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Solitude Mountain Resort

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Solitude Mountain Resort is a ski resort located in Big Cottonwood Canyon of the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City, UT.

Solitude's lower terrain

Solitude is adjacent to Brighton Ski Resort near the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. At 2000 vertical feet and 1200 acres, it is smaller than Snowbird and Alta, but has some great terrain. While it doesn't have their total area, it doesn't have lift lines either, and all but the true experts will find it very challenging. It is a very family-oriented mountain. There is no nightlife scene like Park City but excellent skiing. Dated lift technology (only one quad).

The Honeycomb Canyon area is basically backcountry tree skiing with one occasionally groomed run, Woodlawn, down the middle of the valley. It is best later in the season, after at least 150 inches have fallen. The sun doesn't reach deep into the Canyon until early March. Snowboarders should avoid the Canyon if Woodlawn is not groomed to avoid a couple hundred yards' hike across the runout to the lift.

The four resorts in this area, Brighton and Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon, and Alta and Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon, truly do get the best (and most) snow on earth. Each of the pair of ski areas are connected by runs, but there is no lift service between the two canyons. If you are willing to hike 600 yards through deep powder you can get from the top of Summit Lift at Solitude to the top of Albion Basin at Alta through a backcountry gate. You will be well above the Alta lift, so don't count on hiking back.

History

Robert M.Barrett moved to Salt Lake and took up skiing. He had a passion for Alta but, was one day denied bathroom access. The waste was thrown down the canyon so, the restrooms were reserved for guests only. He then declared he would start his own resort. He started working on it in 1956 with all the land he could buy in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The empty land turned into Solitude Ski Resort 33 years later with some help from the DeSeelhorst family. 1

References

[[1]]

Facts and figures

  • Base elevation: 7,988 ft (2435 m)
  • Summit elevation: 10,035 ft (3059 m)
  • Vertical rise: 2,047 ft (624 m)
  • Total skiable area: 1,200 acres (4.9 km²)
  • Lifts: 8 total (1 detachable quad, 2 quad, 1 triple, 4 double)
  • Terrain:
    • Beginner: 20% (Green Circle)
    • Intermediate: 50% (Blue Square-more difficult)
    • Advanced/Expert: 30% (Black Diamond-most difficult)
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