Solitude Mountain Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon has some of the best terrain in Utah to ski on a powder day. But what makes Solitude truly special is the lack of lift lines. With fewer people, the powder lasts longer. Solitude also has tons of nooks and crannies where intrepid skiers can find untracked powder days after a storm.
Still, when the northwest flow drops feet of snow in the Wasatch, you need to have a game plan to maximize your powder-turn potential. So here are some tips on how to ski Solitude on a powder day.
Eagle Express First Chair
On the deepest powder days, ski patrol at Solitude usually opens the mountain in stages. So the first thing I do is park at the far west end of the Moonbeam Lot and try to get first-chair on Eagle Express. The Moonbeam and Apex lifts also open first thing, but really, Eagle is where you want to be on a powder morning.
The runs below Eagle Express are incredible on in powder. Sunshine Bowl is almost always groomed, but everything else is fair game. I like to lay first tracks on Gary’s Glade and Olympia. Below that, hit the steeps on Inspiration, Rumble, Grumble, Stumble and Serenity. If you’re lucky, Challenger might even be open. If not, keep an eye out for the rope drop.
Powderhorn Laps
Sometimes Powderhorn opens early, but if it doesn’t, keep an eye on it while you’re making turns below Eagle Express. As soon as you see Powderhorn open, get over there immediately.
The open faces you can access here are incredible in deep snow. I also like the trees between the Concord and Paradise runs. The Powderhorn Cirque is another must-ski run in the morning.
But the real reason to be at Powderhorn on a powder day is so you’re within proximity of the Summit Express lift for when it opens. When you see the gate open at the top of Powderhorn for Milk Run, Parachute, and Middle Slope, go ski one of these immediately. This is some of the steepest terrain at Solitude and it’s divine to ski in over-the-head blower. Plus, these runs dump you out at the bottom of Summit Express.
Summit Express
When Summit Express opens, it’s time to feast upon the deepest snow on the mountain. My favorite run is Headwall Forest. But you’ll also find epic turns in Corner Chute, and the lower runs on Evergreen Peak above the frozen lake.
Sometimes the next terrain to open is Highway to Heaven and Evergreen Peak. I suggest you go through the Highway to Heaven gate as soon as it’s allowed and ski down to the traverse above Twin Lakes. Hike back to Solitude at the top of Corner Chute, which is also the start of the Evergreen Peak hike. If it’s open and you think Honeycomb Canyon will be a while, then I recommend you ski this before the powder is gone. However, skiing the backside of Evergreen puts you onto the SolBright Trail and you’ll be at the bottom of Solitude and have to ride two lifts to get back to the top for any possible Honeycomb openings, which you do not want to miss.
The Glory of Honeycomb Canyon
By now it’s probably afternoon and you’re itching to ski Honeycomb Canyon. After the biggest storms, ski patrol will often wait until the next day to drop this rope. But if you’re lucky, or the patrol gods are feeling generous and are confident about snowpack safety, then Honeycomb sometimes opens around noon or 1 p.m. I try to position myself at the top of Summit Express and head directly to Black Forest. This part of Honeycomb has trees that protects the snow from wind, and it has some of the longest vertical. If you choose the Black Bess traverse, take the lower option. The upper traverse is a lot more work but only nets you about four extra turns. That lower traverse will still get you to the best runs like Prince of Wales and Boundary Chutes.
After the first run in Honeycomb, I ride the Honeycomb Return lift, then immediately ski Navarone back into Honeycomb. If Navarone is tracked out or sun affected (which it often is) I’ll ride the Powderhorn lift to access Here be Dragons. This is another one of my favorite runs at Solitude.
Fantasy Ridge
Fantasy Ridge never opens on a powder day. There are too many avalanche dangers. But 2-5 days after a big storm, when the skies clear and the rest of the resort is tracked out, make sure you are at the top of Summit Express for the Fantasy Ridge hike to open. Being the first skier in the Black Bess and Honeycomb Chutes is a real treat. In fact, if you time it right, it could be the best run of your season.
The Wrap Up
The great thing about Solitude on a powder day is that you can get fresh tracks all day long. But it requires knowledge of when certain lifts open, and being smart about positioning yourself for the rope drops. It may sometimes be frustrating that the whole mountain isn’t open right away. But the fact that Solitude opens up in stages, ensures that you can get dibs on untracked powder all day long.
For a trail map and more to plan your trip to Solitude, go to solitudemountain.com