Utah has a new ski resort opening for the 2016/17 season. No, it’s not the typical ski area with lifts, lodges and restaurants. Instead, Whisper Ridge is a “backcountry resort,” essentially a massive cat and heli-skiing operation that encompasses 110 square miles of mountainous terrain in northern Utah. To say Whisper Ridge is massive would be an understatement.
According to the Whisper Ridge website, the resort is located near Paradise, Utah, about a 60 minute drive north of Salt Lake City. The operation boasts over 60,000 acres of ski terrain, accessed by eight PistenBully snowcats. If you want to spend days or weeks, there are ten mountain-top yurts spread out between three separate “yurt villages.” Whisper Ridge touts itself as an “all-inclusive, pure backcountry experience of a lifetime.”
All trips at Whisper Ridge will be fully guided on terrain that they say has everything – from wide open glades and bowls, to steep chutes, pillow lines and rock drops. Lead guides are certified Outdoor Emergency Care Technicians and avalanche certified, while tail guides are certified National Ski Patrol (NSP), American Avalanche Association, Outdoor Emergency Care Technicians and Wilderness EMT.
But to experience this untouched backcountry ski terrain, it will come at a cost. A day of cat skiing runs from $450-$495, while staying at a yurt can cost anywhere from $725-$1,000 per-person, per-night, depending on the dates.
Overall, this looks like a sweet addition to Utah’s ski scene. The amount of terrain, the fleet of snowcats, and the yurt villages all add up to something Utah has never seen before. Whisper Ridge will be ideal for skiers and snowboarders who are looking for a “backcountry experience” in terrain that has rarely ever been skied. So if you have the coin, and are looking for a totally different way to ski Utah’s “Greatest Snow on Earth,” then give Whisper Ridge a look. They are taking reservations now at: whisperridgeutah.com