What’s New for the 2022/23 Season – Western Edition
Photo Credit: Praxis Skis
As always, resorts were busy over the summer replacing lifts and improving or adding terrain.
Here’s a quick rundown to whet your appetite of what’s new and noteworthy in several states West of the Mississippi.
In alphabetical order, by state –
California
Palisades Tahoe – For a second season under its new name, there’s a brand new Base-to-Base gondola. It connects the two valleys and makes the former Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows resorts one of the largest in North America, with 6,000 acres of terrain.
The new gondola is 2.4 miles long and traverses just over 3,100 vertical feet. The ride takes approximately 16 minutes, including a brief stop at the new KT-22 mid-station.
Also, the Red Dog chair lift, which starts at the base of Palisades Tahoe, has been relocated to offer convenient direct access from the parking lot, and is now a high-speed detachable six-person chair.
Northstar – This venerable resort celebrates its 50th anniversary this season with the new Comstock Express lift, a high-speed six-person chair that increases capacity by 50%.
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe – A favorite of locals, Mt. Rose redirected its Lakeview chair lift so it now goes all the way to the top, with expansive views of Lake Tahoe along the way.
Buttermilk – Known as the beginners and family area of the four mountains of Aspen (Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk), this under-rated area gets a sparkling new base area with services including a guest lounge and lockers.
Eldora – This locals fav celebrates its 60th season this season, with upgrades including a $7 Million parking expansion with room for nearly 800 additional spaces. Eldora also has increased snowmaking and its rental fleet.
Steamboat – Also celebrating its 60th season, “The Boat” is almost done with its $200 Million multi-year transformation of the base area. New for this season is a beginner area, called Greenhorn Ranch, serviced by the new Wild Blue Gondola, a new beginner lift and two new carpets.
Telluride Ski Resort – The new high-speed detachable quad for Chair 9 cuts the lift time in half, from 15 minutes to 7, and services 2,000 vertical feet of terrain.
Winter Park – The resort is opening what’s called “previously unutilized terrain” in The Cirque Territory. The new terrain is called “Jelly Roll” for its steep pitch and ability to hold powder for days after a storm. Winter Park also is planning to open more terrain in the Chutes area on Mary Jane.
Amtrak Ski Train – The popular train between Denver and Winter Park returns for the season, weekends only, with fares as low as $29 each way. The official name is Winter Park Express. Reservations often get booked out, so plan ahead.
Idaho and Montana
Lookout Pass – This area, which spans two states (Idaho and Montana) and two time zones, opens its Eagle Peak Expansion this season, nearly doubling the resort’s skiable terrain. Lookout Pass which is, Idaho’s oldest continuously operating ski area, consistently gets in excess of 400 inches of snow per year, making it a secret stash for consistent powder.
Big Sky Resort – More than 350 new complimentary parking spots have been added across the resort, including one priority area for carpools. Big Sky is a member of both the Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective – these passholders need to make reservations this season to use their days.
Wyoming
Jackson Hole – After 28 years of service, the fixed-grip four-seat Thunder lift has been replaced by a new high-speed quad. It’s twice as fast as the lift it replaces, cutting ride time from 7 minutes to under 4. The new Thunder lift still accesses some of Jackson’s top runs, including Laramie Bowl, Thunder Bumps and the Grand.
Grand Targhee – On the other side of the Teton Pass from Jackson Hole, this resort debuts the new Colter Lift on Peaked Mountain this season. It can transport up to 2,000 people per hour, gaining 1,815 vertical feet in just over 5 minutes. It also accesses 30 percent more skiing and riding to what was formerly hike-in.
It is the first major terrain expansion at Grand Targhee since the Sacajawea lift opened in 2001. The resort usually gets more than 500 inches of snowfall each winter.
What’s New This Ski/Snowboard Season – Utah Edition
Photo Credit: Ski Utah
So many resorts, most of them within 45 minutes of the Salt Lake City airport. And so many new lifts, trams, on-mountain dining, and more, this season.
Here’s a short swing around what’s new and notable on the snow in Utah, in alphabetical order, since that’s the only fair way:
Alta Ski Area – The Sunnyside fixed-grip triple has been replaced with a high-speed six-pack, speeding access from the Albion base area. Also new this season is that parking reservations are now required for Fridays, in addition to Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Alta has improved some of the Sleepy Hollow terrain off the Supreme Lift area.
Cherry Peak Resort – Introducing one of Utah’s newest ski resorts, near Logan. The family-owned resort features three triple chairlifts and 400 acres of family-friendly terrain. There are 29 runs, a terrain park, tubing, night skiing and ice skating.
Deer Valley – The Burns Express is a new chairlift connecting the Snow Park base area to Little Baldy, offering Ski School access to more beginner teaching terrain and an additional option for skiers to navigate out of the main arrival area. Also, surface lifts and beginner terrain in the Wide West area have been improved.
The Snow Park Village base area has been upgraded with new transit arrival facilities including new food and beverage options. A new high-end seafood and steak restaurant, Cast & Cut, opens in Snow Park Lodge, featuring seafood towers, grass-fed beef and more.
Nordic Valley – There are new glade runs on the Nordic Express area, plus a new Yurt lounge, and the former Ski Patrol room has been transformed into a beer bar, appropriately called The Aid Room.
Park City Mountain – There’s a new outdoor patio at Red Tail Grill, near the Orange Bubble Express and Red Pine Gondola. The resort also has invested in employee housing, with a 441-bed development at Canyons Village.
Snowbasin – The big news is the switch from the Epic Pass to both the Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective Pass this season.
Snowbird – The big news here is two brand new large, super-modern Tram cabins – one red, one blue – which will whisk guests to 11,000 feet. The trams offer spectacular floor-to-ceiling windows and additional see-through viewing panels in the floor, for a true feeling of flying.
After snow season, prepare yourself to experience – drumroll please – a rooftop balcony, first of its kind in the United States. Hang out – and hang on – riding outside for 360-degree views. Starting summer 2023.
Solitude Mountain – The resort opens its first terrain park, adding features to the North Star and Main Street runs. The Yurt has been revamped to be open during the day for lunch. In the evening, it transitions to an exclusive five-course dining experience reachable by a moonlit snowshoe tour.
Sundance Mountain Resort – There’s a new fixed-grip quad south of Jake’s lift this season. The 14-minute ride opens 40 acres of new terrain. In addition, the resort, founded by film icon Robert Redford, is expanding operations with 15 acres of groomed terrain, 10+ new runs, and 36 new acres of skiable terrain.
Woodward Park City – Open just a few seasons, the area already has redesigned its layout to increase it’s terrain park features by 20%. It is also one of the few ski/snowboard resorts anywhere with a parkour zone.
Find more information on any or all of these resorts on www.skiutah.com.
Where will you be skiing in Utah this season?
To Do List Before First Tracks of the Season
Buy a Back-Up Pass
Even you already have your perfect Ikon, Epic or Mountain Collective pass, it’s worth checking out resort-specific and regional passes to give you extra days.
I’m an Ikon guy because I ski a lot at Stratton in VT and Snowbird UT. But this season, I also got an Epic Northeast pass. Why? Because Epic offers a stripped-down pass that includes several areas within 30-40 minutes of where I live. And for a super reasonable price, it’s a great deal enabling me to ski three top Vermont resorts, all nearby. Another example is Brighton, Utah, which offers a resort-specific pass that adds days to your Ikon Pass.
So check your ski map and see if it makes sense to add an “other” pass to your ski season. And don’t delay, because when pass sales end, they’re gone.
Start Walking
“Age creep” is a problem for all of us senior skiers.
Hip problems caused me to stop running over the past year, but walking is an amazing replacement. I get in thousands of steps, see the sights, and sleep better, too. In just 30-40 minutes a day you’ll be amazed at your results, including increased stamina, so you’ll be more fit for ski season.
Take a Group Lesson
Find two or three friends with a similar proficiency, and get everyone on board for one group private lesson during one of your first ski weekends. Ski instructors like me “take lessons” at the beginning of every season because it truly helps us to dial-in the key tips and exercises that make a difference for our own performance on skis.
With a few friends, and a 2-3 hour private, you’ll all get some useful tips from your instructor, get feedback and some practice, all of which will get you sliding in your best way. Everyone’s got to re-learn a bit of their technique, and this makes it easy to lock-in the right ideas and leave behind the other stuff.
Most ski areas will allow 3 or 4 adults in the same group as a private lesson, which helps spread the cost.
Remember the Little Things
Zero in on the little things that will make your season easier and more fun. Four suggestions:
Hands get cold? Buy a box of hand-warmers now, before you need them. You’ll have plenty for the season and you’ll also save money by buying in bulk instead of individually when you are already at a ski resort.
Check your goggles. Are they scratched enough that vision is impaired a bit? Did they fog up last season, which means they will fog up even more this season? Then get rid of them, and buy a new, decent brand, even an inexpensive one.
Feet cold? Now’s the time to explore boot heaters, since they often sell out early. Or, try a “boot glove”, which I compare to the wetsuit that scuba divers use. It’s simply a stretchy, neoprene wrap that covers the toes and top of boot, with a Velcro fastener behind the heel. I’ve been using them on super cold days for seven years and can tell you that they work.
Here’s a tip – pre-heat your boots on cold days: Put 1 or 2 hand warmers in each boot when you start getting ready in the morning, and by the time you put on boots they’ll be toasty warm. The Boot Glove won’t warm up cold boots, but they help a lot to keep warm boots.
Seasonal Ski Check
More resorts are offering an all-season ski check or locker, which will relieve you of having to carry skis/poles to and from the parking lot. Of course, this only works if you are skiing the same area all season, as ski instructors do. Even if your season is several different resorts, overnight ski-check is worth the money so you don’t have to lug your skis and poles to and from the parking lot, shuttle bus, or even a base area hotel.
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