Our club took a ski trip to Utah in Feb/March 2008. The experience left us with big smiles and happy memories. We were a small group of long time skiers still looking for the next great mountain.

I had mixed feelings about taking our group to a new area that: a) wasn't a quaint old ski town b) wasn't ski in/ski out and c) had only hotel rooms (no condos). However, the experience truly exceeded my expectations. Layton is about 25-30 minutes north from the Salt Lake City airport. Although it is not an old, quaint town, the area has everything. We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard, which included a full breakfast. They also gave us a free pizza party during the week and there is a Manager's Reception on Wednesday that includes drinks and appetizers. Some rooms come with mini fridges and I understand a fridge is available to anyone upon request. I requested a room with a fridge and was changed with no problem. Room size was quite comfortable. Facility has a hot tub, pool and work out area. Also, The Summit Bar is located right inside the Marriott. We were walking distance from many restaurants as well as a Super Target (carries groceries and beer) across the street.

We were 1/2 hour from Snow Basin & about 45 minutes from Powder Mountain. The skiing was phenomenal! Snowbasin is a gorgeous facility done in the style of Sun Valley. Lots of groomed runs. It even has an elevator if you can't handle the steps at the end of the day.

Powder Mountain has 5500 acres of terrain. You can ski with or without trees, on or off trails. I never really knew what off trail skiing could mean until I skied here. You have to hike or take a Snowcat to some of the runs, but in the next few years they are adding ski lifts to accommodate accessibility. It had no lift lines, great snow, friendly people...really the best of everything. We skied fresh snow all day the second day after a snowfall.

The restaurants where we dined had the optimum balance of good service and good prices. I highly recommend Mimi's (walking distance). They have an eclectic menu with fabulous food and a fun atmosphere. Go on Sunday night and you'll have the place to yourself. For a little Irish flavor go to MacCool's. They specialize in lamb dishes but serve good food for any palate in a festive, friendly Irish atmosphere. After you eat, play a game of tabletop shuffleboard or real darts and I'd like to add, the wait staff at both of these places made me feel like a regular.

We also ate at The Mandarin in Bountiful one night. Best Chinese food in Utah! They mix styles to come up with a whole different spin. The best thing to do with a group is to sit at the large table in back and order a variety of entrees that everyone can taste. We did this and determined we only needed to order half as much food as we would have if everyone had gotten individual entrees. Just remember to get really good directions before you go there, it is a bit tricky to find.

At both mountains and wherever we went in Layton, everyone we encountered was like a goodwill ambassador for the area.

We received help in putting the trip together from Brandon Berrett at Davis Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Call him! He also gave us a local's tour of some off run skiing at Powder Mountain. I highly recommend that you give this area a try next year. Everyone will think you're a genius for suggesting it!

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Went down to Utah on a weekend trip in late February. First day was spent at Snowbasin which was pretty nice. But, it can't touch Powder Mountain. We had about a foot of fresh and it was everywhere. The terrain is huge. Whatever you want it's there. The groomers looked good so any beginners can stay busy most of the day. The park looked good nice big jumps and good rails. The pipe was kind of weak but people don't come there to ride pipe and for good reason. Powder country is great you just bomb off past the fence and go where you want and end up at the highway and wait for the bus. The bus ride was really chill with everyone talking about how their run went as the bus huffs and puffs trying to pull the steep road back up. Then you can get off the bus catch a short lift ride to the shuttlecat to Lightning Ridge. $10 a run what a deal. Lightning Ridge is the sickest run I've probably ever had bowls,cliffs,chutes,steeps, what do you want? They got it. The lifties are really cool and it's hard to tell who's a liftie and who isn't because they don't have to where uniforms or cut there hair and you can tell that they're just as stoked about the place as you are. Far better than some robot who just bumps chairs and hates his job that you get at the swankier resorts. I can't speak for the lodges because I was drinking Gatorade and eating Powerbars on the lift, no time to go in. Powder Mountain is old school and that's the way it should stay. I'm going back 4sho. Stayed in Ogden which sucks for nightlife but the hotels are relatively cheap. About a 40 minute drive Oh, and I didn't heed the warnings from people. If your driving from out of state, import your own beer because 3.2 beer sucks. All in all if you get a chance blow all the big names and head to Powder it doesn't dissapoint.

We spent 3/8/2008 thru 3/15/2008 skiing around Salt Lake City. Our day at Powder Mountain was memorable for many reasons but for a skier who began in Vermont in the 70's Powder was a trip down memory lane. Ski bags in the base lodge, not a sprout in site at lunch and nobody carrying your skis from your car. I'm not suggesting the slope conditions were Vermont-like, the conditions were just what you expect from Utah, wonderful. Quite runs with few skiers made for a great time. When we return to Utah, Powder Mountain will be a must do along with Alta.

If you want to be preppy then go to Snowbasin!

Here at Powder Mountain we ride buses, slow lifts (although the new high speed hidden lake quad is a life saver), and snowcats to the best snow in the state. Where else can you ski a week after a storm and still have fresh tracks?
The backcountry access to the road is steep and deep, and the ride back on the bus to the resort is one of a kind. Shout out to Woody! (Bus Driver)

Cat Skiing on Lighting Ridge is one of a kind, with access to trees, rocks, chutes, and wide open bowls all from one drop off point.

Shopping - Who Cares???, Nice lodges - Go to Snowbasin/Sun Valley

Deep Powder, No lines, and a laid back atmosphere make Powder Mountain the best place for SKIING/BOARDING around.

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Definitely not for the "IN" crowd. You need to actually go to ski resorts to ski or board and not to lounge around to get the beauty of Powder. It's great for beginners and experts alike. It's never too crowded, people are always friendly and they have the best staff. Yes the amenities might be old and little dated, but you can take your own food and still sit by the log fire to defrost and gear up for the next run. It's by far my favourite resort to go to when I just want to ski and not be bothered with all the hassles.