Don’t Get Lost (Again): Tricks for Navigating a New Resort

Navigating a mountain you’re unfamiliar with can be overwhelming. It’s like getting lost at the grocery store as a kid. Except there might be some sheer cliffs scattered around. And there’s the possibility of ramming into a tree.

There may be a few perils if you don’t know what you’re doing (what’s life without a little excitement anyway). That being said, checking out a new mountain is mostly just really fun! To help enhance any first-time resort experience, we’ve compiled this list of pro tips for finding your way around unfamiliar terrain. From apps to mountain hosts, these pointers will have you cruising around the resort like a seasoned veteran in no time.

Use the Maps

The most fundamental of navigation tools, you can’t go wrong with a trusty map. A piste map (the diagrammatic map of a skiing area) will usually be posted several times throughout the resort, often at the top of lifts and near lodges. To take full advantage of the piste map, familiarize yourself with resort landmarks. This will make orienting yourself on the map easier.

Also, fun fact: piste means “track” in French. So if you take nothing else from this section of the article, at least you’ll have that to impress your friends. Which brings us to our next point…

Bring a Friend

Grab your boyfriend, grandma, tax consultant, or anyone you can find that’s been to the resort before and bring them with you! Not only will you get to enjoy some company on the slopes, you’ll also be able blindly follow whoever you’re with and won’t need to employ any critical thinking skills. (Or you can, you know, pay attention and try to learn. Whatever floats your boat.) No but seriously, going with a friend who knows and loves the resort you’re new to can be a great way to get acquainted with the mountain.

Get the App

In today’s world, there’s an app for everything. Although this can be kind of annoying since it seems like you have to download an app for every service imaginable, the navigation apps for skiing are extremely useful. Available through individual resorts or certain pass programs (such as the Ikon pass), the apps let you have a resort at your fingertips. Various apps can provide updates on lift and trail status, give info like your vertical feet and number of runs completed, and even allow you to make restaurant reservations at the resort. Whichever resort you’re headed to, checking to see if they have an app is a great first step to help you find your way around.

Take a Lesson

Regardless of your skiing experience, there’s always room to grow. Taking a lesson at a new resort can be a great way to familiarize yourself with the terrain while sharpening your abilities. Ski instructors are obviously familiar with the mountain and can take you to areas suited to your skill level. Group lessons tend to be more cost effective, and if you book towards the end of the season there’s also a good chance that your group will be relatively small. Private lessons are a good option if you’re looking for some personalized, one-on-one coaching. Either way, ski lessons are a great way to learn your way around a resort!

Meet the Mountain Host

If you’re in search of a surefire way to get acquainted with a new resort, a mountain host is the way to go. Mountain hosts are ski resort guides (often volunteers) who take guests on complimentary tours. That’s right folks, you heard correctly- we’re talking about a free tour of the mountain with someone who knows a ton about it. Can it get any better? Well actually, it can. Not only will a mountain host help you become familiar with the layout of a resort, but they often share cool information about the area as well. You’ll likely have the chance to learn about the mountain’s geology, history, wildlife, and more. Keep in mind that ski hosts do have to stick to groomed runs and that they may have a few other restrictions. However, a guided tour can lay a great foundation for further mountain exploration. One thing to note: tipping your host isn’t necessarily expected when the tour is free, but it can certainly be a nice gesture for someone who is willing to give of their time to impart mountain stoke.

Below you’ll find a list of resorts that offer free tours with a mountain host. Though our list is solely of Utah resorts (we are Utah Skis, after all), if you’re skiing elsewhere, a quick perusal of the internet can help you determine if there are mountain hosts at the resort you’re visiting.

Complimentary Utah Mountain Host Programs