TL;DR
Skiers hoping to celebrate the 800-inch milestone at Alta Ski Area will have to wait a bit longer due to severe avalanche hazards. Both Alta and neighbouring Snowbird have announced their closure for the day, citing the risks of avalanches in Little Cottonwood Canyon. The situation has led to the imposition of Interlodge restrictions, requiring guests to remain indoors until further notice to avoid putting themselves and others in danger.
Due to severe avalanche hazards in Little Cottonwood Canyon, both Alta and Snowbird ski areas have announced their closure for the day. As a result, skiers will have to wait for at least another day to celebrate reaching the 800-inch milestone achieved earlier this morning. The closure has also led to the implementation of Interlodge restrictions, which require guests to remain indoors to avoid putting themselves and others in extreme danger.As of 3:45PM ET, Alta and Snowbird have reported 30 and 29 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours, respectively. However, there is no expected time for the Interlodge restrictions to be lifted. Crews are actively conducting mitigation efforts, and violating the Interlodge ordinance could result in a Class B Misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000 and 6 months in jail.Alta and Snowbird are continuously updating their guests on the situation through their Twitter feeds. Those currently in Little Cottonwood Canyon are advised to stay safe and avoid going outside until the restrictions are lifted. OpenSnow is forecasting an additional 40 inches of snow to hit Alta by the end of Tuesday, which will surely reward those who ride out the storm with deep powder.
About the author
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
