stefan
02-04-2007, 09:48 AM
http://www.sltrib.com/travel/ci_5152011
Out-of-state slopes
By Tom Wharton
The Salt Lake Tribune
It might be hard to believe Wasatch Front skiers spoiled by multiple world-class resorts within an hour from their homes would take an out-of-state ski vacation.
But it happens all the time.
"Having spent 29 years at Grand Targhee, I've always been shocked that Utah skiers come here," said the Wyoming resort's vice president of marketing Susie Barnett-Bushong. "But we have a long, rich tradition of hosting Utah skiers. Utah skiers and snowboarders appreciate good snow. And we can deliver on that."
Resorts such as Jackson and Grand Targhee in Wyoming, Big Sky, Mont., and Telluride, Colo., as well as the more upscale Ruby Mountain Heli-Experience near Elko, Nev., are a relatively easy drive from the Wasatch Front. And they just might have more snow these days.
Grand Targhee
Less than a five-hour drive from Salt Lake City to the small town of Driggs, Idaho, Grand Targhee's big appeal to Utahns might be its family packages. Kids 14 and younger ski and stay free. Deals include a two-day, two-night package for $195 per person or a three-night, three-day ski experience for $295 a person; kids still ski free. The resort is just six miles inside the Wyoming border. It has two mountain peaks with 3,000 skiing or riding acres. The resort has five trails for nordic enthusiasts, as well as a tubing park and an ice rink. For information,
visit www.grandtarghee.com.
* FROM SALT LAKE CITY: 285 miles; 4 hours, 35 minutes
* AS A MATTER OF FACT: It's family-friendly, with free skiing for kids 14 and younger, a tubing park and ice rink.
Big Sky
When combined with adjacent Moonlight Basin, Big Sky can make the claim as the largest ski complex in the country. The resort is about a six-hour drive from Salt Lake City, between Bozeman, Mont., and Yellowstone National Park. It has a wide variety of terrain and offers free skiing for Utahns who have purchased season ski passes at Brighton. Deals, which can be difficult to get on busy holiday weekends, include a $199-per-person rate for two nights' lodging, two days of lift tickets and a breakfast buffet. Big Sky has 150 named runs on 3,812 acres covering 85 miles, on three mountains. It consistently boasts some of the nation's shortest lift lines. For resort information, visit www.bigskyresort.com.
* FROM SALT LAKE CITY: 420 miles; 6 hours, 30 minutes
* AS A MATTER OF FACT: Season-pass holders at Utah's Brighton Mountain can ski for free at Big Sky.
Telluride
This remote Colorado ski destination is a slightly longer drive for Wasatch Front residents, at about seven hours, but is ideal for Price and Moab area residents looking to ski. The resort features 1,700 acres of skiing over 84 trails, and is slightly easier than some other resorts with 24 percent beginner runs and 38 percent intermediate served by 16 lifts. The picturesque mining town offers plenty of nightlife. And the free Telluride Mountain Village gondola is 100 percent powered with renewable energy. For information on the resort, visit www.tellurideskiresort.com.
* FROM MOAB: 132 miles; 2 hours, 33 minutes
* AS A MATTER OF FACT: Telluride is a friendly resort for less-experienced skiers, with 24 percent beginner runs and 38 percent intermediate runs.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
The scenic resort, five hours from Salt Lake City and 12 miles northwest of the town of Jackson, on the tip of Yellowstone National Park, is spread over two mountains, with 2,500 acres of in-bounds terrain. Things move fast with a high-speed gondola, two detachable quad chairs, four fixed-grip quad chair lifts, two triple chair lifts and two double chair lifts. An open backcountry gate system accesses another 3,000 acres of skiing. Condominium and ski packages are available. For information, visit www.jacksonhole.com.
* FROM SALT LAKE CITY: 317 miles; 5 hours, 20 minutes
* AS A MATTER OF FACT: The resort claims a vertical drop of 4,139 feet.
Ruby Mountains Heli-Experience
The skier-oriented resort just east of Elko, Nev., provides an exclusive powder experience. There are thousands of acres of ski terrain available, via a helicopter. The resort is in Lamoille, Nev. Guests stay at a 10-bedroom ranch house on 90 acres at the base of the mountain range. The price is $3,500 per person, and it includes meals, three nights' lodging, guide service, ski rental and a vertical guarantee of 39,000 feet. For information, visit www.helicopterskiing.com.
* FROM SALT LAKE CITY: 232 miles; 3 hours, 44 minutes
* AS A MATTER OF FACT: $3,500 will get you three nights' lodging, guide service, ski rental, meals and a vertical guarantee of 39,000 feet.
Out-of-state slopes
By Tom Wharton
The Salt Lake Tribune
It might be hard to believe Wasatch Front skiers spoiled by multiple world-class resorts within an hour from their homes would take an out-of-state ski vacation.
But it happens all the time.
"Having spent 29 years at Grand Targhee, I've always been shocked that Utah skiers come here," said the Wyoming resort's vice president of marketing Susie Barnett-Bushong. "But we have a long, rich tradition of hosting Utah skiers. Utah skiers and snowboarders appreciate good snow. And we can deliver on that."
Resorts such as Jackson and Grand Targhee in Wyoming, Big Sky, Mont., and Telluride, Colo., as well as the more upscale Ruby Mountain Heli-Experience near Elko, Nev., are a relatively easy drive from the Wasatch Front. And they just might have more snow these days.
Grand Targhee
Less than a five-hour drive from Salt Lake City to the small town of Driggs, Idaho, Grand Targhee's big appeal to Utahns might be its family packages. Kids 14 and younger ski and stay free. Deals include a two-day, two-night package for $195 per person or a three-night, three-day ski experience for $295 a person; kids still ski free. The resort is just six miles inside the Wyoming border. It has two mountain peaks with 3,000 skiing or riding acres. The resort has five trails for nordic enthusiasts, as well as a tubing park and an ice rink. For information,
visit www.grandtarghee.com.
* FROM SALT LAKE CITY: 285 miles; 4 hours, 35 minutes
* AS A MATTER OF FACT: It's family-friendly, with free skiing for kids 14 and younger, a tubing park and ice rink.
Big Sky
When combined with adjacent Moonlight Basin, Big Sky can make the claim as the largest ski complex in the country. The resort is about a six-hour drive from Salt Lake City, between Bozeman, Mont., and Yellowstone National Park. It has a wide variety of terrain and offers free skiing for Utahns who have purchased season ski passes at Brighton. Deals, which can be difficult to get on busy holiday weekends, include a $199-per-person rate for two nights' lodging, two days of lift tickets and a breakfast buffet. Big Sky has 150 named runs on 3,812 acres covering 85 miles, on three mountains. It consistently boasts some of the nation's shortest lift lines. For resort information, visit www.bigskyresort.com.
* FROM SALT LAKE CITY: 420 miles; 6 hours, 30 minutes
* AS A MATTER OF FACT: Season-pass holders at Utah's Brighton Mountain can ski for free at Big Sky.
Telluride
This remote Colorado ski destination is a slightly longer drive for Wasatch Front residents, at about seven hours, but is ideal for Price and Moab area residents looking to ski. The resort features 1,700 acres of skiing over 84 trails, and is slightly easier than some other resorts with 24 percent beginner runs and 38 percent intermediate served by 16 lifts. The picturesque mining town offers plenty of nightlife. And the free Telluride Mountain Village gondola is 100 percent powered with renewable energy. For information on the resort, visit www.tellurideskiresort.com.
* FROM MOAB: 132 miles; 2 hours, 33 minutes
* AS A MATTER OF FACT: Telluride is a friendly resort for less-experienced skiers, with 24 percent beginner runs and 38 percent intermediate runs.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
The scenic resort, five hours from Salt Lake City and 12 miles northwest of the town of Jackson, on the tip of Yellowstone National Park, is spread over two mountains, with 2,500 acres of in-bounds terrain. Things move fast with a high-speed gondola, two detachable quad chairs, four fixed-grip quad chair lifts, two triple chair lifts and two double chair lifts. An open backcountry gate system accesses another 3,000 acres of skiing. Condominium and ski packages are available. For information, visit www.jacksonhole.com.
* FROM SALT LAKE CITY: 317 miles; 5 hours, 20 minutes
* AS A MATTER OF FACT: The resort claims a vertical drop of 4,139 feet.
Ruby Mountains Heli-Experience
The skier-oriented resort just east of Elko, Nev., provides an exclusive powder experience. There are thousands of acres of ski terrain available, via a helicopter. The resort is in Lamoille, Nev. Guests stay at a 10-bedroom ranch house on 90 acres at the base of the mountain range. The price is $3,500 per person, and it includes meals, three nights' lodging, guide service, ski rental and a vertical guarantee of 39,000 feet. For information, visit www.helicopterskiing.com.
* FROM SALT LAKE CITY: 232 miles; 3 hours, 44 minutes
* AS A MATTER OF FACT: $3,500 will get you three nights' lodging, guide service, ski rental, meals and a vertical guarantee of 39,000 feet.