Utah area's lure is powder deep

The Dallas Morning News - February 18, 2005
By WALT ROESSING

Utah's Powder Mountain is one of the few large Western resorts that offer "skiing like it used to be." That means the area is totally focused on skiing and snowboarding. It isn't encumbered by operating a megamillion-dollar real estate development, plush day lodges, gourmet sit-down restaurants and fancy spas.

For my buddies and me, Powder Mountain is our kind of resort. Forget the lunches and pit stops. Our approach to skiing is to hit the slopes nonstop from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., then call it a day. That means we cover lots of terrain in a hurry. And unlimited terrain is a great feature at Powder Mountain, only an hour's drive from Salt Lake International Airport.

The resort spans a phenomenal 5,500 skiable acres, more terrain than Vail, Sun Valley, Big Sky, Heavenly or Alta and Snowbird combined.

"We serve all that terrain, whether it's by lifts or snowcat. Altogether, the ski area actually owns 12,000 contiguous acres, none of it Forest Service land," says general manager Kent Matthews.

Aptly named, the resort is a powder paradise.

"We already have received around 425 inches of dry Utah powder this season and should reach our annual average of 500 inches," points out Mr. Matthews. "All our skiing and snowboarding is done on natural snow and, as you might guess, lots of people come back each year for the powder. We have no snowmaking here because we don't need it."

Lack of crowds and lift lines is another Powder Mountain plus.

"Our peak one-day count is 2,500 people on a Saturday or holiday, while during midweek you've practically got the mountain to yourself with maybe 500 to 700 others on the slopes," says Mr. Matthews.

The location of the resort's three rustic day lodges, all with cafeterias, is unusual. They, together with the parking areas, are at the summit of Powder Mountain's peaks and lifts – rather than at the base. You ski down to the lifts, which serve over 2,700 acres of packed runs and powder.

Additionally: About 700 acres of open bowl and tree schussing are served by the Lightning Ridge snowcat, there are 800 acres of guided powder tours into Wolf Creek Canyon and yet another ungroomed powder playground awaits off the resort's backside. Altogether, Mr. Matthews rates his terrain as 50 percent intermediate, 30 percent expert and 20 percent beginner.

For those new to this family-owned area built in 1971, a free guided introductory mountain tour is offered at 10:30 a.m. daily. Or for those seeking secret stashes of powder, they can rent a host for $50 for a half day or $100 for a full day of touring; that's the total fee for up to six people.

Powder Mountain has an 8,900-foot summit, 2,005-foot lift-served vertical, four chairs and three surface lifts. Night skiing is open until 10 o'clock. Full-day lift tickets are $43 for adults and $25 for children.

Contact Valley Lodging at Wolf Creek Resort: (800) 301-0817.