History of Snowbird..

Before Little Cottonwood Canyon became popular with skiers, miners discovered deposits of silver ore within the glacial canyon. The history of Little Cottonwood Canyon and the town of Alta dates back to the 19th Century, when a soldier in the U.S. Army first prospected for silver in 1869. The tiny minerals he stumbled upon soon supported a massive industry. Little Cottonwood Canyon became one of the largest producers of silver ore in the Wasatch Mountains. Known as the Emma Mine and the namesake for the Big Emma run in Snowbird’s Gad Valley, the soldier’s find eventually produced more than $3.8 million in silver.

At its peak, 8,000 people lived and worked in the narrow canyon, which held two smelters, 138 homes, hotels, boarding houses, stores and even a railroad. The entire town was later destroyed by a series of avalanches.

About

Snowbird resort is a year-round ski and summer resort located in the heart of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest on the eastern border of the Salt Lake City. It is 29 miles from Salt Lake International Airport, 24 miles from downtown Salt Lake City and 4 miles east of the suburb of Sandy. The resort first opened in December 1971.

Snowbird shares the canyon with neighbor Alta Ski Area. Beginning in the winter of 2002, both resorts began offering a joint day pass and a joint season ticket, allowing skiers to fully access all of the terrain on both mountains (26 total ski lifts and tows and a skiable area of 4,700 acres.

The offer coincided with the opening of a new lift in Mineral Basin, a large bowl owned by Snowbird on the back of Snowbird’s Hidden Peak and Alta’s Sugarloaf mountains, that allowed access to Alta from the Basin. Other access points between the two resorts exist as well. The offer is open to skiers only, as a result of Alta’s skiers-only policy.

Both receive over 500 inches of snowfall per year, with a single storm capable of producing over 100 inches due to lake effect enhancement from the Great Salt Lake, making it the greatest area of snowfall in the mainland United States outside the Cascades.

Unlike the humid and wet snow of the Cascades near the Pacific Ocean, Snowbird being in the arid Great Basin is known for its unusually dry and powdery snow.

Snowbird usually closes on Memorial Day in late May while the occasional ski year can last as long as the Fourth of July.

The Little Cottonwood Canyon resort perennially offers the longest ski season in Utah. Snowbird has a skiable area of 2,500 acres with a vertical drop of 3,240 ft  from the summit of Hidden Peak, which has an elevation of above 11,000 ft. Hidden Peak is serviced by an aerial tram from the lodges.

The resort covers three areas, each with a unique character. The Peruvian Gulch side was the least crowded of the three until they put in the new Peruvian chairlift, but is still exceptional on a good powder day.

The Gad Valley has the widest range of skiable terrain, from the slow-skiing Big Emma to steep Regulator Johnson. The third, and most recently developed bowl, is Mineral Basin — which tends to be warmer and more open than the other two. The strong point of the resort is the aerial tram which provides access to 3,000 feet vertical.

Come stay with Wasatch Front Ski Accommodations at our fantastic affordable vacations home close to this amazing ski resort…

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With the start of our Ski season I thought it would be aprapo to have articles about our world class ski resorts. Utah ski resorts has some of the best skiing in the world ask anyone who has been here!

Alta Ski Slopes History

Alta is one of the oldest ski areas in the U.S. The community of Alta was established in 1871 as an offshoot of the silver mining operations in Little Cottonwood Canyon. A fire destroyed most of the town in 1878, then a cataclysmic avalanche in 1885—combined with the decline of mining—heralded a period of dormancy for the town. The area experienced a modest resurgence in mining in the 1900s, but the town declined again shortly thereafter, and was deserted with the exception of a few hardy miners who continued to intermittently prospect the area.

In 1935 the U.S. Forest Service retained the noted skier Alf Engen to hike into the area and determine its potential as a future ski area. Engen’s reports expressed great promise for the area, and recommended the purchase of additional surrounding lands to form the ski area. In 1937 a prominent Salt Lake City lawyer, Joe Quinney, along with other local businessmen, formed the Utah Winter Sports Association to oversee the development of skiing at Alta. In the following year construction began on the original Collins chairlift, then just the third such lift in the United States, after Sun Valley and the Magic Mile at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood. Alta opened to skiers for the first time on January 15, 1939, offering a single ride on the chair for 25 cents, or a full day pass for $1.50.

Albion Basin base at Alta ski resort.

The ski area did not install its first triple chair until 1991, when the Germania double chair was upgraded. The resort did not have a developed snowmaking infrastructure until 1996, and the system was not completed until 2000. However, Alta has moved toward snowmaking in order to remain competitive by opening earlier in the season, and retaining good ski able conditions in drier years. The late 1990s and early 2000s were marked with further modernization. In 1999 the Sunnyside lift was replaced with a detachable triple chair, the resort’s first detachable chairlift. Two years later the Supreme chair was upgraded to a triple, and the Sugarloaf chair was replaced with a detachable quad. The most recent lift development was the new Collins chair for the 2004-2005 season, a detachable quad, replacing the old Collins and Germania chairs. Also, during the 2007-2008 season, Alta introduced a new Axess RFID electronic lift ticket system, similar to that of Solitude Ski Resort. Eventually, users will be able to track their vertical and lift ride data online and purchase Alta Cards using “ticket vending machines”. Most recently during the 2008-2009 season Alta added a conveyor system at the start point of the Supreme lift that assists skiers in getting on the fixed-triple lift.

The resort currently has 2 detachable quad chairs, 1 detachable triple chair, 1 triple chair [fixed grip], 3 double chairs, and 5 surface tows. The terrain is classified as 25% Beginner, 40% Intermediate, and 35% Advanced.

Partnership with Snowbird ski resort

Snowbird ski resort is accessible from Mount Baldy at Alta ski resort

Beginning in the winter of 2002, Alta and its neighbor, Snowbird, began offering a joint day pass and a joint season ticket, allowing skiers to fully access all of the terrain on both mountains. The offer coincided with the opening of a new lift in Mineral Basin, a large bowl owned by Snowbird on the back of Snowbird’s Hidden Peak and Alta’s Sugarloaf mountains, this allowed access to Alta from the Basin. Other access points between the two resorts exist as well. The offer is open to skiers only, as a result of Alta’s skiers-only policy. Snowbird is open to both skiers and snowboarders.

Ski season is winding down and we are getting ready for the spring and summer festivities.

I ran across this article and loved it – did you know it is snowing yet today? This means if you love skiing or snowboarding there is still time for you to come and enjoy your favorite pass time!

Thanks Brian for such a great article…

Tourist Attractions in Utah
By Brian Parkin

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rick_Schuyler]Rick Schuyler

If you want to enjoy an exciting sport then learn snowboard tactics. These are known as tricks. As you improve so will your ability to execute tricks that are more and more difficult. For you to be any good you must have proper lessons. The great thing about snowboarding is you can train from a manual. So it’s important you choose a manual that offers to teach you everything you need to know about the sport. You will need to have a board and the appropriate safety gear like pads and a helmet. Don’t even think about doing tricks without these. It goes without saying falls, scrapes and bruises are all part of your training.

Having manuals to read with images of exactly how to execute tricks makes your training a lot easier. Audio files provide an extra bit of help. You will learn about helpful techniques to give you that added boost in your chosen sport. You may not have heard much about visualization in the world of snowboarding. But this is a technique that can be learnt. Most of the world’s top sportspeople do use this particular technique. It prepares you for whatever you are about to take on. You have to actually see yourself completing the course that is ahead of you. If you can see all the details in your mind’s eye you will learn snowboard tricks. The mind is a powerful tool in achieving success.

Mind power is as important as physical fitness. When it comes to a sport like snowboarding it is sometimes necessary to overcome emotion. The emotion in question is fear. To learn snowboard tricks you can’t be held up by fear. There are many tricks that are very difficult and very risky. But with the right training and the right understanding of the sport you will succeed.

Rick Schuyler is the director of popular blog [http://snowboardinghelponline.com/]SnowboardingHelpOnline.Com. He is an expert on snowboarding and his blog contains stacks of information on things like finding a [http://snowboardinghelponline.com/how-to-snowboarding-lessons]how to snowboarding guide and much more. Get free tips from his site today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_Schuyler http://EzineArticles.com/?Learn-Snowboard-Tricks&id=1801195

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Pan]Wendy Pan

Utah has thirteen world-class ski resorts that boast the “Greatest Snow on Earth.” Ski resorts in the Wasatch Mountains receive up to 500 inches of dry, fluffy snow that lends itself to some of the best skiing and snowboarding conditions in the world. The Great Salt Lake is the direct reason for the quality of snow found in Utah. It creates a weather phenomenon known locally as the “dreaded lake effect.” Salt water does not freeze so during Utah’s winters, cold air settles over the lake. There, the air is warmed by the lake’s temperature. As the air warms, it rises over the peaks of the Uintas along the Wasatch Front, where it cools and sends flurries of snow into the canyons. This creates optimal snow conditions for snowboarding in Utah.

Snowboarding in Utah is restricted at Alta Ski Resort, one of only a handful of resorts nationwide that have placed restricitons on snowboarders. Alta’s sister resort, Snowbird does allow snowboarders. There are runs that link between the two resorts, so if you are a snowboarder, be sure to follow Snowbird’s runs to avoid being banned at Alta’s lift lines.

Northern Resorts:

You may need a 4-wheel drive vehicle to access some of these resorts in January. Make sure to place chains on your tires before heading up Logan Canyon.

Beaver Mountain in Logan – A beginner-friendly resort.

Powder Mountain in Ogden – This resort as the most acres of any resort in America with over 5,500 acres and a half-pipe.

Snowbasin in Ogden – Has a Superpipe for snowboarders.

Wolf Mountain near Stoddard – Far away from Salt Lake City and is less crowded than other Northern Resorts

Central Resorts:

Ski resorts are found in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Little Cottonwood Canyon and up Parley’s Canyon. All of these canyons are extremely dangerous to drive in the winter. Your best bet is to park in one of the parking lots at the bases of these canyons and take the bus to the resorts. Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and all of the Park City resorts have on-site lodging.

Brighton in Salt Lake City – This is the best snowboard resort near Salt Lake City. Has a popular half-pipe.

The Canyons in Park City – Six half-pipes for boarders. Upscale and pricey.

Deer Valley in Park City – Prices here are good for locals.

Park City – Intermediate runs for snowboarders.

Snowbird in Salt Lake City – Don’t buy the AltaSnowbird One Pass if you’re a snowboarder. Alta is forbidden to boarders.

Solitude in Salt Lake City – An average resort with two high-speed lifts.

Southern Resorts

Brian Head is near Dixie National Forest and Bryce Canyon. If you get a chance, make sure to drive by and take a look at the scenery. You can find lodging for Sundance in Midway or Heber City.

Sundance in Provo – One of the prettiest places to shred.

Brian Head in Cedar City – This is the only resort in Southern Utah.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about [http://snowboardingtodaysite.info/snowboarding-in-utah-great-places-to-go-snowboarding/]snow boarding in Utah, please visit [http://snowboardingtodaysite.info/]Snowboarding Today Site for current articles and discussions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Pan http://EzineArticles.com/?Snowboarding-in-Utah—Great-Places-to-Go-Snowboarding&id=1655975

Get some great specials and be close to all the resorts!

We are finally up and running! Having a successful business for the past 20+ years I must tell you this has been quite a journey.

I am really excited about being able to introduce you to a Utah that is much more than just a fantastic place to ski. We have for years been the destination of choice for people that ski here, and now we are opening up our accommodations all year round for those of you who love everything from water skiing to golf, and everything in between so check out our blog often. We will be posting everything from the latest in exciting festivals and happenings, to exciting sport events that are upcoming in Salt Lake City.

We want to hear from you!

Happy blogging!

Gayleen WFSA…