Skilifts.org / SORT Forum

Before stating your opinion, read the entire post:
I am looking to book either Solitude/Brighton or Snowbird next year. I was originally just considering Snowbird, but I considered the fact that Snowbird might get lines and Solitude, well it seems lives up to it's name (For crowds). Just some facts to help me decide:
I liked Cirque at Snowbird a LOT
Little Cloud and Gad 2 were my favorite lifts at Snowbird (Bowl skiing + tree skiing)
I liked Mineral in the morning

I've never been to Solitude

Give me your opinions, I have a while to decide though (Actually probably like 6 months).

Thanks!

I have not been to either, so don't take me to seriously; although I have been to utah and my cousins live there so I could ask them.

I would go to Snowbird. Solitude/Brighton are cheaper lift tickets than Snowbird. Presidents day weekend probably gets many people that only go 2-3 times a year. I would assume those people would tend to go for the cheaper ticket therefore making it busier.

Snowbird may be pretty darn crowded on the holiday weekend. Although parking will be more an issue than lines. I might go and give Solitude a go as it won't be near as crowded.

I'd second Iceberg.

pp492, on 19 May 2016 - 05:59 AM, said:

I think that's a bit like saying that since Grand Targhee has cheaper lift tickets that JHMR that more people will go there. If you look it up, "Solitude mountain crowds" it comes up with "Crowd free skiing at Solitude mountain!"

Just an opinion.

Would I be getting Cirque, Little Cloud, and Gad 2 at Solitude? I can live with an honest answer of "You would miss out on X."

Smacpats, on 20 May 2016 - 01:06 PM, said:

Solitude has some killer terrain, but you have to work harder for it. If you were just skiing the main part of Middle Cirque, Evergreen and Honeycomb have comparable terrain. If you were skiing chutes in Upper Cirque, it gets trickier.
It also depends on how large a line you are willing to tolerate, nothing but the Tram and Mineral will be awful, even on Presidents weekend.
I've had seasons at both resorts and do prefer Bird, but love both. Hope I was helpful.

SkiDaBird, on 20 May 2016 - 09:35 PM, said:

Thanks, but I have one last question:
What line would you expect from Little Cloud and Gad 2 on presidents day weekend? Would they be tracked out by noon? I can live without Mineral and tram, but Gad 2 And Little Cloud was where I got in 3/4 of my skiing in that trip.

Smacpats, on 21 May 2016 - 08:24 AM, said:

LC is always tracked out by noon, but the line wouldn't be longer than 5 minutes by my best guess. I still don't have a great feel for how fast Gad 2 tracks out with the quad. I also don't know how fast the Summit area would track out with the new quad there either. Sorry I'm not being more helpful.

With as much capacity that Snowbird has on the hill now, the lines at the lifts won't really be that bad, the key is finding parking :P As long as you get there early and don't mind a LONG ride back down the canyon Snowbird is good. Otherwise if you mind those two things Solitude is the better way to go. It's hard to say about the snow and tracked out, really depends how the snow is, what is open etc... For example Gad II can be completely tracked out and then they can open Tiger Tail and you can find fresh stuff for days. So it's just a real crap shoot.