Uphill Pursuit
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Ski Utah

Utah · March 2022

I skied Snowbird, Alta, Deer Valley, Park City, and Powder Mountain, checking each one off my list from National Geographic's book "100 Slopes of a Lifetime." I also experienced snowcat skiing for the first time off Lightning Ridge at Powder Mountain.

A copy of National Geographic's book 100 Slopes of a Lifetime
My goal: visit every ski slope featured in this book.

Snowbird was probably my favorite of the five Utah resorts I visited. It has beautiful views, amazing facilities, and incredibly good snow. The crowds were manageable for a resort of its size.

The tram cabin that carries skiers up Snowbird
The aerial tram at Snowbird.
Selfie taken on the 11,000-foot summit of Hidden Peak
Atop Hidden Peak at 11,000 feet.
Light, dry Utah snow on the slope
The greatest snow on Earth.
Snow-covered ridgelines stretching toward the horizon
Views for days.
Inside the walkway through the Peruvian Tunnel
The Peruvian Tunnel.

Alta is one of the oldest ski resorts in the country. Riding the vintage double chair and exploring its great terrain felt truly special. I got lucky, too—the day ended with an awesome powder dump.

A view across the slopes of Alta
One of the oldest ski areas in the U.S.
A boundary gate leading over toward Snowbird
The gate to Snowbird.
Low clouds moving in over a steep chute
The clouds rolled in.
Snowfall on the mountain during the storm
The snow started coming down.
Selfie in deep fresh snow
It turned into a big powder day.
The snowy slope late in the afternoon
What a way to end the day.

Deer Valley is a fancy resort with great service. The grooming is top-notch, but the mountain was overly crowded.

The run named Stein's Way looking out over the valley
Stein's Way, with a great view.
Condominium buildings and a road running between ski runs at Deer Valley
With condos and roads across the resort, Deer Valley can feel very commercialized.
Mountains next to the resort seen from the slopes
A view of the neighboring peaks.

Park City is massive. It takes at least two or three days to explore the entire resort.

The sprawling terrain of Park City, the biggest ski resort in the country
The largest ski resort in the U.S.
A gondola cabin linking the Park City and Canyons sides of the resort
The gondola connecting Park City and Canyons.
Standing at the start of the Ninety-Nine 90 run
At the top of the famous Ninety-Nine 90 run.

Powder Mountain is seriously underrated. It has great snow, a variety of terrain, and virtually no crowds.

Empty slopes at Powder Mountain
Powder Mountain deserves more attention.
Looking out across the basin below
A great view of the basin.
Standing at the start of the Ninety-Nine 90 run
At the top of the famous Ninety-Nine 90 run.
A snowcat waiting on the snow to shuttle skiers uphill
First time riding a snowcat.
Quiet terrain on the back side of Powder Mountain
The back side is a hidden gem.