1.  Will I need a car?  Many people staying in houses and condominiums like to rent a car.  Though you do not need a car to ski it is nice to have one if you want to go out in the evening, go shopping, or visit any of the surrounding areas.

2.  Do I really need a four wheel drive? - Yes, yes and yes!  If you hit high pressure when visiting Alta and Snowbird you will think that we are out of our mind, but it you hit one of our famous powder dumps you will never ask us why again!  We get large amounts of snow often in a very short period of time.  Along with possible DOT restrictions to 4WD only, you will find it a challenge to drive on the roads and driveways at Alta and Snowbird without a 4WD.

3.  Should I purchase groceries before heading up the canyon to Alta and Snowbird?  A big YES.  There are a number of grocery stores near the bottom of the canyon.  You always want to have groceries before you head up, especially if it is storming.  We have a unique situation called inter-lodge (see below) - for this reason we always recommend that you have a couple of days worth of groceries when coming to stay at Alta and Snowbird.  There is a small general store at Snowbird where you can restock on milk and juice but their selection is limited.

4. Inter-lodge and avalanches.  We get a lot of snow, 500 inches on average, every year and we do have avalanches.  Having said that, a great deal of avalanche control work is performed by the resorts and the Utah Department of Transportation to help prevent you from ever being caught in an avalanche.  Typically in periods of high snow and/or wind, travel is restricted or not allowed until avalanche control work can be performed.  The usual scenario is for the road to be closed at night, avalanche control work done in the morning and then the road re-opened.  We are dealing with mother nature so there are no guarantees and sometimes the road is closed for longer or shorter periods of time.  The UDOT has a road update number that gives you the current status of all roads in Utah and in the Cottonwood Canyons.  There are also signs posted near the bottom of the canyons that give you updated road conditions. 

5.  Trip Insurance - we strongly recommend that our clients purchase trip insurance.  Flight delays, inter-lodge as above, illness are only a few of the things that can adversely impact your vacation. 

6. Ski Rentals - should I bring my own skis?  We always recommend that you bring your ski boots if you have your own comfortable pair and if you have skis that you love by all means bring those also!  The new shaped and/or wide skis can make a big difference in your level of skiing enjoyment especially during and after storms.  So, if you have not moved in to the 21st century with your ski gear you may want to entertain renting skis while you visit.  After all, it is your vacation and then you don't have to lug them back and forth from the airport!

7.  Can I buy alcohol in Utah?  I should have probably put this as #1!!!  The answer is yes.  You have to buy wine, full strength beer and hard liquor at a Utah State Liquor Store (see grocery stores for locations.  You can buy 3.2% beer at the regular grocery store.  You can get wine or beer when you are out to dinner but you must go to a private club, harder than it sounds, to get a mixed drink. Anyone can go to a private club you just have to pay for membership - usually $5.00 or so for your stay.