In case you’ve become frustrated with the Utah Department of Transportation’s decisions to close both of the Cottonwood Canyons over the past few days, UDOT Cottonwood Canyon’s Twitter account should prove to you that they’re doing it for a reason.
🚧 #RoadClosureUpdate 🚧 #SR210 will NOT open today. NO ETO.
This amount of snow is unprecedented. All are working slowly & methodically to ensure the safety of all travelers. @UDOTavy avalanche mitigation & @UtahDOT road ops slide debris clearing ongoing.@UDOTRegionTwo pic.twitter.com/mCgR0qKx53
— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) April 5, 2023
Little Cottonwood, specifically, has been slammed by a boatload of snow, and that’s brought some pretty major avalanches. According to one post by UDOT Cottonwood Canyon, there were around ten major avalanches along the road just on April 5th. Am I that surprised? Not really. Is it still pretty terrifying? Yes.
This slide went big at Lisa Falls (MP 6.65) and is one of 10+/- major slides that crossed the road (both naturally & via mitigation). @AltaCentral @AltaAlerts @alta_of @SnowbirdAlerts @UPDSL @RideUTA @CHCity @sandycityutah @UACWasatch @WasatchBCAlli pic.twitter.com/zQQv3qscyZ
— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) April 5, 2023
📸 Here’s an aerial view of Little Cottonwood Canyon showing some of the recent avalanche activity and the debris buildup along #SR210.
Photos from this morning show some massive slides in the White Pine area. pic.twitter.com/5KbX0lXhc9
— 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐞 (@brian_schnee) April 5, 2023
🚧#RoadClosureUpdate🚧 #SR190 remains closed for today. @UtahDOT slide debris clearing operations is underway.
Still no ETO at this point.
📍: Clearing at Laurel Pines ⬇️ @BrightonResort @SolitudeMTN @BrightonUT @CHCity @UPDSL @RideUTA @UDOTRegionTwo @UDOTTRAFFIC pic.twitter.com/9JXPvKnjKp
— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) April 5, 2023
Image Credit: UDOT Cottonwood Canyons via Twitter