Robert Redford explains the history and vision that make Sundance special

Pale aspens masked against white snow cradle a slew of dramatic peaks. One peak — an impressive limestone wallscape — looms particularly large: Mount Timpanogos. The second tallest peak in Utah's Wasatch Range, "Timp" watches over Sundance Mountain Resort nestled among thousands of acres of protected wilderness. The fall beauty of cycling the Alpine Loop and hiking among the lingering wildflowers has given way to cross country skiing, night owling (guided nighttime snowshoeing) and carving up slopes. Only the hardiest of fly fishers remain. Winter has descended on Provo Canyon.

What's the spark that kindled Sundance Mountain Resort? Resort founder Robert Redford saw it as a place to hear and tell stories.

At the time it was a small resort called Timp Haven with a homemade rope tow, a single chair lift and a T-bar. Attracted to the land for both its potential as a creative hub and a landmark resort, Redford also saw his purchase as an act of preservation. He wanted the stories of this land, originally a cool-temperature summer mecca for the Ute tribe, to live on for future generations, free from major development.

A decade later, in 1981, the Sundance Institute was founded at Sundance Mountain Resort, bringing writers, directors, actors and artists together to collaborate among the natural beauty of Provo Canyon. Since then, the Institute has grown and moved on, spread out among offices in Park City, Los Angeles and New York City, with the exciting culmination taking place each January at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City (45 minutes away from the resort), which introduces a global audience to groundbreaking work in independent film.

Just as stories and emotions drive the decades of films propelled by the Sundance Institute, the resort itself still knows how to summon a strong reaction. "It always feels new, it always feels fresh, and it sets in motion a different attitude where I then begin to slow down," says Redford. Few sentiments rival the feeling of a Mount Timpanogos vista set among the quality and class of Sundance Mountain Resort. When Redford, too, decided to move on, selling the resort to hotel and real estate investment firms, Broadreach Capital Partners and Cedar Capital Partners, his first task was to assure the public that he was not merely transferring the land but its ideals and that it was time for others to carry on and build upon its legacies.

Those who come won't be disappointed. For skiers, Sundance is less than an hour from Salt Lake City (even closer for south county residents). It even offers night skiing. And if you don't want to ski, you can always eat. From the legendary Tree Room to the Foundry Grill, The Lookout or the Owl Bar, Sundance has long had a reputation for great food options.

A year-round destination, activities at Sundance include an art studio with classes ranging from soap making to pottery, painting and glass blowing. Or if you prefer, you can arrange for guided fly fishing on the nearby Provo River, one of Utah's Blue Ribbon fisheries. There is also a spa, zip line tours, horseback riding, hiking and classes on everything from cross country skiing to mountain safety.

Whether you're coming to Sundance to slow down or because you hope to capture the feeling Redford describes while being "up top and cutting loose" on his favorite run — the wide-open Bishop's Bowl — his invitation is simple: "come here and see what you feel."

When turns are about adaptability, not disability

For some people with disabilities, getting back outdoors after ab accident can be life-saving. There's nothing more therapeutic than a crisp wind in the face while riding a chairlift surrounded by winter's white elegance. With the advent of high-tech adaptive equipment like the revolutionary TetraSki created at the University of Utah, these life-changing moments are available to more people.

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