SLC Bound Jan30-Feb6...Advice Needed...

**Gaffney10** · 01-05-2007, 11:56 PM

I will be in the SLC area in a few weeks and I was trying to get some help on a few things. I last visited the area prior to the '02 Olympics. That time I spent most of my time in PC and 1 day at Snowbird.

This time I want to spread my time at several different resorts. I would like to spend a day or two at Snowbird/Alta, then head to Solitude or Brighton (btw, which is better?? I have heard 'tude is better). After that I would like to head up to Ogden and hit up Powder Mtn or Snowbasin. I was wondering if you guys had any recommendations on lodging. Are there any deals to be had at the said mtns? I know Alta and Snowbird are $$$ for lodging. As far as staying in the Valley, where would be the closest place to both BCC and LCC? Would Sandy or Cottonwood heights be ideal? There is a deal at a Best Western I have been looking at. Same thing for the Ogden/Snowbasin area, any "good" places to stay?

Rental Cars....It is hard finding a 4x4 cheap this time of year. Would I be OK with a Front WD car? Who has the best deals in SLC??

Boots: I am looking to buy either a pair of Nordica or Technia boots. Who has the best deals and who would fit me well at the same time??

Any other recommendations would be appreciated! Any good places to eat that I can't miss? Good Burrito or Pizza joints??

Thanks!!!

**sculhane** · 01-06-2007, 09:07 AM

I always stay in Midvale or Sandy. The Best Western in Midvale is in a good spot, about 30-35 minutes to Snowbird/Alta/Solitude and 1 hour to Snowbasin. The time you're going is still pretty much low season, I'm sure you can score a decent 2* hotel on Priceline for around 50$ a night. On a one week trip, I wouldn't bother changing hotels to ski Snowbasin for a day or 2, just drive from SLC.

For cars, don't bother with 4WD, too expensive. If it's snowing, take the bus (or get Endless to give you a ride up LCC

)

Both brewpubs on Fort Union, Bohemia and Hoppers, have decent food and beers.

**Gaffney10** · 01-06-2007, 09:43 AM

cool. Thanks man. Good shops & Fitters with both Nordica and Techica out there?

I may just stay in the East SLC area most of the time and stay one night in Ogden..

**SkiED** · 01-06-2007, 11:16 AM

its amazing how many time this exact question gets posted...

**Gaffney10** · 01-06-2007, 05:39 PM

I know man....just asking for advice....my details and questions were different...

**other1** · 01-06-2007, 06:12 PM

Here is what we did...no 4X4 necessary. If you stay in the valley I would recommend the Superpass and use the public transportation. We had good luck with it.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...highlight=Trax

**brutah** · 01-06-2007, 08:15 PM

[QUOTE=Gaffney10;1070342]cool. Thanks man. Good shops & Fitters with both Nordica and Techica out there?
[QUOTE]

Dude at Colesports at the Park City Mountain Resort Center is the best boot fitter in Utah hands down.

If you go to surefoot, go to the one at the canyons and ask for johnny wasatch, my friend's have said good things about his services, plus he has some crazy ass stories.

I have also heard good things about the boot fitters at the deep powder house at alta, but I always take my boots to the dude at Cole's so no first hand experience.

**Gaffney10** · 01-06-2007, 10:05 PM

Yeah I am debating between Colesports and the Deep Powder House. Who would have the better prices?? Who should I ask for at either location?? Any more food suggestions or cool places to stay??

**Bun E. Carlos** · 01-07-2007, 07:40 AM

What kind of skis should I use? Long or short? Wide or thin?

Maybe I should ask Negrodamus?

**ggski** · 01-07-2007, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Gaffney10

Yeah I am debating between Colesports and the Deep Powder House. Who would have the better prices?? Who should I ask for at either location?? Any more food suggestions or cool places to stay??

Have had great success with the fitters at DPH...

**powstash** · 01-07-2007, 11:40 AM

Dude at Colesports at the Park City Mountain Resort Center is the best boot fitter in Utah hands down.

If you go to surefoot, go to the one at the canyons and ask for johnny wasatch, my friend's have said good things about his services, plus he has some crazy ass stories..

Dude is the man - Brutah speaks truth. Jonny Wasatch? That guy has so many nicknames it's unreal. Haven't heard the Wasatch part yet. But yes, he is good and can tell you more crazy wild hold-your-gut funny stories than anyone I know. Ted at Surefoot (the manager) is tops in my book.

I did this interview with Ted a couple of seasons ago

http://feedthehabit.com/articles/sur...ski_boots.html

Oh yea, it's going to dump in Utah that week cause I'll be in the PNW. Enjoy

**Chitown Pow** · 01-07-2007, 12:10 PM

here's a vid I made of some chitown buddies at Powder Mountian on lightning ridge - cat ride. Don't leave Powder Mountain out of the mix, they get more than snowbasin..but your ass does get sore on the long lifts.

My buddies are obviously begginers, but you can see the cat set up, I think it's an extra $8 per ride on top of your ticket. Lightining Ridge is very moderate unless you billy goat around a little and you can find what you're looking for. KEEP TRAVERSING - DON"T DRAIN OUT TOO EARLY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILC7Nhjfx-I

**Gaffney10** · 01-07-2007, 10:37 PM

thanks again guys! any more recommendations on places to stay and eat, etc would be appreciated!

**LFantTitties** · 01-07-2007, 11:25 PM

Ask for Chad at the Deep Powder House in Alta. He actually moves between the shops at the Alta base but the DPH is a good place to start looking for him. He's quite knowledgable and the best bootfitter I've talked to.

**Gaffney10** · 01-07-2007, 11:39 PM

cool, thanks man. Are their prices MSRP or are they pretty reasonable? I am pretty much looking at the Nordica Beast and the Technica Vento.

**crazex** · 01-08-2007, 08:30 AM

I went out to SLC last year, and stayed at the Best Western Executive Inn, in Sandy. Rates were good, and they had a package deal that got you lift tickets to all the LCC/BCC resorts, plus bus fare, and Traxx (the bus stop) is right across the street. They also had free wireless internet. Prices were real good, think I paid about $75/night.

-Jon-

**powstash** · 01-08-2007, 10:06 AM

saw this on Epicski.com. May be worth checking into if you want to rent a 4x4

http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=49885

**flytrip** · 01-08-2007, 11:44 AM

Garlic burger at the Cotton Bottom is a must!

**StinkyD** · 01-08-2007, 02:30 PM

Dude at Cole Sport in PC (the one at the resort not the one on Park Ave) or Ted at Surefoot at the Canyons. Both are solid long-time locals.

Find one good place in Midvale or Sandy and you will be fine. I would day-trip to Powder and Snowbasin. It's not far enough to bother moving base camp. THe mouth of LCC and BCC are so close that it doesn't much matter which you are closest to. The REI on 33rd has some day ticket deals for most of the resorts--others may have better suggestions.

FWD will be fine unless we are getting hammered, which of course is when you will really want to be able to get there. The buses are a back-up option and FWD will get you around the valley in almost any conditions. If there is a big price difference maybe look into buying some chains for the fwd?

**skiguide** · 01-08-2007, 02:39 PM

just would like to point out that your trip falls smack dab on the dates of the official Utah Mini - look there for certain resort days, meeting times & parties.

**gramboh** · 01-08-2007, 03:35 PM

I just got back from a week in SLC. We stayed at the Crystal Inn Midvalley (just off I215 and Union Park). ~35min to LCC/BCC resorts on good road conditions. Decent hotel with free breakfast (eggs, sausage etc, very good, not continental) and free light dinner, hot tub etc. We had a package deal (Travelocity) so I'm not sure the exact cost. Get the super-pass deal, you get a free day (5 for the price of 4, works out to $35US/day or something, really good).

We rented a 4x4 from Avis, ended up getting a brand new Mercury Mountaineer AWD (I think it's a Ford Explorer platform? Seemed bigger though). When it snowed last Thursday, the LCC road was chains/4WD required and lots of people were in the ditch, but I think we would have been fine driving a FWD. It was $469US for 7 days with insurance waived (my car insurance here covers rental SUV).

We did 2 days at Alta, 2 at Solitude, 1 Snowbird and 1 Brighton (yesterday). I would recommend Solitude over Brighton, because Solitude was dead both days (Thurs/Fri) we were there, had awesome tree skiing (Summit lift and Powderhorn gate into Honeycomb). We were getting good snow even on last runs of the day. Brighton was packed (although it was a Sunday and sunny conditions). We did find some good terrain on Millicent and Great something Express, but the mountain just wasn't as fun. Also tons of snowboarders gaping around everywhere (why do they like Brighton, so much traversing), some dude ran right into me on a traverse and promptly ate shit as I was twice his size. Alta and Snowbird of course have the best terrain, and get tracked out fast beacuse of the large number of strong riders at both resorts. We didn't bother with Ogden resorts this trip, the 4 LCC/BCC were enough for a week trip.

**ill-advised strategy** · 01-08-2007, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by Bun E. Carlos

What kind of skis should I use? Long or short? Wide or thin?

Maybe I should ask Negrodamus?

somehow I doubt info on Sandy Utah is Negrodamus' strong suit.

**mooseknuckle** · 01-08-2007, 03:51 PM

Cheap 4x4 available here. It is a Liberty [sigh], but will cost only $200 (with all taxes, etc. included) for rental from 1/9 through 1/14. Best rate I could find although I don't have any experience with the outfit and it kind of bugged me out that they didn't want a credit card to confirm my reservation.

**Gaffney10** · 01-08-2007, 06:44 PM

anybody have any experience with boots at the sport loft? Thanks a ton guys for all the help. I will probably look at staying at the Best Western a few nights and take it from there.

**Gaffney10** · 01-09-2007, 08:54 AM

Thanks for the help guys. Any experience with the Sport Loft? The lift house is a little pricey $$ from what I understand. I am aware though that superior bootfitting will cost more $$. I guess I will visit Cole Sport, Sport Loft and a few others.....

As far as the rental car is concerned I will probably just stick with a FWD sedan and take the bus if it gets bad. I guess if we get dumped on while at a resort, we will just take the bus back.

Any "good deals" out there on "on mountain" lodging? I saw a few at powder mountain. Didn't know if Solitude had any as well?

Thanks for the help!!