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Utah LCC/BCC 2022-23 conditions, parking - Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, Brighton
- Thread starter marzNC
- Start date
contesstant
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Yep, hoping to get another April 23 powder day like last year!
marzNC
Angel Diva
UDOT Cottonwoods posted this today. With all the snowstorms, LCC/BCC have been dealing with both types of avalanches. The current problem is wet avalanches that are much bigger and longer than usual because of the deep snowpack. When temperatures go up 10+ degrees in an hour, usually the roads are closed midday.
The BCC road closure for April 11 that was announced a few days ago for 11am-4pm was extended to 5pm because of a slide.
What's the difference between wet and dry avalanches?
Wet avalanches occur after the sun has done its dirty work and melted the snow, increasing the amount of water in the snowpack. This dissolves the bond between the snow crystals. Theses slide are like lava flows, occurring during warmer periods.
Dry avalanches occur when new snow is added to the snowpack or under windy conditions where old snow has been deposited in new locations. These often occur during cooler periods and after large storms.
The first time I took my daughter to Alta Lodge 15 years ago, we had to leave on a much earlier shuttle for a late afternoon flight because of a midday road closure. It was a long wait in SLC.
The BCC road closure for April 11 that was announced a few days ago for 11am-4pm was extended to 5pm because of a slide.
What's the difference between wet and dry avalanches?
Wet avalanches occur after the sun has done its dirty work and melted the snow, increasing the amount of water in the snowpack. This dissolves the bond between the snow crystals. Theses slide are like lava flows, occurring during warmer periods.
Dry avalanches occur when new snow is added to the snowpack or under windy conditions where old snow has been deposited in new locations. These often occur during cooler periods and after large storms.
The first time I took my daughter to Alta Lodge 15 years ago, we had to leave on a much earlier shuttle for a late afternoon flight because of a midday road closure. It was a long wait in SLC.
marzNC
Angel Diva
Alta opted to run Collins and Sunnyside on Wed, April 12. The Sugarloaf terrain was open for people who wanted to ski down from the top of Collins and then take the transfer tow back to the Wildcat base or their lodge.
The groomers were great on Sunnyside first thing in the morning, and still mostly good on the Sugarloaf groomers just before lunch time. Alf's was open 10am-3pm. Took a little while for the groomers on the Collins side to soften, per usual. Temps were in the 40s with cloud cover increasing. In the afternoon, it was better to load mid-mountain. Since there were so few people skiing, an empty chair came along very quickly. (Usual process is that every 10th chair is left empty by the liftie at the base.)
The wind was gusty and felt cool, so needed to wear a slightly heavier base layer under shell jackets.
Also got the Alta Lodge tow and the Rustler chairlift running. At least when the liftie was around. Haven't seen anyone hiking up to the Snowpine at all, so perhaps people staying there are allowed to walk on the road from the Albion base.
The groomers were great on Sunnyside first thing in the morning, and still mostly good on the Sugarloaf groomers just before lunch time. Alf's was open 10am-3pm. Took a little while for the groomers on the Collins side to soften, per usual. Temps were in the 40s with cloud cover increasing. In the afternoon, it was better to load mid-mountain. Since there were so few people skiing, an empty chair came along very quickly. (Usual process is that every 10th chair is left empty by the liftie at the base.)
The wind was gusty and felt cool, so needed to wear a slightly heavier base layer under shell jackets.
Also got the Alta Lodge tow and the Rustler chairlift running. At least when the liftie was around. Haven't seen anyone hiking up to the Snowpine at all, so perhaps people staying there are allowed to walk on the road from the Albion base.
marzNC
Angel Diva
SR190 for Brighton and Solitude won't have any travel restrictions on April 13, based on the situation as known at 4pm on April 12.
Sounds very promising for SR210 for LCC to allow Alta Shuttle up the canyon on April 14. Of course, everyone is hoping that by the evening of April 13 that people who have lodging reservations who are already in SLC can get to Alta/Snowbird.
Sounds very promising for SR210 for LCC to allow Alta Shuttle up the canyon on April 14. Of course, everyone is hoping that by the evening of April 13 that people who have lodging reservations who are already in SLC can get to Alta/Snowbird.
marzNC
Angel Diva
Alta Lifts decided to stay closed all day April 13. It's snowing at 11am with temps going down into the teens this afternoon. Given that it's been so warm, everything is frozen solid and there is no visibility. @AltaAlerts is the best info source for unusual situations.
Snowbird tried to open with the Tram, Wilbere, Gadzoom. As of 10am, all lifts were on wind hold according to @SnowbirdAlerts.
Snowbird tried to open with the Tram, Wilbere, Gadzoom. As of 10am, all lifts were on wind hold according to @SnowbirdAlerts.
marzNC
Angel Diva
By 12:30, Snowbird decided to not open the lifts today. They were only going to run lifts until 2:00pm in any case.
marzNC
Angel Diva
The forecast for April 14 at Alta isn't holding at all. The high was expected to be in the teens. But it's much warmer as of lunch time. Plus it's been snowing for an hour or so.
Sunnyside, Sugarloaf, Collins are open. Watson's is open. Feels like a normal late season day when the snow conditions are great but are still good fun so that the groomers weren't empty in the morning. The Alta photographer was out on Devil's Elbow all morning.
Sunnyside, Sugarloaf, Collins are open. Watson's is open. Feels like a normal late season day when the snow conditions are great but are still good fun so that the groomers weren't empty in the morning. The Alta photographer was out on Devil's Elbow all morning.
marzNC
Angel Diva
Actually wasn't the Demo Day. April 15 was the Alta Earth Day event. DPS Skis and a local ski shop set up tents with demo skis. Had to sign separate waivers.
Felt pretty normal in terms of the terrain that was open and the number of cars in the parking lots.
Snow conditions were quite good all over. Devils' Castle, the Backside, and Ballroom were all open.
The terrain park in Mineral Basin near the top of Sugarloaf opened up today.
Spring at Snowbird
Get ready for goggle tans, sunny slopes and spring skiing at Snowbird. Check out Snowbird's 2024 spring skiing schedule.
www.snowbird.com
marzNC
Angel Diva
At 4:25pm on April 15, UDOT tweeted that SR210 could be closed for part of the day on April 16. Warm temperatures are expected.
#SR210 ALERT
Based on forecasted weather conditions/avalanche hazard, there is potential for a road closure tomorrow (4/16).
This could occur at any time & last until evening cooling, ~7pm. Plan accordingly. POTENTIAL closure only, no time determined.
People who have flights tomorrow are probably going to take a morning shuttle to the airport a little earlier just to make sure they get down canyon. I remember having to do that the very first time I took my daughter to Alta Lodge 15 years ago. We had to leave in time to get to the valley before 11am even though our flight didn't leave until 4pm. Made for a long wait until our flight departed.
#SR210 ALERT
Based on forecasted weather conditions/avalanche hazard, there is potential for a road closure tomorrow (4/16).
This could occur at any time & last until evening cooling, ~7pm. Plan accordingly. POTENTIAL closure only, no time determined.
People who have flights tomorrow are probably going to take a morning shuttle to the airport a little earlier just to make sure they get down canyon. I remember having to do that the very first time I took my daughter to Alta Lodge 15 years ago. We had to leave in time to get to the valley before 11am even though our flight didn't leave until 4pm. Made for a long wait until our flight departed.
marzNC
Angel Diva
Once again, warm temperatures in LCC will mean a road closure due to the risk of wet slides. By the night of April 17, it will get cold enough that people planning on coming and going April 18-23 shouldn't have to worry about a road closure. Although it's still hard to know exactly what will happen.
A few Alta Lodge regulars arrived today for their usual end of season stay.
A few Alta Lodge regulars arrived today for their usual end of season stay.
