Skiing...and Golf!

It’s that great time of the year when it’s possible to ski great spring skiing in the morning and play golf in the afternoon. This past weekend was absolutely beautiful here in Park City with temperatures in the upper 50’s. Saturday was some of the best skiing of the year and Sunday took out the golf clubs for the first time.

One of the great things about this time of the year is that one day we have shirtsleeve spring skiing weather while the next day could be deep powder. In fact, that is this week’s forecast. Storms are rolling in starting tonight, and the forecast is for 1-2 feet of snow by Wednesday morning. So Wednesday looks to be a great powder day, followed by return to spring for the weekend.

Springtime often brings good deals on ski area real estate. Many times sellers whose properties have not sold during the ski season can be more open to offers and more motivated to sell now rather than holding onto their property until next ski season. This can be a boon for buyers looking to get into the ski market and obtain a ski condo at the best prices and terms. While here in Park City/Deer Valley, we had an excellent season with strong sales, there is a good supply of resale condos on the market, offering buyers a variety of choices between slopeside, in-town, or in one of the neighboring communities. Contact me for more information on what I feel are excellent buys this time of the year.

With the changing of the seasons, comes a changing of interest in our buyers. Golf properties start to pick up steam and here in Park City, we have many excellent choices. From homes on the city’s municipal golf course right in Park City to the five private golf courses, we offer a variety of single-family lots to build on, townhouses and cabins, as well as custom homes. With the mild winter that we had, builders were able to complete homes more quickly than normal. What this means is that there are many beautiful custom homes either completed or nearing completion on the golf courses. With a good selection out there, this could be a perfect time to pick up the best home at a good price.

Follow the Sun

One of the big misconceptions about spring skiing is that it is either too icy or too slushy. Savvy skiers know to follow the sun for spring skiing. Spring Skiing means warm sunny days and clear, cold nights. This combination produces “corn snow.” Corn snow occurs when we get multiple days of a freeze-thaw cycle. What I mean by this is, during the day, the snow melts, re-freezes again at night, and re-melts again the next day. This cycle breaks down the snow crystals into a corn kernel shape. The first thing in the morning, on east and southerly-facing slopes, the warm spring sun thaws the surface and produces a soft and creamy ski texture. Good corn snow can be equally as pleasurable as deep powder. During the day, as the sun rises and temperatures warm, knowledgeable skiers move from the east-facing slopes to the west and then finally to the north faces. If you know how to do this, skiers can find terrific snow and skiing all day, even on the warmest days. Typical of spring, the weather tends to vary greatly, with some days being very warm, followed by cold fronts which freeze the snow surface solid. On those days, we stay to the south and east facing slopes exclusively. With a little bit of knowledge and route-picking, spring skiing can be one of the most pleasurable experiences a skier can experience.

Springtime at a ski resort brings out the end of the season festivities. Outdoor music, concerts on the plazas, and everybody outside enjoying the sunshine. The Canyons resort, here in Park City, features a spring concert season each weekend, bringing in musicians from all over the country for free outdoor concerts at their base village. There’s nothing quite like a great day of skiing, followed by wonderful music on the plaza. Park City resort features music at the Legacy Lodge where everyone gathers at the end of the day to relax, catch up with old friends, and tell tales about the winter. Weekend afternoons at Deer Valley are spent on McHenry’s beach at Silver Lake. This is an area in front of the Silver Lake Lodge where Deer Valley puts out beach chairs and around noon, the party begins and lasts throughout the afternoon. These are times when we take skiing a little less seriously and warm up our bones after a cold winter. Come out, experience spring skiing in the Rockies, and partake in the revelry. For more information on the skiing activities and/or real estate opportunities here in the area, contact me.

Spring has Sprung!

This past weekend brought soft snow, deep blue skies, t-shirts and wine on the deck. There is nothing quite like spring skiing in the Rockies! Now with the early change to Daylight Savings Time, the snow softens a little later in the day and afternoons on the deck last just a little longer. The recent snows of the past three weeks have assured us excellent coverage for the remainder of the ski season. Even though we are now enjoying the warm spring days, I have been here long enough to know that the snow is not over and there will be more powder days ahead. One of the best things about spring skiing are the frequent snow storms followed by warm sunshine. In spring, it is important to understand the mountain and follow the sun. What I mean by this is early morning, pick the slopes that the sun is already on and has softened. As the day progresses, slowly switch to the more northerly facing slopes, which soften later and offer the best afternoon skiing. Of course, for variety, the west facing slopes in the afternoon with “snow cone” conditions can be a lot of fun.

In real estate, springtime often equates to many good buys in ski condos. Frequently sellers are more motivated at this time, and buyers can realize better deals on condos. This can be an excellent opportunity to purchase a ski condo or home at very favorable price and terms. Even though the winter has been quite busy, there is still a very good selection of ski properties in Park City/Deer Valley. Whether you are looking for something on the slopes or in town, we have a wide variety and I can almost always find the right property for you.

As the weather turns warm in the springtime, our thoughts turn to golf and golf course properties. Park City offers several beautiful golf course communities, three of which are gated and are often offer homesites and homes for sale. For more detailed description on all of the golf courses in Park City and what they have to offer, go to the Golf Course area of my site. If you’d like more information on what Park City or Park City real estate has to offer in the beautiful springtime, please contact me.

In my last newsletter, I spoke of the Interconnect Tour, which is a guided backcountry tour connecting six of Utah’s premier resorts in one day. While springtime offers fewer powder days in the backcountry, touring through the Wasatch on a warm day and corn snow is unbeatable. If you are planning a trip to Park City this spring, I would highly recommend booking a springtime Interconnect Tour. To see an interesting article on this, click here for a story that The New York Times ran on Sunday.

Springtime in the Rockies!

After several weeks of continuous snowstorms, the spring sun has returned to Park City and the skiing is FANTASTIC. The recent snows have assured that we will have more than adequate coverage for the remainder of the ski season. After a long and cold winter the opportunity to enjoy lunch and a glass of wine outside on the deck is a welcome change and we are taking advantage of it. March is typically a very busy month for the ski resorts, and the lodging companies are all reporting that this will be the case again this year. Today’s lodging report is that Park City/Deer Valley visitor totals are up 8% for this week over the similar week of last year. This is terrific news for the ski resorts, businesses in town, and the owners of rental condos. While this has not been one of our snowiest winters, the coverage and skiing have been excellent. As long as the coverage is good, which it has been, a benefit to a less than snowy winter is being able to ski with sunshine and great visibility. While the locals have been complaining about the lack of snow, our visitors to the resorts have been very pleased with the conditions. If you have been waiting for more snow to book your Park City/Deer Valley vacation, now is the time to do so.

The real estate market continues to be strong. New visitors to Park City/Deer Valley are surprised at how convenient we are to get to and delighted with the variety of ski areas and how good Utah snow is. With nine ski areas within an hour’s drive of Park City, three within 10 minutes, we offer such a variety of terrain that everyone can find something that suits their mood. From the deep powder and steeps of Snowbird and Alta to the immaculately groomed slopes and service of Deer Valley and everything in between, there is something for everyone. For better skiers looking for an adventure, Ski Utah offers an interconnect tour where skiers ski six different resorts and three canyons all in one day. Skiers start at Deer Valley, ride to the top of the mountain, cross over to Park City Resort, and ski down the backside to Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon. After a few runs at Solitude (and lunch), you then ski to Brighton Resort, and then traverse the Wasatch to Little Cottonwood Canyon and Alta Resort. From Alta, it is an easy jump to Snowbird and after a few exhilarating runs there, a welcome shuttle is waiting to pick you and bring you back to Park City. For the adventuresome and skilled skier (you must be able to ski all conditions), this is an experience not to be missed. For more information on this or to book a tour, contact Ski Utah. For more information on the real estate market, contact me.

(The New York Times ran a story on the Interconnect tour on March 11, 2007. Click here to read the article and see the incredible photos of this "Epic" adventure!)