Ski Resort Update
Photography: Courtesy of Deer Valley Resort
The Canyons Resort
Though sale of The Canyons Resort is currently pending, all operations are Go! at Utah’s largest single ski area resort. Skiing magazine just ranked The Canyons 13th in their “top ski resorts in North America” poll. Congratulations!
The DreamCatcher high-speed quad was installed last winter, opening up more than 200+ acres of new terrain. Much of this area has now been gladed, soon to be known as some of the best tree skiing in the West. Additionally, The Canyons has more elegant lodging properties being developed at its base area. The Silverado Lodge opened last March and is ready to accept skiers and riders for its first full snow season. A Golden Door Spa is being put into The Dakota Mountain Lodge.
The Canyons will be an official Burton Learn To Ride Center this year, and they will also be opening The Glory Hole, Inc., a hot glass studio, at the Sundial Lodge. The shop will feature glass blowing facilities, glass casting, slump molding, stained glass, neon glass, lampwork, classes and exhibits and is expected to open by mid-January of 2008. www.thecanyons.com.
Park City Mountain Resort
Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) celebrates its 45th anniversary this season! Congratulations! Also noteworthy is the fact that the resort was recently named a top-ten resort by the readers of SKI magazine as well as earning the title “Terrain Park(s) of the Year” by Transworld Snowboarding magazine for the fourth year in a row. Park City Mountain Resort has invested nearly $5 million in improvements for the 2007/2008 season.
The Resort has dramatically changed the landscape between Single Jack and Sunnyside runs by glading the diseased aspen trees, while leaving the pine trees, providing a challenging experience for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders. This area will be called Motherlode Meadows. In addition, the Resort has added a new run off of McConkey’s lift, bringing the total run count to 106.
The Resort will debut an innovative new trail map this season. The map utilizes color-coded mountain areas that highlight seven unique “zones” around the mountain, displaying the amount of terrain for all ability levels available in each “mountain zone.” PCMR is also outfitting the King Con lift with Fast Tracks for quicker access onto the mountain. Fast Tracks, a shortcut through the lift lines, is currently available at PayDay, Eagle, Bonanza and Silverlode lifts.
PCMR has also completely renovated its plaza with a snow-melt system and new concrete flooring. In an effort to remain environmentally sustainable, the Resort is using a boiler that is 98 percent more efficient for heating the plaza floor.
The Resort has recently acquired 20 new low-energy tower guns, six new low-energy fan guns and three new snowcats (including a winch cat), all of which will be operated with bio-diesel fuel. With the purchase of the new, more powerful winch cat, the Resort will be able to groom at least three to five Signature Runs per night in comparison to the two to four Signature Runs that were groomed each night last year. www.parkcitymountain.com.
Deer Valley Resort
Deer Valley Resort was just ranked the #1 ski resort in North America by the readers of SKI magazine for the THIRD TIME. Congratulations! This winter season, the Resort has invested over $9 million in improvements.
The biggest news is the new high-speed detachable quad chairlift, Lady Morgan Express, in the Empire Canyon area. The new lift opens up 200+ additional acres of skiing on nine new ski runs, with stunning views of the Resort and the nearby Uinta Mountains.
Other improvements at Deer Valley this year include: the installation of Snow Scan Ground Penetrating Radar, combined with a GPS system, which allows Resort staffers to determine snow depth on any part of the mountain so that grooming and snowmaking operations will be more efficient; the installation of enhanced, energy efficient heating systems in the Resort’s 22 chairlift terminals; the purchase of 51 new snow guns, 13 portable energy efficient guns and 25 fixed tower energy efficient guns; the replacement of Snow Park Lodge’s upper and lower decks with heated pavers; the replacement of five resort snowcats and 12 snowmobiles; and the installation of new automated ski tuning machines in the Snow Park Rental Shop.
Also to celebrate this season is Director of Skiing Stein Eriksen’s 80th birthday, and the 25th anniversary of his namesake hotel, the Stein Eriksen Lodge. www.deervalley.com.
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