Mountain Milonga 2014
Frequently Asked Questions about Mountain Milonga
The space: the main 1800 sq ft hardwood-floor ballroom is located on the ground floor of the historic 1929 Wasatch Mountain Club Lodge – 8465 S. Mary Lake Lane, Brighton, UT 84121 (An archive picture of the Lodge’s early years) Large kitchen with two stoves and a microwave, two refrigerators, and snack-and-drink table is attached to the Ballroom. The main dining spaces are the brookside patio and the covered porch outside. Check the floor plan of the main level for dimensions.
Bunk in: The (very spartan) living quarters with bunks (mattresses and covers only) are located upstairs, and restrooms and showers, downstairs. Yes, we must vacate the lodge before sundown on Sunday, so unfortunately you can’t stay in its dorm on Sunday night. 
Parking and satellite lodging location: There is abundant parking by the Brighton Resort Lodge, a short walk through the pines. In addition, the retreat-goers have rented 3 ski chalets within walking distance from the venue, please inquire with us about availability of beds. Brighton Lodge also offers rooms (one-Queen rooms, 2 Queen + sofa suits, and 4-bed “dorms”) and a jacuzzi. To book, call manager Monika Dietz, (435) 649-7940, (855) 201-SNOW (7669), ext. 120, or send an email mdietz@brightonresort.com. A satellite image of the two lodges ->>
On-site meals: 7 meals are included in your pass, please see the Calendar. Vegetarian option should be available.
Off-venue food and drink options: the only easy walking-distance eatery is the little rustic Brighton Store and Cafe in the Northern part of Brighton Loop Road (across the road from Silver Lake Visitor Center). It offers breakfast and lunch, and closes at 3 pm. Keep in mind that in Utah, we can’t officially provide the guests with alcohol, but BYOW is perfectly fine. Peculiarly, in Utah, alcoholic beverages stronger than 3.5% beer are only available in the specialized stores, the nearest of which is inconveniently located across a mountain pass 11 miles down a winding, partly unpaved road at 460 Swede Alley in the beautiful Park City. A larger, and more conveniently located, liquor store is 17 miles down the canyon, at 1863 East 7000 South, Salt Lake City. So if you need to stock up, you may prefer to do so while you’re still down in the valley! (A small wine and liquor store, and a restaurant / pizzeria, are also operated by the nearby Solitude Ski Resort, but we don’t yet know its summer hours). Further down canyon (3 miles away from Brighton), Silver Fork Lodge is a popular mountain restaurant with a famous scenic deck.
Flashlights? The Moon is going to be full and bright, but it only raises from behind the Wasatch Crest hours after dusk. Packing flashlights is highly recommended if you are going anywhere at night. We’ll have a few headlamps for you to borrow, just in case.
Sunblock / sunglasses / bug spray? Sun protection is a must on any local hikes, which are between 9,000 and 10,400 ft elevation. On the most strenuous of the hikes I have on the list, you might need a mosquito repellent spray, but the lodge itself and the nearby trails won’t have any bugs.
Fishing? Nearby lakes are popular with anglers, but one can’t buy a license at Brighton (Utah fishing license is available from supermarkets and sporting goods stores down in the valley). Rental cabins in the area already come with fishing poles. Barbara F. intends to organize a fishing derby, probably in the evening hours, stay tuned for details.
Pets? Keep in mind that the entire Big Cottonwood Canyon area is a watershed area, no dogs allowed.
Airport group pickup / Airport car rental: Pickup from the airport or from light rail is quite possible, please inquire, we’ll try to group the travellers together for a shared ride to cut costs. Keep in mind that car rental at SLC airport tends to be fairly inexpensive, as low as $16 a day at present, so renting a car even for a small group may be a great value.
Staying with the hosts in the valley: inquire with us!
Send us email or post on the event page on Facebook .
Past events: Here is a great video from the last year event –
https://vimeo.com/72624140 Mountain Milonga from Nico DeBarmore on Vimeo.