AEC Fall 2024 Newsletter

By Alta Environmental Center 11-24-2024

issue no. 103

Download the Fall 2024 Newsletter

A look back at Summer projects: New Conveyors and willow relocation

This summer, Alta Ski Area embarked on a project to improve the beginner skier experience and make transportation easier from the Transfer Tow area to the base of Alf Engen Ski School. To accomplish this, two new conveyors were constructed on the southwest side of the Albion Ticket Office. The US Forest Service (USFS) and the Alta Environmental Center considered this project’s environmental impacts and two primary concerns were identified within the project area: a riparian zone passing directly through the construction site and the historical site of the original Town of Alta.

The riparian zone in consideration, or the interface area between land and a stream, contains a perennial drainage just south of the Albion parking lot. Perennial drainages refer to natural or man-made channels that carry water year-round during normal precipitation.

Construction of Alta's two new conveyors in Albion Base | Photo: Adam Fehr

At Alta, where there is water, there is likely willows. The USFS requested that a large clump of native willows be relocated before construction began. Willows tend to have a very resilient temperament and have been successfully relocated in the past by Alta. The relocation took form in two different strategies: one was to remove large sections of its root system with an excavator and immediately replant those into the banks of nearby drainages. The second strategy was to remove clippings of the young growth, store them in water until the fall, and plant those into the ground as propagations. Both strategies were carried out by the Alta Environmental Center. Propagations were replanted into some of our active wetland restoration sites around the mountain.

Willows removed from construction zone to be relocated | Photo: Jen Melton

The second concern was that the conveyors were to be constructed within the historical site of the original Town of Alta formed in the silver mining era (1870-1900s). Moving dirt tends to lead to the finding of artifacts previously unfound in areas like this. Professional archaeologists from the company SWCA were hired to monitor every scoop of dirt that was pulled from the project site.

Artifact (butter knife) found at the old Town of Alta site Artifact (shoe heel) found at the old Town of Alta site Artifact (burbon bottle shard) found at the old Town of Alta site

L: Butter knife | C: Bourbon bottle | R: Shoe heel

Interesting artifacts were found indeed! Shards of glass bourbon bottles, shoe heels, butter knives, shell buttons, original chinaware, and glass goblets were recovered, recorded, and turned over to the Alta Historical Society.

Chad's Gap: What You Didn't Know

Many of you may know the story of Chad’s Gap—or perhaps you’ve even attempted the jump yourself. But do you know the history behind the mine tailing piles that formed this infamous gap?

Chad’s Gap, a 120-foot gap jump in Grizzly Gulch, is named after Alta local Chad Zurinskas. In January 1999, Chad spotted two pyramidal mine tailing piles left from the old Emma mine and saw the potential for a gap jump. After several attempts and a few fat lips, he stepped aside to let 16-year-old Candide Thovex give it a shot. Candide successfully cleared the jump on his second attempt, becoming the first person to both clear and land what is now famously known as Chad’s Gap.

Candide Thovex successfully cleared Chad's Gap on his second attempt | Photo: Brent Benson

This summer, I joined the Historical Mining Hike organized by the Utah Cultural Site Stewardship Program and the Alta Environmental Center. Our guide, Christopher Merritt—a Utah State Historic Preservation Officer with a PhD in Industrial Archaeology—shared fascinating insights into the area’s mining history. I thought I had a decent understanding of Alta’s pre-skiing history, but I was unprepared for the avalanche of new information Chris shared at every turn of the trail.

Alta was a booming mining community in the late 1800s, with the Emma mine becoming the world’s largest silver producer by 1873. To support mining operations, the Michigan City Road was carved out in the 1870s by horse-drawn wagons. The tailing piles that now form Chad’s Gap began taking shape during this time, built up from overburden—waste rock and dirt cleared from the mine’s opening. After a period of closure, the mine reopened around 1900 under the Columbus Consolidated Mining Company, which constructed an elevated trestle to dump additional overburden over the road. This second pile of waste rock eventually completed the formation of the now-famous gap jump!

Elevated trestle clearing rock waste from the Emma mine

Today, remnants of mining history serve not only as the backdrop for a daring jump but also as a testament to Alta’s rich heritage.

Life of a Harvested Tree

Life as a tree harvested at Alta can be hard, especially for those that take root in challenging locations. Our revegetation efforts at Alta go beyond aesthetics—they’re rooted in history and necessity. During the mining boom of the late 1800s, the area was completely deforested, leaving the small mining town of Alta vulnerable to uncontrollable flooding and avalanches thundering down the bare mountainsides.

Trees play a crucial role in our environment—they clean the air, stabilize the snowpack, and create the best deep powder tree-skiing conditions in Westward Ho after fresh snowfall. Since 1991, we’ve planted over 42,000 trees to help continue reforestation efforts on the mountainside that was once stripped bare.

As trees mature and new seedlings emerge, some end up in challenging locations. Those sprouting along groomed runs often struggle beneath the weight of one-ton groomers that pass over them daily. Since trees need ample space to grow tall, they sometimes require a helping hand to find a better home.

We keep an eye on groups of saplings in groomed runs. Carefully harvesting around 150 saplings each year, ensuring we collect the right species that will thrive. When we find a sapling in a tough spot, we dig it up and relocate it to our tree nursery, a cozy haven nestled in the woods.

After a bumpy ride down the mountainside, the saplings undergo a makeover—receiving a nutrient-rich soil boost and a quick dunk in the stream. They’ll spend the winter here, resting and strengthening their roots.

Trees being taken from the Nursery to be planted on Employee Planting Day

As spring arrives and the snow melts, the saplings wake up, stronger and ready to find their permanent homes. We assess their needs and scout ideal locations for them to thrive. With the help of Alta employees and community members, these trees will soon begin their new lives, far from the groomed runs.

A Summer with the AEC

by Anna Lee

This summer, I joined the Alta Environmental Center crew in their efforts to protect and improve the natural environment in which we recreate—both above and below, before and after the snow.

Alta fosters a delicate ecosystem steeped in rich history, known for producing some of the best snow on earth while serving as a vital clean water resource for the millions below the canyon. This land is cared for by a community of stewards who are driven to learn, educate and take action to create a better place for today, tomorrow and the years to come.

I’ve always been drawn to Alta for its deep snow and commitment to preserving our playground. Six years ago, I left my small island hometown in Massachusetts for Salt Lake City, seeking both education and adventure. While studying at Westminster University, I often found myself spending more time on the Wildcat lift than at my classroom desk—what I referred to as a “hands-on learning” experience. After earning my degree in Environmental Science and Marketing, I knew I wouldn’t be leaving Little Cottonwood Canyon anytime soon. This summer, I was fortunate to put my knowledge to the test both in the office and on the slopes with the AEC.

My time with the AEC has deepened my appreciation for the intricate balance between recreation and preservation. The lessons I’ve learned this summer will guide my ongoing commitment to sustainability and conservation in this beautiful place we’re lucky to call home. I’m excited to use my knowledge, eagerness to learn and love for this land to create positive impacts as I continue my work with the Alta Environmental Center.