Stories to Tell

Last season marked the 75th year of the Alta Peruvian’s existence, and what a season it was! We celebrated to our hearts’ content, sharing in the legendary lore and camaraderie we’ve become known for — including from our 100-year-old owner, John Cahill. For the lodge’s anniversary, we created a commemorative book reflecting on our past 75 years of Peruvian magic. While this book isn’t for sale, copies can be found floating around the Lodge in the common areas for you to leaf through and enjoy the next time you’re here with us.

For this blog post, we’d love to share a snippet of some of our favorite stories from seasons past as we quickly approach our next. With just weeks until the 2024-2025 ski season kicks off (and 32″ of snow already), we’re beyond excited. New stories are waiting to be written, ones that might even be recalled in the next chapter of our Alta Peruvian tale!

One of the first fun facts the book mentions about the Alta Peruvian is that it originally began as two WWII nurse barracks, set up on land that had once been the tailings of a silver mine — the shining industry that first brought people here in droves. We like to think our slopes contain that same silvery shine to this day, with flocking guests hoping to strike their own luck on the descents. Speaking of the olden days, did you know it cost only $1.00 for a bunk and mattress when we first opened? We’d like to think our numerous upgrades, additions and updates since the 1950’s have been worth their weight in gold, but you can be the judge! That hot tub is certainly a bonus we wouldn’t want to do without.

Some of our favorite stories come from the guests themselves. While Alta provides the powder and the Peruvian offers shelter, it’s the people who create the magic. One story recalls the famous Alf Engan, who, in the winter of 1965, skied right over a Chevy Corvair after 10 feet of snow buried Little Cottonwood Canyon. Another recounts a memorable birthday request from John Cahill, who ordered Baked Alaska for a friend—only for the staff to accidentally ignite the entire linen-covered cart after failing to burn off enough of the sautéed rum. Talk about a toasty celebration!

Season after season, so many unforgettable stories have come out of this magical place. As one past skier notes, “Alta is one of the absolute gems of the Earth, and I’m forever grateful that it avalanched into my life.” So are we. We can’t wait for another incredible season, and we especially can’t wait to spend it with all of you.