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Wild Utah: What kind of visitor is best suited to patronize your resort?

Snowbird: The visitor best suited to Snowbird is someone who appreciates Utah's most varied terrain and abundant snow. Nowhere in Utah can you get 500 inches of annual snowfall on a 350-foot Superpipe, terrain park, 45-degree, rock-line chutes and 2.5-mile cruisers. Although Snowbird has beginner terrain, the skier or rider who enjoys blue and black runs will get the most out of Snowbird.

WU: What is your resort's number one feature?

SB: The snowfall in Little Cottonwood Canyon is unlike any found in the state - in density and quantity. Snowbird also offers a wide variety of open bowls, steep chutes, trees, long groomed runs and access to backcountry.

WU: What causes the biggest headaches for visitors at your resort?

SB: Parking. Because Snowbird is in a narrow, glaciated canyon, there is not enough parking. We encourage visitors to take the UTA bus. It's easy, affordable and drops you off at the doorstep of the resort.

WU: What's new for the 2004/2005 season?

SB: Snowbird built a 350-foot, in-ground Superpipe this summer that will have 18-foot walls that are 50 feet apart. Snowbird is also unveiling a new program through its Mountain School called Snowbird University that will include courses in telemark, snowboard, alpine, steeps, backcountry safety, fitness and other "electives." 2/6-10/5, $550. Snowbird is unique in many ways. Families love the resort because the terrain, parks and pipe offers something for everyone and children 12 and under ski/ride free at Snowbird with a paying adult. Powder hounds love Snowbird's deep snow. If you had to gamble on finding snow in one place, Little Cottonwood Canyon would be the best bet. Snowbird also offers amenities not found anywhere else: The luxurious Cliff Spa, 12 restaurants, four lodging properties, snowmobile tours, ice skating, tubing, free night skiing/riding, snowshoe tours, live music on the Snowbird Center Plaza Deck and much more.

High Points: One of the Best Resorts in the World

Low Points: There Is Very Little Beginner Terrain & It Can Get Quite Crowded

Free Tip: Read Snowbird's answer to our third question two or three times.

Snowbird will simply blow your mind. The terrain is killer; and the snow is just downright hard to describe. It fricken' SNOWS A LOT in the Cottonwood Canyons! From what we can tell, Snowbird and Alta get the most of any resorts in Utah. We've skied The Bird many times when the powder was neck deep. And the quality of the snow is unmatched-it's as dry as a desert wind.

The lift tickets are generally cheaper on the Salt Lake side of the mountains. So whenever we see the prices at the Snowbird ticket window, we smile to think of getting such a good deal. Snowbird in particular seams like money well-spent because the resort has everything, (except copious terrain for beginners) and it's quite elegant.

Tucked into the Wasatch Mountains across from Mt. Superior, Snowbird has excellent views, and excellent lifts to get you up to see them. The marquee lift is the tram, which whisks you up to the top in about eight minutes. This lift is very fast, but the liftline can get pretty long on the weekend. Beneath the tram is some of the hottest terrain in Utah: cliffs and drops of all varieties and the infamous "Cirque."

If you're skiing in a mixed group of both skiers and snowboarders, Snowbird is an excellent choice. The combination of snow, features, food and accessibility make it one of the very best in the world.

For food, Snowbird has the whole spectrum. General Grits is the place for deli-style sandwiches. Mid-gad on the mountain (take the Gad lifts) is your basic resort food place (but the views are mesmerizing). Rendezvous is a little nicer place, and has pasta and wraps. Keyhole will satisfy your jones for Mexican food. Wildflower offers tasty Italian at a little higher price. If you want to go all the way financially, The Aerie Restaurant at the Cliff lodge has fine "new American," some Asian selections, and even has a sushi bar adjacent to the restaurant (called Aerie Sushi). The Lodge Bistro is located in the Lodge at Snowbird, and has fine French cuisine at high dollar.

The Cliff Lodge has fine food and nice, ski-in ski-out rooms. It offers a plethora of spa treatments at the Cliff Spa for shameless pampering. You might consider it for a stay sometime when you've gotta bunch of dough to spend.

Alcohol can be had at The Aerie Lounge, The Wildflower Lounge, the Keyhole Cantina, and the Lodge Bistro lounge. Our choice for après ski is the Wildflower.

Snowbird is a big-mountain experience every skier and snowboarder should get to appreciate at some point in their lives. The resort is really wonderful for everything you're looking for (if you can ski well). You might just consider going there on a weekday instead of a weekend-more time skiing and less time standing in line. Also, if you're on skis, you can purchase the Alta-Snowbird ticket for a little more, and ski both resorts.