An important update from our GM, Onno
November 14, 2016 Update
Now that we are into November we have a new President-Elect and the climate continues to be variable. Our slopes are slowly accumulating a little snow on the high north-facing slopes of Mt. Baldy, Devil’s Castle and Gunsight – and now we patiently wait on Mother Nature to bless us with winter weather and snowfall.
Our summer projects are complete and my thanks go out to all of our summer crew for doing the routine – sometimes very boring – so important – maintenance. Here’s a quick look at some of that maintenance.
Lifts
Inspecting and fixing or readying the moving parts on every lift.
Tickets and I.T.
Working to make every ticket sold function as it should at every gate and keeping the on-line sales’ features and information of alta.com accurate and high functioning.
Marketing and Social Media
Yes, we have to keep inviting more skiers to come join us so we can pay the bills. Beyond that, these folks continually adjust so the info you get is accurate.
Cat Crew/Vehicle Maintenance
Trucks, trailers, snowcats, snowmobiles, snow guns, snow removal equipment – it all needs to be ready for winter.
Snowmaking
We would all like to see so much early natural snow that we would never need to fire up snowmaking – until the climate changes and that comes to pass, the summer work that happens is all geared toward being ready to make the best and the most snow with as little impact as possible on your skiing.
Building and Utilities
With over a dozen buildings, miles of power, water, gas, and communication lines, this crew works hard to get it all ready to function every day all winter.
Other Updates
We are continuing to work with the Forest Service keeping our Master Development projects moving through the NEPA process. If all stays on track, we should see a decision by mid-winter.
The new concrete bunker being built on the left as you enter Alta is the communications distribution building for the fiber optics line that was buried up the canyon last year. This is one of the last steps for not only having great bandwidth in Alta but the promise of complete cell coverage in all of Alta and Snowbird.
Our continued involvement with the mountain transportation and land use effort of Mountain Accord is progressing nicely on short term and long term solutions. Here are some highlights:
- UDOT has ramped up work on Hwy 210 to improve flow and minimize things that cause red snakes. Additionally, they are installing Gasex exploders in the slide paths affecting the By-pass road between Alta and Snowbird although those won’t be finished until next summer. They are studying and prioritizing future efforts to replace artillery where feasible in Little Cottonwood Canyon.
- UTA is giving a fresh look at bus scheduling and adding additional skier service.
- A land bill – H.R. 5718 – has been drafted, sponsored by Congressman Chaffetz, and is awaiting a November hearing. The bill addresses the following:
o A wilderness addition of about 8000 acres.
o Establishment of a Central Wasatch National Conservation and Recreation Area over the entirety of Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon.
o A land trade for Alta, Snowbird, Solitude and Brighton to trade our upper mountain lands for base area land to help get the Forest Service out of base area planning and development.
o Paving the way for transportation solutions in Little Cottonwood Canyon as the Salt Lake Valley continues to thrive and grow.
In the spring of 2015 I began discussions with our Board on how to have a strong transition of my position as General Manager. As a part of that, this will be my last winter as G.M.
As always, I am optimistic about this winter’s weather. The last few years of variable weather has really tuned up our company readiness to take on whatever weather comes our way. Some would call it our refined efforts of climate adaptation strategies. Mostly it is following the rhyme that Binx Sandahl, our long-time Alta Snow Ranger, used to recite:
Whether the weather is hot or whether the weather is cold, we’ll weather the weather whatever the weather will be.
And we will do whatever we can to offer up the very best skiing experience for you, our loyal Alta skiers.
- Onno
