The legendary mining camp and ski town of Alta, Utah, jams in the winter, when the ski lifts hum and hardcores from around the world descend upon the Wasatch Mountains in search of powder. Great Western Trail Wasatch Mountains, UT flip side to the Alta coin, and it's during this forgotten time of year that the horrendously steep and challenging ski terrain sees mountain biking gain a tenuous foothold. But she neglects to mention that, as is the case with most things in life worth having, it's worth the work. You get a perfect introduction to the vertical relief of these mountains from the safety of the Alta Lodge . A comfortable common area looks out onto the terrain that has made Alta a mecca for skiers.
Steep chutes plunge to the valley floor with the high bulk of more mountains beyond.
This stuff hasn't been ridden by mountain bikers at least not yet. Downhilling insanity aside, the sense of boundaries being pushed at Alta is palpable on every ride. Only eight miles outside of Salt Lake City, Utah, Alta is virtually empty during the summer. The resort provides an ideal escape for anyone with a sense of adventure and is a perfect destination for riders looking for something a bit tougher than the average bear. Gillman and a few others have been scratching away at the terrain here in an effort to create something good and pure .