Oquirrhs ski resort proposed

Step aside, Alta and Snowbird. A west-side ski resort is coming. In the rolling canyons southwest of Magna, Kennecott plans to tap the greatest snow on Earth to create the Oquirrh Mountains' first ski resort. While the copper company and land developer has set no timetable for the project, officials say the snow conditions and slopes are promising for Deer Valley-like terrain just seven miles west of Highway 111 in a region known as Soldier Flats. It's not a matter of if, says Jim Schulte, Kennecott's vice president of long-range planning, but when. "It's certainly skiable terrain," Schulte said, "and a lot of it." Salt Lake County leaders stood at the site of the proposed resort Tuesday - during a tour of Kennecott's wider west-bench development plans - and gazed up at north-facing peaks streaked with crimson leaves and fresh patches of snow. From a base elevation of 6,200 feet, the Oquirrh resort would rise to 9,350 feet. By comparison, Snowbird soars from 7,760 feet to 11,000 feet, and Park City goes from 6,900 feet to 10,000 feet. One crest at Kennecott's planned resort overlooks the "Little Valley" flats, where the company plans to build more than 10,000 homes as a secluded mountain community above Magna. Read more on http://www.sltrib.com//ci_7069167?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com