Utah Skiing Beyond the Lifts
While Utah ski resorts offer the best skiing in the world accessible from hundreds of chairlifts, there are some skiers who will always wonder what's over the next ridge or around the next corner. For those adventure seekers, Utah offers a smorgasbord of backcountry, out-of-bounds, and beyond the ropes options. There's enough here to fulfill a lifetime of deep powder dreams.
The Ski Utah Interconnect Adventure Tour offers a safe, exciting and unique way to experience the Wasatch mountain backcountry via routes in and out of up to five different ski resorts. Seasoned professional guides lead the way to fabulous off-piste turns, incredible views and a day not soon forgotten. Tours operate seven days a week, weather and conditions permitting, and are open to advanced skiers in good physical condition. Cost is $150 per day and includes guide service, lift access, lunch, use of avalanche beacon, transportation back to point of origin and even a limited edition finisher's pin. For more information call 801-534-1907 or visit www.skiutah.com and click the Interconnect button.
For those with an insatiable powder appetite, nothing beats getting dropped at the top of a pristine backcountry peak in a jet-powered helicopter. Wasatch Powderbird Guides, located near the Cliff Lodge at Snowbird, provides helicopter access to world-famous snow and terrain in Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood, and American Fork Canyons. For updated rates and information contact Wasatch Powderbird Guides at 800-WPG-HELI or www.powderbird.com.
Park City Powder Cats and Heli-Ski offers snow cat skiing and heli skiing in the Uintah Mountains near Park City. With over 20,000 acres of incredible back country terrain to choose from, Park City Powder Cats is sure to find powder. For rates and information call 435-649-6596 or visit www.pccats.com.
Some of Utah's best out-of-bounds skiing is offered through the ski resorts themselves. Many resorts offer backcountry guide service, cat skiing or other programs for those skiers looking for an experience beyond the lifts. Alta Ski Lifts offers a unique skiing adventure of guided off-trail skiing in the Grizzly Gulch Bowl, located in Little Cottonwood Canyon above Alta. A heated custom snow cat takes skiers to the top of Grizzly Gulch at an elevation of 10,500 feet and a 375-acre playground of incredible bowl skiing. Cost is $225 per person for five runs. Call 801-742-3333 ext. 271 for more information. Alta also offers mountaineering trips, backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, ice climbing and more through Alaska Mountain Guides. For more information call 800-736-3396 or visit www.utahmountainguides.com. In addition, Alta works with Exum Utah Mountain Adventures to offer backcountry guide service and courses intro to backcountry touring, ski/snowboard mountaineering, snowshoe tours and avalanche seminars. To register call 801-550-3986(EXUM) or visit www.exum.ofutah.com.
Brian Head Resort's Peak Express Snow Cat service provides quick and easy access to double-black diamond terrain on Brian Head Peak (11,307 feet above sea level) when conditions permit. The cost is $5 per person per ride with a lift ticket or season pass. Those not wishing to utilize the Peak Express service can do a 30-40 minute hike to the peak, conditions permitting. Hundreds of acres of uncrowded backcountry skiing and riding are available adjacent to Brian Head Resort. Access is available through gates at the Resort with the purchase of a lift ticket. It is strongly suggested that all backcountry skiers and riders check in with Brian Head Resort's Ski Patrol prior to venturing out to obtain information regarding recommended areas to go to and the latest weather and snow conditions. For more information call 435-677-2035 or visit www.brianhead.com.
Long famous for its outstanding backcountry access, Brighton Ski Resort offers single-ride passes for just $8 to get skiers to the backcountry quickly, cheaply and easily. Skiers and riders should only exit the resort at designated access gates and observe all closed signs. For more information call 800-873-5512 or visitwww.brightonresort.com.
The Canyons Resort has 2 backcountry access points that are accessible when those areas of the resort are open for skiing/riding. They are located at the top of 9990 and Peak 5 ski lifts. The backcountry points access the US Forest Service land which borders The Canyons. The Canyons posts warning signs for skiers and snowboarders about the inherent danger of entering uncontrolled avalanche terrain at both access points. Checking in with The Canyons Ski Patrol at the Top of 9990 and Peak 5 prior to leaving the resort is recommended. Exum Utah Mountain Adventures offers backcountry courses at The Canyons. For reservations and more information contact www.exum.ofutah.com 801-550-3986.
Powder Mountain Resort has been in the snowcat and deep powder game for a long time and they've perfected the mix of resort and backcountry offerings. Lightning Ridge, Cobabe Canyon, and Wolf Creek are all accessible from a Powder Mountain Snowcat or snowmobile tow. A one-ride pass is just $7. Powder Mountain also offers heli-skiing through Diamond Peaks Heli-skiing. For more information contact Powder Mountain Resort at 801-745-3772 or www.powdermountain.net.
At Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort a Ski Patrol member takes first-time and experienced backcountry skiers and riders into backcountry areas accessed via Snowbird gates. In addition to breaking trail, Snowbird's backcountry experts provide lunch and the requisite safety equipment. As for Snowbird backcountry access policies, two access points - the western edge of Baby Thunder and the base of Mineral Basin Express - are always open to backcountry skiers. Other gates, such as the top of Gad 2 and access to the Twins, open when conditions permit. Anyone accessing the backcountry through Snowbird must have an avalanche beacon, shovel, partner and knowledge of the backcountry. For more information, 800-232-9542 or www.snowbird.com.
Solitude Mountain Resort's Back Tracks program offers backcountry guided tours for groups of 1 to 10 skiers or snowboarders. Guides, which are members of Solitude Mountain Resort´s Professional Ski Patrol, accompany the group into areas just outside the resort boundaries for an all-day excursion. Tours include a 10-ride lift ticket and each guest is provided an avalanche transceiver, backpack, free heel adapters (or snowshoes), climbing skins, and snacks. Also included in the day is a phenomenal lunch from Creekside Restaurant. Cost is $150 per person. For Information on the program and available dates, call 801-536-5705 or 800-748-4754 or email backtracks@skisolitude.com.
Backcountry terrain is not controlled for avalanches. All skiers and riders venturing into the backcountry are strongly encouraged to go with a professional guide or to take an avalanche education course before going into the backcountry. A full list of courses offered in Utah is available through the Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) at www.avalanche.org/~uac/. The UAC also posts daily avalanche advisories for each region in the state. Backcountry users should always check the avalanche advisory before heading out. All skiers and riders utilizing resort backcountry entryways should be well versed in backcountry travel and avalanche conditions and carry appropriate gear (such as beacon, shovel, probe) and be well-educated in backcountry travel. Some Utah resorts, because they are bordered by private land, do not allow skiers or riders to access the backcountry from their lifts. Always check with each resort about their backcountry policy before going out of bounds. And NEVER ski under a rope or past a closed sign.
