| Powder Mountain currently boasts four chair lifts (one double, one triple which is being replaced with a quad, one fixed quad, and one detachable quad), and an additional three surface tows. But one of the principle draws to the mountain is a vast amount of terrain which is not serviced by the chairlifts. The slopes on both sides of the road leading up to the resort, as well as outlying terrain North of the resort are served by other means. There have been through the years various snowcats, sled-trailers, and even snowmobiles with ropes, to get skiers and riders far away from the skied out and packed down snow. Once there is sufficient snow coverage, there is typically a bus that will pick skiers/riders up at a waiting area halfway down the road. And sometimes (again depending on snowpack) there is a fee-per-ride Snowcat service up Lightning Ridge (very close to James Peak). James Peak is one of the premier powder bowl runs in Utah, reminiscent of the East bowl off Squaretop above The Canyons resort in Park City. Also, there is occasionally helicopter service from the parking lot, ferrying skiers/riders to the top of James Peak.
Powder Mountain terrain within the lift accessible area is what might be seen at many other resorts: many green and blue runs with few blacks. However, under the Paradise lift is an assortment of more technical black runs.
Powder Mountain is promoted as a family ski area. As such, Powder Mountain has little in the way of entertainment, fine dining, or after hours attractions. Given the spread of the terrain and the speed of lifts, buses, surface tows, etc., it is difficult to log very many vertical feet at the resort. The emphasis is on the quality of skiing rather than quantity. Snowbasin, which is across Eden Valley, provides more traditional steep, groomed, and mogul runs.
There is substantial lodging on the mountain, most of it ski-in/ski-out. There is also plentiful lodging in the Eden Valley at the foot of the mountain; a good choice for visitors wanting to experience both Powder Mountain and Snowbasin. Eden has a gas station, grocery store, and coffee hut.
Powder Mountain road is one of the steepest roads in Utah. All wheel drive and good tires are recommended.
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Retrieved on 2007-08-15
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