I woke up on a beautiful Saturday morning in CA and a friend had sent me a general snapshot of the storm(s) being predicted in the Pacific Northwest. I thought, “It’s been three years?! Need to ski. No time to plan something w/ others. I’m just going.” After some quick searches I finally landed on Utah - more specifically, The Rustler Lodge. Ski in / ski out is really the only thing that I was looking for. I called to book (I prefer that - it always helps me get a better feel for places that I have not visited). Kate picked up the phone - then patiently listened as I asked question after question to make sure that all of the logistics were going to work. She then took the time to answer every one of them and explained the routine at the lodge. In between questions and answers she was also offering me bits of information about Alta and more specifically, the skiing. I was sold. My flight was to arrive at 9:30am the next morning, I was using the shuttle service recommended by the lodge and when I arrived everything was in place. I was checked in, had lunch (the food is FANTASTIC!), had demo skis fitted and was ready to ski just before 1pm. After getting in a few hours of skiing I headed back to the lodge. This place really has it all down! Routine...I woke up on a beautiful Saturday morning in CA and a friend had sent me a general snapshot of the storm(s) being predicted in the Pacific Northwest. I thought, “It’s been three years?! Need to ski. No time to plan something w/ others. I’m just going.”

After some quick searches I finally landed on Utah - more specifically, The Rustler Lodge. Ski in / ski out is really the only thing that I was looking for. I called to book (I prefer that - it always helps me get a better feel for places that I have not visited). Kate picked up the phone - then patiently listened as I asked question after question to make sure that all of the logistics were going to work. She then took the time to answer every one of them and explained the routine at the lodge. In between questions and answers she was also offering me bits of information about Alta and more specifically, the skiing. I was sold. My flight was to arrive at 9:30am the next morning, I was using the shuttle service recommended by the lodge and when I arrived everything was in place. I was checked in, had lunch (the food is FANTASTIC!), had demo skis fitted and was ready to ski just before 1pm. After getting in a few hours of skiing I headed back to the lodge. This place really has it all down!

Routine : Amazing breakfast. Ski. Find a hut for water and a cookie / apple / lunch. Ski. Ski. Hut. Lodge. Steam/sauna. Always seems to be fresh food and baked goods in the lobby. Many other amenities. Four course meal that was lights out each night. Bed. Repeat. Oh, and stretching / yoga in the morning…if you like.

I met, dined and skied with people throughout the course of the week that had been retuning to Rustler year after year for 10, 15, 40 plus years. I am in love with this place. It is very rustic but still offers luxury at the same time. It should come as no surprise that starting on Tuesday evening my stay kept getting extended - I couldn’t leave. I finally folded and committed to an actual flight home on Friday. Rustler Lodge nails every aspect of a true ski vacation and I cannot wait to come back and introduce people to this type of ski getaway. Just go!More