Opening Day Conditions and A Storm Rolling into the Wasatch | How BIG will it be?

Today was opening day at Alta and Snowbird and I was surprised how few people were out sliding around on the hill today. I would estimate that there were only about 1/3 as many cars in the Wildcat Parking Lot today as during the last few pre-season powder days….and on those days you had to hike. Snowbird looked to be very uncrowded also. The lowest lot at Entry 1 did not look full on any of the 4 times I passed it today. That is right I made the classic “forgot my season pass hanging on my bedroom door knob” mistake today and got to drive the canyon twice by 10:00am. If you are going to ride tomorrow don’t be an idiot like me, bring your pass.

The skiing was really fun again today at Alta and as always skiing with friends made it even better. Collins and Wildcat were both running and the snow on North facing aspects was good to very good. There are still a number of terrain features (Rocks, Trees, Bushes…ect…) sticking out of the snow, but that just makes it more fun right? Snowbird was only running Gadzoom and had very limited options for skiing off the groomers, so I didn’t check it out today. Anyone ski there today? How was it?

More important to many people than the opening today is the storm that is forecast for tonight. See the Cottonwood Canyon Forecast for tomorrow below. Looks like we should get around a foot tonight. Not as much as previously promised, but it would be a welcome addition to the chopped up snow we have now.

1st Period: 12 Hour Forecast Beginning 5:00 AM Weather: Increasing clouds with snow developing late this afternoon. Alta Guard Temp Snow Amount/ Probability Water Equiv./ Probability Snow Level T-2″ 70% 0″ 30% T-0.1″ 70% 0″ 30% Snow Rate (in/hr) Average Peak <1 <1 Snow Rate Comment:   Wind (MPH) 12 Hr Average Direction Gust 9000′ Ridgelines 20-30 SW 45 11000′ Ridgelines 25-35 SW 65 Wind Comment Chance of Lightning 0 %

2nd Period: 12 Hour Forecast Beginning 5:00 PM Weather: Snow, heavy at times. Alta Guard Temp Snow Amount/ Probability Water Amount/ Probability Snow Level 7-11″ 70% 12-15″ 30% 0.4-0.7″ 70% 0.8-0.9″ 30% Snow Rate (in/hr) Average Peak 1 >2 Snow Rate Comment:   Highest rates expected between 8pm and midnight. Wind (MPH) 12 Hr Average Direction Gust 9000′ Ridgelines 10-20 W 35 11000′ Ridgelines 25-35 WSW 70 Wind Comment Winds along highest rigelines remaining southwest in the evening before switching to west around midnight. Chance of Lightning 10 %

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