Alta spokesperson Connie Marshall explained this afternoon that "we've decided to let Mother Nature do her thing. Snowmaking has been robust but without something in the pocket we just aren't comfortable going."
Mid-mountain snow depths at Alta are currently at 25 inches. Snowmaking efforts have covered Corkscrew above the Wildcat Base Area and crews are working their way uphill toward Mambo. But as Marshall points out, unlike most ski area's Alta's snowmaking system doesn't cover the entire length of its runs, but rather is used to make snow in key locations before snowcats groom it out over a wider area.
Marshall remains optimistic that Friday's storm, if substantial, may still lead to a season opening this weekend.
No other Utah ski areas have yet announced plans to delay their openings. Solitude and Brighton, both in Big Cottonwood Canyon, are already in operation this season. Park City Mountain Resort, Brian Head and Snowbird are both gunning for this Saturday. Snowbasin is next scheduled to come online on Nov. 26, followed by Wolf Creek Utah and The Canyons on Nov. 27, Powder Mountain on Nov. 28, Deer Valley on Dec. 5 and Sundance Dec. 11.
