Solitude. The name is fitting. This mountain is a hidden gem with the same snow as Alta Ski Area or Snowbird Ski Resort, but less attitude and shorter lines. The first visit can be a little startling when you realize there is one high-speed lift on the entire mountain.
Yes, you heard me right. Not only are the lifts slow, but they are small. The highest terrain must be accessed by ancient double chairs. This mountain is not for everyone, but if you want marvelous Wasatch powder and the slopes to yourself, this is the place to be.
One of the main reasons for the area’s isolation is that Solitude does not offer any kind of a college discount on a season pass, so few students frequent the slopes. The result is a slightly older demographic, so abilities vary almost as much as the terrain.
The tree runs are straight-up awesome, and they are almost everywhere. Off the summit lift, all of Honeycomb Canyon is accessible, as well as Head Wall Forest. From the top of the Powderhorn middle slope, the Parachute and Milk runs are all enjoyable, especially after a big storm.
On the Honeycomb side, the Black Forest has great thinning and the perfect slope. If it hasn’t snowed in a while, the Queen Bee glades hide snow for a very long time, and if you really look hard, you can find spots that have not been touched in weeks.
Beyond the trees, one of Solitude’s most attractive features for the hardcore is the lift-accessed backcountry. If you’re willing to doll out a little flow, you will be highly rewarded. Steep, exposed and dangerous, the most famous spot is Fantasy Ridge. This place is straight up sick.
The chutes in each area at Solitude are numbered sequentially, so finding a line is easier if you know where to head. Shot 5 is one of the most popular routes on the ridge, but there is a straight through a narrow gap, so keep your eyes open.
Other than a chute called CWM, the farther you traverse, the steeper and sketchier it gets. One of the longest and craziest is Chute 22. It features 2,000 feet of vertical drop on a 50-plus-degree slope — meaning you’d better strap on your gnarly boots, because it is going to be one hell of a ride.
Let’s not kid ourselves — this type of terrain is not for everyone. Only a small percentage of the tickets sold at the base lodge will ever make it up a ridge like this, so don’t fret. Ski the terrain in your comfort range.
If your style is not ultra-intense, Cathedral or Evergreen are definitely worth taking the time to explore, and there is enough steep terrain to stay entertained. Some spots are mellow. Others have cliffs and varying densities of trees abound.
If you’re not quite up for trees or general off-trail, the groomers rival any on the front. Any of the runs that drop off Eagle Ridge can be ripped slow or fast, and they all deserve a run or two.
The lower green runs off the Moonbeam or Sunrise lifts are a great place for beginners to learn and improve. Solitude’s park is not big. They have a few features to keep the kids amused or for the occasional foray, but don’t expect too much.
This mountain’s strongest point is that it caters to each individual. Whatever terrain you like, you can find and often have to yourself. It is rare that the parking lots fill during the week. So, next time the lift lines at your favorite mountain get a little too long, give Solitude a try — you’ll be reminded what skiing and snowboarding is all about.