Powder Mountain, UT

andyzee · Post by **andyzee** » Dec 21st, '06, 16:19

Anyone have any experience skiing here? They claim to be the largest resort in the US with 5500 acres. I'll be in Utah in February and was planning on going to Snowbasin, but now this place has peaked my interest.

tyrolean_skier · Post by **tyrolean_skier** » Dec 21st, '06, 16:25

I believe it is a favorite for snowboarders. I know that Hal U Dewin has mentioned it a few times.

Talisman · Post by **Talisman** » Dec 21st, '06, 16:29

I have been to Powder Mountain and it was a very good time. Lots of friendly people, uncrowded, cheap lift ticket, lots of fresh snow, odd lift set up, untracked galor, slow lifts, deep pillowy base in the trees, a lot of traversing to get around, really laid back, to ski the whole area requires skiing to a road and getting a ride back on a four wheel drive bus where you meet people who will share more good stuff with you. Lift served isn't very steep but interesting and powder stashes were easy to find days after a storm.

I found the goods more easily at Snow Basin which is near by. I would ski Snow Basin right after the storm and Powder Mountain later.

ozzy · Post by **ozzy** » Dec 21st, '06, 16:30

That was a stop durring the blissful six weeks in feb-march 1997 where i lived in a van with four dudes and ski bummed all around staying in ski resort parking lots if we could.

first off the place may be large, but it's flat. picture a large snowdon.
kinda isolated so there isn't alot of traffic and the snow stays for days.
they call it powder mountain for a reason, it gets a buttload of snow.
There was a snowmobile service that you grabbed onto that took you to a cool basin. from there you could hike more to gets to the totally untouched goods or decent.
oh yhea, it's the only western resort that i've been to or heard of where you park at the top and ski down.
i believe that it's 2 1/2 hrs from SLC.

powday · Post by **powday** » Dec 21st, '06, 16:31

great description, talisman - I would try to hit both powder mtn and snowbasin

Stormchaser · Post by **Stormchaser** » Dec 21st, '06, 16:34

Powder Mtn is a cool little place. Reverse mountain with the lodge/parking lot up top (or pretty close anyway). Lodge is very old school, picnic benches and tables, little bar area. We found knee to waist deep snow a week after the last snowstorm, all day long. Do the cat skiing for $7/run if conditions permit and/or ski the backside (frontside) to the shuttle bus. Snow hides in the shade and north facing aspects very well. Cheapest lift ticket in UT as I recall. Nobody goes there, had the place to our selves. It isnt the biggest mtn in the world, but spread out pretty well. Few short steep shots here and there, some really nice trees, both steep and mellow. Few hucks within view of the liftline - easy to find and scope.

Note that last chair in the furthest bowl is 330 or something. We showed up at 329 and ski patrol had already done their sweep and was loading the last chair. They didnt seem too happy that they missed us out there...

Best stashes if you're hurtin for freshies is off the Poma.

skibags · Post by **skibags** » Dec 21st, '06, 16:43

i have skied powder mtn two or three times. I will be there this Mid feb with my 13 yr old son. While the description of it being like Snowden Mtn rings true what is also true is that it is mostly open space rather then trail skiing so you have quite nice open tree runs, meadow runs etc. I have hired a Mtn Guide by the name of Marcus Waite for the whopping cost of $50 for a half day . Marcus usually turns it into a full day. He showed us the goods even in a bad snow year two yrs ago. What a cool character.. The snowmobile tow is gone.. In its place is a new enclosed snowcat to take you up to lightening ridge. From there it is tree skiing down to the road ( maybe 1200 vert) for a pickup by the school bus shuttle. You need an extra ticket for the cat , maybe $8 a ride. I would say it is 1 hour from the airport , maybe a little more from Sandy. Near Ogden Utah.

I have skied Snowbasin too in 2001 just before the Olympics. Liked it ..but I like Powder more.. However I would not ski a week at Powder ..just a day or two at most..then move on to basin..then to the steeps and crowds of Little Cottonwood canyon resorts.

robrules · Post by **robrules** » Dec 21st, '06, 16:44

I rode there after a 2 foot dump. Had a blast in the powder country section where you ride down to the road - powder up to my armpits. All the traverses/flat trails that lead down to the lifts suck on a board if you're not familiar with the terrain (kind of like the bowls at vail). Best bet is to talk up the locals when you are on the lift (which are all non-high speed iirc) and have them show you the goods. We hooked up with a local guy who showed us mucho untracked all afternoon.

skibags · Post by **skibags** » Dec 21st, '06, 16:48

tis true to watch out on flats for a boarder.. we are on skiis.

andyzee · Post by **andyzee** » Dec 21st, '06, 16:51

skibags wrote:I have skied Snowbasin too in 2001 just before the Olympics. Liked it ..but I like Powder more.. However I would not ski a week at Powder ..just a day or two at most..then move on to basin..then to the steeps and crowds of Little Cottonwood canyon resorts.

Actually, I'll be staying in Sandy for 9 days and plan on doing mostly Solitude, Alta, and Snowbird. I've heard plenty of good stuff about Snowbasin, so do plan to check that out for one day. Then I noticed that Powder is close to Snowbasin and that's why I'm trying to get more info. Sounded interesting but at the same time I did suspect what some are now saying slow lifts and flat.

Stormchaser · Post by **Stormchaser** » Dec 21st, '06, 16:52

skibags wrote:tis true to watch out on flats for a boarder.. we are on skiis.

Poma too. Fun times watching boarders try to ride the Poma. Not an easy task to master...

Stormchaser · Post by **Stormchaser** » Dec 21st, '06, 16:57

andyzee wrote:
skibags wrote:I have skied Snowbasin too in 2001 just before the Olympics. Liked it ..but I like Powder more.. However I would not ski a week at Powder ..just a day or two at most..then move on to basin..then to the steeps and crowds of Little Cottonwood canyon resorts.
Actually, I'll be staying in Sandy for 9 days and plan on doing mostly Solitude, Alta, and Snowbird. I've heard plenty of good stuff about Snowbasin, so do plan to check that out for one day. Then I noticed that Powder is close to Snowbasin and that's why I'm trying to get more info. Sounded interesting but at the same time I did suspect what some are now saying slow lifts and flat.

Andy, its fun...go.

St. Jerry · Post by **St. Jerry** » Dec 21st, '06, 18:57

Powder Mountain suks. Stay away. and tell all of your friends it sucks and to stay away too. Poor snow, crowded, and expensive.

ozzy · Post by **ozzy** » Dec 21st, '06, 19:10

St. Jerry wrote:Powder Mountain suks. Stay away. and tell all of your friends it sucks and to stay away too. Poor snow, crowded, and expensive.

so does Mt Rose, Loveland, Targhee and Mt Baker

andyzee · Post by **andyzee** » Dec 21st, '06, 19:27

St. Jerry wrote:Powder Mountain suks. Stay away. and tell all of your friends it sucks and to stay away too. Poor snow, crowded, and expensive.

So, are you saying I shouldn't go there?