Conditions Report
Report from March 16, 2024
It’s not every day that one casually gets to ride two ski resorts unless one is in the Cottonwood Canyons. Today, we were fortunate enough to split time between Solitude and Brighton in Utah. The resorts offer riders a unique experience by way of the Solbright pathway connecting two disparate ski areas.
We started at the west side of Solitude and worked our way east. Almost immediately, we found steep, technical trees with soft snow. The mottled light through the canopy made for tricky riding and memorable pictures.
Jacob Heath, picking his way through the technical trees. (PC: Nicky Blumm)
While taking our first chair up the Summit Express at Solitude, we were gawking at the lift-served drops when we noticed someone chest-deep in the snow, just above a cliff. The skier was mostly buried and did not appear able to climb back above the cliff. Ski patrol had just arrived and had extended a rope to the skier so he could be towed up and away from the cliff. As the chair continued another pole, we realized that the terrain was fully roped off; it was a healthy reminder not to duck lines and to know before you go. Cliffs, even inbounds, are serious business.
As morning gave way to afternoon, we took Solbright to Brighton. The crossover was not thrilling, but it did the trick, and the access from that backside would be legendary. I wished I had my skins (and a buddy with a beacon, probe, and shovel).
The bottom line is that Big Cottonwood has big terrain and plenty of ways to get your adrenaline pumping. It was a privilege to spend a day sampling and basking in the sun instead of sitting in an office!
Weather Outlook/Conditions
