Canyon Blog was afforded the wonderfully informative opportunity to accompany Sara Gibbs, Alta Community Enrichment director extraordinaire, on a journey into the world of Wasatch mushrooming. The first thing your correspondent learned is that it isn’t actually mushrooming, rather something she referred to as “munting,” which was apparently German in origin but escaped this writer’s ability to track down, so we’ll just have to take that on faith. Before “digging in” to mycology a few words on Sara and ACE. ACE is Alta’s version of an arts institute and focuses on bringing culture, art and education to the town and both resorts. It’s a wonderful nonprofit and worthy of your support. Like so many before, Sara herself came to Utah by way of powder pursuit and then stayed. She joined ACE’s board to contribute but eventually ascended to the director’s position through sheer positive energy. You can learn more here https://altacommunity.org/ . We began our excursion at the White Pine trailhead using a Pfeifferhorn summit goal as cover for our true purpose, porcini mushrooms. These and hawks wings mushrooms (also known as hedgehogs by aficionados) are her two favorites. “That’s because I can identify them with confidence.” Sound advice. One of the things about “munting” that should always be kept in mind is that one must know what one is doing. Many varieties are similar and can fool the casual munter. Consuming wild mushrooms is not for the uninitiated. For education and fun Sara recommends contacting the Utah Mushroom Society and its founder Ardean Watts https://www.utahmushrooms.org/ . A loosely organized club of mycophiles, they offer foraging excursions throughout northern Utah and a wonderful annual fall foray in August to share knowledge and culinary tips. They’re also very welcoming of newcomers. But back to our own fall foray. Two miles into our 9.6-mile trek Sara froze your correspondent in midstride with a shriek, “Look at this one!” Indeed, after he got his heartrate under control, a four-inch crown could be seen protruding not six inches from the trail. Digging out a pocketknife she made short work of harvesting the lone specimen. But as you can see they grow much larger and can weigh 2.5 pounds. From there it seemed we couldn’t go more than a few hundred yards through the more forested sections of the hike without some kind of fungi making itself known. Most weren’t edible but all were fascinating once you stopped to consider their presence and unique biology. The best time to hunt is spring through early fall, especially after rains which accelerates growth. Her favorite recipe is to slice (always vertically) a porcini and sauté lightly with a bit of butter and dash of salt. “But not too much,” she cautions, “because then it’s the butter you’re tasting, not the mushroom. And that’s the whole point.” So, on your next visit to Little Cottonwood be sure to slow your hike and look around, especially in areas prone to more moisture, though it doesn’t take damp ground or even much really for them to grow. You’ll be amazed at what you find. As we descended from our successful summit (all 11,331 feet) your correspondent couldn’t help but inquire as to why one “munts” at all? “Because,” she declared as though it should be obvious, “it turns every hike into a treasure hunt!”

Canyon Blog spent an afternoon chatting with Alta safety director Dave Richards in his office. During the lull in skiing that’s struck the nation there was time to be shared. In a canyon populated by transplants, Dave’s the rare local born and bred, not just in Utah but the canyon itself. He grew up at Alta where his dad was a ski patroller for three decades and his mother an employee at The Rustler lodge. He was a pro skier for a time in his youth before working as a heli skiing guide until he eventually found himself skiing his father’s tracks on the slopes of Alta as a ski patroller. After decades of avalanche and patrol experience he arrived at the ski resort’s most important operational job, safety director. Now forty and bearded with locally flavored tattoos, he has the bearing and appearance of a green beret and rarely approaches subjects from an oblique angle. We talked about the mountain we both loved for awhile before your correspondent turned on the journalistic interrogation lamp. Canyon Blog: What’s the job of a ski resort safety director exactly? Dave Richards: Well, it’s three things. The first is to understand that we operate and provide recreational opportunities for people in an incredibly hostile environment. Everything we do is focused on the safety of our employees, who have to work in the elements whether we’re running chairlifts or not, followed by our customers. Third is to operate a ski resort so long as the first two are met. CB: What’s the most important thing for skiers and visitors to a world class mountain like Alta to know? DR: Understand that you’re in a mountain environment. The Alta Ski Patrol seeks to afford you a certain amount of safety, but we work with the mountain not against it. How you approach that mountain personally effects your safety. CB: So individuals have a responsibility to make judgement calls. DR: Exactly. We provide a safe space for you to enjoy but ultimately, you’re making individual choices about what and where you can ski. CB: So, after four decades of living, working and skiing Alta what’s the best part of your job. DR: Skiing powder. CB: That’s it? DR: Yup. It doesn’t get less oblique than that folks. (To learn more about Alta Ski Patrol and their work check out this exceptionally cool video: https://vimeo.com/392487362 )

Well, it’s happened. So much snow we had to shut the canyon and both Snowbird and Alta for two days. Snowbird has recorded a whopping 409” so far with Alta right behind (It’s still a mystery to your correspondent how the down canyon resort ends up with greater snowfall, but no matter) and skiable bases of over 12 feet. Forty-eight hours of snowfall delivered 34 inches of white. For the past two days those of us in the canyon haven’t moved, and that’s a literal interpretation. Safety officials, in conjunction with both resorts, maintained a strict interlodge for Thursday and Friday. But Saturday dawned with the promise of lifts and light as the sun broke through. High angles and local favorites remain closed with the severe avalanche potential that will remain for days. The Utah Avalanche Center https://utahavalanchecenter.org/forecast/salt-lake issued a rare avalanche warning of “high” for every slope above 8,000 feet in Little Cottonwood Canyon. If you’ve never visited their site Canyon Blog highly recommends a look because it’s a wealth of valuable information as well as source of current conditions. But the conditions are second to none for everything open inbounds and with 400 inches so far this spring promises late season goodness. But why wait for that? Canyon Services is featuring our luxurious homes in the Village of Sugarplum as well as other condos. As always, no need to rent a vehicle and deal with parking or frozen windshields when SLC International to Alta and Snowbird shuttles can whisk you up slope in no time. With next weekend’s holiday just beyond the horizon and Valentines Day even closer drop what you’re doing, grab your significant other, and make tracks for the Wasatch. The tracks you make after you get here are the best you’ll get all year because by next weekend everything will be open and the sky will be the only limit.

CanyonBlog, Author at Canyon Services

Snow Fences and Avalanches
Snow Fences and Avalanches

Snow Fences and Avalanches

The season is clearly already upon us. Alta has already recorded 69” of snow fall and for a time the past week the base was 40”. What’s that mean? You know what it means. It's time to book an awesome Canyon Services rental and come stay in comfort, enjoy the spectacular views, and start this skiing season off right. In preparation for this year’s downhill sliding pleasure and safety Alta has made additional improvements to the mountain. This time in the form of snow fencing and more Wyssen (pronounced “Wee-sen”) exploders. Canyon Blog sat down with Alta safety director and [...]

CanyonBlog2021-11-10T01:06:00+00:00Local Flavor, Outdoors|

Shroomin’ with ACE
Shroomin’ with ACE

Shroomin’ with ACE

Canyon Blog was afforded the wonderfully informative opportunity to accompany Sara Gibbs, Alta Community Enrichment director extraordinaire, on a journey into the world of Wasatch mushrooming. The first thing your correspondent learned is that it isn’t actually mushrooming, rather something she referred to as “munting,” which was apparently German in origin but escaped this writer’s ability to track down, so we’ll just have to take that on faith. Before “digging in” to mycology a few words on Sara and ACE. ACE is Alta’s version of an arts institute and focuses on bringing culture, art and education to the town and [...]

CanyonBlog2021-10-06T16:26:18+00:00Local Flavor|

A Most Unusual Spring
A Most Unusual Spring

A Most Unusual Spring

Well, the season has run its course in a most unanticipated way. With both resorts shuttered due to “viral considerations” Little Cottonwood Canyon has taken on something of a bygone era feel. Snowbird is closed to all up and downhill traffic and will remain that way until public safety can be assured. They expect to roar back for summer so stay tuned for updates. Alta on the other hand, is open for all to enjoy safely and at a distance. It’s been strange to slap on the alpine touring skis and have the run of the resort and first tracks [...]

CanyonBlog2020-04-20T02:20:13+00:00Uncategorized|

Safety at Alta
Safety at Alta

Safety at Alta

Canyon Blog spent an afternoon chatting with Alta safety director Dave Richards in his office. During the lull in skiing that’s struck the nation there was time to be shared. In a canyon populated by transplants, Dave’s the rare local born and bred, not just in Utah but the canyon itself. He grew up at Alta where his dad was a ski patroller for three decades and his mother an employee at The Rustler lodge. He was a pro skier for a time in his youth before working as a heli skiing guide until he eventually found himself skiing his [...]

CanyonBlog2020-03-20T21:44:28+00:00Local Flavor|

Slammed!
Slammed!

Slammed!

Well, it’s happened. So much snow we had to shut the canyon and both Snowbird and Alta for two days. Snowbird has recorded a whopping 409” so far with Alta right behind (It’s still a mystery to your correspondent how the down canyon resort ends up with greater snowfall, but no matter) and skiable bases of over 12 feet. Forty-eight hours of snowfall delivered 34 inches of white. For the past two days those of us in the canyon haven’t moved, and that’s a literal interpretation. Safety officials, in conjunction with both resorts, maintained a strict interlodge for Thursday and [...]

CanyonBlog2020-02-12T17:49:09+00:00Local Flavor|

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