Rant: we need to raise parking prices

Maybe I've been on the crack again but every ski resort should get rid of low season pass costs.and raise their season pass costs to astronomical levels (with heavy discounts for employees).

Too many people ski in their big ass chairlifts instead of not skiing or taking a HIKE. This will help the environment, traffic, air quality traffic and increase the stoke overall.

Western problems.


Also, big fan of carpool lots at the bottom of the road to the resort like Bogus has. Creates a meeting space thats on the way for everyone so carpooling becomes logistically much easier.

I've been thinking about this one. I guess it depends based on location but at least since you're talking about Utah the environment argument in the context of paid parking is way overplayed imo.

Don't get me wrong, carpooling in general only has one downside in that by getting more skiers up the hill it can make crowding issues even worse, otherwise it's only benefits, so it's certainly not a bad thing, and a very good habit for people in general to have in their lives, but it's just not making much of a difference from an environmental standpoint in the context of skiing in Utah imo, and there is the flip side of the cost of paid parking to skiers too, here is my reasoning:
Lots will be full regardless of how many people are in the car and people will be turned around anyway, just way too many skiers here and not enough lift-served terrain to supply the ever-growing demand. So having say 1000 cars in the lots has the same environmental impact regardless of how many people are in those cars. One could actually even argue less people in the car uses less gas and pollutes less too. But also, more people in cars might need less cars turned around? Although I'm not sure because I think it's more of a time-of-day based tipping point deciding whether or not people make the drive up, would need data to confirm this.

But I mean regardless, I can't help but think this is a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things and much more could be done. I think it's the lazy excuse resorts use to justify paid parking when the reality is that the only driver is revenue but they can't publicly admit it. There is now parking limitations (either paid or restricted) in 3 out of 4 of the cottonwood canyons resorts and traffic/parking is as bad as ever.
So I think the upside of carpooling is getting more skiers on the hill, but environment-wise in the context of skiing in UT I think it'd be a marginal impact at best and virtually no impact on traffic issues.

Deer Valley has all but announced that they will implement paid parking next year to "help with traffic and parking issues". This is of course bullshit, but I get it, from a business standpoint, resorts would be dumb not to do it, there is just such overwhelming demand that no matter how obviously greedy and unpopular the measure is, people will pay and they will always sell out.

Paid parking is just an inevitable future for larger resorts, the parking lots in Utah are full by 9am most days, there isn't enough parking at any resort in utah.

Investing in this infrastructure and charging for parking is the only solution. As a local, you should figure out how to get to the resort without paying, let the tourists fill up the lots and pay. Its a tough pill to swallow, but as soon as you get use to the new way of getting to the resort you'll be fine, but days of strolling to your favorite resort and finding a parking spot is basically over.

Monsieur_PatateThere is now parking limitations (either paid or restricted) in 3 out of 4 of the cottonwood canyons resorts and traffic/parking is as bad as ever.

But you know which one is the worst? The only one with payment or restriction.

I went to alta on saturday and the whole traffic/parking situation was 100x better than when I went to brighton two weeks ago on a sunday.

The systems work, people are going to complain, but in 5 years we will all realize it was for the better.

eheathBut you know which one is the worst? The only one with payment or restriction.

I went to alta on saturday and the whole traffic/parking situation was 100x better than when I went to brighton two weeks ago on a sunday.

The systems work, people are going to complain, but in 5 years we will all realize it was for the better.

That's a fair point, and that's because not all systems are created equal. Alta not only has paid parking, I'd argue it's the reservation system that's probably keeping people at bay.
So I revise my point that just paid parking doesn't help much, but reservations might be the way to go, time will tell I guess.

Just make it like park city where its harder for workers and day-skiers to come to work or ski and make it less congested for all the 2nd/3rd/4th homeowners from Cali.

But seriously ive had the pleasure of visiting other ski areas this winter and have been impressed with their parking situations, how easy it was, or how better of a system it was than back home. Plus not having ski areas right next to a valley with millions of people helps too. I got to spend a snowy saturday at kicking horse with minimal crowds and a local said that this is considered "busy" for them. I think its just a case-by-case issue in different areas. Not everywhere has a shitload of people trying to ski.

**This post was edited on Feb 14th 2022 at 1:07:38pm

**This post was edited on Feb 14th 2022 at 1:08:13pm

Monsieur_PatateThat's a fair point, and that's because not all systems are created equal. Alta not only has paid parking, I'd argue it's the reservation system that's probably keeping people at bay.
So I revise my point that just paid parking doesn't help much, but reservations might be the way to go, time will tell I guess.

As an Alta season pass holder, I fully support the parking reservation system that was implemented this year. The important distinction is that while iKon pass folk have to pay $25 to make a parking reservation, it's completely free for season pass holders. It's actually made skiing on the weekends a breeze compared to the other cottonwood resorts and clearly favors local passholders over iKon pass tourists. This is the way to do it IMO.

Now, what Alta has done to backcountry access up LCC at the grizzly lot etc is not super chill. But that's a different conversation.

brotoNow, what Alta has done to backcountry access up LCC at the grizzly lot etc is not super chill. But that's a different conversation.

It's one entrance (yes a big one) but it's not like there aren't 10 other places to park in LCC to go tour, seems like the exact opposite place for someone who wants to avoid crowds and traffic anyway.

In the end, the lots are property of alta and they should make some sort of compromise for sure, but grizzly gultch is the most blown out BC access in the state, it's not like they ruined some untouched gem of BC terrain, hell they bomb the entire zone, it's basically slackcountry.

brotoAs an Alta season pass holder, I fully support the parking reservation system that was implemented this year. The important distinction is that while iKon pass folk have to pay $25 to make a parking reservation, it's completely free for season pass holders. It's actually made skiing on the weekends a breeze compared to the other cottonwood resorts and clearly favors local passholders over iKon pass tourists. This is the way to do it IMO.

Now, what Alta has done to backcountry access up LCC at the grizzly lot etc is not super chill. But that's a different conversation.

Yeah, that's a HUGE difference to other systems. Alta has no reservation or paid parking for local passholders, just for Ikon and others. So their system is pretty unique in the current landscape I think, and seems like people are happy with it, might be the way to go. Just wondering if this is good because they're the only one doing it, and are the Alta crowds just diverted to other resorts, therefore if it were to become the norm, would it still be as effective?

So there are different systems out there, and not all are equal. I don't really go to Snowbird so I'd be curious to hear how their system is working out with what is essentially an "all in one" system". They have paid, free, carpool, and advance reservation lots, seems like all the parking flavors in one place, kinda interesting.

I maintain that the Solitude model is ass, just a lazy money grab that only benefits the resort.

Also curious as to when we'll hear back on the whole Gondola idea that no one wants, this will be entertaining.

eheathIt's one entrance (yes a big one) but it's not like there aren't 10 other places to park in LCC to go tour, seems like the exact opposite place for someone who wants to avoid crowds and traffic anyway.

In the end, the lots are property of alta and they should make some sort of compromise for sure, but grizzly gultch is the most blown out BC access in the state, it's not like they ruined some untouched gem of BC terrain, hell they bomb the entire zone, it's basically slackcountry.

It's just the convenience of the terrain, it's arguably the most efficient touring terrain in the Wasatch, easiest approaches by far, on top of being the area that gets the most snow, so there is a reason why it is(or was) so crowded, it's just good terrain people feel is being taken away from them.

Monsieur_PatateIt's just the convenience of the terrain, it's arguably the most efficient touring terrain in the Wasatch, easiest approaches by far, on top of being the area that gets the most snow, so there is a reason why it is(or was) so crowded, it's just good terrain people feel is being taken away from them.

Yeah I totally understand and hope they make some changes, but in the bigger picture of things there are tons of other places you can go tour in utah.