🚀 go-pugleaf

	First off I should say that the weather that Utah had while
I was there last week was unusual. A high pressure system was stuck
over Salt Lake City and didn't budge. As far as I know it's still 
there and no one knew when it would move. Now, I don't mind skiing
in a little sunshine (we all came away with some degree of sunburn),
but 55 degrees is a little ridiculous. So conditions were spring-
like everywhere. Some places were mushier than other, but every place
had some ice (yes Virginia, there is ice in Utah, much to my chagrin).
	Here's my opinion of the ski area we went to:

Park City: We only skied there for half a day the day we got to Utah.
Laid out much like a New England resort with trails, not open bowls
and such. The snow in the bowls was terrible - mush - and impossible
to ski in. Park City was OK by my standards, but compared to other
Utah areas nothing to write home about.

Brighton & Solitude: We skied both of them using the Big Cottonwood
Canyon interconnect ticket ($13), an excellent deal in my opinion.
Both areas were nice once the surface changed to corn. In some
places the surface never softened up and it was like skiing on
rock. Some steep stuff exists, and there was no one there so no
lift lines. 

Alta: I cannot say enough good things about this place. It is huge,
it is cheap and it is FUN! Alta was the only area we skied twice. There
is something here for everyone. I have never in my life seen such long,
steep, moguled runs in my life! (For those of you familiar with the
area Alf's High Rustler was closed the second day we were there. We guessed
it was because no one in their right mind would want to ski it with the
ice that was on it.) We did manage to find some nice snow (not corn, real
packed powder) in the bowls and gulleys that faced northwest. Otherwise
corn and ice predominated. Everything off the Supreme chair was horrid!

Deer Valley: We had to go to see how the rich people skied. They ski
pretty well. We saw Hal Linden while we were there. He was the only
famous person we saw. Though an expensive lift ticket($29), it is worth
it. Great conditions - the best all-around that we saw. Deer Valley is
not an easy area. Most of the intermediate runs are long, steep and
with no flat spots. You can really tire yourself out here. And the food
in the lodges is amazing! Yes, it's a bit pricey, but wait until you
taste the desserts!

Snowbird: Right down the road from Alta, it is similar. The bowl at the
top of the Little Cloud chair had some great snow in it, even after a
week of 55 degrees. Other than that, it was pretty damn icy. I'd really
like to see this place on a powder day.

I had a wonderful time despite the pretty lousy conditions (for Utah -
I was really looking forward to seeing some powder). I skied some steep
stuff and it was a blast!

To anyone who's planning on visiting any of these areas I say "WAIT!"
It will be much better after they get another good storm. The ice and
crud has to be covered up and only a good storm is going to do that.

Sharon Badian
ihnp4!mtgzy!seb