The snow has been stacking up here in Utah. Storm after storm has stacked up to make a 100″ base at Snowbird with more snow on tap tonight and into the weekend.

With the longest ski and snowboard season in Utah, Snowbird Resort announced last week 2 different Spring Season Pass Deals:

Starting March 2 – $499

Starting March 30 -$279

Last year there was skiing well into the month of June but their season traditionally extends until Memorial Day Weekend. Who knows, it could go all the way to July 4th like it has in years past.

Based on the lift ticket prices, if you skied 7 days you’d have the pass paid for. All the more reason to take a couple of spring vacations.

Better yet, spring time in Salt Lake City is also a time when Utah Vacation Homes will offer deals on lodging, not to mention that you can often ski in the morning and bike, golf, hike or shop in the afternoons.

Spring is just around the corner. Will it be a Snowbird Springtime this year?

–Spring passes can be purchased at the Snowbird ticket office or by calling 801-933-2215 between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily.

This past week the Bobsled and Skeleton World Cup competition was held in Park City at the 2002 Olympic Park.  The coolest part, aside from the world class athletes competing here in Utah, was the fact that the event was free. If you missed it, here is a recap of the event.

Just up the hill, literally, from nearly a dozen of the Utah Vacation Homes Bear Hollow properties, the Utah Olympic Park is home to the Bobsled/Luge/Skeleton track as well as the Ski Jumping venue from the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.  Most of the events held there are free for spectators so if you find yourself in Utah for a ski vacation, be sure to check out the Olympic Park schedule of events.

Starting up later this week (February 22 – March 1) is the United States Luge Junior National Championships. Once again, admission is free for you to watch the best youth and junior luge athletes from across the country. A few of these athletes may compete in the next winter Olympics.

Here is a map for you to see where the Utah Olympic Park is located, but you can also click the image to get driving directions.

This video, shot by Ian and Neil Provo at Powder Mountain, captures the thrill of skiing and snowboarding powder as good as anything I’ve seen in a while.

If this doesn’t get you stoked for skiing and snowboarding, you’d better check your pulse right about now.

Enjoy.

(there is one PG voice over at 3:17)

Powder Mountain Perspective from Ian Provo on Vimeo.

The question of “Is it affordable?” comes up every time you consider a ski vacation. There are so many choices in destinations, and then once you hone in on a location like Jackson, Whistler or perhaps UTAH, there are an infinite amount of choices yet again.

While I’m just a bit biased towards Utah as a destination, it seems that when it comes to affordability I’m not alone.

USA Today in their February 12th issue ran a Travel Section cover story about Utah being an affordable ski destination, specifically citing the Cottonwood Canyon Resorts.

Utah Vacation Homes has a number of hot deals on lodging in both the Salt Lake and Park City areas, including deals on lift tickets, car rentals and more.

Winter is in full swing as 10″ of new snow fell last night and another 10″ is predicted to fall today.  As a friend from West Virginia recently told me after his first ever visit to Utah a week ago, “I’ll definately be back, how could ever stay away from Utah?”

We all want a deal, the best deal we can find, and when it comes to sliding on snow Utah is finding its way to the top of more people’s list for reasons beyond having the “greatest snow on earth”.

So you’ve landed in Utah for Presidents Week.  Today, Presidents Day, is sunny and warm but tomorrow and the next day have a big storm on tap.  Later in the week the weather looks to be improving (depending on your perspective) with sunny skies and warm temps into the weekend.

Chances are you’ve already got your lodging dialed through Utah Vacation Homes and if you’ve got a pile of lift tickets in hand but no real order of what to ski when, it’s time to get down to business.

Let’s talk strategy

If you’re like me you’ll want to avoid the crowds and maximize your time on the hill.  With that in mind, and assuming you’re staying somewhere central and close to the resorts and the freeways (like the Oaks on Wasatch Blvd near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon) here’s how I’d lay out my week of skiing in Utah.

Monday: Since by the time you read this Monday’s decision has been made, I’ll leave this as an optional location.  However, my buddy called me from Alta this morning and said it was empty.  Odd.

Tuesday: “They” are predicting snow.  I’ve got two suggestions for today.  1: Get yourself to ALTA, quickly. Don’t be late or the snow will be tracked up before you can buckle your boots. 2: Solitude is a good call for a powder day as it often lives up to its name. Chances are good you’ll find untracked powder all day long.

Wednesday: If it’s a storm day, or if it’s not, head to Snowbird.  Tram lines mid week can be forgiving and the fact that the majority of Salt Lake skiers have the J-O-B to take care of, you could find a great deal of untracked powder and lift lines should be slim to nill.

Thursday: The sun is predicted to come out – head to Park City.  It’s a toss up but I’d say a visit to Deer Valley would be good for today.  Untracked powder will still linger in the trees and the groomed runs will be impeccable.  Treat yourself to lunch – my choice is the Butternut Squash soup but many will steer you towards the famed Turkey Chili.  Either way, you can’t go wrong  Finish off your day right by catching dinner in town before heading back to “home”

Friday: I’d head back to Park City for more miles of skiing than your legs will be able to handle.  Park City Mountain Resort is a good call.  Don’t mess around with the PayDay lift – head up Crescent to start your day free of the crowds.

Saturday: Time to get adventurous.  The masses will descend upon the usual haunts, so I’d recommend driving north to Snowbasin or better yet, Powder Mountain.  The lift lines will be a thing of the past and you’ll maximize your time skiing.  If you’re into a more refined skiing experience, Snowbasin is your flavor.  Feeling adventurous? Powder Mountain has more adventurous ways to ascend a ski slope than any resort.  Don’t miss a ride on the Lightning Ridge Snow Cat – $11.

Sunday: If you have time to catch some turns before your flight home, head up to Brighton for a half day. Millicent gets early morning light and is often void of lift lines, especially on a Sunday.

If you’ve not been to Utah this season, I only have to ask why not?

Let me ask that again, WHY NOT?!

I know the economy is gloomy and the dems and the pubs are duking it out with our tax dollars in D.C., but the truth of the matter is that you’re not getting any younger and the snow will melt in May. Set aside the gloom, dust off the boots, score a deal on lodging and lift tickets, and get yourself to Utah.

It’s been seriously this good.

Evenings in the mountains are as unique as they is magical. Feeling like you’re so far away with barely a light to distract from the stars illumination.  Or in a swirling storm it can feel like you’re as far away as the moon but in reality here in Utah you’re only 15 minutes away from the city. A sense of romance exists that isn’t easily duplicated.

If you enjoy the mountains how could you not want to delight in the serenity and beauty of the mountains this Valentines Day!

Snowbird is offering Valentine’s Day dinners in the Wildflower Restaurant, the Aerie Restaurant and the Lodge Bistro. All three locations recommend you make a reservation and prices will vary.

I’d likely head straight for the Wildflower since my wife lived in Italy and they serve up Italian with a Mediterranean focus but if you’re looking to make memories the Aerie will be serving a 5 course meal from the 10th floor of the Cliff Lodge.

At Solitude, Creekside will be offering up it’s standard weekend brunch which is anything but standard.  This option is especially attractive for Utah Vacation Homes customers who happen to be staying with us at the Solitude Village.

For a truly unique experience and a sense of adventure, the Cross-Country ski-in to the Yurt is a memory worthy of Valentines.  Work up an appetite as you ski in to a 5 course meal you’ll not soon forget.

Escape the usual dinners of the valley this Valentines with a 15-minute drive up either Little Cottonwood Canyon of Big Cottonwood Canyon and celebrate the evening with delicious food and romance that can’t be beat.