Alta Peruvian Lodge Blog
Who’s the best at forecasting the weather for Alta? If you’ve been paying any attention over the last couple of ski seasons the local weather forecasters have taken a beating. And what I mean by taking a beating is they seem to be having a more difficult time than ever predicting storms here at Alta, the Cottonwood Canyons, and the Wasatch Front in general. I can’t recall how many times a promising snow storm fizzled out leaving a lot of skiers and boarders frustrated looking for someone to blame.
But of course, do we really blame the weatherman? Yes… yes we do. I mean, we did our part by making numerous sacrifices to the snow gods throughout the year. We just want you to hold your end of the bargain with all this swirly weather windy stuff. It’s not scientific for us as we prefer to keep it at a shamanistic level. There’s nothing scientific about “lake effect” at all, don’t you know.
So who are our local Alta snow forecasters? My new favorite is Evan over at Wasatch Snow Forecast. His forecasts are very detailed and always include interesting information, and most importantly, he knows the intricacies of the Cottonwood Canyons and his weather forecasts have been quite accurate. So to Evan… wherever you are… thank you and keep up the good work! Check it out, wasatchsnowforecast.com.
Storm skiing here at Alta is something very special. The solitude and oneness one feels with the mountain is incredible. The skier’s powder caked grins in the lift lanes are huge. The snow just keeps piling up run after run after run. Free refills!.. they say. There’s nothing to hold you back, it’s just you, the mountain, and the liftie with a mustache. By the way. Did you know that an Alta liftie’s mustache not only looks cool but will also help float the liftie’s head above the snow in an avalanche? Yep.
So yeah, that first step outside into the storm can be really tough. There is obviously some well rooted ancestral gene involved in the decision process here. Something probably like… cave warm, snow cold, stay in cave! And let’s admit it, lounging next to the fire in the cozy lodge… or cave, sippin’ hot cocoa and watching the snow pile up outside is very appealing and satisfying as well. In fact, it’s just too appealing for most. But if you can manage to escape the gravity-like pull of the ancestral gene, then you’re in for a treat.
A brief break in the storm allows the sun to peak through – Wildcat Ridge – Alta, UT
The ride up the lift during an all-out Alta snow storm is quite religious. The snow seems to pile up on you providing a warm insulating layer letting you forget about the cold. The elation of the insane powder run you just had keeps going through your mind. You make mental notes, your next run is going to be even better. (more…)
Snowflakes are for skiing. Alta snowflakes are best. Now that we have that down… have you ever looked at a snowflake up close? As you probably know, some snowflakes are very spectacular and others, well, not so much. Cue MASC… the Muti-Angle Snowflake Camera. Now from the comfort of your own home you can view hundreds of snowflake specimens taken with this new camera. The snowflake camera takes micron resolution stereographic photographs of snowflakes, or hydrometeors speaking scientifically, like these snowflake images here, from three angles, while simultaneously measuring their fallspeed. The camera is currently setup near the Wildcat lift and can be viewed live when its snowing. Click here for more information on how the snowflake camera works.
As you’ll see, there are many different types and shapes of snowflakes that fall up here at Alta. So which type do you want to ski on? I think I’ll go with the light and fluffy looking snowflake… the one that looks just like the Alta Ski Resort logo.
We just hosted the Wasatch Backcountry Rescue 2013 International Dog School here at Alta again. For just a few days last week young rescue dogs in-training ruled the lodge.
So why don’t a dog’s paws seem to get cold in the snow? They’ve got built in paw warmers. A dogs paws don’t freeze in the snow thanks to special veins in their paw pads that circulate warm blood more effectively. Now you know.
Check out some photos and this short video of a simulated rescue.
VIDEO – Simulated avalanche burial rescue in the Alta backcountry
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The snow pack up here in the Little Cottonwood Canyon is getting better every day. With the recent storms the skiing has been really good. Alta’s base should surpass 50” this week with more snow forecast for the weekend. So what do you consider to be the best snow depth for skiing Alta?
Well, the deeper and lighter the snow the better… right? Ok, I’ll rephrase the question. When do you feel comfortable putting away your rock skis for the season? I like to think 80” is (more…)
Following up a day of skiing Alta with a few beers and friends is always fun. Skiing and beer go together like bacon and eggs. The bond is unbreakable… Skiing and beer sittin’ in a tree… K I S S I N G. Yeah, it’s that serious (Did you use your school girl voice while reading that last little bit?… ok good). Well, as anyone who has experienced Alta knows, the good times have been happening in these parts for quite some time now. So which came first, beer or skiing?
It’s hard to say when the first beer was swilled down here at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. But if you know anything about the history of Alta, you’ll know it was once a thriving silver mining town. It all started back in the mid 1800′s with the discovery of silver in the area. It didn’t take long for the word to spread and soon a town with a population of well over 1000 sprung up. It is said that at one time there were well over 20 saloons lining Alta’s main street. Word is the hippest joints of the time were called the (more…)
We did a survey here once and the results were as expected. 100% of our guests preferred getting hit in the face by Alta powder snow over any other powder snow.
Well it’s that time of year again. The crisp autumn mornings have arrived and the first dusting of snow has blanketed the high peaks of Alta. All the locals should have purchased their season ski passes by now. And all the wildlife is getting ready to hunker down for the winter. Now what should you do? Book your Alta ski vacation at the rustic Alta Peruvian Lodge… of course.
We’re looking forward to a great snow year and can’t wait to see all the familiar faces, the new faces, and of course, all the smiling powder faces. Here at the lodge we’ve made a few improvements (more…)
Alta is a wonderful holiday destination because there are a variety of activities available during each season of the year. Although we may be famous for our world class snow conditions, there is also great rock climbing facilities in the area, which are suitable for all ages and skill levels. Utah Mountain Adventures are highly recommended for their climbing activities and they are known for their safe, professional and fun service. Read below for some more information on Alta mountain climbing. (more…)
Summer is sadly ending, but the upcoming fall season is a beautiful time to experience Alta’s amazing outdoors and explore some of the wonderful hiking trails in the area. There are dozens to choose from for a variety of skill levels and many are only a few minutes from our Alta resort. While taking a hike, you may also spot some of our local wildlife including moose, coyotes, deer, fox, eagles, and more.
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No matter which season you decide to visit Alta, there are always plenty of great activities for both tourists and visitors alike! Come enjoy our vibrant local culture and see why so many people choose Alta as their favourite vacation destination. On Saturday September 8, the Alta Peruvian Lodge is hosting the exciting downhill dash at 4pm. Read below for more information on why you should attend this event!
