Which ski resort should you go to this season?

By Cara MacDonald

September 22, 2016

The U is famed for its proximity to ski resorts and culture of winter sports. With ski season fast approaching, it’s time for U students to start buying their season passes before prices start to go up. Utah offers a host of magnificent mountains, and boasts "the greatest snow on Earth." Luckily for...

The Battle of the Cottonwood Canyons

February 4, 2015

LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON During the winter, the north-facing side of Little Cottonwood Canyon is populated by inbound-skiers attempting to recreate a Greg Stump ski film. But just across the road, you’ll find plenty of uphillers with similar visions of grandeur. There’s a good reason for this: Little Cottonwood Cany...

From the Eyes of a Snowcat Operator

February 4, 2015

As the day goes by, skiers and snowboarders go for run after run, creating ruts and shaving off layers of snow. Yet every morning the trails are beautifully groomed with a fresh corduroy pattern, the runs are smooth, and there are no tracks. This is the magic of Park City Mountain Resort’s snowcat o...

My First Time Skiing

February 4, 2015

Winter and I have never really gotten along. When I was 15, I spent about three months in and out of emergency rooms after crashing a snowmobile. I’m still not sure what happened, like seriously, I don’t remember — one moment I was riding along on a trail, and the next thing I know I’m on the back of my ...

Backcountry Gear Review

February 4, 2015

We all do it. Even though the old farts tell us not to. Even though we know it’s dangerous and that we’re not ready (emotionally or financially) to face the possible consequences. We’re human. We do it because it’s fun and it feels good. It’s probably safe to assume that we’re not going to stop, too. ...

How to Cure Powder-itis: The Backcountry Fix

February 4, 2015

The first week of class this semester, I remember having a serious case of “powder flu,” which is a severe and chronic need to hit the slopes. And it was the worst I’d ever experienced. It seemed to be contagious. Ask any fellow alpine junkie — usually spotted wearing some form of ski or snowboard para...

Avalanches: When to Stay Off the Slopes

February 4, 2015

It was calm, and then suddenly it wasn’t. What was solid ground two minutes before was now rushing around him like a river. Waves of snow carried him 150 yards in a matter of seconds, and he was helpless. Daniel Eike was caught in an avalanche, and all he could think was, “Oh, shit.” It was not the ...

Editor’s Note, February 2015

February 4, 2015

The other day I went to the grocery store for some basics: granola bars, lettuce, yogurt, and ramen noodles (I am a college student, after all). But as I walked up and down the aisles, I was continually assaulted with heart-shaped items. There was a heart-shaped cake, heart-shaped candy, heart-shaped fruit basket...