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Alta

The ski area of Alta used to be a locals’ favourite because of the awesome powder, great terrain and cheap lift tickets. Then the secret got out and it became a vacation destination for us tourists. In part, the popularity of the resort increased after 2002 when it became possible to access Snowbird without having to take the skis off. Regardless of the increasing profile of Alta, there’s still plenty of powder for everyone to share.

Alta is located in the Wasatch Mountains at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, about 43 km east of Salt Lake City, Utah. The resort is about 45 minutes drive from the Salt Lake City international airport, and is located next to its famous neighbour, the Snowbird ski resort.

Alta is one of the oldest ski resorts in the US (it opened in 1939) and it retains some of its old-fashioned traditions, the most obvious being the prohibition of snowboarders. Despite significant protests and threatened legal action from many snowboarders, the tradition of skiing remains and only those with sticks are allowed. People who can’t pronounce “Alta” are not fully welcomed either – pronounce it AL-ta (like the man Al) rather than AHL-ta.

You get plenty of bang for your buck at Alta which includes good lift infrastructure and 891 hectares of skiing. Alta is well-known for its extremely difficult terrain, but there is also a good spread of slopes for beginners and intermediates. The mixed terrain includes steeps, cruisers, and tree skiing. Like some other Utah ski resorts there is an abundance of powder, with an average of 13 metres of snowfall annually. Any terrain is great with that much snow.

And if you pay the extra money for a combined Alta/Snowbird lift ticket you get even more terrain. Together the resorts provide 26 lifts and 1,902 hectares (4,700 acres) of terrain, which is one of the largest ski areas in the US. The two resorts are inter-connected via the lifts (via the saddle off the Sugarloaf chairlift), or a free bus connects the two resorts for those who don’t want to tackle the tricky terrain.

The village remains fairly traditional. Alta calls themselves a “ski area” rather than a “resort” which reflects the no-frills ambience. The facilities and services are somewhat limited, but adequate for those who want to focus their energies on skiing. The Prada wearing set are not well catered for at Alta, with limited shopping and no day spas. Park City suits this group well, which leaves the powder at Alta to those who are serious about their skiing.

There are no 5-star resorts or hotels to be found on-mountain. Instead there are several old-fashioned ski lodges. Alternatively you can stay off mountain in Salt Lake City or Park City, but there is always the risk that the roads may close due to too much snow and avalanche control, so you might want to stay on the hill to get the most of the powder days.

Like other Utah ski resorts, Alta loves their motto of “Greatest Snow on Earth”. Of course this is open for debate as to whether it is the best in the world, especially when it has to compete with places like Hokkaido, but you’ll have a lot of fun visiting Alta to decide for yourself.

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