Utah skiing's best yet with resorts' upgrades

On a map, a thumbprint can cover Utah's six central ski resorts. On skis, it takes less than a day to connect the dots. In the minds of most people, the impression is the resorts are separated by whole mountain ranges.

In truth, all that stands between six Utah ski areas in Park City and Big and Little Cottonwood canyons is a couple of mountain slopes and a few patches of trees.

All of which makes skiing between the six, a trip called the Interconnect, an adventure that can be played out throughout the winter.

It also makes this skiing experience unique in this part of the world — six world-class ski areas, all different, all unique, and all skied, top to bottom, starting when the lifts open and ending well before they close.

For the most part, it's all downhill, albeit for the rides up the chairlifts and a short hike over the Highway to Heaven.

The Interconnect was introduced 25 years ago and, over the years, basic routes haven't changed much. It starts at Deer Valley and then to Park City Mountain Resort. From there it's over the top into Solitude, then to Brighton and back to Solitude for lunch. After the meal, the hike over Catherine's Pass to Alta and Snowbird.

According to Ski Utah, the 2005-06 season was a banner year for the Interconnect Adventure Tour. Guides took 774 skiers on the one-day adventure.

The day trip is open to advanced skiers in good physical condition. Tours depart four days a week from Deer Valley Resort and three days a week from Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort.

The Snowbird tour involves four resorts.

Each tour is limited to 12 skiers and guides. The cost is $195 per person and includes guide service, lift access, lunch, use of an avalanche transceiver, transportation back to point of origin and a special-edition finisher's pin.

"Utah is the only place in North America where skiers can experience this many resorts in a single day," pointed out Nathan Rafferty, president of Ski Utah.

The route taken by guides is dictated by snow conditions.

Reactions to the ski adventure are mixed, but the most common comment at the end revolves around just how close the six areas are.

And because this tour involves some backcountry skiing, skiers are usually surprised at how good the snow is, that is, how much powder skiing is actually possible, even after going weeks without a storm.

Utah has tried for a long time to promote to the world just how close its world-class resorts are, and the Interconnect is proof that it's true. For information on the ski adventure, call 534-1779.