One of the great experiences of being in Little Cottonwood Canyon is the opportunity to stop. Not for a bite or beer between runs. And not après ski, per say. What your correspondent is referring to is the opportunity to merely be in the canyon and feel its presence. That only really happens once you aren’t focusing on some task at hand like loading a chair or gearing up. In the evenings and mornings there’s a silence in the canyon. Sure, there may be four thousand skiers split between Alta and Snowbird between 10 and 2, but outside that window the canyon either empties out or the humans are all indoors. One of Canyon Blog’s favorite things is to walk about and take things in. That includes things you can experience by omission, such as noise. Put another way, its absence. It’s peacefully quiet here during those times. To have this experience requires that you not be focused on the madness of the crowds or traffic. And to turn off your computer and put down that ever demanding device that runs your life: the modern smart phone. So come for the skiing or riding certainly. But leave with something else, the experience of stopping time for just a bit and, to quote Paul Simon, enjoy “the sound of silence.”

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?

Fall is here. The thing about this time of year in Little Cottonwood is the magical sensations it delivers to one’s soul. These can take shape in almost overwhelming moments such as when you’re standing among a grove of 100-foot aspens, their leaves a uniform shade of explosive yellow, all of them shimmering in an eye captivating fashion no matter how slight the breeze. To your blogger that single sound, aspens, is the harbinger of the season’s arrival. Still, other encounters take on a sense of diminishment. The mountain creeks have all run their course for the summer, reduced to trickles. Or to nothing at all, leaving only bleached stones to mark their recent passage. But where they do remain, to stand next to them and contemplate their annual lifecycle is to reflect on the distillation of our own limited time here and the value of doing nothing more than just that, contemplation. Try it for yourself. The final patch of snow at either resort remains just below Twin Peak in upper Gad Valley, though technically it’s a glacier, seeing as it will survive the creeks who’ve gone to ground. Some of what happens in that wondrously rocky bowl is taking place beneath your feet when the glacier that resides there only exists underground and where it extends, well, no one really knows how deep it goes. The point of your correspondent’s musing’s this month is that the power and inspiration that can be delivered by this wonderful canyon can be nothing more than momentary peace and the quiet that come in the form of a tree or a dry stream or even a lack of snow. It’s simply the natural world that we too often take for granted. For those who yearn for human companion and a full stein, fear not, Oktoberfest has two glorious weeks remaining. However, breaking with tradition, Canyon Blog is choosing to exclude any photos of festivities because sometimes, fall simply is. Till the snow flies your correspondent wishes you a wonderful season wherever you may be. But it’s better here…

One of the enjoyable experiences of walking the ridges and exploring the draws of Little Cottonwood Canyon are the small things. For your correspondent that includes the mysteries of those that grow in unlikely corners or those that are easily overlooked. Two of his favorites are variations of fungi that are eye catching but not always readily observable. To find them you have to slow down, look around, and peer at the ground. The first is the tiny fungus caloscypha fulgens but more popularly known by the friendlier snowbank orange peel fungus moniker. It’s clear where the nickname comes from as they often appear as miniature abandoned orange peels. This makes them relatively easy to spot. The best locations are under conifers and so it’s more likely you’ll discover them in the shadows. Canyon blog’s other favorite is a white mycelium that covers various ground detritus, usually fallen tree branches but sometimes exposed roots. Unlike many fungi it extends roots to grow and bring in nutrients. This can give it an unworldly appearance like something from a bad, or even good, sci-fi film. As you can see from this photo of a “captured” pinecone, the ability reach out and connect to a relatively distant food source can be spooky, in a Invasion of the body snatchers sort of way. What’s exceptionally cool, but little studied, about these types of fungi is their ability to transmit an electrical charge. Whether this is a means of communication or information transmission remains an enigma. Previously your blogger shared the fun of hunting porcini mushrooms to add to your culinary adventures (see October 5 th , 2021 Shroomin’ with ACE blog). Today’s blog is certainly not about consumption as neither one of these fungi are for humans or pets. No matter, the joy is in the discovery and observation. The natural world is an amazing place and there is no better spot from which to consider its mysteries than Little Cottonwood. But then, Canyon Blog admits to a biased perspective…

Little Cottonwood Canyon Lodging Archives

Silence and Snow
Silence and Snow

Silence and Snow

One of the great experiences of being in Little Cottonwood Canyon is the opportunity to stop. Not for a bite or beer between runs. And not après ski, per say. What your correspondent is referring to is the opportunity to merely be in the canyon and feel its presence. That only really happens once you aren’t focusing on some task at hand like loading a chair or gearing up. In the evenings and mornings there’s a silence in the canyon. Sure, there may be four thousand skiers split between Alta and Snowbird between 10 and 2, but outside that window [...]

CanyonBlog2025-01-18T02:08:34+00:00Outdoors, 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|

Fall
Fall

Fall

Fall is here. The thing about this time of year in Little Cottonwood is the magical sensations it delivers to one’s soul. These can take shape in almost overwhelming moments such as when you’re standing among a grove of 100-foot aspens, their leaves a uniform shade of explosive yellow, all of them shimmering in an eye captivating fashion no matter how slight the breeze. To your blogger that single sound, aspens, is the harbinger of the season’s arrival. Still, other encounters take on a sense of diminishment. The mountain creeks have all run their course for the summer, reduced to [...]

CanyonBlog2024-10-01T18:50:32+00:00Fall, Local Flavor, Outdoors|

Fun with Junior Bounous Part II (The Pika Perspective)
Fun with Junior Bounous Part II (The Pika Perspective)

Fun with Junior Bounous Part II (The Pika Perspective)

If you followed last month’s blog you’re now familiar with Junior. If you didn’t, you should read that first because, well, he’s just one of the most interesting ski legends there is and a piece of living history here in Little Cottonwood. Our story picks up where we left off, just below the summit of Hidden Peak and on the mineral side. Standing by the bench dedicated to Junior’s wife Maxine and facing west. There, along the wildflower hiking trail, sits the object of this month’s blog: pikas. If you’re not acquainted with these adorable mammals, be forewarned, they are [...]

CanyonBlog2024-08-18T23:49:37+00:00Local Flavor, Outdoors, Summer|

Exploring the Most Scenic Drives in Northern Utah
Exploring the Most Scenic Drives in Northern Utah

Exploring the Most Scenic Drives in Northern Utah

With 28 scenic byways throughout Utah, there are endless sightseeing possibilities near your Canyon Services vacation rental. Skip the interstate and discover several scenic drives in Utah, easily accessible from the Salt Lake City area. Whether you are flying into Salt Lake City and are looking for routes off the beaten path or are just looking for a unique afternoon outing from our Alta Snowbird condos, we have you covered. Hop on these scenic byways and discover recreational adventures, cultural attractions, and varied landscapes along the way! Little Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway Length: 8 miles Book your Canyon Services vacation [...]

webservices2024-07-31T18:52:33+00:00Outdoors|

Fun Fungi
Fun Fungi

Fun Fungi

One of the enjoyable experiences of walking the ridges and exploring the draws of Little Cottonwood Canyon are the small things. For your correspondent that includes the mysteries of those that grow in unlikely corners or those that are easily overlooked. Two of his favorites are variations of fungi that are eye catching but not always readily observable. To find them you have to slow down, look around, and peer at the ground. The first is the tiny fungus caloscypha fulgens but more popularly known by the friendlier snowbank orange peel fungus moniker. It’s clear where the nickname comes from [...]

CanyonBlog2024-07-21T17:14:42+00:00Local Flavor, Outdoors|

Rock Climbing in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon
Rock Climbing in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon

Rock Climbing in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon

Take your rock climbing adventures to new heights in Little Cottonwood Canyon, just outside Salt Lake City. Book your stay with Canyon Services and access fantastic rock climbing in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon. Climb on your own, or enlist the help of a local guide at Utah Mountain Adventures. With climbs ranging from beginner to expert, there is a route for every skill level in the canyon: Climbing in Little Cottonwood Canyon Little Cottonwood Canyon offers fine-grained white granite for traditional climbing, sport climbing, and bouldering. Find recommendations on Where to Climb near Salt Lake City on the Visit Utah [...]

webservices2024-06-28T18:26:51+00:00Outdoors, Summer|

Things to Do in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon During Summer
Things to Do in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon During Summer

Things to Do in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon During Summer

Nestled in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon, Canyon Services offers the perfect basecamp for summer adventures in the great outdoors. Hop on State Route 210 from your Alta Snowbird vacation rental and access all the recreational activities in the canyon this summer, like hiking, fishing, and rock climbing. Before heading out, please check UDOT for road status and traffic information. Read on to learn more about the summer activities in Little Cottonwood Canyon: Hiking Explore eight scenic hiking trails winding through Little Cottonwood Canyon. One of the most popular routes is the Cecret Lake Trail, a two-mile loop showcasing the region’s [...]

webservices2024-05-30T20:54:39+00:00Summer|

Discover Utah Fishing near Alta Snowbird
Discover Utah Fishing near Alta Snowbird

Discover Utah Fishing near Alta Snowbird

With more than 1,000 fishable lakes and numerous fishing streams, there are endless places to enjoy Utah fishing. Stay with Canyon Services and enjoy an afternoon of fishing near your Alta Snowbird vacation rental. Pack your fishing gear, head into Little Cottonwood Canyon, and enjoy fishing at secluded alpine lakes. Or make your way to the blue-ribbon waters of the Provo River with a local guide and cast your line for brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout. Read on to learn more about fishing during your Alta Snowbird vacation: What to Know Before You Go Fishing in Utah is available year-round, [...]

webservices2024-04-19T20:23:48+00:00Outdoors|