January is off the charts with powder dropping weekly at rates not measured in decades. The 136 inches recorded in December is the highest total in 40 years for Little Cottonwood. Today the canyon was closed again with Highway 210 blocked by avalanche debris in multiple slide zones. And the howitzers of Alta and Snowbird serve as siren calls to every powder skier within earshot in the pre-dawn hours. But the avalanche artillery is a story for another day… No, faithful readers of Canyon Blog, this month’s installment is all about the pristine powder that lies tantalizingly just beyond the ski area boundary ropes and on the slopes that beckon as you ride Alta’s Supreme Chair or the Mineral Basin lifts. Once again your correspondent has risked life and limb to bring you firsthand reporting of the full Little Cottonwood skiing experience. Though today’s post incorporates Big Cottonwood Canyon for the first time in this space. It all started last Monday when Alta avalanche forecaster/program director Dave “Grom” Richards called Canyon Blog and said, “Let’s go.” “Where?” “Not sure, but you’ll know when you get here,” said the backcountry guide ominously. Canyon Blog’s skied with Grom many times before and one never knows with this guy. So, properly outfitted with avi pack, probe, shovel, beacon and skins we met at Alta and caught the Supreme lift to the top. From there it was a short, but fun, low angle slope ski into Dry Fork which leads to Heber City should one choose to follow it down. Arriving back at the Alta boundary ropes we joined the trekkers hiking the Supreme summit hill to ski Katherine’s, which had just opened. But for us it was a transit toward the pass Sunnyside peak and Mount Wolverine where Grom’s plan was revealed in full. “Let’s drop into Big Cottonwood and we can finish at Brighton,” grinned Grom. Not one to miss out on one upmanship your correspondent added, “Okay, but then we have to hitchhike our way back to Alta.” Agreed, it was off into the white. It should be mentioned here that the terrain, conditions and backcountry experience needed to assess our route and the morning all came into play. Backcountry skiing isn’t something to be taken lightly, and Grom knows all about that having spent his entire career studying snow. But it is something to be experienced. For those readers of this column who enjoy the best lodging in Little Cottonwood, try Snowbird’s backcountry guides https://www.snowbird.com/guiding-tours/backcountry-skiing/ for the experience of a lifetime. That’s because you’ll do it as a ski-in ski-out adventure. As for Grom and your correspondent’s excursion, enjoy this month’s photos that include Canyon Blog’s favorite backcountry critter encounter, the humble porcupine. As for getting back, he’s happy to report that it took a mere two thumbs to arrive in Alta. You have to love skiers, they’ll take pity on anyone, even scruffy middle aged guys.

If you’re a reader of this space then you know that happiness can be found at ten thousand and 12, feet and inches that is. Your loyal correspondent is pleased to share that if you’re one of those then the 2022/23 ski season is well under way. To commemorate the first 50 inches of snowfall, and in the interests of thorough investigative journalism, Canyon Blog spent the past week in pursuit of first tracks at both Snowbird and Alta. As you can see, the base is not only enough already to establish a great foundation, it excludes any artificial snow making. Au naturale is such a wonderful feeling under foot. Though most of these shots were taken mid storm or snowfall, in between fronts shows a bit of the grandeur you’ve come to love in Little Cottonwood Canyon. And even though these solo tracks may induce a flash of jealousy there’s no need to feel that. Alta’s opening day is November 18 th , with Snowbird right behind on the 30 th . Ccome out for Thanksgiving and enjoy the feet and inches for yourself. It’s going to be a fantastic season opening with new chairs and trams. And better still, more snow. This weekend promises another 20 inches and the cycles are lined up even further out. Who needs snow making or inferior Colorado or, worse still, east coast snow? So, okay, maybe jealousy is called for. On your friends’ part when you send your own season first track photos from your early season outing.

Well, the first holiday of the year came and went. And you know what didn’t come with it? People. Canyon Blog ventured out onto the slopes of Snowbird and Alta to gauge the holiday crowds and take an unscientific barometric reading of just how many folks were in town or up from downtown on Sunday and Monday. The great news is Alta’s parking system seems to be working and a bit less traffic is in the canyon. Nice to know, but it doesn’t really affect you because you’ll be luxuriating après ski style in one of our properties. Your correspondent doesn’t have any real data to support this hypothesis, but it seems that urging carpool behavior and implementing parking fees resulted in the reduced numbers seen on the mountain. There are also some Icon pass blackout conditions in play here. But now for the bad news. You weren’t here were you? As these photos attest, you’re no where in any of them. Of course, hardly anyone else is in them either. But that’s just the point: No lift lines. Though Canyon Blog did ride Mineral Express with a lovely couple from Down Under who braved international travel and US Customs to be here. They couldn’t believe there weren’t any crowds. Your correspondent explained (lied would perhaps not be inaccurate) that there was a temporary ban on numbers of local skiers on the mountain to encourage foreign guests such as them. Did he feel bad about this fib afterwards? No, because they’re going home with a great story. And this writer loves a good story. In the end, what is most important is that YOU are afforded the opportunity to entertain an Aussie or two with tales of elitism of your own. So, get onto our reservation link and get onto that plane because the Greatest Snow on Earth is waiting and no Customs officials are standing between you and a 100 inch base.

Alta Ski Area Archives - Page 2 of 2

Drop What You’re Doing (an emergency announcement)
Drop What You’re Doing (an emergency announcement)

Drop What You’re Doing (an emergency announcement)

Rarely does Canyon Blog issue public service announcements, but such are the dire circumstances that it’s demanded of your correspondent in the interests of your health and mental state of mind. With that out of the way, here’s the deal. Whatever you’re doing, and regardless of where, you simply need to stop, book a flight, toss on a few layers of gear, and slap some fiberglass or carbon to the bottom of your feet. As your correspondent writes this (March 29th) Alta is reporting 764” for the season, but that’s simply not going to be true by the time you [...]

CanyonBlog2023-03-31T01:29:04+00:00Outdoors, Winter|

Rush Out Here and Then Slow Down
Rush Out Here and Then Slow Down

Rush Out Here and Then Slow Down

The snow continues to drop in Little Cottonwood Canyon and the skiing is beyond compare. And by that, your correspondent does mean anywhere. Readers of this space are only too familiar with the superiority of Wasatch powder and the fact that leasing one of our properties puts you into a skin-in ski-out experience not available anywhere else. To prove that point your faithful investigative journalist is winging his way to Austria and Norway to compare this season’s snow with other world class destinations. Such is his dedication to his profession, but he digresses and will report back on that when [...]

CanyonBlog2023-03-03T21:35:18+00:00Outdoors, Winter|

Outa Bounds
Outa Bounds

Outa Bounds

January is off the charts with powder dropping weekly at rates not measured in decades. The 136 inches recorded in December is the highest total in 40 years for Little Cottonwood. Today the canyon was closed again with Highway 210 blocked by avalanche debris in multiple slide zones. And the howitzers of Alta and Snowbird serve as siren calls to every powder skier within earshot in the pre-dawn hours. But the avalanche artillery is a story for another day… No, faithful readers of Canyon Blog, this month’s installment is all about the pristine powder that lies tantalizingly just beyond the [...]

CanyonBlog2023-01-12T05:01:53+00:00Local Flavor, Outdoors, Winter|

First Tracks
First Tracks

First Tracks

If you’re a reader of this space then you know that happiness can be found at ten thousand and 12, feet and inches that is. Your loyal correspondent is pleased to share that if you’re one of those then the 2022/23 ski season is well under way. To commemorate the first 50 inches of snowfall, and in the interests of thorough investigative journalism, Canyon Blog spent the past week in pursuit of first tracks at both Snowbird and Alta. As you can see, the base is not only enough already to establish a great foundation, it excludes any artificial snow [...]

CanyonBlog2022-11-05T03:30:40+00:00Local Flavor, Outdoors, Winter|

An Interview with Alta’s Lift Operations Supervisor Shannon Corey
An Interview with Alta’s Lift Operations Supervisor Shannon Corey

An Interview with Alta’s Lift Operations Supervisor Shannon Corey

Your correspondent had the opportunity to sit down with the most important person on Alta’s mountain if you’re here to ski. What got him thinking about this interview was Alta’s splicing of cable on the Collins chairlift this summer. More on that in a moment. But first, our interview subject. Shannon Corey is a fourth generation non-LDS Utahn who learned to ski from the Albion lift when she was seven. In addition to the usual mountain upbringing she played the piano from an early age (hold that thought because we’ll come back to it). After completing a degree in anthropology [...]

CanyonBlog2022-10-04T17:52:48+00:00Local Flavor, Outdoors, Winter|

Interlodge: A History
Interlodge: A History

Interlodge: A History

Ever wonder what Interlodge actually means? Wonder no more. This month’s blog is dedicated to providing answers to all your questions and to help you not only weather that term’s storms but to enjoy your mountain experience to the utmost should you find yourself a part of the Little Cottonwood Canyon experience known as Interlodge. What the term means: It actually refers to the limit placed on residents and guests when inside town limits (or Snowbird properties) with regard to traveling between lodges, homes and resorts. In other words, you cannot travel between them. The word inter literally means between. [...]

CanyonBlog2022-02-10T01:27:48+00:00Common Questions, Local Flavor, Outdoors|

We Missed You!
We Missed You!

We Missed You!

Well, the first holiday of the year came and went. And you know what didn’t come with it? People. Canyon Blog ventured out onto the slopes of Snowbird and Alta to gauge the holiday crowds and take an unscientific barometric reading of just how many folks were in town or up from downtown on Sunday and Monday. The great news is Alta’s parking system seems to be working and a bit less traffic is in the canyon. Nice to know, but it doesn’t really affect you because you’ll be luxuriating après ski style in one of our properties. Your correspondent [...]

CanyonBlog2022-01-18T04:35:09+00:00Outdoors, Uncategorized|

Refuel on the Slopes: Alta and Snowbird Restaurants
Refuel on the Slopes: Alta and Snowbird Restaurants

Refuel on the Slopes: Alta and Snowbird Restaurants

Ski enthusiasts around the country have long been anticipating colder days and winter snowfall. Nowhere else in the country does the snowfall quite like Utah, with an average of 550 inches annually. The Alta-Snowbird ski resorts are some of the best places in the country to hit the slopes and experience mountain dining. The Alta and Snowbird restaurants are conveniently located near the slopes, so you can easily refuel for every meal. And our luxury vacation rentals at Canyon Services are the perfect place to relax and unwind after a day of skiing. So, visit us in Utah and embark [...]

webservices2021-10-06T21:08:46+00:00Local Flavor, News, Outdoors|

Utah Snow: The Greatest Snow on Earth!
Utah Snow: The Greatest Snow on Earth!

Utah Snow: The Greatest Snow on Earth!

Utah's reputation for having the "Greatest Snow On Earth" is possibly one of the most outstanding examples of how marketing and science can shape the way people think of a place. It's no secret that the Utah snow is some of the best on the planet, but some may be asking themselves, "How is it possible?" Parts of the Wasatch Mountains accumulate more snow than anywhere else in North America, but not all the ski areas are the same. While places like Alta-Snowbird get more snow than anywhere else in Utah, some, like Deer Valley, have only modest snow totals [...]

Brittany Patraw2021-10-08T21:06:07+00:00Outdoors|