Connie Lawn: Snowbasin and Alta, Utah

Snowbasin is a magnificent area, with more than enough trails and challenges for everyone. And all are welcome - including snowboarders. Snowbasin was the site of several events for the 2002 Olympics, and the luxurious lounges, restaurants, and shops were completed just a few days before.

On the day we were there -February 10 - the runs were hard packed and too fast for me to safely handle. There was plenty of snow on the sides, but the regulars say they need more. The light was flat, and I could not see the incredible vistas. But we knew they were there from 3 other visits. With less than a one hour drive from Salt Lake City, and all day lifts at $65, Snowbasin is well worth the trip. It is best to stay in Salt Lake or Ogden, Utah, and there is some shuttle bus service available.

The lounges of Snowbasin look like a combination of Versailles and an Italian castle. The buffet lunch serves a variety of gourmet cuisine, at competitive prices for fancy foods.

The bathrooms have golden faucets and plumbing. They have managed to be even fancier than Deer Valley. I could happily spend a few nights in the lounge. But, when you go out to ski, you are well rewarded.

Snowbasin says it has 3,000 skiable acres and a verticle drop of 3,000 feet. It has more than 113 runs , terrain parks, tubing, and Nordic trails. Its’ highest peak is 9,370 feet, and it has two Gondolas among its 10 lifts.

There are a variety of activities for all ages. We saw a lot of young children, and a host of senior skiers, in addition to the usual mix of college and family age skiers and boarders. There was a race and snowboard competition, and a large winter sports equipment show underway when we were there. That brought moderate “crowds” to Snowbasin, but it is nothing compared to what we have in the East. By the way, everyone was talking about our blizzards, and many wanted the snow their way. Vancouver could use some too!

Alta is A #1 for thrills, beauty, and value. We had an exceptional day on Feb 9th. We were graced with an extra day of skiing, when our flights got cancelled. Tremendous thrill to ski groomed easy runs, while viewing the steep peaks around us. It is also daunting to realize there is great avalanche danger, with the steep mountains and the heavy snow amounts – some of the highest in North America. It is somewhat comforting to see the handsome avalanche dogs and their handlers on duty for any problems.

Alta is good bargain skiing - $66 a day and $56 half day. The combined Alta – Snowwbird ticket gives you access to both areas and 4,7000 acres. It costs about $32 extra. There is a special deal for rentals after 2:30 - $16 from the Alta Ski shop, and free skiing after 3 on Sunnyside Lift. This is a great idea for large families.

Alta is another area which denies Snowboards, but you can ride down from the Snowbird side. You might feel uncomfortable; signs say "Alta is a skiers mountain; Snowboarding is not allowed."

It is a high mountain, with Mt. Baldy at 11,068 feet.

Alta lists 25% as Easy, 40% of More Difficult, and 35% as Most Difficult. It also places great emphasis on continued teaching, and lessons for all levels of skiing. I agree, and do much better when I ski with an instructor or a mountain host. I definitely need to regain the confidence I had in my first 45 years of skiing! Connie Lawn

Connie Lawn has a passionate love for NZ. She worked for Radio New Zealand for 20 years, and then for Radio Live for a few years. Connie has covered the White House and the world since 1968. Her other passion is skiing, and she calls herself "the skiing White House reporter." Her ski stories are on dcski.com and other outlets. Connie is also heard on thousands of radio stations, but firmly believes the internet is the future. She can be reached at connie@scoop.co.nz

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