one of those dances. It was struggling. Skiers and boarders looked longingly at the mountains. Luckily, DJ Ullr spun that special song (aka the storm) bringing powder hounds together with the mountain for a memorable dance (aka powder turns). But this song wasn’t just one and done. It kept playing for 48 hours dumping 46” of snow on Solitude Mountain Resort!

Now, this may be just another dump of Utah’s finest for you, but this is EPIC to me (Note: if you see me frolicking about in the waist deep powder, just let me have a moment). You see, I’m not from around here. I grew up skiing the heavy-wet of the Pacific Northwest. Days like these past few are what set the Wasatch, and more specifically Solitude, apart from the rest of the field. Days like these past few have been the subject of my powder dreams for years. And days like these past few are what we can expect for the rest of the season.

So, I thank you DJ Ullr for breaking the ice and I look forward to making turns to your tunes for the rest of the season!

Posted by Joe under Blog Entry
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Join members of Solitude’s Professional Ski Patrol and Snow Safety team to learn how to travel responsibly and safely outside resort boundaries. This two-day course is a great introduction to the identification of avalanche hazard and the skills needed to safely travel in the backcountry.

The course will focus on identifying avalanche terrain, analyzing snow and weather factors, managing group dynamics, and avalanche rescue skills. The morning of day one will start with the guides giving a presentation on avalanches, followed by the rest of day one and two being spent in the backcountry putting these concepts into action.

All participants will have the option to use our brand new Black Diamond touring setups, consisting of the Justice skis with Fritschi Freeride bindings and Ascension skins.

Call BackTracks at 801 536-5705 or visit us at solitudebacktracks.com to reserve your spot.

Posted by solitude under Events
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So, unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you probably know that The ‘Tude has added three new lifts in two years.  Sure, those other lifts are cool:  Apex gives you sweet access from the Village at Solitude, and Moonbeam has a sweet name, which makes me wonder, what is a moonbeam anyways?  Does the moon shoot beams?  I digress.

Now, I’m not trying to be brash, but those lifts don’t hold a candle to me.  Oh, sorry, where did my manners go?  Please allow myself to introduce . . . myself (cue music).  I’m Powderhorn II, or PH II or the new PH.  Really, you can call me anything you want, the name isn’t important.  The important thing to remember is that I’m going to change the way you visit Solitude.  Again, I’m not being smug, I’m just being confident.  Believe me, there’s a difference.

I’m a pretty big deal for a couple of reasons.  First, I’m a quad.  A fixed grip quad if you must know.  No more of this two-at-a-time, trying to figure out who rides with who stuff.  I’m all about getting you, plus your family and friends, up the hill.  Secondly, I start mid-mountain.  No more long and reflective rides, as nostalgic as they will remain.  This means two things:  Shorter laps for experienced skiers on the upper-mountain and lower Honeycomb Canyon (more of the good stuff!), and even less traffic on the intermediate and beginner runs of the lower-mountain.  Really, I’m a win-win kind of lift. Your welcome.

For the skeptics . . . well, I can’t change your mind.  True, different areas on the mountain will get skied more than they did in the past.  But remember, this is Solitude, there’s never a shortage of sweet stashes to blow through!  You just need to know where to look! And when you find those stashes of the “Greatest Snow on Earth,” and believe me you will, just remember who got your butt up there (Hint:  Me!).

But seriously, there’s no need to thank me.  The powder yelps and smiles will be thanks enough.

See you out there,

PH II

Posted by Eagle under Mountain
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There are few things in life that go better together than fresh snow and sun.  Luckily, I live in Salt Lake City where I get to experience this combination more often than not.  For those of you who don’t live in Salt Lake City, I apologize.

Today up at Solitude was a prime example of this combination at its finest!  Overnight, eight inches of fresh pow blanketed Solitude’s slopes and by mid-morning the sun was out creating perfect early season conditions.  Needless to say I hit the slopes like it was my job!

Three lifts (Apex, Link, Moonbeam) were up and spinning, giving me access to three different runs.  And yes, I skied them all!  With the groomers out last night and this morning, the runs were in pristine condition making for some great turns.  And for those of you wondering, there were powder stashes to be found on the edges of the runs.  I would say they were early season teasers of the great pow days to come.

Insider tip:  Eagle Express opens tomorrow!  You know what that means right?  Time to hit Sunshine Bowl!

Posted by Joe under Mountain
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With the final bolts tightened, tests passed and chairs hung, Utah’s largest on-mountain improvement for the upcoming season is ready for action - Powderhorn II.

Powderhorn II starts near the bottom of Sunshine Bowl, travels above a widened Concord ski run, and ends in the same location as the original Powderhorn Lift. Some terrain improvements at the top terminal allow Diamond Lane to start right at the top terminal - no more crossing the road to get to the other side. Skiers left - towards Eagle Ridge - has been graded eliminating the off-camber double fall line mogul field to access gentler terrain. Guests will no doubt enjoy a smoother ad quicker transition from riding the lift to making turns.

PH II Bottom Terminal as viewed from Moonbeam Express. Photo: Marc Guido

The move to a mid-mountain starting point allows expert snowriders to make continuous laps on the upper mountain - from Diamond Lane to Sunshine Bowl - without the need to return to the base area via beginner runs. A speedy 7 minute lift ride on the new lift, as opposed to 12 on the old double, saves 5 minutes per run on some of the state’s steepest groomed terrain. Plus, the off-piste terrain in Honeycomb Canyon will still be conveniently accessed from the top of this lift.

Beginner and intermediate visitors will appreciate the new lift, as well, even though they may not ride it until their skills improve, as advanced and expert visitors will remain higher on the mountain, easing traffic in prime learning areas lower on the mountain. Crafting this natural segregation put visitors of like abilities in terrain conducive to their ability, creating an improved experience for all.

Posted by solitude under Mountain
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Far and away, the most legitimate resort awards program is by Ski Magazine. Being that actual skiers - the readers of the magazine - not editors swayed by advertising revenue and popularity contests, are rating the resorts they frequent, Solitude is proud of the amazing rankings we received.

OVERALL - #26. Just being ranked is compliment - nevermind scratching close to the top 25.  Thank you readers!

In individual categories, Solitude really shined in areas we expect to (weather, snow, etc.) as well as in areas we strive to excel, such as providing a wide variety of groomed terrain.

#1 Weather

#4 Snow

#10 Grooming

#6 Value

#8 Access

Posted by Nick under Mountain
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The chopper visited us again and flew in all the towers - believe it or not in about 3 hours they had every tower in place. Talk about efficiency - these guys should run the Senate or something. The next phase of this project will be to put thetop and bottom lift terminals in place, then stringing cable, hanging chairs, etc. With the first day of autumn in the books, Powderhorn II is right on schedule.

Notice that Concord is a much wider run now. We plan on grooming this for your gravitational enjoyment this coming winter.

In addition to putting in the lift, Solitude’s Mountain Staff has been hard at work with bulldozers and graders to create a smooth transition from lift to skiing.  It is amazing what these guys can do with equipment weighing several tons - nimbly moving dirt into all the right places.  Skiers left down Eagle ridge used to be a double fall-line bump run, which got old after the first few laps towards Paradise and Vertigo. Your other option was to make a hairpin switchback on a cat-track to access the ridge runs or Diamond Lane. Not exactly what most skiers had in mind looking for a nice steep groomer.  Now, the aformentioned bump entrance to the ridge has been graded, eliminating the double fall line, while also allowing visitors a nice little ramp up into Honeycomb Canyon.  Diamond Lane will now start right at the top terminal - no more crossing the road to get to the other side.  Picture’s really are worth a thousand words, so imagine these with snow on them and hopefully you’ll be as excited as we are.

Honeycomb gate on left, and easy access to Eagle Ridge / Paradise / Vertigo / etc. on the right.

Posted by solitude under Mountain
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A picture is worth a thousand words, so here’s a few chapters to enjoy.

Equipment in staging - lift towers and the like.

We hired a heli to fly in concrete for the footings.

This is the concrete bucket the heli swings around like a rag doll.

Posted by solitude under Mountain
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Just got word from our lodging and culinary team:  They are offering a special weekend package for the Taste of the Nation Event. This is the finest culinary event in Utah and all the proceeds go towards enging childhood hunger - a great cause!!  Dozens of vendors from Salt Lake’s top restaurants offer amazing samples on our beautiful lawn setting. Wine pours will be available, along with unforgettable mountain views.

Package includes:
2 nights lodging at the Inn (Fri/Sat or Sat/Sun nights)
Two 5-course dinners at St. Bernard’s
2 Taste of the Nation Tickets
4 lift passes Enjoy our upper mountain and wildflowers
Brunch for two on Saturday and Sunday.

Call 800 748-4754 to book. 2 night stay for $499 (includes both people)

Food wine and views at the Taste of the Nation.

Posted by Nick under Lodging
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That’s right - Solitude Mountain Resort has begun installation on Powderhorn II, a $1.5 million improvement to the lift system. This new fixed grip quad replaces the original Powderhorn double, a holdover from its mid-70s installation - albeit with an improved lift line .  Coming on the heels of last winter’s $7 million investment in two detachable express quads the resort should ski much more efficiently. That’s three new quads in just the past two years!

Powderhorn II will start from the bottom of Sunshine Bowl, travel above the Concord ski run, and end in the same location as the original Powderhorn Lift. The move to a mid-mountain starting point allows expert snowriders to make continuous laps on the upper mountain - from Diamond Lane to Sunshine Bowl - without the need to return to the base area via beginner runs. A speedy 7 minute lift ride on the new lift, as opposed to 12 on the old double, saves 5 minutes per run on some of the state’s steepest groomed terrain. Plus, the off-piste terrain in Honeycomb Canyon will still be conveniently accessed from the top of this lift.

Last winter’s new Apex and Moonbeam Express lifts introduced high speed lift access from both base areas to mid-mountain, allowing Powderhorn II to begin higher on the mountain. Accessible from all three detachable lifts, including Eagle Express, a greater on-mountain flow is achieved throughout the resort. Solitude’s goal with terrain and lift improvements, now and into the future, is to efficiently utilize pockets of terrain which are naturally separated by the layout and slope of the mountain.

Beginner and intermediate visitors will appreciate the new lift, as well, even though they may not ride it until their skills improve, as advanced and expert visitors will remain higher on the mountain, easing traffic in prime learning areas lower on the mountain. Crafting this natural segregation put visitors of like abilities in terrain conducive to their ability, creating an improved experience for all.

Note the mid-mountain starting point for the new lift - still ending at the same top terminal.

Posted by solitude under Mountain
[20] Comments