The latest national publication to heap praise on Utah skiing is Outside magazine, whose readers picked Alta/Snowbird as the continent's best ski area. Snowbasin placed fifth, Solitude 13th.
Utah's three selections in the top 15 is second to Colorado's five — Vail (third), Silverton Mountain (seventh), Aspen Highlands and Snowmass (eighth), Steamboat (10th) and Telluride (12th). California had two selections — Squaw Valley (ninth) and Mammoth (11th), as did British Columbia with Whistler/Blackcomb (second) and Fernie Alpine Resort (sixth). Wyoming (Jackson Hole, 4th), New Mexico (Taos, 15th) and Alaska (Alyeska, 14th) had one apiece. Alyeska is owned by Alta resident John Byrne III.
Snow quality was the most important consideration cited by 78 percent of the people who responded to the survey by Outside, a monthly publication with paid circulation in 2008 of 675,000. Hence, Alta/Snowbird's ascent to the top.
"Sitting on the bull's-eye of the Wasatch Range's freakishly powerful storm track . . . AltaBird is the closest you can get to a sure thing," the magazine said. "Learn the ins and outs of the many traverses and hikes (try Alta's Devils Castle and the 'Bird's Thunder Bowl) and you'll ski soft snow on new lines for weeks.
"What both places share, other than a dearth of nightlife, is a lack of pretense. Everyone is here for powder. And they get it," it added. The survey also noted that only 1 percent of respondents cared about nightlife.
The magazine advised national readers to try Snowbasin on a weekend when Park City is crowded, anticipating they will be impressed by its posh day lodges. While not as snowy as Alta, "the snow quality (less skier compaction) and the terrain (everything from 2,500-foot treed runs to mellow bowls to hairball chutes) make up for
it."
Solitude received recognition for the well-spaced trees of the Headwall Forest and its less-crowded ambiance, at least during the day. "The sidecountry feel of Honeycomb Canyon encourages you to hunt your powder over the course of a chill day. Which is followed by a chill night — the two bars shut down at 9:30."
— Mike Gorrell