09/13/09

Great place for skiers!

by DGX

Since I have moved to Utah, this is my home away from home. Since it is so close, feel like alta is in salt lake's back yard. Great place for locals looking to ski without the frills of the other resorts which can just attract more newbee crowds.

• Pros: Powder Powder Powder
• Cons: 0

A mountain with soul: There are no gimmicks or signs of corporate sponsorship here.

by Contributor

In Short
Alta is famous for its deep powder and heritage. This resort limits the number of skiers in order to protect each person's experience. Just a mile beyond Snowbird, at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta is at the center of Albion Basin. It's still owned by the original families that started skiing here in 1938. It features the second oldest chairlift in the country, and receives 500 inches of snow annually.

Vital Stats
Vertical Drop: 2,020 feet
Top Elevation: 10,550 feet
Skiable Acres: 2,200
Runs: 116
Annual Snowfall: 500 inches
Snowboarding: None

02/18/06

keep your hill

by snowman1977

you dont want snowboarders . what are thay bad for the snow

01/28/03

Most pure skiing around

by me_whee

Good challenges. Tough. Not for beginners, no matter what the literature says. Great ski instructors. Greg Underwood is tops--both alpine and telemark. Rustler Lodge is like home, but on the pricey side.

01/28/03

Let it snow!

by drewstheme

Alta always has the best snow. The runs are challenging...this is not a mountain for beginners. The lifts are slow compared to the more upscale resorts but they have added some new ones over the past few years. You won't find a better value unless you go to Brighton or Solitude. All 3 are great resorts. Here, the focus is on skiing.

01/15/03

The Best in the West

by arctic_grayling

Light Wasatch powder is a substance that is simply impossible to overrate. Alta acts as a catcher's mit for such great snow. With awesome terrain, incredible snow, no snowboarders, and a small ski area type feel, Alta simply has no match.

• Pros: snow!!!, terrain, no snowboarders
• Cons: none

01/03/03

boarders beware

by mdstudio

Without a doubt, the finest skiing I have ever experienced. No lift lines ever, incredible powder skiing, great terrain, no snowboarders...it adds up to a great skiing experience. The last time I skied there, it snowed so much I couldn't find my tracks from one run to the next on the same run. The guys in the ski shop were whining that the snow was getting tracked up. How spoiled are these guys? On a day that any mere human would have killed for, they were complaining that it wasn't snowing hard enough! By the way, it's also cheap...the best value in the USA.

• Pros: no line, the best powder, great terrain
• Cons: can't think of any

11/14/02

Best there is

by jpcrockett

this resort rules. so much terrain, so little time. if you know your way around, you'll never run out of somewhere to go.

• Pros: snow, lines, price

11/14/02

Alta rocks! Even this boarder thinks so

by kaybea

Years ago we started skiing Utah. Brighton, Solitude, Alta and Snowbird are all within 15 minutes of our vacation house in Sandy. Alta is, hands down, the best! When we started snowboarding a few years ago, we had to go elsewhere. We LOVE boarding now. But when I was a skier, I always hated what boarders did to the snow, and how out of control so many of the new guys were, so I totally understand Alta's choice. Hey -- it's privately owned and fully paid for. They can do whatever the heck they want. And for me . . . I love that place so much that from time to time I'll strap on a couple of planks just so I can go! Beautiful! (another side note -- they have just about the cheapest lift tickets in the Rockies!)

• Pros: powder!, tree skiing!, inexpensive!
• Cons: no knuckle dragers, :-)

11/13/02

This is the place

by higginsb

I managed to ski Alta last March the friday after that 2-day, 43 inch storm. Pure nirvana. Ive skied almost everything in the Rockies, Tahoe, Bachelor, Mammoth and Crystal. Nothing comes even close to that day. I still try to get to a new area at least once a year, but Alta is always on my list every year. Variety is nice but when you're ready to settle down with the one that will never let you down, Alta is the place.

• Pros: snow, price