Our 85th winter is off to a tremendous start.
Our 85th winter is off to a tremendous start. After a mild and warm fall, our first snow arrived on October 22nd and continues to stack up. Alta Ski Area opened for the season on November 18th with 101 inches of snowfall, and from all accounts, it was one of the best Opening Days in recent memory.
Opening Day Alta Magic | Photos: Rocko Menzyk
Since Opening Day of the 2022–23 season, we’ve opened additional terrain and received an additional 104 inches of snow. The skiing has been absolutely incredible.
State of our Snowpack
As of December 14th, Alta Ski Area has received 205 inches of snow on the season. Our current mid-mountain base depth is 95 inches from over 18 inches of water. It’s been a great start to the season in Utah.
Dash Longe dives into some deep snow on December 12th | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
In fact, this is the best start to the ski season—in terms of snow and water—since the 2004–05 season. This latest 51-inch storm cycle has moved this season ahead of the historically-deep 2010–11 season. Both of those winters saw prodigious season snowfall totals of 697.5 and 724 inches of snow, respectively.
Our snowfall totals are calculated at the mid-mountain Collins study plot. Hourly snowfall stats have been measured since 1980, becoming the gold standard of study plots in the ski industry. According to Collins study plot data, this October and November saw the 13th most snowfall in the past 42 years—126% of average. We have received 16.15 inches of water—the 8th-wettest start to a season and almost 150% of our 42-year average. Even non-skiers in our state can appreciate the additional water in our snowpack. And there's more snow and water on the way this week.
Megan Dingman dives into 17" of snow on November 29th | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
While it's impossible to predict season-long snowfall numbers, we are encouraged by some historical snowfall data. Seasons that start strong, have typically been some of our snowiest winters on record. Looking at the 42-year history of the Collins study plot, 12 years have seen over 123 inches of snow by December 1st. Only one of those seasons concluded with below-average snowfall. The average snowfall for those 12 seasons was 618 inches—115% of Alta's 546-inch average.
In terms of water, only seven seasons have seen more water by December 1st. The average snowfall of those seven seasons was 646 inches—120% of Alta's 42-year average seasonal snowfall.
Mother Nature has her own plans for this season, but we have some historically-derived reasons for optimism as we head into winter.
Lift and Terrain Status
All of this early-season snowfall has been great for our snowpack and for our skiers. Opening Day saw skiing from three lifts and 60-plus runs, including the High Traverse, Ballroom and High Greeley—areas that usually take weeks to fill in for skiing.
Opening Day offerings | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
The operations team worked hard this November to open as much terrain as possible and we are currently operating five lifts, serving 90-plus runs. We've already seen rope drops on Mount Baldy, Catherine's Area and Supreme Bowl. It may be the first day of meteorological winter, but we've been enjoying mid-winter conditions for weeks.
Keep an eye on Lift & Terrain openings >
Sunnyside Construction Continues
The lone disappointment of this early season is the delayed construction of the new Sunnyside lift. If you haven't heard, Alta is replacing the old Sunnyside triple-chair with a new six-person detachable lift. This new lift will replace the Sunnyside triple and Albion double that have long carried skiers to the only beginner terrain at Alta Ski Area. The new six-person lift will also provide better access to Supreme and Sugarloaf quads.
Unfortunately, the new Sunnyside lift will not be open in time for Christmas. At this time, the completion date is TBD.
The top terminal of the new Sunnyside lift on November 27th | Photo: Photo-John
We are pleased to announce the reopening of the Albion lift this Saturday, December 17th. The Albion lift will provide some much-needed beginner and intermediate terrain in the Albion Basin. Thanks for your patience as we are working around the clock to have the new Sunnyside lift up and running as soon as possible.
UTA SKI Bus Update
The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) announced drastic last-minute changes to Ski Bus service to Alta. Due to driver shortages, Ski Bus service to Alta has been reduced to Route 994, exclusively.
Buses will now run every 30 minutes. Route 994 will only drop off Alta skiers in the Wildcat/Goldminer's Parking Lot via Highway 210. Route 994 will not drive up the Alta Bypass road unless the Hellgate-Superior section of Highway 210 is closed. Service runs from December 11th, 2022 through April 15th, 2023.
How can bus riders access town lodges and the Albion base area? The Alta Town and Resort Shuttle is free of charge and will meet skiers at the UTA Goldminer's Daughter bus stop to shuttle skiers and visitors to town lodges and the Albion base area. This shuttle will provide this same service from the Albion base area to the UTA Goldminer's Daughter bus stop for return trips down canyon.
The Alta Town and Resort Shuttle will also service residents and guests on the Alta Bypass Road, stopping at the UTA Cliff Lodge bus stop as well as the UTA Bypass road. The shuttle will operate on a schedule that will be posted online and at the Goldminer's Daughter and Albion bus stops.
Alta Environmental Center Winter Events
Without the Sunnyside lift, we were forced to cancel a handful of December events with the Alta Environmental Center (AEC). But there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved with the AEC and its partner organizations this winter.
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