Stop Ski Link?

In all of North America, Northern Utah ski areas are uniquely located in the sense that seven of them could easily be interconnected like this has been done more than 40 years ago in several regions of the French Alps, with exceptional benefits for both winter sports, outdoor activities and for the local economies.

Mostly due to fear, backward thinking and misplaced environmental concerns, the seven Utah mountain resorts concerned by this physical rapprochement have remained inactive, with the exception however of Alta and Snowbird as well as Brighton and Solitude that have created their respective connections, “Altabird” and “Solbright”, opening up their runs to each other.

The logical next step would have been for the three other areas located on private land in Park City to make a similar move, but there doesn't seem to be the will or the motivation to do so, expect by Canyons. Since the adjacent Park City Mountain Resort is (wrongly) afraid of losing users to Canyons, the later is seeking connection with Solitude, over the mountain ridge.

This approach is quite convoluted, involves some Federal Land swap, making it distasteful to some environmental groups and sadly, a bunch of companies and individuals that don't appear to appreciate the economic consequences of Utah's tourism success.

These folks take advantage of all the amenities a vibrant tourism affords them, but don't like tourism and the visitors it brings to Park City in particular. They're in effect biting the hand that feeds them. While the proposal set forth by Canyons is not the ideal one and not the one I would prefer, it's much better than doing nothing and for that reason alone, I support it.

What I won't support however are all the companies and individuals that are behind the move and that are resisting positive change for Park City and the Wasatch Front!