Martin Lisius

Review of Alta ski area

Alta is the pinnacle of snow skiing in America. Ye...

Alta is the pinnacle of snow skiing in America. Yes, they have a friendly and professional staff, but that is not why I go there. I'll explain...The Great Salt Lake doesn't freeze because it is salty. This allows it to absorb heat on a sunny day (diurnal heating). Westerly winds grab hold of the warm, moist air that rises from the lake and blow it up Little Cottonwood Canyon. As the air rises in altitude, it cools and condenses. By the time it arrives at Alta, it falls as snow. 500 inches or more annually. It can be sunny one minute, then a snow squall arrives for an hour and the sun returns with 5" of fresh powder on the mountain for you to ski.Think of a magnificent alpine valley smothered in fresh powder and Mt. Superior watching over you as you glide in silence. Light as a snowflake. Now you understand.