Europe Alps or Alta

Milan P · Joined: 12 Apr 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Slovakia

Living 6 drive hours from Austrian Alps glacier ski centers I have hard time to justify my desire to ski next season in Alta, Utah. Alta allures me long time for its marketed best powder quality and I am excited to ski on the mountain where snowboarders are not allowed. I like also the short distance from Salt Lake city. Anybody out there able to compare skiing in Alta with Austrian Alps? Maybe there are some further strong arguments for prefering Alta ski holidays than Austrian. Those extra plus 900 dollars costs (air ticket) for Alta skiing is for me a damned dilemma. Any persuasive arguments are appreciated.

Tele Till You're Smelly · Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 8:49 pm Post subject:

well- I live in Colorado but did a Haute Route trip for the cultural experience mostly- on the basis of ski quality alone it's hard to justify leaving one good ski region for another far away- you could get skunked on new snow! But if you are looking for the cultural expereince that is the SLC area, sure why not- and maybe you will get great powder, who knows. I'd actually consider British Columbia if the North American powder ski experience is what you are after.
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James · Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 7012 Location: Castle Rock, CO

I agree you could get the best snow of your life at Alta or more likely good snow.

I am 3 for 3 in British Columbia for spectacular skiing.

ghostofcarl · Joined: 22 Jul 2010 Posts: 6803

lay off the crack milan. youd be stupid to go to alta - its not the best skiing in the world, much less the US, its just where the skibrobrah dipshits ski

if you can work in the us, go elsewhere. if you cant work in the u even more reasons to go elsewhere

dont mistake pretty pictures for reality

bergbryce · Joined: 28 Apr 2006 Posts: 2986 Location: The ED

Carl, I'm surprised you didn't comment on this...

Nick (AT) · Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 10:23 pm Post subject:

If you travel a long way, on a date fixed in advance, expecting that you will hit fantastic snow, odds are you will be disappointed (no matter where you travel to).
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ghostofcarl · Joined: 22 Jul 2010 Posts: 6803

mr. toad · Joined: 15 Mar 2011 Posts: 227 Location: South Lake Tahoe

I want to ski the Alps someday. I know the skiing will likely be marginal, maybe good, or suck; and expensive, but it'll be the Alps.

Yes, you should ski Alta.

stevesliva · Joined: 11 Dec 2004 Posts: 10284 Location: SEA

Bruce H · Joined: 11 Dec 2004 Posts: 937 Location: Putney, Vermont

Compared to lift centers in the Alps, Alta is small. You can cover much of it in a day skiing. Of course, the skiing can be great.

stevesliva · Joined: 11 Dec 2004 Posts: 10284 Location: SEA

Jim · Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 12:12 am Post subject:

And on a powder day at Alta you can find powder for about 3 hours.
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ghostofcarl · Joined: 22 Jul 2010 Posts: 6803

stevesliva · Joined: 11 Dec 2004 Posts: 10284 Location: SEA

JapanTele · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 175 Location: Garmisch, Germany

I just moved to the Garmisch area and Germany but I would pass on Alta. There are so many more options in the Alps. The skiing experience will be better in the Alps versus Alta. Yes Alta will have better quality of snow but the skier density at Alta will chew it up so quickly. For example, I skied Zugspitze here in Germany after 25cm of snow on an absolute bluebird day and had fresh tracks until closing. Tough to do that at Alta. Yes the terrain may be better in Alta but the ski areas in Austria are huge. I've only sampled a few so far but I'm impressed.