Snowbasin, UT, Mar. 19, 2024

[ChrisC]

Before joining Epic in 2019 and then Ikon in 2022, Snowbasin's lack of crowds and extensive terrain created Alps-like powder days (zero feeding frenzy/no need to create detailed plans to avoid hordes) and groomer days when you'd go several runs without running into anyone.

Utah's golden days are over, and Snowbasin's glory years are in the rearview mirror. It was exceptional in the 2000s, but by the mid-2010s, it had changed. Now it's very busy!

Even Chris Cushing, Head of SE Group (Sno Engineering), who lives in Utah, reportedly avoids LCC on some days, preferring to drive to Deer Valley East for its ease of use. (Note: SE Group designed Deer Valley East. I believe this was mentioned in an interview, possibly Storm Journal, but I'm not certain.)

I haven't skied in Utah since the mid-2010s. This is mainly due to work in Europe and the Alps, my lack of ties to the state, ownership share in Telluride, and having the resources (Tech stock run) to pursue bucket-list trips: Alaska/BC heli & cat skiing, Japan, South America, and Europe.

Value can be found elsewhere, including Canada (Whistler selectively, Inland BC, Alberta), the Northwest USA, and some Rocky Mountain gems (Loveland, Monarch, A-Basin). Of course, there are other options.

In general, destinations in CA, CO, UT, and even parts of MT (Big Sky) or ID (Sun Valley) or WY (Jackson) warrant a second look. It's often not significantly more expensive (and sometimes cheaper) to travel to a truly memorable, offbeat, independent, or unique location. During its debut, the Epic or Ikon Pass made trips to Breckenridge or Park City a no-brainer, but no longer.

Final Note: What did the Fernie CEO say after joining Epic? That pass skier numbers did not really materialize. You need discount airfares to gateway cities to make Pass economics work (i.e. Denver, SLC, Reno, etc.).

 

[Tony Crocker]

Are there other examples of a medium or large lift-served mountain on privately-owned land where the owner has decided not to build hotels or condos?

I can't think of one. I suspect the largest North American ski area without a lodging base is Mt. Bachelor, which I'm sure is on Forest Service land. That is the reason Powdr Corp extracted rather than spent $$$ on Bachelor for its first several years of ownership. They believe that Bachelor has zero chance of being a national rather than regional destination. And last year they couldn't sell it because any buyer will want a discount for deferred maintenance. Under the original Healy family management Bachelor was an early adopter of high speed lifts in the late 1980's/early 1990's, which means they are long in the tooth now.

 

[MarzNC]

I can't think of one. I suspect the largest North American ski area without a lodging base is Mt. Bachelor, which I'm sure is on Forest Service land. That is the reason Powdr Corp extracted rather than spent $$$ on Bachelor for its first several years of ownership. They believe that Bachelor has zero chance of being a national rather than regional destination. And last year they couldn't sell it because any buyer will want a discount for deferred maintenance. Under the original Healy family management Bachelor was an early adopter of high speed lifts in the late 1980's/early 1990's, which means they are long in the tooth now.

Yep, in the Dechutes National Forest. Looks like some progress on updating the Northwest lift. The huge 4-season resort called Sun Valley and Bend are less than a 30 minute drive.

From US Forest Service website, April 27, 2026:

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Utah struggles to offer "continuous vertical" – it's definitely not the Alps! It may have great snow. Try skiing a 1000m/3300ft run? (Even a 600m/2000ft run without many catwalks/ridges/traverses?)

 

[Tony Crocker]

lack of ties to the state

I'm the opposite, due to Iron Blosam plus the many years of former admin's pre-RV residence in Utah. Those ties resulted in my Tahoe and Colorado skier days plummeting. Being at Iron Blosam insulates us from the worst LCC issues. But we haven't skied there commuting from down the hill since 2022.

I definitely recall that Snowbird had the only lift served FIS downhill topography in Utah, necessitating the Snowbasin expansion for the Olympics. Adam and I skied Snowbasin the incoming Saturday of Iron Blosam pre-expansion in 1997.

I think Snowbasin's crowd issues are a weekend phenomenon (more evidence of Utah's exploding resident skier population) , and the Trapper's Loop access is fairly clean in terms of traffic/weather problems. Our midweek ski days there in 2021 and 2024 were very quiet.

What did the Fernie CEO say after joining Epic?

Fernie is part of the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies group: Fernie, Kimberley, Kicking Horse, Nakiska, Stoneham and Mont. Ste. Anne. All of these resorts are Epic pass partners. Calgary is the volume gateway airport to all of the western resorts, but only Nakiska (I suspect of little interest to destination skiers) is any less than a 3 hour drive. RCR does not give the impression of a well run company given the recent lift failures at Mont Ste. Anne and Kicking Horse.

Alaska/BC heli & cat skiing, Japan, South America, and Europe

Great minds think alike! And as noted many times, once you amortize the airfare over a 2+ week ski trip, Europe is a compelling value vs. the American West. Make that one week if you live in the East.

 

[MarzNC]

I think Snowbasin's crowd issues are a weekend phenomenon (more evidence of Utah's exploding resident skier population) , and the Trapper's Loop access is fairly clean in terms of traffic/weather problems. Our midweek ski days there in 2021 and 2024 were very quiet.

That wasn't my experience in January 2025. Perhaps because Fridays are the new Saturdays these days. There were plenty of locals around that day, along with Ikon holders.