Alta

[Edd]

Gonna try to go (work permitting) during the first week of Feb. I've never skied Utah and I realize there are alot of options. We're just focusing on Alta for now.

Any tips or advice on the place would be appreciated. I know it's just opposite Snowbird. I see they sell tickets so that you can ski both on the same day but those are really expensive and, given the size of both places, seems silly. It looks better to get ticks to one or the other. Am I missing something?

Also curious about the lodges on the mountain. Anyone stayed at those?

 

[Geoff]

Gonna try to go (work permitting) during the first week of Feb. I've never skied Utah and I realize there are alot of options. We're just focusing on Alta for now.

Any tips or advice on the place would be appreciated. I know it's just opposite Snowbird. I see they sell tickets so that you can ski both on the same day but those are really expensive and, given the size of both places, seems silly. It looks better to get ticks to one or the other. Am I missing something?

Also curious about the lodges on the mountain. Anyone stayed at those?

Alta isn't "just opposite" Snowbird. To get to Alta as you drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon, you drive right by Snowbird.

You definitely want to ski both places. Over the years, I probably have 3x more days at Snowbird than Alta.

If you are staying at one of the lodges at Alta, you can take the shuttle bus down to Snowbird and ski there for the day. If you don't get a tram ticket, Snowbird isn't particularly expensive. At the end of the day, you can take the lift up from the back side of Snowbird to Alta and ski back to your lodge.

I've stayed at the Peruvian. It's totally retro-1950's. The rooms are tiny. Many of the rooms have a shared bath. It's community dining. I guess everybody should do it once. I've stayed at the Cliff Lodge at Snowbird quite a few times.

 

[WoodCore]

As Geoff said you should really ski at both areas but forgo buying the joint pass, It's just a waste of money.

I've stayed at the Cliff Lodge, Gold Miners Daughter and the Peruvian over the years and much preferred the lodges at Alta to the Cliff as they are somewhat retro, no-frills and all about the skiing. Regardless, there is nothing better than staying up at one of lodges in Little Cottonwood Canyon during a snowstorm as the road up the canyon often closes leaving all the fresh powder to those who stayed the night up in the canyon.

 

[darent]

goldminers daughter lodge, greatplace.quadlift a very short walk away and a skishop in the same bldg.best place to stay at alta ,IMHO.no need to spend extra money for joint ticket take shuttle and ski snowbird for a couple of days,cliff lodge at snowbird is highend with spa and all frills, they have shuttles that run to other ski areas, but no need to leave LCC. just ski ALTA and SNOWBIRD. have fun!!

 

[snoseek]

For the money I would not stay at any the lodges except maybe the snowpine in a dorm. I like the comforts of SLC, especially at night. Do not pay the window price for tickets.

 

[MonkeyBrook]

Any suggestions on how to avoid "window pricing". I am heading out there in a few weeks for Atla, Snowbird, DV, and probably Powder or Solitude. Have been there many times...would love suggestions on tickets. We are staying at base of LCC (Marriott...points).

 

[Geoff]

Any suggestions on how to avoid "window pricing". I am heading out there in a few weeks for Atla, Snowbird, DV, and probably Powder or Solitude. Have been there many times...would love suggestions on tickets. We are staying at base of LCC (Marriott...points).

The local ski shops sell them.
http://www.skinsee.com/tickets.html

 

[snoseek]

http://www.canyonsports.com/utah_discount_lift_tickets.php there will be one in Sandy-not far from where you're staying. Snowbird chairs only-54$ !!!!

or
https://www.orbitz.com/Secure/Prepa...ctId=6121&prodIdx=-1&dateless=true&market=SLC This works better if you have no rental car as bus fares are included.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

The local ski shops sell them.
http://www.skinsee.com/tickets.html

Nice..I bookmarked that for when I go to Utah in March..,

 

[redalienx11]

http://www.lifthousesports.com/products/products.asp?category=5&typo=1

nice ski shop in a convenient location- same prices as ski n see i think

 

[MonkeyBrook]

Thanks all, much appreciated.

 

[ccskier]

I also looked for Tickets on Ebay last year when I went, that helped also.

You should also check out Solitude, that and Snowbird were my favorites. Alta is cool, but I think kind of over rated.

 

[MichaelJ]

Don't bother with the both-areas-on-the-same-day ticket, but do get the ticket that allows you to ski either area. If you're going for long enough, they have the ski-x-of-y-days ticket. For example, you get 5 days of skiing across 6 calendar days. The discounts compared to a ticket a day are quite good, and you build a rest/bad weather day into your trip, especially useful if you can't get up into the canyon.

Alta uses proximity cards. When you show up the first time, regardless of what type of ticket you're getting/using, you have to fork over a few dollars and you get a card that's "permanently" yours, with the day "loaded" on it. Then, you just keep it in a hip pocket and when you get to a lift, the gate reads it automatically and opens. Go back the next day and you "reload" from your superpass (the x-of-y days thing) or reload from the web, cash, etc.

The Watson Shelter got our vote for best lunch spot at Alta. Creekside Cafe at Snowbird. Plan on 1/2 day at least for each "lift area" ... in other words, we spent an entire half-day on Supreme, a few hours on Sugarloaf, and a whole day just on Collins and Wildcat. If you go to Snowbird be sure to take either the tram or the tunnel to Mineral Basin if you get a dump. Also count on a day just on Gadzoom/Gad 2/Little Cloud on the far Snowbird side.