Finding Solitude - Utah's beautiful ski resort - Brief Article

Sunset, Dec, 1999 by Kurt Repanshek

Imagine a ski resort that averages 450 inches of powder every winter, where there are 1,200 acres of skiing, and where you seldom wait in a lift line. You'd want it all to yourself, and with that in mind, you'd name it Solitude, wouldn't you?

Hidden near the head of Big Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Range, just a 30-minute drive from downtown Salt Lake City, Solitude has remained largely overlooked. A few lonely regulars savor the deep powder that storms routinely dump here. Now's the time to discover this hidden gem, while parking close to the lodge is still commonplace and before planned improvements to the resort lead the world to its door.

Long criticized for lacking any semblance of apres-ski life, Solitude is making advances in this arena as its previously ho-hum base is being sculpted into a quaint alpine village. Three years ago the arrival of the Inn at Solitude and Creekside at Solitude brought 64 slope-side units to the resort. Bonuses are a restaurant featuring wood-burning oven specialties and a lounge where locals top off the day with a draft or two.

The village grows this winter with the new Powder-horn Lodge. Though its 83 units won't be ready until spring, the Thirsty Squirrel tavern, a ticket office, and restaurant will open in mid-December.

The ski hill, served by seven lifts, is a favorite with beginning and intermediate skiers. (About half the runs are rated for intermediate skiers.) Lift lines are so short, there's little time on the ride back up to catch your breath after jitterbugging the Roller Coaster bump run or cruising down Challenger.

When you stay at Solitude, be sure to swap your skis or snowboard for cross-country gear at sunset so you can kick-and-glide to a gourmet dinner at the Solitude yurt. Nestled in the pines on the Solitude Nordic Center, the yurt is homey, yet elegant - dinners from scratch often feature salmon, with strawberry shortcake for dessert. How sweet it is.

WHERE: Near the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, 28 miles east of downtown Salt Lake City via State 190.

FYI: Downhill skiing and snowboarding, nordic center with 20 kilometers of trails, restaurants, and accommodations from $160.

CONTACT: Solitude Mountain Resort: (800) 748-4754 or (801) 534-1400.