United States:

Snowbird, Utah

Snowbird Ski Resort is located minutes outside of Salt Lake City, Utah in the Little Cottonwood Canyon of the Wasatch Mountains.  Snowbird is renown for its legendary powder; weather systems approaching from the west gather moisture in the coastal regions, moving uninterrupted across the desert just beyond the Great Salt Lake until they reach the high altitudes of the Wasatch Mountain range, where the moisture is released in the form of light, dry snow (and lots of it!!).

Snowbird is ideally situated in a box canyon at the front of the range and receives the most impact from storms hitting Utah's ski region. The 2,500 acre ski area has an incredible variety of advanced and expert terrain, all of it accessible from the 125 passenger aerial tram, a familiar image associated with Snowbird. The ski area is best known for its black diamond and double black diamond runs, but the installation this year of the GadZoom detachable quad chair lift has improved the skiing experience on the lower mountain, where many intermediate runs are located. The GadZoom also provides quick access to Little Cloud Bowl, with its open slopes, and a quick connection to the Gad 2 double chair lift which provides access to many treelined smaller bowls and hidden chutes.

There is enough terrain inbounds to keep an expert going for days.  But, if that is not enough, cat skiing in Mineral Basin off the back of Hidden Peak is a new option.

One of the pioneers of skiing the Western United States is 72-year-old Snowbird Director of Skiing, Junior Bounous. Junior taught skiing at neighbouring Alta Ski Resort during the 1940s. In the early 1970s, Junior came to Snowbird to help develop the resort and remained as its Ski School Director.  Although Junior is now semi-retired, he runs a regular program at Snowbird for seniors, who try to keep up with him.

In addition to great skiing and snowboarding, the vacation experience at Snowbird has much to offer.  A self sufficient, ski in/ski out village with first class accommodations, a variety of shops, restaurants and other services is located at the base of the moutain.  A good place to start or end any day is Aerie restaurant with spectacular views of the ski area. The Cliff Spa has an excellent workout facility, swimming pool, hot tub, great views, and provides a full range of treatments 10 floors above ground atop the Cliff Lodge.

Condominium accommodation is available as an investment or holiday rental complete with your own private hot tub and, of course, spectacular views. Snowbird definitely caters to families and the new pool complex with its 25m pool, 3 hot tubs and pool side cafe overlooking the slopes is great for adults and kids to soak and have fun as the sun sets.

On the mountain, the Mid Gad Restaurant and Demo Centre is a popular lunch stop and a good place to catch the afternoon sun.  There are many diversions on the mountain in addition to skiing, but the Snowbirds's main attraction is the challenging terrain.

Recent additions: Gad Zoom detachable Quad Chair Lift; Snocat Skiing on 400 acres in Mineral Basin; Family pool complex. Sister Resort: Zermatt, Switzerland.