Your correspondent pens this piece in the aftermath of a top ten ski day here in Little Cottonwood. After a foot of fresh on top of seven more feet of fresh on top of a mountain with no people, January 17 th proved to be one of those days where despite how hungry you are you don’t dare stop to eat. Late morning when our valiant ski patrol dropped the rope for Catherine’s it was time to start making laps. Ten laps as it turns out. This is where Canyon Blog would normally insert a few great photos to induce jealousy on the part of the loyal readers of this space. Sadly, they were not to be. Why you ask? Because this writer wasn’t stopping to snap shots because it was just too damn good. And besides, as you’re well aware, photos don’t do justice to epic conditions. The best your correspondent can muster is a few shots on the final run to the house off Powder Ridge via Wildcat lift. Those and one shot of a significant ice beard buildup. Well, here’s one additional shot from Snowbird yesterday when they’d just opened Peruvian lift at around 2pm. Several days of closures had the Peruvian snow primed for tracking even if the wind scour faces were a little crusty. What’s the point of these bragging lines you may wonder. Simply this: The storm cycles are still aligned and the snow gods favoring our little canyon. So you better hop on that plane, get up canyon, and drop your bags in one of our deluxe properties because staying down canyon isn’t going to do you any good when the canyon closes for the next storm. Note on our previous photo challenge: The image on the concrete buttress is actually the last chairlift pole as you ascend the Collins lift.

Outdoors Archives - Canyon Services

Surfin’ the Wave at Snowbird
Surfin’ the Wave at Snowbird

Surfin’ the Wave at Snowbird

One of the great things about spring skiing in Little Cottonwood is the light, smells, and space that pervades the senses. Because the temps are up, even though the snow is still flying, people find creative ways to enjoy the mountain. The typical example are the snakes that appear at Alta and Snowbird, usually in Ballroom and Shireen (just off the Road to Provo cat track). However, your correspondent’s favorite playground terrain is the ridge that separates Shireen from Mark Malu Fork where the exhibitionists of spring tend to gather to demonstrate their aerial skills and basically have a great [...]

CanyonBlog2024-04-05T01:24:24+00:00Local Flavor, Outdoors|

OMSG
OMSG

OMSG

Your correspondent pens this piece in the aftermath of a top ten ski day here in Little Cottonwood. After a foot of fresh on top of seven more feet of fresh on top of a mountain with no people, January 17th proved to be one of those days where despite how hungry you are you don’t dare stop to eat. Late morning when our valiant ski patrol dropped the rope for Catherine’s it was time to start making laps. Ten laps as it turns out. This is where Canyon Blog would normally insert a few great photos to induce jealousy [...]

CanyonBlog2024-01-19T20:30:30+00:00Outdoors, Winter|

Hidden Peak’s hidden purpose
Hidden Peak’s hidden purpose

Hidden Peak’s hidden purpose

Riding the tram at Snowbird and pouring out onto the summit with your skis in hand and powder turns in mind it’s easy to miss just what’s around us. When you next step through those new doors take a moment and look up before you clear the gates. There, between the tram wheels you’ll see a number of instruments and antennae on top on the west side. To help make sense of some of those items Canyon Blog tracked down Dr. Maria Garcia from the University of Utah’s Atmospherics Sciences Dept. Turns out that there’s some serious science goin’ on [...]

CanyonBlog2023-12-14T02:13:36+00:00Local Flavor, Outdoors|

Friends in High Places
Friends in High Places

Friends in High Places

Sometimes, when you’re out on the slopes of these mountains, you find yourself in the presence of the true locals, who own them and make their living here. If your mind drifts to Alta or Snowbird lifties or your favorite tram operator you’re off point. Last week, while scrambling up the scree by Shreen run (think Road to Provo if you can’t place it) to police up a few errant ski patrol bamboo poles, Canyon Blog almost literally bumped into one of his favorite locals on the mountain. Porcupine of course. Always retiring, never in a rush, and usually enjoying [...]

CanyonBlog2023-09-15T02:27:00+00:00Local Flavor, Outdoors|

Where to See Utah Fall Colors near Alta Snowbird
Where to See Utah Fall Colors near Alta Snowbird

Where to See Utah Fall Colors near Alta Snowbird

As the days get shorter and the air gains that familiar crispness, there is no better time to plan a fall getaway in Utah! Make your way to Alta Snowbird and experience the magic of Utah fall colors before a blanket of snow covers our mountain towns. Canyon Services offers the perfect basecamp for fall adventures like hiking, biking, tram rides, festivals, and scenic drives. Join us for a seasonal escape to Utah’s vibrant landscapes and fall in love with Alta Snowbird! When to See Utah Fall Colors Utah fall colors begin at the highest elevations in mid-September and usually [...]

webservices2023-09-01T19:09:48+00:00Fall, Outdoors|

Snowbird Guides – They’re not just for winter
Snowbird Guides – They’re not just for winter

Snowbird Guides – They’re not just for winter

You’re probably unaware that Snowbird Guides exist. It’s an easy mistake since they’re relatively unknown. And yet, and yet, they hide in plain sight. If you’ve skied the Bird in the past decade you’ve no doubt walked right past their office, which would best be described as located in the most central real estate at Snowbird Center. To correct this oversight, Canyon Blog sat down with Eliza Allen, Snowbird’s Mountain Guides Director, to figure out just why it is that no one knows about the great services they provide. Turns out, it’s a bit mysterious for the ten-year veteran of [...]

CanyonBlog2023-07-13T03:00:54+00:00Local Events, Local Flavor, Outdoors, Summer|

How to Recreate Responsibly This Summer
How to Recreate Responsibly This Summer

How to Recreate Responsibly This Summer

Utah is home to a mesmerizing tapestry of landscapes, from snowcapped mountains to lush meadows and tranquil lakes. We love sharing our state’s natural beauty and ask that all visitors recreate responsibly to help us preserve these spaces for generations to come! Stay with Canyon Services and help us reduce the impacts of tourism in Little Cottonwood Canyon by staying on trails, respecting wildlife, and leaving no trace of your travels! Plan Ahead and Prepare Planning ahead for your adventures in Little Cottonwood Canyon is a great way to ensure you recreate responsibly. Set goals for your trip and take [...]

webservices2023-06-20T20:51:53+00:00Outdoors, Summer|

Easy Hikes in Utah: Alta Snowbird Hiking
Easy Hikes in Utah: Alta Snowbird Hiking

Easy Hikes in Utah: Alta Snowbird Hiking

Utah’s Alta Snowbird region is not just for winter ski trips; our mountain towns are also a great place to take the kids this summer! Soak up the sunshine with easy hikes in Utah that wind past beautiful lakes, awe-inspiring vistas, blossoming wildflowers, and cascading waterfalls. Whether you are looking for a stroller-friendly path or a longer trail for older kids, there is endless exploration awaiting in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Choose Canyon Services to host your Utah summer getaway and access adventure just outside your door! Observation Point Trail The Observation Point Trail is a free, paved, flat, and stroller-friendly [...]

webservices2023-04-28T17:33:14+00:00Outdoors, Summer|

An “Outside” Perspective on Alta’s Record Storm
An “Outside” Perspective on Alta’s Record Storm

An “Outside” Perspective on Alta’s Record Storm

For followers of Canyon Blog and Little Cottonwood Canyon, you can find a summary of our wild two weeks of storms and avalanches penned by your correspondent in Outside Magazine's online site: https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/snow-sports/alta-snowbird-interloge-little-cottonwood-canyon-snowfall/ It was a season full of superlatives and if you can't make it out here before Snowbird shuts down daily operations on May 14th (weekend trams and some lifts will continue beyond that date) your blogger wishes you a wonderful spring and summer.

CanyonBlog2023-04-16T00:31:43+00:00Local Events, Outdoors, Winter|

A Dispatch from the Trenches
A Dispatch from the Trenches

A Dispatch from the Trenches

Well, much as your correspondent hates cliches, this is one for the record books. Snowbird passed its all-time season snowfall record yesterday which was 782”. As of this morning, where Canyon Blog remains trapped in Alta, they’re standing at 805”. And it hasn’t stopped. Alta is sitting on, or rather under, 874”. It was only one week ago today that this space was reporting 764 Alta inches. If public math serves that’s 110” of new in a week. In April. The day before yesterday’s interlodge was one of the top three ski days of this powder hound’s career, someone who [...]

CanyonBlog2023-04-05T17:57:46+00:00Outdoors, Winter|