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!)