Utah's signature ski runs

Skiers and snowboarders have favorites. They vote every year on everything from food to snow conditions to terrain to the resort they like to ski or snowboard best.

Over the past decade, Deer Valley has, for example, been at the top of skiers' ballots. This past year it was named the No. 1 resort in North America by voters. Park City Mountain Resort was voted in at No. 6.

The one question seldom asked is: What's your favorite run?

Skiers and boarders do have their favorite runs. Reasons could be anything from passing scenery to past memories to perfect pitch.

Over the ensuing weeks, the staff at each resort will choose what they believe to be:

• The signature run. Or, the run most identified with the resort.

• The most popular run.

• And the top 10 runs.

Skiers and snowboarders will be able to make their choices known through the Deseret Morning News Web site. Readers can place votes in the "comments" attachment on each of the resort stories.

At the end of the series, votes will be counted and Utah's top 10 ski runs will be posted.

Utah ski runs have long been recognized by individuals and publications around the world as some of the best.

One of the most recognized runs worldwide is the former High Rustler at Alta that was renamed Alf's High Rustler after the late skiing legend Alf Engen.

Several years ago one of the major ski magazines listed it as one of the country's most perfect runs. It is long, has what is considered the perfect fall line and, at Alta's high altitude, gets Utah's perfect powder snow conditions.

More recently, SkierNet.com listed it among its list of "The Big 10: The USA's 'Must-Ski' Trails."

In making its pick, the Web site wrote of Alf's run: "Getting there is half the battle ... traversing a narrow ridgeline, rounding the mountain top ... and finally, a fabulous run with few skiers ... It's steep, powder is usually deep and the views can't be beat."

Others on the list include "The Nose Dive" at Stowe, Vt.; "KT-22" at Squaw Valey, Calif.; "Al's Run" at Taos Ski Valley, N.M; "Exhibition" in Sun Valley; "Corbet's Couloir" at Jackson Hole, Wyo., "Ruthie's Run" at Aspen, Colo.; "Riva Ridge" at Vail, Colo.; "Pallavicini" at Arapahoe Basin, Colo.; and "Tuckerman Ravine" at Mt. Washington, N.H.

Among the nine other runs getting votes were Park City's "Pay Day" and Snowbird's "Regulator Johnson."

On another site, MountainYahoos.com, Alf's run got more notice.