Alta, UT Conditions Report: Deep Powder for Everyone | Video and Photo Tour

Alta Ski Area January 2017 — Today was one of those days at Alta Ski Area, UT. // photo: Matias Ricci

Today was one of those days at Alta Ski Area, UT. Deep powder. Probably the lightest, most amazing snow I’ve ever skied. But for the locals, today was as dense and heavy as it can get here in Utah. Crazy people.

It was deep today. // photo: Matias Ricci — Yeah, that’s my buried pole. // photo: Matias Ricci

Anyway, yesterday both Alta and its neighbor Snowbird remained closed due to avalanche control. The route to Salt Lake City opened only downhill from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., while the interlodge travel was closed for most part of the day. Meanwhile, we were getting buried.

With more than 40” since lifts closed on Sunday afternoon, today was a perfect ski day. It was a storm skiing day: it wouldn’t stop snowing. Occasionally the Sun tried to show up, but it couldn’t.

Occasionally the Sun tried to show up, but it couldn't. // photo: Matias Ricci — Occasionally the Sun tried to show up, but it couldn’t. // photo: Matias Ricci

The first lift to open was Collins chair. A crowd was in the line, waiting for the big moment. As they say, no one had friends today: it was a powder day! We skied the area between Collins and Sugarloaf twice. With face shots every turn, it was probably the deepest powder I’ve ever skied.

After that, we skied below the Collins chair for a while. It was good, but it was starting to get a bit bumpy because of the people.

Around 11 a.m., Sugarloaf chair opened. First tracks again. And as the snow hits your goggles, and your smile draws in your face as a kid in a candy store, you understand why you love so much to ski.

As the snow hits your goggles, and your smile draws in your face as a kid in a candy store, you understand why you love so much to ski. // photo: Matias Ricci

“As the snow hits your goggles, and your smile draws in your face as a kid in a candy store, you understand why you love so much to ski.”

After 1 p.m., we gave a chance to Wildcat lift, probably the most iconic ski lift in Alta. We first went down straight under the chair, which was good. The next lap, we went to the right (like if you were going to Snowbird). We found some fun, wide colouris which had been re-filled thanks to the permanent snowfall. We skied that area until our legs say “no more”. It was apre-ski time.