Utah is revered for its bountiful slopes of powder, and world class downhill skiing. Any avid skier has heard of resorts like Alta, Snowbird, Park City, maybe even Brighton. However, not everyone is an avid skier; maybe you’ve wiped out a few too many times, maybe your knee blew after years of shredding, or maybe the idea of jetting down a mountain at 40 miles per hour just isn’t your jam. But your family is still dead set on a Christmas ski trip to a town that has exclusively just that- skiing (And great food!) So now you’re stuck in Park City, you’ve walked Main Street about seven times, and are desperate to get out of your hotel room. Lucky for you, we at All Seasons have options.
We offer tons of winter activities that aren’t downhill skiing. Snowshoeing, fat tire biking, even dog sledding. We have blogs upon blogs about those activities, but this is not one of them. This is a Cross Country Skiing post. If you have a solid skiing foundation, are in moderate shape, and love being out in the fresh mountain air, this is the activity for you. Experience the winter wonderland that is the Wasatch and Uinta mountains, while gliding across sparkling snow. We offer in town and backcountry options for this type of adventure, also known as Nordic skiing.
It should be noted that this offering is not a lesson. Our guides are knowledgeable about the sport and the area, but are not trained instructors. They offer some basic guidance, however, if you are not familiar with the act of traveling with very long sticks attached to your feet, it may be best to take a lesson or two first. Additionally, This can be a very physically taxing activity. Unlike it’s downhill counterpart, effort must actually be exerted in propelling yourself forward when it comes to cross country.
If you find yourself to fit the criteria above, it’s safe to say that this adventure will be a wonderful experience. After you’ve booked and made it safely to your hotel, on the day of your excursion, our guides will meet you at your residence with vehicles to take you and your crew out to the recreation area. We have three main trailheads- In town we offer an experience at Round Valley, a hilly terrain with a gorgeous mountain vista. Our other location in town is the Green Heart ski track, a brand new trail built exclusively for Nordic adventures. There is one main backcountry trailhead we use in the Uintas, called Beaver Creek. This trail is nestled at the bottom of a valley in the Uinta mountains, just 30 minutes from Park City. From this trail branches off many others that climb to beautiful alpine views. Once there, you will suit up and be given brief instruction on how to move through the snow. Difficulty will have less to do with location, and more about how packed down the track is that day. Your guide will then lead you through the terrain, stopping for all the best views, keeping your party safe, and imparting exclusive Park City knowledge. After the adventure has come to a close, your guide will drop you back off at your hotel to cozy up, warm up, and fill up as you desire; a well earned soft ending to a rigorous day.
This activity does require the slightest of preparation on your end- we’ll provide skis, boots and poles, but your group will need to come decked out in their warmest of ski gear, and with some sort of eye protection. We encourage wool socks, waterproof gloves, a ski shell, and snow pants. Unless you’re a pro, there will be a considerable amount of time spent on your backside. Snow burn is also a real thing, so wear sunglasses and sunscreen on any uncovered skin. Your enjoyable experience is our priority, so don’t hesitate to reach out to our office with any other questions!