Park City Powder Days With New Ski Buddies

In the 2020/21 season, meeting people on the mountain got harder. Base bars were quiet, reservations limited who could ride, and fewer people were chatting in lift lines. In March 2021 the SkiBuds account summed it up: “Granted I miss the days of being able to just go to the bar at the base and meet someone like minded to share the lift with... at least with Skibuds app I have still found plenty of people to shred with.” Park City was where many of those meetups happened. This story follows the account's posts from that winter, with their publication dates.

Day two: Shae and Larry

On December 10, 2020 the account posted: “So day 2 was pretty fun. Met 2 more rippers and got some good groomers in. Park city should be getting some snow tonight!! Fun riding with Larry and Shae.” Shae became a regular riding partner. In a March 2021 post the account wrote that it had met her through the app, and Stephen Phillips's history article describes her as “one of my good riding buddies.”

Groomers are a good first day with someone new. Everyone can keep up, there is time to talk on the lift, and you find out what each person likes to ride before you head somewhere harder.

Kevin from the Park City channel

The original SkiBuds app had a general channel for each mountain. On February 21, 2021 the account posted: “Met up with skibuds shredder Kevin off the park city general channel for a sick powder day on Tuesday!!!” The invitation went out the evening before, on February 15: “Tomorrow should be next level hmu at park city on the general channel.”

The next evening's post went a step further, naming the zone too: “hit us up if you are around and want to hit some laps at Jupiter bowl.” A day, a mountain and a place on it are what make a meetup work, and at Park City the place matters more than most. Our Park City guide explains that Mountain Village, Canyons Village and Old Town are different gateways to the same ski area, and should never be treated as the same meeting point. Name the village, a visible landmark and when you will take a break.

“Ride with a buddy”: the tree-well warning

The most useful post from that winter is a safety note. On February 16, 2021, under a photo of a rider half-buried in powder beside an aspen, the account wrote: “Today was deep. Ride with a buddy. Honestly tree wells and avy danger are super high and it's imperative to have someone with you if something goes wrong. This was just a normal run and nothing crazy but some of the trees I got into today were pretty narrow.”

A tree well is the deep, loose snow around the base of a tree. A rider who falls in head first can be trapped within seconds and may not be able to free themselves. On deep days in the trees:

• Ride with a partner, and stay close enough to see each other.
• Stop often, and wait for each other before the next pitch.
• Keep a phone charged, and agree on what to do if you get separated.
• Give trees a wide berth and stay out of the narrowest gaps.

No reservation, more motivation

Not every day went to plan. On February 27, 2021 the account posted: “No reservation = More Motivation. Couldn't get a spot at PC today so hit first backcountry laps of the season. Fun to see some new peaks and the pow was glorious.”

Riding outside resort boundaries is a different activity from riding at a resort. There is no ski patrol and no avalanche control. If you head into the backcountry, check the local avalanche forecast, carry a transceiver, shovel and probe and know how to use them, and go with a trained partner. Read how to find a backcountry ski partner and how to read an avalanche forecast. The rest of that Utah spring, from Snowbird laps to sledding and touring days, is in Checking the avy report.

Before going, check Park City's current access rules too. Our guide notes that for 2026/27 the Mountain Village parking plan requires morning reservations, while Canyons has limited free first-come surface parking.

A day with Ale, Matt and Ryan

On February 23, 2021 the account posted the chairlift photo at the top of this story, after a “fun day riding PC” with Ale, Matt and Ryan. By that point the Park City posts were a steady stream of first names. That is what a good season with new riding partners looks like.

How to find ski buddies at Park City

• Pick a village. Mountain Village, Canyons Village and Old Town are different meeting points.
• Post the plan the night before. Include the day, the base and the zone you want to ride.
• Start on groomers. A first lap that suits everyone shows you how the group rides.
• Never ride deep trees alone. Stay within sight of your partner and watch for tree wells.
• Check parking and access. Reservations and parking rules change from season to season.

For more from Utah, see our Utah ski resorts guides. Elsewhere in the archive: Mt. Baker powder days and finding ski buddies in Colorado.

Questions riders ask

Where should I meet friends at Park City?

Name the village. Mountain Village, Canyons Village and Old Town are different gateways to the same ski area, so add a visible landmark and the time you plan to take a break.

Do I need a parking reservation at Park City?

For 2026/27, the Mountain Village parking plan requires morning reservations, while Canyons has limited free first-come surface parking. Check the resort's current parking and transit information before you go, and consider sharing a ride.

What should I agree on before riding the backcountry with someone new?

Training, rescue equipment, the day's avalanche forecast, the route, a turnaround time and who knows your plan. If any of those is missing, ride the resort together first. See how to find a backcountry ski partner.

Photos and quotations come from posts on the SkiBuds Instagram account between December 2020 and March 2021, and from Stephen Phillips's 2021 history article. Dates are the dates the posts were published.