Alta is, well, Alta. There's an air of history that blankets this area, knowing skiers have been skiing these runs for some 67 years.

Snowbasin remains undiscovered. Skiers have yet to discover all that this area holds. Some of it was unveiled on the Olympic downhill course.

Nordic Valley is quaint. Only two lifts and a handful of runs, lift operators in casual attire and a real country flair.

Powder Mountain is surprising. The views were spectacular and, we were told, the powder skiing unmatched. Something to sample another day.

It's hard to see how unique each resort is on occasional visits. It was as obvious as streetlights when they were seen one right after another.

Tossed around, we wondered if it would be possible to ski 12 in a day, including Beaver Mountain. Then, it was suggested that all 13, bringing in Brian Head, could be skied within 24 hours. Neither trip would involve aircraft, which, consensus was, would deflate the whole adventure.

Anyway, it's something to think about for next year.

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E-mail: grass@desnews.com