March Recap
March came and went—despite all the time I spent traveling, it felt like it dragged on forever while also zooming by at the same time. Nonetheless, it was full of ski adventures, chilly winter nights, and the beautiful scenery of the Rockies.
I began the month by boarding Delta flight 499 to Denver. This flight is a familiar one for me. After picking up my rental car, I headed straight for the mountains without even making a stop at In-N-Out. I took a few slushy runs at Copper—yes, it was WARM—and then met up with a new friend for an evening skin up Breckenridge, which I haven't skied in years! It was a brief yet adventure-packed day in Summit before I set off for Aspen.
It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Aspen, and it felt good to be back. An abnormally warm start to the month had me hitting some rocks in the backcountry, but it’s never a bad time when you’re in the mountains. Towards the end of my trip, conditions shifted rapidly, and I found myself skiing under heavy snow, which was a nice reprieve. This trip wasn’t a long one, and after a few very, very busy ski days, I flew back to Boston, where snow was still on the ground to my pleasant surprise.
I wasn’t home for long—as you can see by the photo sequence—I’ve really only managed to get one trail run in just as the snow was starting to melt and it was warming up a bit. Then I flew to Salt Lake City for a week of adventures in the Wasatch. I always love the approach to SLC from Boston because the flights often circle around the entire lake and the mountains, giving a prolonged view of the area. SLC airport is one of my favorites; everything is very compact and easy to access. I didn’t waste any time—picked up the rental car and headed straight to Snowbasin. It was absolutely dumping! The locals referred to the weather patterns during these couple of weeks as “Miracle March.”
Salt Lake City area has six Ikon Pass resorts, and I was determined to ski them all. I’ve spent a couple of days at basically every resort, with the exception of Deer Valley—largely because it requires reservations, is a little farther away, and hasn’t received as much snow as the canyons west of it. Alta and Snowbird were the closest to my Airbnb, and it was a treat. The road wasn’t always open due to heavy snow conditions and avalanche mitigation work, but I managed to ski where I wanted most of the time. Unfortunately, my AWD rental had stock tires that weren’t very new, and I ended up getting stuck—once in a parking lot at Snowbasin and once on the side of the road near Solitude. Thank goodness for AAA.
With so many resorts in one area, I figured I’d share my opinionated ranked list:
Snowbird
This one will always have a special place in my heart. Views, steeps, powder, infrastructure, vibes, and more views. Just INCREDIBLE all around.
Alta
Alta and Snowbird and really just one resort (if you ski)… so it’s a close second, only because the terrain is a tiny bit less steep.
Snowbasin
Amazing views, easy parking, no crowds even on weekends, and amazing lodges.
Solitude
Getting into Big Cottonwood - Solitude is my favorite out of the two resorts here - it’s more advanced, less crowded and has some serious powder lines.
Brighton
Great night skiing experience awaits! The atmosphere can be lively, with more crowds bringing a social, tailgating party vibe to the slopes. This isn't necessarily a downside, as it creates a fun and energetic ambiance. The terrain remains impressive, offering a mix that's perfect for intermediate skiers while also being family-friendly for those just starting out.
Deer Valley
I really hate saying it because I do like Deer Valley - but I think for how much hype there is, it doesn’t quite live up to it. On a powder day, it’s a lot of fun, but the mountain caters to beginners. It’s full of families, kids, and instructors. It gets very crowded, and the terrain is largely very intermediate.
And that’s a wrap for March! Upon my return home, I was able to sneak in a couple of days of skiing before the month came to a close.
