Skier’s Paradise: Alta Ski Area by Stephen Goettle

Currently serving as an accounting professional with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Boston, Massachusetts, Stephen Goettle enjoys spending his free time outdoors, hiking, skiing, and reading. A graduate of Duke University, Mr. Goettle belongs to the Appalachian Mountain Club and Outward Bound, and he has volunteered with a number of organizations. In this piece, Stephen Goettle outlines some of the attractions of Alta Ski Area for dedicated skiers of all ages and abilities.

One of the best-loved mountains for skiers from around the world, Alta Ski Area in Utah has been in operation since the winter of 1938-1939. Today, Alta is one of the few areas offering a skier’s-only experience, since snowboarding is still prohibited. Many of Alta’s devotees count themselves as the sport’s purists. In a recent Ski Magazine Reader Resort Survey, the resort earned the number one place for Overall Satisfaction.

Alta Ski Area Beginner's Run posted at worldtravelattractions.com

Alta Ski Area provides a wide range of runs, with 25 percent being green beginner runs, 40 percent blue intermediate runs, and 35 percent black advanced runs. The mountain has about 2,200 useable acres, including more than 116 runs. In an average season, Alta receives about 560 inches of snow. In addition to runs, lifts, and great natural terrain, Alta offers lodging, helicopter and backcountry tours, church services, and dining areas. The resort provides a variety of lodging options, including ski-in/ski-out lodges, private homes, and luxury condominiums.

Today, Alta collaborates with Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort to offer joint tickets granting access to a total of 4,700 acres of great skiing. The resort also dedicates itself to sustainability at the Alta Environmental Center, where the company directs some of its profits toward supporting sustainability, research and environmental education initiatives at Alta and beyond.