Stats don't tell the full story, but they're a great place to start. So let's start this report on Deer Valley, in Park City, Utah, with a few key numbers: 2,000 skiable acres with six peaks and six bowls -- all served by 22 chairlifts.

Half a dozen: Number of extremely friendly and personable Mountain Hosts and Info Desk personnel who helped me enjoy my first visit to Deer Valley.

Jennifer Lewis, working at the top of 9,400-foot Bald Mountain, was one of half a dozen friendly and personable Mountain Hosts and Info Desk people who helped make yesterday's first-ever visit to Deer Vally so enjoyable.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

The Quincy Express is one of four high-speed detachable quads that serve Flagstaff Mountain. Overall, Deer Valley has 11 high-speed chairs.
"SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Skiers head west from Bald Mountain, one of six peaks that comprise the Deer Valley mountain resort.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

No. 2: Yesterday was the second day on my Odyski with perfect weather.

No. 1: Deer Valley's overall rating in Ski Magazine's annual readers' poll for 2007-2008.

Zero: Number of snowboarders at Deer Valley. Puts them right up there with Alta in Utah and Mad River Glen in Vermont as knuckle-dragger-free mountains.

No. 1: The Ski Bum's rating for lunch. Yesterday's turkey Chili Cheese Fries (with turkey chili) was the best on-mountain lunch I can remember. Beats out the Chili in a Bread Bowl at Bullwinkle's at Sugarloaf, but only by a bit.

The Ski Bum appreciates excellent on-mountain eateries, such as the Empire Canyon Lodge above, where he found the Chili Cheese Fries a landmark dish.

Deer Valley likes to host international-level races, and several events of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games were held at the resort.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Deer Valley's commitment to topnotch international competition is a natural: the Director of Skiing is the legendary Stein Eriksen, gold medalist in Giant Slalom at the 1952 Oslo Olympic Winter Games.

That's another No. 1.

E-mail this entry to a friend