The Alta Ski Area is still on interlodge, meaning people are not allowed to go outside due to the extreme danger of avalanches. (Screen grab of an avalanche falling within Alta boundaries. Credit: Lisa Maxwell)
SALT LAKE CITY — In recent days, the Alta ski area has been on interlodge. Essentially, it’s a lockdown because it’s unsafe for people to go outside because of extreme avalanche conditions.
Andria Huskinson, communications manager with the Alta ski area, joined Dave & Dujanovic with hosts Dave Noriega and Debbie Dujanovic on Wednesday to discuss the latest at the ski area.
Huskinson says the road leading to the resorts opened briefly on Monday, but has been closed since. She also says the lifts haven’t been opened the past few days because of all the snow.
“We’re trying to dig out all the snow,” Huskinson said. “We have so much snow.”
Earlier Wednesday, the National Weather Service sent out an alert calling for additional snow in the higher elevations through the end of the day.
Dujanovic asked, “Are people feeling the winter blues stuck inside, or is everybody getting along?”
“It’s been a long winter,” Huskinson said. “Our crews are definitely tired, it’s worn out from shoveling.”
She says the Alta ski area averages roughly 540 inches of snow each year, and this year the area may get to 900 inches.
“So, I think everyone’s just kind of tired of shoveling,” she said.
Huskinson says even the lift crews are having to dig out because the lift chairs are hitting the snow.
“We have the high lift lines, you know, like the towers,” she said. “If you were to see them in the summertime, you’d be like ‘there’s no way there’s that much snow.”
Noriega asked, “But you guys have so much snow. How much is your area in your resort at risk for flooding?”
“I think where you’re going to see the flooding is down the canyon,” Huskinson said. “Little Cottonwood Creek runs all the way down to Murray Park. I think we’ll see the flooding down here versus up there, if that makes sense.”
Dujanovic asked, “Is there enough food, enough bottled water, medical help on hand if somebody who is on interlodge has an emergency?”
“Yes,” Huskinson said. “And if someone has like a dire medical emergency, they will try to get them down the canyon, that has happened in the past.”
Noriega asked, “What do you for the folks that are stuck up there, spending more time than they anticipated?”
She says the lodge will work with everyone to ensure that everybody has a bed to sleep in.
“Their fine in their rooms,” Huskinson said. “Because the people can’t come up the canyon that are supposed to (take over the room).”
“When does everybody get out,” Dujanovic said. “When do they lift interlodge?”
Huskinson, with her fingers crossed, says hopefully Thursday.
She says the Utah Department of Transportation controls interlodge.
“So, when they feel like the road is safe for people to travel up and down the canyon,” Huskinson said. “They’ll open it up for people to get down.”
During interlodge, individuals are not allowed leave the resort. Deputized ski patrolmen can legally detain you from going outside.
Dave & Dujanovic can be heard weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app, as well as Apple Podcasts and Google Play.