”How have you never seen ‘Star Wars’?” I asked. Driving up to The Chateaux at Deer Valley Resort, the starting point for our epic ski journey, my carpooling companions were, of all things, discussing the film ennealogy that somehow defined — or defied — our multi-generational experiences. Days later, I would still wonder how an American Millennial had missed this cultural touchstone that, in so many ways, inspired this GenXer to take on the biggest challenge in Utah skiing, the Ski Utah Interconnect tour.
I saw the original ‘Star Wars’ in 1977, but through the magic of cinema and solid marketing, it became ‘Episode IV – A New Hope’ in 1999 with the release of ‘Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace.’ (We were all confused, too.) Other than our companion, who had yet to watch any of the movies, everyone else had an opinion on the importance of seeing any or all and in which order. I found myself musing about these questions and others during and after The Interconnect.
“I’d just as soon kiss a Wookie.” — Princess Leia, ‘Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back’
People choose to do The Interconnect Tour (or, in my case, not) for various reasons. Adventure, a bucket list item, piqued interest (or, again, in my case, fear and questionable ability), but as someone who has skied all 15 Utah resorts and hiked and biked the Wasatch Front and Back, I decided skiing the Interconnect Tour – six resorts in a day – was something I not only wanted to do but needed to. I just didn’t understand why.
I’ve experienced and described Utah in so many different ways, from avalanche training to après, but never saw the Wasatch Mountains as a single, powerful source — ok, a force, if you insist — of energy and inspiration that keeps drawing me and others out here. Skiing the six individual resorts provides six separate incredible experiences, but the Interconnect Tour unlocks a universe full of everything the Intermountain West offers. And yes, the tour is skier-only because skiers traverse through two ski-only resorts.
32 miles
13K ft. of elevation gain
One incredible day
The numbers are heady, but the pace is steady. The Interconnect Tour is not a race; it’s a small group trek (maximum 8 people, plus guides) with plenty of stops along the way to gaze and amaze, snap a photo and catch your breath, but it’s not easy and requires preparation and adaptation, because no matter what your level of skiing or fitness, Mother Nature, the Force, whatever, can alter the best-laid plans.
“I have a bad feeling about this.” — Luke Skywalker, ‘Episode IV’
Two things you need to know about the Interconnect Tour: First, respecting the outdoors is a good thing. Second, like viewing Star Wars, the order in which you endeavor and the life experience you bring are important to your understanding and enjoyment.
I’m one of those who will fret and second-guess my decision to start something new. My stomach turns. My mind wanders. I wake every hour the night before thinking of excuses to bail out with an amusing, self-deprecating text.
Then, when it’s over, and I’ve had a fantastic time and haven’t suffered life or limb, I berate myself for feeling doubtful — again!
But these doubts serve a purpose, an important, evolutionary one when it comes to exploring the outdoors and an essential one when signing up for the Interconnect Tour. The mountains of Utah are not part of a giant theme park. The trails used to travel from Deer Valley Resort to the terminus at Snowbird (or the reverse, an even more challenging route) are not marked and are subject to every imaginable hazard and probably a few you wouldn’t think of. Your guides don’t simply punch your ticket; they can save your life. Most importantly, you are more than a participant; you are part of a group that may rely on you to break trails and keep up to make it down the last run of the day before the sun sets or the next storm arrives.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, enough drama,” you say, “Just tell me, ‘Can I do it?'”
“Do. Or do not. There is no try.” — Master Yoda, ‘Episode V’
I spent a lot of time after the Interconnect Tour messaging friends about the experience. They were congratulatory, back-slapping, and, indeed, a bit envious and curious. ALL wanted to know whether they could manage skiing from Deer Valley Resort to Park City Mountain, over the Wasatch Back into Big Cottonwood Canyon to Solitude Mountain Resort and Brighton and, then, over Highway to Heaven into Little Cottonwood Canyon to Alta Ski Area and, finally, finishing at Snowbird.
For those that I ski with regularly, I said, “Yes, you can.” For others, I told them where I thought the most significant challenges — mentally and physically — were.
“Traveling through hyperspace ain’t like dusting crops, farm boy.” – Han Solo, ‘Episode IV’
The Interconnect Tour script requires participants to be “advanced to expert skiers in good physical condition.” However, as Luke Ratto, Ski Utah Interconnect Program Director, acknowledges, defining this can be the trickiest part of the tour.
Imagine a recipe that calls for one chopped onion. What kind of onion (sweet, yellow or red)? What size (baseball or softball?) Chopped how (rough or finely diced)? Your definition or interpretation can mean a delicious or disastrous meal.
Self-assessment fueled by hunger or desire is complex, especially if you don’t live or ski in Utah, where the terrain can encompass steep mountain, high-altitude, arid, deep powder skiing in weather conditions that can change from hour to hour. ‘Ski the East’ diehards discover the distinctions quickly. So do folks living at sea level. Attitude can fill in some gaps in skiing ability, but side-stepping at altitude will kick you in the gut no matter how strong you are.
Similarly, even if you ski in Utah every winter, the elements, obstacles, and (although some might dispute this) resort trail ratings vary. So, although about half the mileage on the Interconnect Tour is spent in-bounds on resort runs, being comfortable skiing groomed black diamond trails (at Deer Valley versus Snowbird) is NOT the sole criterion.
Participants must also be able to ski and traverse ungroomed and exposed terrain in open bowls and through the trees. For example, on our day, we started by going through the gates at Daly Chutes at Deer Valley and traversed the ridgeline to the glade at X-Files, a group decision made by our crew and guides. I told my friends that this was a good warm-up for the next six hours.
Traversing the snow by gliding, side-stepping, and boot-packing are all skills you need to be comfortable with for the tour. There are no lifts in the backcountry! The Interconnect’s guided permit with the U.S. Forest Service allows its groups to go ‘under the ropes’ between adjacent resorts, but sections of high-altitude wilderness separate most resorts. Getting over the 10 to 11k-foot ridgelines into Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons requires solid cardiovascular ability. Do not try this on your own. Ducking ropes and crossing resort boundaries is illegal.
“Aren’t you a little short for a stormtrooper?” — Princess Leia, ‘Episode IV’
"Laugh it up, Fuzzball." — Han Solo, 'Episode V'
What does this mean? As a petite woman in her late 50s who lives at 5,400’, has skied Utah resorts over 40 days this season and has completed an avalanche course, I felt I was quite prepared. That said, I was exhausted afterward and the next day, but I wanted to do it again with my spouse and girlfriends before the season ended.
What did I tell them? The most challenging part for me was climbing approximately 500’ along the .25-mile Highway to Heaven, the expanse between Solitude’s uppermost gate and Twin Lakes Pass. I could see the saddle we were heading toward but spied only a narrow cut along the steep slope that fell toward the ice and snow-covered reservoir below. No, I didn’t look down! I focused straight ahead. “Paula, you lead,” someone generously shouted. So, behind our two guides, I glided, stomped, stepped, huffed, puffed, stopped, started, and maybe swore a bit, but made it to the end after about 20-25 minutes, tamping it down in a slow and steady pace for the rest.
Until our departure that morning, the Highway to Heaven was closed due to weather and avalanche risk. Yes, avalanche risks are ever-present throughout the Wasatch, in-bounds and beyond. Ski patrol teams at all Utah resorts mitigate these risks and close runs and gates when they cannot reasonably do so. In the backcountry, prudent skiers and hikers wear backpacks with avalanche beacons, carry probes and shovels, take proper education courses and travel with experienced guides. For the tour, backcountry education is not a requirement but is encouraged for all skiers. 
“I know. Somehow, I’ve always known.” – Princess Leia, ‘Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi’
Looking over the top, we chose untracked lines into Patsy Marley, a classic for local backcountry skiers and down to Alta. I had never seen Little Cottonwood Canyon from this altitude or perspective, and despite the excitement of skiing another batch of fresh powder, the moment seemed to reel by in slow motion. As the sun shone over Baldy, the colors were brighter, the pitch seemed gentler, and the paths between the trees seemed more apparent. Perhaps I was getting tired or giddy, but that was the moment I knew where I was, where I was going, and, looking down the canyon toward Snowbird in the distance, why I was here and that I would make it down the final run.
“Chewy, we’re home.” — Han Solo, ‘Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens’
