Moving Out to Utah. Advice Needed.

Gorilla.Steeze

Gorilla.Steeze

Active member
Having just graduated from college this past May, I have a year before I go to law school and I can't think of any better way to spend the winter than to get Utarded. I have done a fair amount of search-barring and googling to figure out the best way to go about this but I was wondering if anyone has advice as to where the best place to live and work is.

Has anyone lived/worked at one of the lodges at Alta? I hear good things about most of them (except for the Rustler). The obvious downside here is that you live where you work and it can be hard to escape the resort. The upside is that you get max ski time.

If I don't live up in the canyon, I hear that Cottonwood Heights is the most preferable place to live. Is this true? It seems to have the best location in relation to LCC and BCC. Is Sandy a good place? Also, what is the social/after hours scene like? I realize that it is not a "party-town" and I am not necessarily looking for that having lived the college lifestyle the past 4 years. But it would be nice to hit up a bar or go out once in a while. I am moving out with a friend so we would ideally be looking for a 2 BR apartment. However, if other people are looking for housing as well, we would be open to suggestions to getting a bigger/cheaper place to split.

Job wise in the canyon, would anyone have any suggestions? I live in upstate New York now and have only been to SLC and surrounding area a handful of times, so I am a little lost with regards as to go about this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Hopefully I'll see you all out there soon!

-Sean O'C
 
cottonwood heights is nice. I would also look into the sugarhouse area. smaller houses, but you can bike/get around real easy.
 
i'm in the same situation but i'm solo if you find a 3bdrm. i'm looking to move out november 1st from massachusetts but spend my past 4 years in colorado. I pretty much have all the same questions you just posted but i'm def. looking to ski snowbird/alta
 
You've got things pretty much already figured out. I moved out here post-college in January under similar circumstances (except I had no plans on going back east and after last winter, I don't think I ever will). I was crashing in Sandy and driving to 'Bird every day and it was a pretty quick commute. I was told by many not to live in the canyon despite the obvious ski benefits. The Heights has some decent bars- nothing crazy, but it sounds like you aren't looking for that and they'll more than satisfy your needs if you just wanna throw back a few after a long day.
 
I'm all about living up canyon at the lodges. As a former Rustler emp, I can honestly say that it's just as sick as the other lodges, if not better because of the pool/spa/steam/hot tub/bar/gym we have access to. However, that said, the lodge is a luxury-focused lodge as opposed to a more ski-focused lodge. You will have more strict rules, work with managers who demand perfection, and deal with a wealthier clientele. I LOVED working there and I really found a family there, but this season I'm migrating to the GMD to be at one of the more ski-focused lodges. The Rus was great and has a killer crew of skiers, but all of the major lodges are having a massive employee turnover this year so I'm not sure who's going where. Don't write them off of your list; it's just as fun as the other options. Plus you have a pool. And the Mayor of Alta is your GM, which is great when you forget to move your car and it almost gets towed.

I like the on hill housing option for a few reasons. No need to grocery shop, find furniture, roommates, pay bills, or find ski buddies. Everyone and everything is built in. A few times a month I go down valley to get a few boxes of Franzia (what whaaaat!), grab a Lonestar burrito and relax, but that's really it. I love living up. You're right there for interlodge days, you can nap whenever you want, go home and change out of wet clothes, swap skis, drink beer and NOT drive home, etc. Plus, you don't need to remember to save money for bills, set out your trash bins, or be responsible. It's like college, but instead of class, you go to work.

Living in the valley has it's benefits, such as people, civilization, etc. But living up is awesome for those exact reasons; LACK of people. LACK of civilization. The lack of bars brings the community together in the evenings. The lack of social options forces the employees to bond within the lodges/shops etc. I have tons of friends from the other lodges, including Alf's, lifties, ASS, DPH apt, and patrol.

You really can't go wrong. If you want any further info or have questions I'd be happy to let you know. Come by the GMD bar and say hi once the lifts start turning!
 
Thanks for the replies!

@cbrady - What are the differences between cottonwood heights and sugarhouse? I literally know nothing about the area.

@SourSteezle - If I end up living in the valley, I will definitely keep you in mind. I am looking to move out as soon as possible or whenever I would start working. I also want to primarily ski Altabird but I would definitely like to get some days at Brighton and Solitude.

@YewTard - Sandy is closer to the mouth of LCC right? What was living in Sandy like and were you working during the winter?

@MissMontana - Do you already have a job lined up at GMD? To be honest, GMD is my #1 choice if I do decide to live in the canyon. I hear great things about all aspects of work and life there. What will you be doing there? I was looking at the application today and would be most interested in waiting tables but I could see myself doing something else if need be.

Anyone can PM me back if they prefer not to make public some information :-)

 
bars: up canyon, peruvian is the shit, jrey/rasta/brant/will hook it up for locals, and apres there's usually a good scene there, plus it looks up on the mtn. tram club down at the bird's fun sometimes, besides that there isn't a whole lot of options. cwood, canyon inn on thursdays is where it's at "snow nights", free cover with a pass to any of the cottonwood resorts and (hopefully still) cheap drinks. tons of local homies hang out down there on thursdays. if i had to choose a lodge to live at, i'd go snowpine, the food from what i heard isn't primarily sysco like it is for employees everywhere else, and it's the smallest with a capacity of like 50.
 
each has their pros and cons. C-Heights, its closer to Bird/Alta/Brighton/Solitude, but everything is more of a drive for instance stores, bars, restaurants, etc. Sugarhouse: Cool little area, everything is much closer together, for houses, which can be good and bad. But you're also a lot closer to shopping and the colleges. Drives to any of the resorts, Brighton/Solitude/Bird/Alta or PC, are all about 30 minutes
 
Sandy is just off 215- hope on 215 and you're at Wasatch Blvd in 2-3 minutes. I wasn't working at first- ended up getting a job in PC after a few weeks so I moved up here, but when I was in Sandy all I did was ski 'Bird every day. Sandy gives you a few more options in terms of grocery stores, restaurants, etc. The Heights is literally just a few minutes from the mouths of LCC and BCC, but like others have said it means more of a drive to the store. Also in terms of living up canyon... if you're single, the canyon is a sausage fest from what I hear. If chasing women will be part of your apres-ski routine you'll def wanna be somewhere closer to Sugarhouse.
 
Just wanted to give you a heads up on staying in cottonwood heights.

Im headed out to SLC in the next two weeks and I'm gonna be riding Alta/Bird all winter and getting into the Wasatch BC. Im still trying to lock up a spot to stay, and ideally it would be in cottonwood heights or sandy. I talked to soursteezle and he said he'd be down to get a spot. if anyone else is interested in going in on rent for a house hit me up. im tryin to get something with a garage or at least off street parking for my truck. depending on how the season goes i might be getting into some sledding also.

i figure if we can get more people, the rent on a larger place would be manageable. would like to have this figured out by the end of the month since im driving out there from pittsburgh soon. my name is Pat send me a pm if youre interested.
 
Good idea FatPlanks. I might definitely be interested in that. I am initially looking in the Sugarhouse area if that makes a difference. There are a ton of cheap housing options that I have seen thus far.
 
sugar house is what you want. it's probably only 15-20 minutes farther from skiing than cwood heights.
 
I sent some PM's but if anyone is looking to split a place with my buddy and I, let me know. We plan on getting there around Nov. 1.
 
I am in the same boat, but two months ahead of you.
I finished high school, didn't know what to do with my self, so I moved to utah. I live in sandy, i havn't ridden the area yet. (besides hiking alta the drive was about 30+ minutes)the rent is decently cheap, just check KSL, its the utah craigslist, thats where i found my house. i worked construction, but i just recently got laid off, and now i am applying for a job at a ski n see, most of the ski industry is hiring right about now, so you can apply online at PCMR and other ski places. best of luck my friend, if you ever need to meet someone to show you the area (i have limited knowledge but i can tell all ive picked up so far) or ride with hit me up.
cheers bobby
 
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