Welcome to Solitude’s Online community

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
No Comments

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
[3] Comments

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
[2] Comments

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
No Comments

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

Limited to just 45 lucky diners, enjoy five courses of Chef Matt Barrigar’s finest seasonal dishes. Dinner is $60, with wine pairings an additional cost. Call 800-748-4754 for reservations.

Wine Dinner Menu: August 1^st 2009

Appetizer

Mussel and Scallop Ceviche

Mixed with fresh cilantro, diced cucumber, grilled scallions, and citrus juices on an Idaho potato crisp

Soup

Roasted Peach Soup

Puree of fresh Utah peach topped with house-made crème fraiche and balsamic syrup

Salad

Heirloom Tomato Salad

Fresh multi-colored tomatoes, locally grown watermelon stuffed with Drake’s Family Farm chevre and drizzled with reduced Snake River Port, and tangerine infused olive oil

Entrée

Grilled Rack of Lamb

Meadowlark Farms lamb, marinated in honey, with a baby vegetable ratatouille, and a roasted fennel gratin

Or

Corvina

Pan-seared corvina with a spicy sweet corn fritter, Peaceful Belly Farms green beans, and a basil vinaigrette

Dessert

Summer Berry Triffle

Chiffon Cake layered with a medley of fresh berries, lavender infused whipped cream and cinnamon almonds, and topped with candied citrus zest

Posted by solitude under Dining
No Comments

Mud season quickly turned into rain season…or is that just another way of saying mud season was extra long this year? Either way, Summer is officially here, as of June 21. And as if on cue, the sun is shining, the mountains are green, flowers are beginning to bloom, so tada! Summer is here.

As far as the nuts and bolts go, the lift is running Fri - Sun, from 1 - 6 on Fridays and 11 - 6 on the weekends and holidays.  The trails could NOT be in better shape.  they are smooth and tacky and plush and soft and just generally awesome. See, rain and precip does have its advantages! Solitude also offers an 18 hole disc golf course, bike rentals, scooter rentals and much more.

The Stone Haus is open for pizzas, coffee, sandwiches, energy drink and beer (is that redundant?) from Wednesdays - Sundays from 11 - 7. Don’t miss kimi’s mountainside bistro  - a new Village dining institution with an unbelievable patio and great food in a relaxed setting. They are open for dinner Wed- Sun from 5 - 9 and open for weekend brunch (that’s right, Sundays aaaand Saturdays!) from 10 - 3. The Yurt is also available for a gourmet adventure dining experience - so if you need to wow a group, that’s the place!

See ya on the trail!

Posted by Nick under Mountain
1 Comment

Utah’s poster girl weighs in after a day on the hill at Solitude:

“During the springtime at Solitude, the snow piles up extra deep in the woods.  We found bottomless powder off of Powderhorn on the Milkrun and from Summit chair in the Evergreen forest.  It’s a great time to take advantage of spring specials and find your own patches of deep, untracked Utah powder.”

Caroline kicks up a trail of Utah brand cold smoke.

I think she's somewhere under that cloud of smoke.

Posted by solitude under Mountain
[2] Comments

Solitude’s Spring Stimulus allows you to enjoy the best snow conditions of the year for just $39 a day (juniors ski for only $29/day). With a 114″ base and over 70″ of snow in the past seven days there is no reason not to take full advantage of the few remaining weeks of winter!

Solitude closes April 12 (Easter Sunday), so come on up to the mountains and get your powder grin on a few more times!

There are no blackout dates, just come on up to any ticket window here at the resort and $39 gets you out on the hill! Not valid with any other coupons or discounts.

Solitude. If You Only Knew…

Posted by solitude under Mountain
No Comments

…when you can have a slopeside bed and a gourmet dinner instead?

Take for instance the new special the Inn at Solitude is offering - it includes a room a stone’s throw from the lifts and three courses served fireside at St. Bernard’s. There are only a few weeks of spring skiing left - really no better time to squeeze in one last staycation for locals, or grab that last minute flight out to Salt Lake and finish the season with us. Here are teh details:

Take the Elevator Home
Linger in our quaint pedestrian village after a day on the hill for a gourmet dinner and ski in/out accommodations! Package includes:

• Slopeside lodging at the Inn at Solitude

• Three course fireside country French dinner for two at St. Bernard’s

• On-site heated pool, access to hot tubs and spa.

Rates starting at $249 Valid through April 5, 2009, upgrades available. New bookings only.

Call 877 517-7717 to book or email inn@skisolitude.com

Posted by solitude under Lodging
No Comments