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Located in the incredible Big Cottonwood Canyon, just minutes out of
Salt Lake City, Brighton is a true Mecca for mountain lovers of all types. The lore of the
Wasatch mountains has definitely permeated into all circles of mountain-going
adventurers, but to visit is the only true means of experience.
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Heralded as having "Utah's best
backcountry", Brighton's reputation for extreme is unparalleled, and if you love steep
pitches (45-55 degrees) with huge vertical drops (as much as 4500 ft!), situated in
strikingly powerful landscapes with the driest powder on Earth, and an open-boundary policy...
then Brighton is the place for you! I have lived in Lake Tahoe for seven seasons now, but was lucky enough to spend one season (93-94') working as a night lift operator at Brighton. I had the time of my life here, finding engaging people and unbelievable terrain. After telling my friends many stories about Brighton and planning many road trips that fell through, we finally made it for Brighton's closing week of 97-98. We were greeted by 3 fresh inches the first day, 13 new inches the second day, and 10 inches the third day! How great it was to be riding 2-3 percent density powder that was 25 inches deep in April! The mountain had such great coverage, that it was hard to believe that this would be their last week in operation. |
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We started our second day by taking many runs on the Millicent chair. Strikingly old-school, Millicent lift rises 1125 vertical feet to a high point along the ridge of Mt. Millicent. Many steep powder-filled glades and rocky outcrops filled the slopes of Milly. I was amazed at the variability of terrain on my first run back. |
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Countless
undulations and changing fall lines linked together in a seemingly endless perfect run through
aspen trees and granite. You can always tell that you are riding in Utah, there is just a
special feel about it that you learn to recognize, appreciate, and seek out. What we were
seeking was the Mary Chutes, and years of anticipation was released in a big way! Absolutely no attitude here! I have seen things change for the worst around Lake Tahoe with regards to crowded, attitude filled slopes. I had not been back to Brighton for four years, but hoped that it would be as I had remembered it - MELLOW! And indeed it was. We met lots of nice people who offered us their homes, their knowledge, and their time. The slopes were wonderfully uncrowded, allowing for hard-core, as-fun- as-it-gets skiing and snowboarding with your friends and family. We headed up for a short hike from Crest lift to Pioneer Peak and did not see a soul. Pioneer Peak is an amazing experience for people who really, really love to ski steep, powder-filled glades, and typifies Brighton's open-boundary experience. Open boundaries are rare in California, and to the true backcountry aficionado it is the only real option. At 10,440 ft, Pioneer Peak is a must, a short hike from the Crest chairlift which rewards the adventurer with a world class powder experience, even in April! Enjoy the steep tree-lined chutes for 1000' vertical then hit the massive wind lip at the bottom. From there, a giant rock garden accepts your aggressive advances and eventually provides for your return via the Crest chairlift. We also ventured into the Hidden Canyons off the Great Western chairlift. |
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Great Western is one great lift. 1745 vertical feet worth of expert glade skiing, with absolutely incredible views of the surrounding mega-mountains. Leave the boundary to the north east and experience Hidden Canyons, a really steep area with tons of vert that leads right back to the chairlift! We have a few runs like Hidden Canyons in Tahoe, where you pass the boundary and ski the other side of the mountain, but this area at Brighton has so much vertical drop and acreage, that to compare it would be useless. |
| For those in search of the ultimate ski and snowboarding getaway, Utah ranks as the premier destination. Amazing terrain, affordability, and accessability make Brighton a must for any serious seeker of adventure. January and February are the best months to visit if the world-famous light density powder is what you seek, but as we found out, spring and closing week isn't too bad either! | |
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