There is no doubt that Alta is the epicenter of powder skiing. Many locals will only ski here and most visitors can be picked out quickly because they can’t pronounce it correctly. But, regardless of whether you’re a local or a tourist, Alta IS the home of the Greatest Snow on Earth, that’s for sure.
The lines at Alta are legendary: High Ruslter, Baldy Chutes, Devil’s Castle and Catherine’s are all household names for Alta-holics. This place just buzzes with the good vibes from all the bottomless days that have been had. I still remember the many bottomless days I had at Alta during college. Hucking front flips under the Sugarloaf Chair and traversing as far out as possible in Devil’s Castle are all vivid memories of good times at Alta. With over 500-inches of annual snowfall, 2200 skiable acres and 2020 ft. vertical drop, there’s plenty of powder and sloppy seconds for everyone.
An Insider’s Tip
Everyone has their own personal powder stashes at Alta Ski Area. It’s one of those “I’ll have to kill you” type of revelations. So, without putting our lives in jeopardy, I’ll say this much… hike and explore and you’ll find the goods at Alta. Alta is famous for their long, push-push-and-shove traverses. Those who are skilled enough to keep their momentum and control to the end of the traverses will be rewarded with untracked or sweet sloppies. My personal favorite is Catherine’s Area, where you’ll find steep trees and open shots with drops galore.
New for This Season
Fresh off major upgrades that saw the old Collins lift get replaced by a high-speed detachable quad and the new Watson Shelter, Alta keeps the vibes rolling with more good stuff for the 2008 ski season. Here are some highlights.
- New RFID Ticketing system means no more lift tickets and no more slowdowns in the lift lines
- Two wireless receivers at each lift ensures quick, efficient reading and vertical tracking as well as re-loading with new day pass credits (available via alta.com)
- This year, Alta is supporting two green initiatives (Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky and SkiGreen programs) to make the resort 34% powered by clean, renewable energy
- Upper Mambo run summer grooming efforts include re-grading and snowmaking improvements to improve the easiest run down from the top of the Collins Lift
More Information on Alta Ski Area
Looking for more information on Alta Ski Area, check out the following links for the details.
Links: Web Site | Trail Map | Lift Tickets
Or, see what’s new at the other Utah ski resorts for the 2007-2008 ski season.
