The New York Times Names Alta as the Place to Ski in December

United States: Alta, Utah

The ski school director Dick Durrance invented the powder turn, the Dipsy Doodle, at Alta in the 1950s. Sixty years later, Alta still reigns as the powder capital of North America. Topping out at 10,550 feet with 2,020 vertical feet of skiing and an average of 560 inches of snow every year, Alta averages a powder day (nine or more inches of fresh snow) every 10 days. The unique topography of Little Cottonwood Canyon, where the resort sits, allows it to receive snowfall from a number of different storm flows, in addition to lake effect snow coming off Great Salt Lake. Locals head straight for classic runs like High Rustler and Eagle’s Nest on a powder day, then wait for patrollers to open Ballroom, so they can ski to the steeps of Baldy Shoulder. The tree-skiing shots off the Supreme lift hold snow for days after a storm, especially since Alta has maintained its no-snowboarding rule. The only thing that seems to have changed since 1950 is that you can now buy a combo lift ticket and get to Snowbird from the top of the Sugarloaf lift. (alta.com) PORTER FOX

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