onefutui2e

Hey guys,

So I've been to Park City twice thus far on my vacation. The first day was a bit underwhelming, especially since our group got stuck with a massively long traverse back to base from the McConkey Lift. The trails were nice, but overall it just felt like any of the VT resorts, but bigger (flame on).

I decided to give it another chance today, and it was a little bit better. But HOLY SHIT what is up with all the traverses? Jupiter Access is marked as a blue trail but coming off the Thaynes Lift we walked a solid 2/3 of it because it was so flat. The trails off the Jupiter Lift were amazing, but then the mojo got killed with traverses on the way back to the lift.

The rest of the day felt like it was a mix of awesome trails and frustration whenever we hit a traverse on just about every other run. It happened a lot when we tried to get from one lift to another and it was incredibly annoying, to put it nicely. There were also a fair share of moments where unless we picked up A LOT of momentum we would've gotten stuck. It got to a point where I didn't even want to take hits off the side anymore because I was afraid of slowing down and getting caught on a flat.

Is there a way to navigating Park City and its traverses? I'm willing to give it one more try after hearing really rave reviews about the resort, but after two days of this I don't know. To be fair, whenever I stuck to one lift I had no problems with this (aside from the times where I needed to bomb through a section to build momentum). But I assume that would lead to an underwhelming experience overall.

Sorry if this comes off as a harsh review of Park City; it is an assload of fun but I'm genuinely curious as to whether I'm missing some sort of method of navigating the various zones or if this is indeed one negative part of an otherwise great resort.

Thanks!

firstx1017

We felt the same way last year when we went. And sometimes to get from one lift to the other to get higher up the mountain you had to take your board off and walk it. Canyons was better we felt, except never having to use a tow rope at our resort, we were at a loss as to how to work the one at Canyons as one of the blue runs has an uphill and set up a tow rope to get you up the one section to the top and we laughed hysterically as I was trying to work it - finally gave up and walked up the hill! lol I was afraid I was being videotaped and would be on YouTube for ALL to laugh at! And for the life of me I could never get off the Orange Bubble chair lift without falling! Each time the lift operators said you will do it this time and boom - fall - was too much of a slope for this old time boarder! lol

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sangsters

Damn I hate that rope tow at Canyons. Wrecked on that one badly enough to take me out for two days of last season's trip. I should have just walked it.

mhaas

Ive never been there but I'd say if you were more familiar with the terrain you could avoid the traverse. Look at the trail map or the mountain itself and try to plan a more effecient route. You know where these flat spots are now.
Avoid them or keep your speed/elevation and blast through. Your worst enemy this weekend was the temperatures. It was really cold and cold snow will definately slow you down.

hikeswithdogs

If your in Utah and you only ride Park City resorts you had a vacation fail, go to the CottonWoods or Ogden........only tourists waste their time and money in PC.

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neednsnow

Redundant statement is redundant......OP stated VACATION (ie tourist) right up-front!

That being said, OP, I'm not sure where you read rave reviews....most-likely not this site. PC is good for park and party, that's about it. If you want top-to-bottom silliness get over to Snowbird, or up to Snowbasin/Powder Mountain.......or Brighton/Solitude. Park City is marketed well, but just isn't as Big Mountain World-Class as Some of the other places.

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grafta

What?

hikeswithdogs

This in combination with the fact that Park City gets the snow "left overs" from the CottonWoods, it still gets Colorado snowfall amounts(which are great) but nothing like the Cottonwoods or even Ogden resorts.

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onefutui2e

we did go to snowbird and snowbasin which were freaking amazing (especially since we caught the latter on a powder day). wish my group planned more days there, unfortunately.

i guess we fell for the marketing; oh well. i'm sure it happens to the best of us at some point in life. i still had fun and it was mostly others in my group that were complaining, which in turn dragged down my mojo.

mhaas

You never noticed the snow being somewhat sticky when its really cold, like single digits? It has somethinhg to do with the snow not melting from the friction of your board going over it and having the water act as a lube. Its science dude.