November 22 nd has landed and departed and it’s great to see the season is underway with Alta’s Collins and Wildcat lifts running before Thanksgiving. Even Alf’s is open for that much needed early season ski leg break for a beer or burger, though you’ll need to rope tow back to the lifts. A first this year was the pre-season upslope availability at Snowbird. Peruvian Gulch was open for skinning and touring followed by that always well-deserved run down. Due to slope prep Gad Valley stayed off limits. Were there shark fins lurking here and there at both resorts? Of course. But that’s what early season is all about… not using your new skis. No worries there though as the coverage is only going to improve with the storm cycle that’s swooping in as your correspondent types this. How much is due in the next 48 hours? Doesn’t matter because more are lined up would claim your blogger. So, where’s all this early opening drivel headed you might ask? Snowbird is opening on Thanksgiving Day, arguably the best holiday proximal to the ski season, and Alta is already underway. Period. That means if you’re not here in one of our properties, on the slopes and enjoying the cold, you might as well add extra scoops of turkey gravy with tryptophan to your holiday meal, pass out on the couch, and slouch into oblivion in front of a football game. So don't comply with the sign below. But you don’t really want to do that anyway, do you?

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.

Alta Snowbird Ski Archives - Canyon Services

Spring with Snowbird’s Snow Safety Director
Spring with Snowbird’s Snow Safety Director

Spring with Snowbird’s Snow Safety Director

Your correspondent spent a brilliant powder day this week with Snowbird’s snow safety director Kami to get the latest on spring safety on another 500+ inch year. As spring takes over the slopes of Little Cottonwood, just where do the avalanche dangers lie? Well, outside the bomb throwing and route running they do in the mornings in addition to the RACs (remote avalanche control towers) there are a number of factors to pay attention to. “Mostly we’re looking at pinwheel rollers that you find on sun facing slopes,” said Kami with years of avalanche study and mitigation behind him. “Cliff [...]

CanyonBlog2025-04-06T20:38:02+00:00Outdoors, Uncategorized, Winter|

May the light shine through (with a sprinkling of flakes)
May the light shine through (with a sprinkling of flakes)

May the light shine through (with a sprinkling of flakes)

Well, your correspondent’s investigative journalistic responsibilities include unpolished headlines. So, here’s this month’s: The snow is thin. There’s no denying it. All is not lost, however. Where one opportunity evaporates, another appears. This holiday season’s snowpack means the mountains are empty. Both Alta and Snowbird are spinning most of their lifts so the terrain is there. Alta finally opened Supreme, leaving Mineral Basin as the only closed chair fed slopes in the canyon. What that means is no waiting. Parking reservations are in effect at Alta daily (till 1pm) but Snowbird has spaces every day. Fear not, the Shuttle system [...]

CanyonBlog2024-12-22T00:39:31+00:00Outdoors, Winter|

Aaaahh
Aaaahh

Aaaahh

November 22nd has landed and departed and it’s great to see the season is underway with Alta’s Collins and Wildcat lifts running before Thanksgiving. Even Alf’s is open for that much needed early season ski leg break for a beer or burger, though you’ll need to rope tow back to the lifts. A first this year was the pre-season upslope availability at Snowbird. Peruvian Gulch was open for skinning and touring followed by that always well-deserved run down. Due to slope prep Gad Valley stayed off limits. Were there shark fins lurking here and there at both resorts? Of course. [...]

CanyonBlog2024-11-24T00:16:31+00:00Outdoors, Winter|

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|

Plan a Wellness Retreat in Utah at Alta Snowbird
Plan a Wellness Retreat in Utah at Alta Snowbird

Plan a Wellness Retreat in Utah at Alta Snowbird

After a day of shredding the slopes, there’s no better place to end the day than a local spa. Let your aches and pains from skiing dissipate with a revitalizing massage, facial, or body treatment. Or skip the slopes and plan a wellness retreat in Utah and focus on healing your mind, body, and spirit throughout your getaway. Many of our Canyon Services vacation rentals offer private hot tubs so you can continue your wellness retreat in the comfort of your rental home! The Cliff Spa at Snowbird The Cliff Spa is located within the Snowbird ski resort, offering easy [...]

webservices2023-03-09T21:54:26+00:00Winter|

When is the Best Time to Ski in Utah?
When is the Best Time to Ski in Utah?

When is the Best Time to Ski in Utah?

With skiing available half the year in Utah, many skiers may ask themselves, when is the best time to ski in Utah? Some skiers prefer the deep powder of winter, while others prefer to ski away from the crowds during the spring. Regardless of your ski style, there is never a wrong time to plan your ski vacation at the Alta Snowbird ski areas. And since Snowbird is known for having the longest ski season in the state, there is still time to shred our legendary slopes! Choose Canyon Services to host your ski vacation and enjoy ski access to [...]

webservices2023-02-28T21:24:43+00:00Winter|