The Wasatch Thread: Skiing and Riding in Utah

[Kingslug20]

I have rarely encountered the traffic..by simply getting there as early as possible and leaving around 2 2:30.
If i think its going to be nuts..and pc got new snow..I head there and ski 9990 with about 20 people.
Dare..to be different....

 

[1dog]

Woke up to thunder last night..
Checked the Brighton cameras.
Dumping!
Looks like 4 inches....or maybe 2...
Powder day!...or..cream cheese day.
I'll bring the bagels

That 1st sentence almost a Bob Seger line. .

 

[thetrailboss]

I have rarely encountered the traffic..by simply getting there as early as possible and leaving around 2 2:30.
If i think its going to be nuts..and pc got new snow..I head there and ski 9990 with about 20 people.
Dare..to be different....

Same. The Alta parking reservation system has really helped me a lot.

 

[4aprice]

Have they ever considered some sort of rail services up the Wasatch Canyons and into Park City?

I've was reading an article (unfortunately behind a paywall or I would post it here) talking about possible expanded rail service between Salt Lake and Denver in time for the Olympics in 34. They are currently doing some rail projects in Colorado One on the front range between Fort Collins and Colorado Springs and another that we are actually looking forward to which is expanded service up to Granby and on to Steamboat (actually out to Craig). I really think that we will actually use the train to go back and forth to Denver when we spend our winters out there.

I have used the light rail system in Denver and it is actually quite convenient to get into downtown (Union Station, Coors Field, Ball Arena). Utah's Light rail looks to be a similar system. One of the complaints I read about the proposed gondola was that it had no planned tie into any other transportation, a light rail spur obviously would. As far as the steepness or grade of the Canyons I'm not an engineer but there has been talk of constructing a line up the I-70 corridor which I believe is just as steep as the Canyon highways so it seems it would be possible.

I know that timewise the train is slow. We have made the drive between Denver and Salt Lake many times. Its about 8 hours. The train takes even more time but of course it's much more relaxing and better for taking in the views. www.westernrailcoalition.com Western Rail Coalition has an interesting web site showing current and planned routes including spurs to Vail/Beaver Creek, Moab, and routes out of Salt Lake to Reno, Idaho and Las Vegas I could see using it for some of our skiing purposes in the future as we safari across the west.

 

[Kingslug20]

I know one thing for sure..if they don't start working on something right now..
I'll be dead by the time whatever it is is finished

 

[jimmywilson69]

 

[machski]

One problem for rail up the canyons is the same the road has, Avi mitigation closures/delays.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Here we go. Wasn't it just 2 years ago Utah had all time snow levels?

THat wuz BcUz uv gLoBUll waRmeNg tO. It Cuzes XtrEmEs iN WetHeR.

 

[Smellytele]

One problem for rail up the canyons is the same the road has, Avi mitigation closures/delays.

Build tunnels over the tracks/road like in Europe

 

[Kingslug20]

Bet they build that monster data center before anything is done in the canyons.

 

[thetrailboss]

Have they ever considered some sort of rail services up the Wasatch Canyons and into Park City?

I've was reading an article (unfortunately behind a paywall or I would post it here) talking about possible expanded rail service between Salt Lake and Denver in time for the Olympics in 34. They are currently doing some rail projects in Colorado One on the front range between Fort Collins and Colorado Springs and another that we are actually looking forward to which is expanded service up to Granby and on to Steamboat (actually out to Craig). I really think that we will actually use the train to go back and forth to Denver when we spend our winters out there.

I have used the light rail system in Denver and it is actually quite convenient to get into downtown (Union Station, Coors Field, Ball Arena). Utah's Light rail looks to be a similar system. One of the complaints I read about the proposed gondola was that it had no planned tie into any other transportation, a light rail spur obviously would. As far as the steepness or grade of the Canyons I'm not an engineer but there has been talk of constructing a line up the I-70 corridor which I believe is just as steep as the Canyon highways so it seems it would be possible.

I know that timewise the train is slow. We have made the drive between Denver and Salt Lake many times. Its about 8 hours. The train takes even more time but of course it's much more relaxing and better for taking in the views. www.westernrailcoalition.com Western Rail Coalition has an interesting web site showing current and planned routes including spurs to Vail/Beaver Creek, Moab, and routes out of Salt Lake to Reno, Idaho and Las Vegas I could see using it for some of our skiing purposes in the future as we safari across the west.

In short, yes.

There was a spur from the junction of I-80 and I-84 that ran south to Park City. That was removed in the early 1980's. Park City considered buying it, but ultimately passed. They probably regret that now.

Long before then, there was a railroad that ran up Parley's Canyon from SLC. Most of that route is now I-80. So it is long gone. You can see the old switchbacks of the railway on the north side of the highway just below Parley's Summit.

And Ted Johnson, aka the "Silver Fox", who conceived Snowbird, lobbied for a railway that ran up LCC, over to BCC, and then over to Park City (or some version of that). He proposed this in the 1970's and was laughed out of town by the State as it was "too expensive." Again, maybe he was onto something......

 

[jimk]

Warning, thread hijack.

I drove across the entire southern breadth of Colorado on the snowy day of Wed, May 6th, 2026. Encountered as much as 5 inches of fresh snow going over some of the mtn passes on US 160, but fortunately little accumulation on blacktop road surfaces even at the highest elevations. Rest of drive was late spring conditions

Approaching Wolf Creek Pass, CO:




Quite a bit of fresh snow on May 6th at Wolf Creek ski area, but it was closed (base of Wolf Creek ski area is 10,300'):


In and out of snow all day, This is Blanca Peak, CO, elev 14,351', east of Alamosa:


Beautiful mix of late spring very green foliage and new white snow, approaching La Veta Pass, CO.


More fresh snow:


Near summit of La Veta Pass, CO, elev 9400':


Saw many active snow plows during a wild, but safe day of driving:


Now back east for the off season.

 

[jimmywilson69]

I drove over Wolf creek pass this fall. I think if snow were laying on the pavement it would be treacherous from the Pagosa Springs side. Beautiful drive though!

 

[Kingslug20]

Well..that does it..only 1 day less than last year at 115.
The bottom of Snowbird was a mess but mineral had very good coverage.
Some hiking required to get to Peruvian and back to the car...plus a big mogul field which a lot of people had mixed results in.

 

[thetrailboss]

Well..that does it..only 1 day less than last year at 115.
The bottom of Snowbird was a mess but mineral had very good coverage.
Some hiking required to get to Peruvian and back to the car...plus a big mogul field which a lot of people had mixed results in.

View attachment 68895
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View attachment 68897
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Wow. The amount of snow lost in a relatively cool week is crazy.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Still waiting for 9990 to melt so I can get my damn ski.

 

[machski]

Wow. The amount of snow lost in a relatively cool week is crazy.

High sun angle and lack of depth will do that this time of year, even out west

 

[thetrailboss]

Still waiting for 9990 to melt so I can get my damn ski.

Oh, that's right. Isn't it up on the Kitchen Wall?

 

[raisingarizona]

Warning, thread hijack.

I drove across the entire southern breadth of Colorado on the snowy day of Wed, May 6th, 2026. Encountered as much as 5 inches of fresh snow going over some of the mtn passes on US 160, but fortunately little accumulation on blacktop road surfaces even at the highest elevations. Rest of drive was late spring conditions

Approaching Wolf Creek Pass, CO:
View attachment 68879

View attachment 68880

Quite a bit of fresh snow on May 6th at Wolf Creek ski area, but it was closed (base of Wolf Creek ski area is 10,300'):
View attachment 68881

In and out of snow all day, This is Blanca Peak, CO, elev 14,351', east of Alamosa:
View attachment 68882

Beautiful mix of late spring very green foliage and new white snow, approaching La Veta Pass, CO.
View attachment 68878

More fresh snow:
View attachment 68883

Near summit of La Veta Pass, CO, elev 9400':
View attachment 68884

Saw many active snow plows during a wild, but safe day of driving:
View attachment 68885

Now back east for the off season.
View attachment 68886

The SanJuans > than the Wasatch! By a million miles! It's my most favorite mountain range in the US of A for sure.

 

[thetrailboss]

I got invited to a VIP event last night at Black Diamond down in Millcreek. Great event and the first time I had been to that store in quite a while. There were a lot of local skiers and climbers. I went downstairs to the "discount basement" and on the ski wall my eyes spied these:



The Impulse 114 Pro Ti Ski with new Tyrolia Attack 14 bindings. A demo set up. The top sheet was new. I was stunned when I turned them over to see NEW bases. The ski had been mounted for the demo fleet but never left the shop. The price at the event was $320.00. My dedicated powder skis are similar length and dimensions, but they are now pushing ten years old. So I snagged them. Can't wait to get them out next year!

About ten years ago I saw some BD skis on Sierra but decided to pass because the reviews were that they were too light for sidecountry or inbounds use. These skis have titanium to give a nice damp and stable ride. I also learned from the reps that these are made for BD by Nordica/Blizzard in Austria.