Alta, UT Conditions Report: Fresh, Light Snow with Lots of Wind

Wildcat Base at Alta Ski Area, today. // photo: Matias Ricci

Today was my first time ever skiing Alta. In fact, it was my first time in Utah. And it was for sure one of the most epic ski days I’ve ever had. Fresh, dry and ultra-light snow make it ridiculously easy to turn and super fun to ski.

This morning, Alta reported 4” of snow overnight and 38″ since the storm started. Alta snowpack is currently at 262”, according to alta.com.

Alta snowpack is currently 262''. // photo. Matias Ricci — Alta snowpack is currently 262”. // photo. Matias Ricci

When we woke up, we found a chain just outside our apartment’s front door, that would’t let us go outside. There was a sign on it, which said: “Interlodge Travel Is Closed. Do not go outside”. They were doing avy control. Apparently, this happens pretty often here at Alta.

When we woke up, we found a chain just outside our apartment's front door, that would't let us go outside. // photo. Matias Ricci — When we woke up, we found a chain just outside our apartment’s front door, that would’t let us go outside. // photo. Matias Ricci

At 8 a.m., they finally let us out. Bombs wouldn’t stop. One after another. Obviously, that was excellent news. It was going to be a good day.

Around 11 a.m. it started to snow again. First it was a shy, light snowfall. But then it begun to snow more and more and by the time we left the resort it was snowing pretty damn good.

Alta Ski Area, today. // photo. Matias Ricci

Wind was pretty intense all day long, but it wasn’t a bad thing. In fact, it was amazing, because runs were never tracked out, and you could ski fresh snow on every lap because of wind loaded snow everywhere.

With an average of 19ºF (mid-mountain), temperatures were great for snow to stay as good as it was. Sometimes, the blowing snow made the chair rides kind of cold, but nothing too bad.

This is how deep it was. // photo: Matias Ricci

Visibility was the only drawback of the day. Flat light makes it always difficult to see where you are skiing, and today was no exception.

Today I had to ski with my family, and we didn’t know the mountain, so I couldn’t rip it as I would have liked to. However, something I found really interesting about Alta is that I could ski the black runs while my parents skied the intermediate runs, and never loose sight of them, as most of the runs merge together at the bottom.

My little brother buried in the snow. // photo: Matias Ricci

All lifts were operating normally today. The Alta/Snowbird gates were all closed for avalanche control work.

Anyway, its still snowing here at Alta, and 3 to 6 inches of new snow is expected for tonight. So I think that tomorrow might be even better than today. Besides, tomorrow it’s Monday, so probably it won’t be as busy as today.