The Wasatch range -- the section of the Rockies that lies just east of Salt Lake City, Utah -- is home to some of the planet’s very best skiing and snowboarding. With a collection of incredible resorts just minutes from SLC International Airport, this is easily the best, most accessible major ski resort area in North America.

The two most famous resorts here, Alta and Snowbird, receive an astonishing average of 500+ inches of dry, fluffy snow per year, inspiring Utah to brand this the greatest snow on earth. Consistently praised for their fun-filled variety and impressive challenge, these high-altitude peaks make for fantastic spring skiing and riding. Just next door, the resorts of Solitude and Brighton similarly win accolades for their champagne powder and thrilling terrain. Although they’re a bit smaller in size, they’re just as much fun. These four resorts never fail to impress, which is why the BUMS love to keep going back!

Salt Lake City boasts one of America’s most vibrant LGBT communities, and the BUMS can’t wait to join you for an unforgettable journey to an energetic city nestled below some truly terrific mountains.

This trip will sell out. Sign up now to join us!

Sign up now for our trip to Salt Lake City >
Tuesday, March 6 to Sunday, March 11, 2022
Four -- Wednesday through Saturday
Salt Lake City — near the mouth of the Cottonwood Canyons
Recommended for intermediate, advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders
$1799 per person
We reserve the right to cancel, reschedule, or make changes in the trip itinerary as a result of weather or safety considerations or as otherwise deemed necessary or advisable. If your trip is cancelled or rescheduled due to weather, snow, or mountain conditions, or circumstances beyond our control, you will receive a partial credit toward a future trip. All trip credits may be applied to any trip in the SKI BUMS future. There is no expiration date.

SKI BUMS is not responsible for the cost of any additional expenses that you may incur as a result of trip rescheduling or cancellation (airline ticketing fees, etc.).

To use a credit for a future deposit or payment, please
contact us directly.
Through November 1, you may cancel your spot at any time and receive a full refund. After November 1, the following cancellation fees apply:

For cancellations received from November 2 - December 31, $1000 fee. After January 1st, 2018: no refund.

In order to obtain our bulk group discounts, we must agree to a very strict cancellation policy. It's the nature of group travel. Think of your SKI BUMS booking as you would an airline reservation; even we find someone to take your place,
the cancellation fees still apply.

If you buy travel insurance, you can still receive a refund for a cancelled SKI BUMS trip.

To cancel your SKI BUMS trip, click here >
Buy travel insurance. We cannot stress this enough.

A travel insurer can provide a refund even when SKI BUMS cannot. In the circumstance that you need to cancel your trip because of work or health reasons, you should purchase travel insurance within 30 days of your initial trip deposit.

Even if you purchase travel insurance after this date, some coverage is much better than no coverage at all. Our cancellation policy is strict, and after cancellation fees kick in, a travel insurer may be your only chance for a full refund.

There are many travel insurers, and policies are very affordable. We especially recommend
travelinsured.com, and suggest you add the sports package to cover skiing & snowboarding activity.
$1799 USD per person — for double occupancy

-- additional options --

$800 USD supplement for single occupancy 
If you prefer to pay with a deposit, you’ll pay $899 at signup with a $900 balance payment due January 1st.

To pay your balance online, click here >

These are the dates for those who sign up today. Pricing and payment dates may change for those who sign up at a later date, if space remains. Late payments are subject to a 5% late-payment fee. It is up to you to submit your payments on time. You may always pay early.
You may pay with any major credit card, cash or check.
Your trip includes a four day “Ski City” pass, which is valid for a single day lift ticket at Alta, Snowbird, Solitude or Brighton. If you’d like, you may upgrade your ticket to ski at both Alta and Snowbird on the same day. Learn more >

Note:
If you or your travel partner do not ski or snowboard -- or if you hold the Mountain Collective pass -- we can remove the lift tickets from our package. Indicate “I do not need a lift pass” at signup, and you’ll receive a $325 discount on your package.
About a month before we travel, all participants will submit a Travel Portfolio. We’ll collect your flight information, dietary restrictions, roommate requests, emergency contact info, skill level, and other pertinent details. We'll email everyone and post the link here when it's time to submit it.
On all SKI BUMS trips, we begin by dividing into skill level groups so you can identify those who enjoy the same terrain that you do. See how our groups work >

Beginner: We do not recommend this trip for beginner skiers or beginner snowboarders. Although Solitude and Brighton are quite good for beginners, there’s very little beginner terrain at Snowbird and Alta. We won’t prevent beginners from joining us, but please do consider our trips to Vail / Beaver Creek or Lake Tahoe.

Intermediate: If you've never experienced the gorgeousness of spring skiing and riding, this will be a perfect introduction. These resorts will challenge you; a "blue" run here is certainly as steep as a "black" run in the Eastern USA. If you're taking your first trip out West, we very strongly urge you to book a lesson for Wednesday, when we plan to visit Solitude. You'll leave here a stronger skier or boarder than when you arrived.

Advanced: Surely you've been hearing what a mecca Alta and Snowbird are; this is the kind of terrain that will thrill and excite you. The challenge is easily on par with anything you'd find at Jackson Hole or Squaw Valley. You might not be as familiar with Solitude and Brighton, which are smaller but offer equal challenge and variety. These are "choose your own adventure" kinds of days; you can pick harder lines if you'd like more challenge, or opt for easier routes if you'd like to take a rest.

Expert: What are you waiting for?!?? From glades to chutes to bowls and beyond, this is truly some of the very best, most accessible expert terrain on the planet. Every expert should know these resorts.

If you have any questions about whether you'll enjoy the terrain here, please contact us before signing up.
You may have better flight options if you return home on Monday. If you’d like to book additional nights at our hotel, contact their Front Desk directly and make a new reservations for the extra nights that you need. We’ll request for you to remain in the same room during the days of our group stay.

As for additional nights and accommodations, SKI BUMS trip leaders are happy to offer
advice, but we cannot book additional nights for you, and we will not be on hand to offer travel assistance beyond the official dates of our itinerary.

For more discussion about trip extensions -- and to see if others would like to join you -- join the discussion on our Facebook group >
Air transportation is not included. Read these recommendations closely before buying airfare.

Salt Lake City International Airport is the nearest large airport, just 35 minutes from our hotel. We will have participants who are flying in from multiple destinations, so we do not recommend any one particular flight. Our trip officially begins with a meet & greet cocktail reception at 8 PM at our hotel Tuesday, March 6th. You won’t want to miss this.

PLANNING YOUR AIR TRAVEL

ARRIVAL | An early afternoon arrival is best. If you arrive before our guaranteed check-in time (3 PM), the hotel can happily store luggage for you while you take some time to relax and adjust to the altitude.

DEPARTURE | We will not be skiing and riding on Sunday, so you can depart at any time that you wish. If airfares seem elevated for a Sunday return, check prices for Monday, when fares often drop considerably. You may add extra nights at our hotel if you wish (see “Trip Extensions” below.)

- - - - - - - - -

MEMBERS FROM OUTSIDE THE USA:
We highly recommend this trip for skiers / boarders who live outside the USA. Alta and Snowbird are two of the very best resorts in North America; they're well worth a visit from abroad. March is also a lovely time to visit nearby Las Vegas or Utah's stunning national parksContact us if you'd like some additional recommendations.

Connect with the other BUMS on Facebook if you'd like to coordinate travel with others.
Transfers between the airport and our hotel are not included. We recommend taking a taxi / Uber / Lyft from the airport to the hotel, or book a shared shuttle ride. On our ski days, private shuttles between the hotel and the ski resorts, however, are included. See “Getting Around,” below.
LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON

Snowbird
 and Alta are consistently named among the very best ski resorts in the world, ranking #2 and #3 among all North American resorts in Forbes, named “best snow” by Skiing Magazine, ranked #1 for "Best Terrain" in Outside Magazine. The superlatives just keep coming…

The resorts average more than 500 inches of annual snowfall, with big, dry, fluffy dumps continuing well into April and May. Alta and Snowbird sit in Little Cottonwood Canyon and adjoin at the top, allowing skiers to travel back and forth between the two, offering a combined 4,700 skiable acres. The quality of the snow, when paired with the excitement of the terrain, is what draws so many people here. These resorts are challenging and fun, with big mountain thrills that rival the best ski resorts on the planet. The base villages have little more than a ski lodge and a few hotels; the ultimate draw here is the 
quality of the skiing and riding.

BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON

Brighton and Solitude, which sit just one canyon over, are smaller in overall size, but offer similar challenge, variety, and gorgeous snow consistency. They draw smaller crowds than their Little Cottonwood Canyon cousins, which make them an ideal playground for a powder day. There’s a long, meandering traverse through the woods which connects the two.

The BUMS love all four resorts, and die-hard skiers and snowboarders love to discuss which one is their personal favorite. We’re excited to give you the chance to discover all four
* for yourself!

*Snowboarders, please note — As you may know, Alta is one of three North American resorts that don’t permit snowboarding. With our lift pass, you can use the fourth day to re-visit Snowbird, Solitude, or Brighton. Or… pop on a pair of skis! Our shuttle will make a stop at Snowbird on the day we visit Alta.
SKI BUMS anticipates what you'll need to know, and when you'll need to know it. We email valuable pre-trip information to all our participants, in numbered Info Packs. You'll need to receive them and read them closely, so it's crucial that you've provided an email address to us that you check regularly. Gmail users: you need to take extra steps to see our emails.

Click here to view instructions >

The vast majority of our important trip info is located right here on this page.
Bookmark it!
Who's coming on the trip? Find out by joining our special SKI BUMS Salt Lake City Facebook Group. Whether you're simply curious about signing up or you're already on board, everyone's welcome to join this Facebook group. Feel free to invite friends, too -- it's a cool way to begin learning names of the skiers and boarders who you'll meet when we're in Utah! if you decide not to join us, we'll remove you from the group before the trip begins.

In advance of the trip, the BUMS use this group to share travel plans and coordinate meet ups for ground transfers. During and after the trip, they share pics and messages with one another. You'll see posts like "who's on the 1 PM flight into SLC?” and "who's up for fresh tracks tomorrow?"

Request to join the Salt Lake City Facebook group >
Of course, weather is impossible to predict, but SKI BUMS plans our trips with an eye on weather history. Typically, mid-March brings fresh snowstorms followed by days of spring sun. Big dumps of snow are common; on average, March is Utah's snowiest month. Snowbird and Alta's high altitude (above 10,0000 feet) keeps the pow dry and soft. If things warm up, the base will get soft and springy while the upper altitudes keep their cool with many north-facing slopes. At the end of the day, you can sit outdoors for sunny après-ski in a t-shirt. Early spring is a fantastic time to visit the Big & Little Cottonwood Canyon resorts!
Our rooms in Salt Lake are guaranteed after 3 PM on Tuesday, March 6th. Upon arrival, visit the Front Desk and check in under your name, just as you would at any hotel. If you arrive early, the hotel can store luggage until your room is available.

After checking in, you'll want to
rest and hydrate to help your body adjust to the altitude.
Our trip officially begins with a meet & greet welcome reception at our hotel at 8PM. You won't want to miss this; you'll get your lift passes, information about the week and meet your fellow Salt Lake City BUMS!
This trip has a minimum of 20 participants and a maximum of 45 participants. If we fail to meet our minimum number of registered participants by 60 days before the trip, the trip may be cancelled. In that event, those who have signed up for the trip will receive a full refund.
+ 4-day pass, valid at Alta, Brighton, Solitude and Snowbird
+ Five night stay at the Hyatt Place Salt Lake - Cottonwood
+ Daily private group shuttles between our hotel and the ski resorts
+ Daily delicious hot breakfasts
+ Saturday night multi-course dinner
+ Welcome reception
+ Complimentary exclusive official trip t-shirt

+ A daily itinerary of guided activities, terrain recommendations and and hosted events
+ Up-to-the-minute trip updates, delivered to your mobile phone
+ Trip organization, guidance and assistance from two SKI BUMS professional trip leaders

+ Air transportation
+ Ground transportation between airport and our hotel
+ Ski and snowboard equipment rental
+ Most meals, alcoholic drinks

+ Travel insurance (very highly recommended)
+ Tuesday, March 6: Arrive in Salt Lake City

+ Wednesday, March 7 through Saturday, March 10: Ski / ride the SLC resorts

+ Sunday, March 11: Depart Salt Lake City
Our trip leaders design an itinerary that highlights the best spots in the Wasatch to make sure you don't miss out on any of the fun. It's published in a printed handout and updated on a devoted Twitter feed, with up-to-the-minute announcements you can receive on your cell phone. 

The on-mountain adventure begins bright and early on Wednesday. We divide into skill level groups that help you identify the other skiers and snowboarders who enjoy the same terrain that you do, and then we divide and conquer the mountain! Learn about our skill level groups. >

In general, you'll spend most of the day in a smallish group of four or five skiers or boarders -- but that's up to you. The BUMS are a social crowd, so it's always easy to find others to join in the fun. 

You and your group will set your own pace, and it's common to mix it up with a few different groups throughout the week. As the trip progresses, you can explore more terrain or spend time relaxing. This is your vacation, so you're always free to break away and do your own thing.

For two of our evenings, we'll dine together at casual restaurants near our hotel. Friday night is free for you to enjoy as you like -- you may want to head out on the town with your new friends, or take a night to chill out at our hotel. On Saturday, we’ll celebrate our final night in Salt Lake with a delicious multi-course dinner at one of the area’s best restaurants.

The BUMS who take our trips to Salt Lake City are here to ski and board, first and foremost -- and after a hard-charging day on the mountain, you'll sink into our plush hotel beds for a very good night's sleep!

Learn more about how SKI BUMS trips work >

You must have a cell phone that will work while we are in Utah. It will need to be able to receive domestic SMS text messages, even when you are not on Wi-Fi.

Trip leaders send up-to-the-minute text message alerts with itinerary information, transportation pickup times, lunch locations, weather advisories, and more. Additionally, the other trip participants text one another to coordinate their plans on the mountain.

View our communications guide for important information >
On the mountain: you should arrive in Utah with all your skiing & snowboarding apparel. SKI BUMS requires our trip participants to wear helmets while skiing & riding. See our helpful guide, How to Dress for the Mountain, for suggestions. The various base lodges have many gear & apparel shops, but prices will be a bit elevated, so pack wisely.

Off the mountain: all our events are casual dress. As you can pretty easily see, the BUMS are a casual, laid-back crowd; we aren't flashy. Be yourself, and be comfortable -- just as you would on any skiing / snowboarding trip.

A few vital packing tips:

+
Pack your skiing and snowboarding apparel in your carry on bag. Delayed luggage can arrive three days late; you won't want to have to buy all new stuff to make it onto the mountain.

+ Be sure to pack
winter wear shoes with a good tread; expect snowy, icy streets.

+ Don't forget
sunscreen for the high-altitude UV exposure, and a swimsuit for the pool.

Read our helpful tips on how to pack your gear for a skiing / snowboarding trip >
SKI BUMS detailed trip itineraries are designed to be viewed on any smart phone. Additionally, our trip leaders send up-to-the-minute alerts that you'll receive on your phone via SMS text messaging. It allows us to keep you in the loop and make smart adjustments based on the weather. View one of the daily itineraries from our 2015 trip >

For this reason, you MUST have a cell phone that will work while we're in Utah.

IMPORTANT INFO
: View our communications guide >
We limit the number of participants for all SKI BUMS trips.
This trip will sell out.

Signing up is simple. You'll simply provide your information, then proceed to payment.

After we've received your signup & payment, you'll receive an
confirmation via email that you're registered for the trip.

GMAIL users: please be sure to check your Promotions Tab for our emails, and learn how to adjust Gmail's filters >
Daily breakfasts and Saturday night’s dinner are included our trip price, and they're a big part of our social element in Utah. Our hotel features a tasty hot breakfast -- an easy way to coordinate your mornings with the other BUMS. On Saturday night, we'll dine at one of Salt Lake City’s best restaurants. The cost of this meal is included in the trip price. We can easily accommodate guests with special dietary needs. On Wednesday and Thursday, we’ll plan to dine at casual restaurants near our hotel. Friday night is a “free night” for you to dine wherever you like.

As always, we'll name a meeting spot for lunch and après-ski each day. If the weather's nice, you can guarantee we'll be dining outside to enjoy the Wasatch’s incredible spring sunshine!
We are happy to arrange roommates for you. Typically, half of our participants ask us to match them up with a roommate. We'll ask a few easy questions and accommodate your preferences.

If you prefer your own room, you may select a single occupancy. We collect the single occupancy supplement when you sign up (View "Pricing & Payment" below). Please note: there are only a small number of single occupancy slots available. Single occupancies tend to sell out very quickly.
Hyatt Place Salt Lake - Cottonwood

Because we’ll be skiing / riding at four different resorts, we’ve chosen the modern, comfortable Hyatt Place Cottonwood in Salt Lake City. Conveniently located near the mouth of the canyons, its location will give us ideal access to four of the world’s best ski resorts. Built just two years ago, this hotel is a mod, contemporary offshoot of this well-known hotel brand. We’ll enjoy well-appointed rooms, a tasty hot breakfast, a 24-hour gym, pool, and spacious accommodations. The hotel earns rave reviews on TripAdvisor; there’s a cool collection of bars and restaurants within close walking distance.

Our hotel is about
25 minutes from the base of each resort, and about a 20 minute drive from the LGBT nightlife spots of downtown Salt Lake City. (See “Getting Around,” below)

Relax in our private shuttles which will transport us to and from the mountain each day, from the front door of our hotel directly to the base of the ski resorts. The price of these shuttles is included in the trip price. Rental cars are not needed; if you’d like to explore downtown Salt Lake City when we’re not on the mountain, a taxi / Uber / Lyft makes short trips easy.

If you’re planning to drive here — or rent a car — keep this in mind: snow storms often close the canyon roads, and officials will limit traffic to 4-wheel drive vehicles and buses / shuttles.
Click the thumbnails below to view the trail maps for each of our resorts.
Utah is an excellent vacation for some instruction, no matter what your skill level is. The instructors here are very well trained. If you could use some touch-up pointers for powder skiing / boarding, bumps, moguls, etc, the instruction here is well worth the cost. Visit each resort’s website to find the sports school contact info for pre-booking instructors, and connect on our Facebook group to see if others might like to book an instructor with you.

In terms of scheduling instructors, we plan the following schedule: Wednesday: Solitude // Thursday: Snowbird // Friday: Alta // Saturday: Brighton // This is DEFINITELY subject to change based on weather conditions, so check with trip-leaders in the week before the trip in case you’ll need to reschedule an instructor, and keep an eye on the instructor’s cancellation policy.
About half of our participants will rent skis or snowboards. We'll travel as a group to pick up rental equipment on Wednesday morning at a great rental shop near the mouth of the canyon, The Lift House. They’ve taken great care of the BUMS on many of our previous trips here.
If you're new to the group or haven't joined us in a long time, click here to see how things work >
Want to see the SKI BUMS around the world who love the mountains as much as you do? When you post on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, use the hashtag #skibums!
We've got lots of inside advice for those who are taking their first SKI BUMS trip. Click here >
IMPORTANT NOTE: we do not permit skiers and snowboarders to arrange their own lodging and join our events without setting up a Custom Trip and pre-paying for our guided events and group meals. Custom Trip spaces are very limited. Contact us here to set up a Custom Trip >