Utah LCC/BCC 2015-16 - Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, Brighton

[marzNC]

Since my first trip to Alta Lodge is coming up soon, thought it was time to start a conditions thread for LCC/BCC. I check Wasatch Snow Forecast pretty regularly so that gives a pretty good idea of what's coming up. But if anyone is skiing at Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, or Brighton, always nice to have first-hand reports and maybe a pic or two.

For those who haven't skied in Utah, some terminology:

LCC - Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta at the end, Snowbird a mile closer to SLC
BCC - Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton at the end of the road, Solitude a couple miles closer to SLC
UTA- Utah Transit Authority for ski bus that runs to LCC and BCC
UTA TRAX - light rail around SLC, has stop at airport
SuperPass - multi-resort pass for LCC/BCC that includes UTA transit pass, an option for trips 4-7 days
Parley's Canyon - where Park City and Deer Valley are located
Ogden Valley - where Snowbasin and Powder Mountain are located

 

[marzNC]

Forgot I started this thread. My crew's first ski day at Alta was yesterday, Sat, 1/30/16. It was a powder day! Perfect temps, in the low 20s, very little wind all day, snowing steadily all day while the lifts were open. Anyone who was uncomfortable skiing 6+ inches of powder, even on groomers, was at the wrong ski resort.

Road closed at 6am for avalanche work. Interlodge in the Town of Alta from 6:30-8:45am. Was a good long weekend to have decided to stay at Alta Lodge instead of in the city. A few places opened late, like the Alta Ski Shop and the Alta Lodge rope tow, because staff driving up the road were delayed by the road closure.

Collins maze just before opening on 1/30, snow started the evening before, some people in line drove up between 4:30 and 6:00am.


Alta Lodge deck around 12:30pm


mid-afternoon below the Wildcat lift

 

[BrookeK]

I've been home for 24 hours, and I'm pining for Utah.
How long does the season last out there?

 

[marzNC]

I've been home for 24 hours, and I'm pining for Utah.
How long does the season last out there?

The last day of full operations at Alta will be April 17. Snowbird opens much later, perhaps into mid-May or even late May if the weather cooperates. After mid-April Alta is open a few weekends. Note that not all lifts are running during late season. Snowbird does late season specials.

 

[marzNC]

Starting to read the Wasatch Snow Forecast daily again. The storm Sun night dropped 10-11 inches on LCC, 8-12 inches on BCC. Brighton seems to report higher than Solitude fairly often. Hopefully there will be a few more storms before I get back to Alta Lodge on March 29.

 

[marzNC]

Snowbird late season will be quite different than recent years. The tram and all of Peruvian Gulch will close on April 18 for quite a few weeks. They are going to replace the tram cables, which are the original cables. Snowbird has a plan that keeps a few other lifts and trails open longer than usual in late April and May. They need the tram during the summer season.

 

[nopoleskier]

I want to go back NOW!! I'm still trying to figure out How I can play Hookie... keep you posted..