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Show 4 Tuesday, November 20,2007 ACTIVITIES: WINTER P l/Alta 2. Brighton Alta's 10,550-foot altitude perches it high in the Wasatch Mountains, keeping It white early. In October and deep into May most years (fingers crossed). Alta also contains some of the state's best inbound diff shots. The variety of the terrain and usually deep snow make Alta a favorite for the states tele crowd. Snowboardlng is not allowed, but if you ask me we should all be multi-faceted snowriders,and we could all use a break from the 14year-old, Fallout-Boy-blasting, textmessaging, boarder mobs. Brighton Resort has claims as the locals' mountain. Ifs not about the fancy stuff, but it's alt about the riding. Brighton Is popular with the high school and college snowboarder park rats, but skiers and families also find their place among the great snow, abundant tree runs and a top-of-the-line terrain park. The backcountry is easily accessible from the top of the lifts, and this year Brighton will offer high-speed access to the whole mountain with the opening of the new Milly Quad. JD 4. Deer Valley 3. The Canyons Strap on your Fischer carver skis and furlined parkas for Deer Valley Resorfs awardwinning groomer runs and don't forget your wallet. DeerValley is Utah's most expensive resort, but the marble and gold plated bathrooms try to make up for the resorfs lack of Interesting terrain. On a non-sarcastic note, DeerValley can make for a good groomed cruiser day when the powder has been chopped out and you can get your hands on a discounted pass. Although the resort has had more names than Puff Daddy, the mountain has stayed largely the same.The open spaces of the resort make it boring for those seeking more technical features. The resorfs competitive ticket prices, especially for students, keep it among the state's most frequented resorts, especially on the weekends. EW Weather delays r< sort open in Utah. It h; open where it has bet much snow as the temp There is a rumor of an old man allowed. Wes Morin, a sophoj who has skied Alta Ski Area his entire life. People say he hasfiguredout studies, went up to Soli the Utah weather pattern for snow day Friday. "It was worth it," Mo: and he's almost always right. The old man believes that this pat- snow was perfect comd tern determines when the resorts East where you're just j will open. As far as this year is con- sheet of ice." Park City has set its cerned, he's dead on. The pattern starts with three sea- for Wednesday. Snov sons that have opening dates before Mountain and Brian H Thanksgiving Day. Then for the fol- the date for this Thursc lowing three seasons, the opening ley is opening Dec. 8, date alternates—one after Thanks- of Utah's resorts are giving, one before, then one after weather and mountain Every six seasons, the pattern starts Most resorts look ti again. inch base before the This year looks to be a post- Chris Searle, the ski-sci \ Thanksgiving snow season. The ma- at Brighton. The 20-inch base csj jority of ski resorts have had to push back their anticipated opening dates and man-made snow, because of the unseasonably warm cover most of the roc weather, and will open on or after weeds on trails, Searlf ton has no base, but t! Thanksgiving. Solitude Ski Resort is the only re- machines and started Jessica Dunn STAFF WRITER EW EW 0 .Ogden Salt Lake] Park City Resort 1 Alta 2 Brighton 3 The Canyons 4 DeerValley 5 Park City 6 Powder Mtn. 7 Snowbasin 8 Snowbird 9 Solitude 10 Sundance 11 Wolf Mtn. Distance from campus (mi.) 23 26 24 29 27 57 52 21 24 51 59 5. Park City Park City is all about the best of the best. You can eat at a five-star restaurant or ride the No. 1 terrain park in the country or ski with Hollywood celebrities and pro riders, induding Shaun White, Aaron Bittner and Stevie Bell. Park City's parks are well taken care of and maintained by their crews. The overall terrain is not as steep as the resorts in the Cottonwood canyons, nor does it get as much snow. But who ares about natural terrain in Park City anyway— you go thereto slide the rails and fly off the giant kickers. JD 8. Snowbird Snowbird has the longest season in Utah, hands-down. Two seasons ago, dosing day was-in July and last season's wa_s, in May. The Snowbird Tram is well known fortoearly morning lines filled with anxious, powder-hungry patrons who await the first tracks down the Cirque, Road to Provo or Chip's Run. The Peruvian Express and Tunnel make Mineral Basin access quick and painless. Although Snowbird's terrain is some of the steepest and most challenging around, ifs too bad they're getting rid of Baby Thunder and only keeping the small Big Emma terrain park. JD 1 Day Pass Night PJMrfe (ft.) S59 $53 30 ^|l,35 $76 a/oo #026 $79 1,300 44 $79 #2,205 $53 19 I 2,950 $62 f 3,240 $69 2,047 $55 2,150 $45 1,000 $26 20 f Skiable Acres 2,200 1,050 3,190 3,000 3,100 5,500 3,300 2,500 1,200 450 110 Average Snowfall (In.) 500 500 355 300 355 500 400 500 500 300 300 Lifts 7 6 17 21 15 7 U 11 8 4 3 Runs 116 66 155 92 104 114 84 89 64 41 20 Terrain Park? 4 2 1 4 2 3 1 1 Snowboarding? No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes The best gear t Obviously our students can't afforcfchis wti CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/n»ftwfrW«*a'W"(fc 7. Snowbasin 6. Powder Mountain The name doesn't lie. Powder Mountain prides itself on not making artificial snow—and It shouldn't need to with the 500 inches per year the resort averages. Ifs never crowded and you can still find fresh powder a week after a storm. Powder Mountain also boasts the most skiable acres of any resort in the United States and it doesn't have high-speed quads, gondolas, fancy lodges or gourmet food. Is that a positive or a negative, you ask? Ifs all in the eye of the beholder. Just be warned about the steep, narrow, twisty road up and don't forget the chains or 4x4 on snowy days. JD One of Utah's best-kept secrets is hiding up north. Snowbasin Ski Resort is like the Park City of Ogden with its fancy lodges and gondolas, but you won't pay for it at the ticket office. You can go test your bravery on the runs used for the men's and women's downhill, Super G and combined races for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Or you can just take a ride up to check out the viewand remind yourself that Super G racers are truly insane. You can also get a stunning view of the Ogden Valley from the top of the Strawberry Gondola while you traverse into the bowl. Don't fall over the edge, though. 11. Wolf Mountain 9. Solitude 10. Sundance As the Cottonwoods' forgotten child. Solitude has managed to provide the terrain and snow conditions the area is famous for while avoiding over-the-top mountain development and overcrowding. Honeycomb Canyon on the backside of the resort hides some of the best tree skiing in the state, as well as seemingly eternal powder pockets. EW Although tfs located near cougar town, Sundance Mountain Resort in the North Fork of Provo Canyon is one of Utah's best-kept ski secrets. Even though it shares a name with the world-famous film festival, the artsy types stay in Park Gty, leaving the resort line-free on most days. The geography of Sundance makes it a dumping ground for northbound storms, attracting loyalists of other resorts when their home mountains get skipped. - .WolfMountainusedtobecalledNoKli&> Valley Wolf Creek Resort, but I wouldn't be surprised if you've never heard of either of them. Wolf is a tiny resort with three lifts and a few runs. Ifs great for beginners because ifs usually not too steep or too crowded. Most patrons are families and learners. Wolf doesn't get as much snow as other resorts because of its lower elevation, and it can get a little icy at night But the lift tickets are cheap if you're looking to learn without paying an arm or a leg. JD EW Compiled by Eric Williams and Jenlca Dunn Beacon training can save lives Eric Williams pensive rabbit's foot unless you practice often," said Bruce Tremper, avalanche expert and director of the Forest Service Whether on skis, snowboards, snow- Utah Avalanche Center. shoes or snowmobiles, backcountry travelIn the excitement of purchasing a new ers going deep into the Wasatch Mountains snowmobile or pair of snowshoes, many should always remember to pack the essen- people buy the emergency equipment the tial emergency avalanche tools—a shovel, salesman suggests, only to realize they probe and beacon. The shovel and probe have no idea how to work the little gadget are self-explanatory and easy to use—on with the flashing light. Although the techthe other hand, beacons can vary widely in nology of avalanche transceivers is simple, design and operation. it can take some getting used to. Even backBeacons are radio transceivers that can country guides and ski patrollers work frebe attached to backcountry travelers and quently to hone their beacon skills. Thanks aid rescue efforts in the event that some- to some of these local professionals, Utahns now have a multitude of beacon one is trapped in an avalanche. Being the skiers' mecca that Utah is, the practice facilities where anyone can take Beehive State is fortunate to have several their beacon and learn the skills that could local facilities where novices to experts save one's life or the life of a friend. can get some necessary beacon practice. Thanks to the Wasatch Backcountry The advent of lightweight probes and Rescue and some Utah ski resorts, there shovels and the technological advances of are now four EasySearch beacon practice avalanche transceivers and products such parks within an hour of Salt Lake City. as the AvaLung have emboldened back- The parks featuring the Swiss EasySearch country travelers—and saved lives. A back- systems are open and free to the public pack full of tools is of little use, however, if all winter. The parks are located near the the trapped individual is not familiar with bases of Snowbird, Snowbasin, Solitude his or her equipment. and The Canyons. "Beacons are nothing more than an exThe wireless EasySearch systems are portable and solar-powered. The brain of the system can remotely activate multiple beacons buried under varying depths of snow. Once the beacons have been turned on, searchers use their own beacons to locate the EasySearch beacons, turning them off by striking a plate with an avalanche probe. After all the beacons have been located, participants can return to the control unit to find out how long it took them to find each beacon. "Beacons only work if you practice regularly with them and that includes digging practice," said Tremper, who practices monthly with his staff at one of the facilities. "Since most recreational users don't practice very often, very few are able to find their partner in time to save their life." Beacons emit radio-type signals, which can aid in the rescue of someone caught in an avalanche. Tremper also recommends that anyone wearing a beacon also wear an AvaLung, STAFF WRITER which allows a buried victim to breathe for an hour rather than the 15 minutes he or she would have without an AvaLung. Another park dedicated to helping snowmobilers learn to use avalanche beacons is located in the Uinta Mountains at Noblett's trailhead. The Uinta park was brought to the state by the Utah Avalanche Center working with Backcountry Access, a Boulder, Colo., based company. This park is open and free to all users throughout the winter. This system utilizes beacons connected to the control panel by buried wires. As with the EasySearch parks, the searchers deactivate the buried beacons by probing strike boards. Although organizations like Search and Rescue and the Wasatch Backcountry Rescue exist to help stranded travelers, an avalanche victim's best chance at survival is in the hands of his or her companions. Time is precious to a person running out of oxygen under eight feet of - snow. Even if a companion finds a victim with a transceiver or probe he or she still must shovel two tons of dense snow by hand to free someone buried under four feet of snow. Most ski shops sell four or five different models of beacons. Everyone has a preference when it comes to design and features, but all beacons are designed to be used together. The practice parks are designed to work with all modern beacons. Another great way to become more comfortable in avalanche terrain—while getting school credit—is to take one of the classes offered by the U's Parks, Recreation, and Tourism department. Backcountry Avalanche and Avalanche Awareness classes are taught each Spring Semester. The classes fill up fast, so if you can't get on the waiting list this semester be sure to think ahead for next year. Beacons, shovels, probes and many other backcountry products can be rented through the U's outdoor recreation program located on 2140 East Red Butte Rd. e.williams@ chTonicle.utah.edu l Snowboarder Helmut—Pro-Tec Vigilante Andreas Wiig Signature ($155) Goggles—Electric EG1 s Chrome ($120) Coat—Special Blend Utility ($220) ^ ^ Snowboard—Rome Detail ($340) ^Gloves—Grenad^ngtjer | j Happy ($64) ; Pants—686 Smafty Lowrise ($230) ^Bindings—Salomon Re.jSy Pro KSV f- ($250) '..•'"' Boots—Burton Supreme Heat ($430) .. .* : |
