BRIGHTON/SOLITUDE, UT
BY DEREK TAYLOR


	Skisolitude.com; 801.534.1400 LIFT TICKET: $55; Solbright: $62 ANNUAL SNOWFALL: 500 in SUMMIT: 10,035 feet VERTICAL: 2,047 feet SKIABLE ACRES: 1,200

Big Cottonwood Canyon is a bizzaro version of its neighbor to the south. Where Little Cottonwood has Snowbird, with it’s massive concrete hotels and lodges, Big has Solitude’s mini (and usually vacant) Intrawest village. Where Little is anchored by skiers-only Alta, sitting at the top of Big is snowboarder-centric Brighton. But while Big misses out on a lot of the crowds, it is still blessed with the same epic snowfall. Both are also interconnected and offer a joint lift ticket (called the Solbright pass).


	Skibrighton.com; 801.532.4731 LIFT TICKET: $47; Solbright: $62 ANNUAL SNOWFALL: 500 in SUMMIT: 10,500 feet VERTICAL: 1,745 feet SKIABLE ACRES: 1,050

Though smaller in acreage (2,250 at Solbright compared to 4,700 at AltaBird), the resorts of Big Cottonwood offer the same challenging skiing. Fantasy Ridge at Solitude may be the scariest inbounds hike in North America. The knife-edge ridge leads to a number of couloirs dropping down into Honeycomb Canyon. At Brighton, the reputation as a snowboarders’ mountain is actually a blessing for skiers. There are a lot of short cliffy lines off the Millicent and Crest lifts that are simply easier to get to on skis. With four parks, it lives up to its rap as a jibber’s hill, but with a short hike, it appeals to so much more. The O.B. at both resorts rivals anything in the state.

WHAT'S NEW: Brighton is replacing the Millicent and Evergreen lifts with a new high-speed quad.

INSIDE LINE: Both Solitude and Brighton have open boundaries and feature some of the best backcountry in the Wasatch. They also offer cheaper ways for non-passholders to access it. At Brighton, buy a one-ride ticket for $10. Solitude offers ride passes (10 rides for $57, up to 60 for $336). You are charged a ride for every lift you take, and it takes two to get out.