Solitude
Solitude is a skiing resort in Utah that is renowned for uncrowded slopes and plenty of powder - great powderhound territory. “Solitude” describes the calm and quietness of this relatively undiscovered resort especially when compared with the crowds at nearby resorts. The resort has the motto “their ignorance, your bliss”.
Solitude remains fairly unknown because it used to be a mere local ski hill. Millions of dollars have lead to a major transformation into a proper resort with a pedestrian-only European style village, but news of the makeover is spreading slowly.
Solitude is located in Big Cottonwood Canyon, 45 kilometres from Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah, and only 40km from Park City. There are many other ski resorts that are an easy drive away.
Typical for a Utah ski resort, Solitude has great powder and an average of 500 inches (12.7 metres) of snowfall annually. The terrain includes open bowls, gladed runs, steep chutes and groomed cruisers. The resort is fairly small in comparison to its neighbours with 486 hectares (1,200 acres) of skiing terrain, which is equivalent to the size of the Thredbo ski resort in Australia. The best thing about Solitude is that you don’t have to share the powder and terrain with too many others.
Solitude continues to evolve into a major resort with ongoing infrastructure development. New for 2008/09 will be another two detachable quad chairs to replace two existing lifts.
The accommodation is within a European style lodging village. There are various lodges that have 1-3 bedroom condos, with Creekside Lodge condominiums being ski-in ski-out. There is also a first-class hotel, the Inn at Solitude. Another option is to stay in Park City where shuttles are available to get to Solitude.
The Powderhounds will be visiting in early 2009 to unravel the mystery of why Solitude is still somewhat of a secret when compared to neighbouring resorts.