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Snow Sprayer
from Pennsylvania
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May 9, 2007 |
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Overall Rating: 4.0   |
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For a place where you can ski just about anywhere, Alta excels. Every kind of terrain you could possibly imagine, from high alpine bowls and steeps to more gentle terrain to glades, some of almost flat pitch, and some at a steep pitch with sudden cliff drops (as if glade skiing wasn't hard enough). NO SNOWBOARDERS!!!!!!!! Alta has amazingly dry powder, and I place it as the second best powder in North America (number one is Grand Targhee, Wyoming). There isn't a whole lot of Apres ski oppurtunities at the resort, but if you drive about 45 minutes to Salt Lake City, there is plenty to do there. Overall, one of the best ski resorts I have ever been to. You just can't have another experience like Alta unless you actually go there (I also skied at Brighton and Solitude, both stellar resorts as well)
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Darryl K. Lewis
from Jamaica, New York
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Mar 22, 2007 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.4 |
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Skitown Review
Ski resort reviews can be helpful only if you know the skill level and skiing perspective of the person authoring the review. My perspective is focused on the actual skiing experience (Terrain/Crowd/snow/factors), and not so much on the ancillary aspects surrounding skiing. I am a middle-age advanced skier with no interest in jumping off cornices or cliffs. I will often at high speeds hit a small lip in the terrain and get a little air, but thats about the extent of it. I venture in and out of moderate mogul fields in an attempt to become a better all-around skier, but I tend not to spend a majority of my ski day dealing with the bumps. If I had to describe the type of skier with which I most closely identify, it would be a high speed cruiser who enjoys medium to giant slalom turns. Three other ski buddies and I just finished a weeks skiing trip in Utah. We skied Alta, Solitude, Brighton, and Snowbird. With that said, here are my impressions of Alta:
Terrain Rated 5.0:
One has no choice but to give the maximum rating allotted with respect to terrain. Alta has it all: steeps, cliffs, chutes, cruisers, bowls, and glades. Snowboarders forget it! There are no terrain parks and snowboarders are not allowed at Alta. Two of my favorite trails are accessed from the Wildcat lift on the far right facing the mountain. They are called Stimulation and Johnsons Warm-up. They are very steep and usually groomed cruisers. You really have to crank some turns to keep from gaining excessive speeds. In order to really enjoy Alta, one should be at least an accomplished intermediate skier. Alta claims to have 25% of their trails for beginner skiers, but you couldnt prove it by me.
Service Rated 3.0:
Altas customer service efforts were generally on par with most ski resorts. The one thing that appeared somewhat inconsistent, is the fact that Alta markets itself as a somewhat Spartan rustic type of resort where the skiing is traditional and as it used to be. My impression, prior to visiting Alta, was that it would be Utahs answer to Vermonts Mad River Glen. But to my surprise, the lifts we rode appeared to be relatively new and operated quite efficiently. When we stopped for lunch at the mid-mountain Watkins Shelter Collins Grill, we found a modern and comfortable dining area which was serviced by the Collins quad chair that could load and unload directly a few feet from the Shelter. This was not exactly what I call traditional and rustic. As usual, I had chili for lunch, which was quite good. It had a good but mild flavor with chunks of beef.
Crowds Rating 4.0:
We skied Alta on a Wednesday which did not present a particular crowd issue. No lift lines and wide open spaces.
Activities Rating 5.0:
Alta itself has no tubing, half-pipe, or other snow related activities (other than skiing). The choices of activities are numerous due to the ski areas proximity to Salt Lake City. On our day off from skiing, we shopped, visited Temple Square, Trolley Square, the University of Utah, and toured inner Salt Lake City. We took a short trip to Antelope Island, which is a desert isle in the middle of the Great Salt Lake. We got a chance to view bison (buffalo) in the wild, and was told that 700 head of buffalo roam the island in an unrestricted but natural setting. On Antelope Island we also had the opportunity to sample some buffalo burgers. Although its flavor was different, it really was quite good.
Value: - Rating 5.0:
The Cottonwood Canyons Super Pass allows you to ski Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, and Solitude at a common but reduced lift ticket price. It also allows you free access on the UTA ski shuttle buses to each of these resorts. In addition, it also gives you free access to the light rail system (TRAX) into downtown Salt Lake City. If you stay at any participating lodging facility (which are quite numerous in the Salt Lake City area), you can purchase your Super Pass right at the front desk. The Super Pass allows you to plan a ski vacation without including the price of a rental car.
In summary, from the pure skiing perspective that I present, Alta gives everything you could ask from a ski resort. As a matter of fact, this holds true for Solitude, Brighton, as well as Snowbird. The sizes of the resorts are the differentiating factors, but you wont go wrong if you choose any one of the four. It is extremely tough to rank them, but if I had to, it would be as follows: #1 Snowbird; #2 Solitude; #3 Alta; and #4 Brighton. If this review was helpful, feel free to consult my reviews of Solitude, Brighton, and Snowbird.
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Ski 4 Bob
from Naperville, Illinois
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Mar 1, 2007 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.6 |
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My son and I spent the second week of January 2007 staying at the Peruvian and even though the snow was only so-so, except for the last 2 days which were great, the experience was awesome. Alta has no pretentious attitude. The people and the skiing are real. The terrain rocks, you will not be bored here unless you are not that good of a skier. But if you like steeps, trees and fast skiing this is the place for you. As far as the Peruvian, well the rooms are small and cozy but the place is great. The food is fantastic and the fact that breakfast, lunch and dinner are included is great. Don't eat lunch on the mountain, save the money and take westward ho directly to the lodge and enjoy the lunch you are already paying for. The staff at Alta could not be nicer and we have decided that we must make Alta an annual trip. It doesn't get any better than this. But wait on second thought, Colorado resorts are much better, you would really be much better off going there!
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Brian Forrester
from Indianapolis, Indiana
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Oct 26, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 5.0 |
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Fantastic mountain and even better snow. To any of you that gripe about snowboarders not being permitted, cross the ridge and stay at Snowbird, especially whiney women from Colorado. You know what, stay in Co. and ski/board to your heart's content. Alta is a skier's mountain, and that's why many of us love her so. I'll continue to make seasonal trips to Alta as long as they keep the knuckle-draggers out.
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Ellen Banner
from Vail,Colorado
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May 10, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.0 |
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I am a skier and have skied most of my life in Vail, Colorado. I understand you don't allow snowboarders being that they push all your powder off. I have seen many Snowboarders and Skiers do this as beginers. Snowboarders saved the Skiing industry and your mountain should relize this. I am a faithfull skier and relize it so; such a great mountain like yourself should as well. If you have so much powder to spare then share the love and don't be greedy. I went to Alta with my family it was great I wanted to bring my best friend but she couldn't come because she is a snowboarder.
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George Alvarez-Correa
from McLean, Virginia
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Mar 21, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.2 |
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Alta scores among my favorite ski resorts in North America for the folliowing reasons:
1. No Snowboarders!!!
2. Impressive terrain and beautiful scenery.
3. Plenty of dry powder -- ideal for deep snow skiing.
4. Affordable ski lift tickets (including morning-only passes).
5. Ability to ski into Snowbird (for an added price, of course).
The only thing that could be improved is converting the Supreme lift into a high-speed quad, or adding a hi-speed quad between Supreme and Sugarloaf.
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Ui-Wing
from NYC, NY
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Mar 14, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.6 |
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Best snow on earth! A bad year in Alta is likely a great year everywhere else. The mountain is nestled perfectly to get tons of snow while being shielded from fierce winds that tend to ruin ski trips elsewhere. The terrain is varied with something for everyone - from gentle groomers to "steep & deep"s. Alta should be considered a national treasure.
While the lift system is antiquated, it is not without charm and the staff are friendly and down-to-earth. I've been to Alta on weekdays only so I can imagine that with large crowds, the slower lifts could get overwhelmed.
Unquestionably one of the best resorts out there!
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Juan Aguil
from Madrid, España
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Mar 11, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.0 |
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Great snow, great powder, no crowds, slow lifts...NO SNOWBOARDS....everything was perfect.
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David Weeks
from Tempe, AZ
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Dec 14, 2005 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.4 |
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This will always be my No. 1 spot to ski anywhere!
They already have a 60+ inch base before the middle of December. No boarders retains their consistent snow longer. Not much ambience here, but for just plain ole' fun skiing it has to remain as A-1. Litt ticket remains under 50 bucks and with all that champagne powder you always get your uncrowded money's worth.
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John
from Leonard, MI
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Oct 14, 2005 |
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| Overall Rating: 5.0 |
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I'm 48 years old (is that middle aged or just old?). I've been to the East, been to the West, and even ski'd in Ohio. All's I know, if a doctor give me a week to live, I'm going back to Alta.
