I just discovered recently that they have some strict driving provisions for driving into the Big Cottonwood Canyon during snowstorms. Apparently if you don't have 4 WD or chains, they will not allow you to drive into or out of the canyon. I will be spending 10 days at Solitude starting 1/31 and I rented a front wheel drive car. To rent a 4WD car it would cost me $800! Unfortunately, the cheap skate I am, I paid in advance for my rental car through Priceline and got a great deal. But I do not believe they give out refunds. The condo owner has offered to rent me her 4WD truck for a very good price.
The question is....what experience do you have access or leaving these Canyons? I don't usually have issues driving a 2 WD car with front wheel drive in the snow.
DC SKier wisdon would be appreciated.
Drive in. Park. Ski. Have fun.
Hope for the case where they won't let you drive. There is a commuter lot at base of the valley. You can get tire chains for about 100$ if want to.
If you need to go somewhere, the ski buses had chains the last time I was there.
In both cottonwood canyons 4 WDRestrictions are rigidly enforced. It is done by police at the canyon entrances and there is no negotiation. Tourists who attempt it are despised by the locals because they cause traffic backups for everybody while they argue fruitlessly with the police.
You do have options thanks to the bus system, google UTA bus. If you can get to your lodging on day 1 leave the car there on restricted days and take the bus. You could also leave the car at one of the lots near a stop in SLC.
edited to say that you will understand once you see those roads. The LCC road would probably not be built today. It is the most avalanche prone road in America and twisty with a steep consistent pitch. It it is essentially an asphalt covering over the horse and mule path to the 19th century mining camps. Approval to build such a road would not be given today. The BCC road is very tight and steep at the mouth of the canyon but the pitch backs off and the walls open up as you get higher. I hope you have the chance to be interlodged. When interlodge restrictions are declared at the ski areas the roads close and and you must wait it out indoors. Get caught outside and it is something like a $1000 fine and a night in jail. Normally interlodge will be lifted several hours before the roads are reopened. This, my friend, is when you want to be up in the canyon to plunder the powder with very light competition. When the roads reopen the powder locusts will soon appear by the thousands.
if there isn't a big dump going on (just a regular day) you are ok without it but as was said if there is a dump and if they (the cops) are going to maybe close the gates on the road that day you can be sure they will look over each and every vehicle going in. and they will definitly turn you away if you don't have 4x4 or chains and it is dumping.
i think Dennis said it all - if it looks like it is going to stack up *immediately* get some sort of reservation for a place to stay up there and plan to get locked in for the night - it is so worth it!
Ride the bus with the other cheapskate dirtbags.
Real killer is getting in there then being locked down for 5 days cause avy danger is so high.
I have skied many days at Cottonwood canyon resorts and never gone there in a 4WD vehicle. I have had a little slide "bracket" my little rental putt putter front and back and escaped no problem. The trick that has always worked for me is to be at the resort by 8AM on snow days. All it usually takes is watching the weather and a little planning ahead of time. When there are restrictions it takes forever to get up or down anyway. Unless you are planning to go into town every night, you don't need a 4WD. Regardless of what kind of vehicle you drive on the canyon roads, you may need some very large cojones.
Oh wait - I had 4wd last year. Never used it.
I will be spending 10 days at Solitude starting 1/31 and I rented a front wheel drive car.
You are staying up in Solitude? At the Village base? I assume you have family in tow?
If so, I don't think some of the advice you are getting is backwards; i.e. instead of being stuck in SLC you are stuck in the mountains where all the great skiing is. Provided you get up to the lodging, worst case scenario is that you are snowed in for 10 days and have to ski Solitude (or Brighton) every day. And have food up at Solitude.
Best case scenario is that you are snowed in for 10 days and have to ski Solitude (or Brighton) every day.
I can see how some of the non-hard core skiers in your group may get a bit antsy at end of the best case scenario, but you won't forget the skiing.
Or are you staying on the Canyon Road, not at the ski area?
There might be a simple solution. 3 or 4 years ago I was headed up BCC solo in my el cheapo rental car to stay at Solitude, and got stopped at the base of the canyon because the "4WD or tire chain" restriction was in force. I asked the polite, helpful policeman (truly) if I should go back to the airport and get a Subaru or something. He told me the 7-11 at the base of the road sold tire chains, and if I had them he'd let me up, no need to put them on. Only 7-11 I've ever seen that had a tire chain section and a size guidebook. Like a minitaure parts store. I think I paid $40. 15 minutes later I showed them to the same cop, he waved me up and I never took them out of the box. Left them in the garage at my buddy's place where they're probably still sitting. They won't be too helpful sitting at the top of the canyon unless there comes a gnarly departure day, but you never know.
ridenski wrote:
There might be a simple solution. 3 or 4 years ago I was headed up BCC solo in my el cheapo rental car to stay at Solitude, and got stopped at the base of the canyon because the "4WD or tire chain" restriction was in force. I asked the polite, helpful policeman (truly) if I should go back to the airport and get a Subaru or something. He told me the 7-11 at the base of the road sold tire chains, and if I had them he'd let me up, no need to put them on. Only 7-11 I've ever seen that had a tire chain section and a size guidebook. Like a minitaure parts store. I think I paid $40. 15 minutes later I showed them to the same cop, he waved me up and I never took them out of the box. Left them in the garage at my buddy's place where they're probably still sitting. They won't be too helpful sitting at the top of the canyon unless there comes a gnarly departure day, but you never know.
Supposedly that's the highest sales 7-11 in the country, but that could be another urban myth perpetuated by Jimmy. But if he knew how many times I've lied to him when he had skis on...
I really wouldn't count on many troopers letting you up with no chains on your wheels. YMMV. Sometimes the pavement down low is completely dry, but half way up at The Spruces, it get's pretty tricky. Often rain in the heights, snow in the mountains. He may have decided a tourist with chains is more trouble than a car in a ditch. Or his roommate is a manager at the 7-11.
Rush hour drive down is 10x sketchier than the drive up. Trust me.
Keep the Priceline rental, but ask how much extra the rental place wants for a 4wd when you get there. They might give it to you for an extra $10 a day or something.
I always rent off Priceline or Hotwire, and routinely pay to upgrade the car. When I was in Vegas last summer, I rented an economy car for like $10 a day, then upgraded to a C6 Corvette for an extra $20 a day. So, $30 a day for a Vette.
Another option is to buy chains, then return them if you don't use them. That's what I did at Hood a few years ago.
We stayed at Solitude last year and rolled the dice renting just a FWD car. We were fine, unfortunately there were no big dumps. There was some snow, and we did drive up BCC in the snow, but didn't have any issues with restrictions. If you're staying at Solitude, you on ly really NEED to go up the road once and down the road once, at the beginning and end of your stay.
JohnL wrote:
I will be spending 10 days at Solitude starting 1/31 and I rented a front wheel drive car.
You are staying up in Solitude? At the Village base? I assume you have family in tow?
If so, I don't think some of the advice you are getting is backwards; i.e. instead of being stuck in SLC you are stuck in the mountains where all the great skiing is. Provided you get up to the lodging, worst case scenario is that you are snowed in for 10 days and have to ski Solitude (or Brighton) every day. And have food up at Solitude.
Best case scenario is that you are snowed in for 10 days and have to ski Solitude (or Brighton) every day.
I can see how some of the non-hard core skiers in your group may get a bit antsy at end of the best case scenario, but you won't forget the skiing.
Or are you staying on the Canyon Road, not at the ski area?
JohnL - I like your thinking. There really is no worse case (except perhaps I can't leave when that day comes, which then again isn't all bad). I am staying in the base village, steps from the lifts and trails. I think what I am going to do is monitor the weather patterns and dailey forecasts. I think I'll still go with the 2WD . I can rent a 4WD truck from the condo owner for a very reasonable price, but it is a 2000 Dogde PU truck. It will be parked at the airport. I can rent a 4WD truck from the condo owner for a very reasonable price, but it is a 2000 Dogde PU truck. Or I could go to the 7-11 that was mentioned in a post and get the $40 chains. Beats spending an additional $450 on a 4WD rental.
Given the recent weather patterns, I think we're doing better here in DC Ski country. I see no snow in the forecast for the Park City area. Bummer!
Great thread. Seems like everyone is going to Utah this season. I'l be with a group of 4 in Park City from 2/26 - 3/2.
First western trip for me but I'm going with guys who have been there several times. I'll just go along with the flow.
Have fun, Blue Don! It beats Snowshoe, unless SS gets 12" like they did yesterday.
wojo wrote:
Drive in. Park. Ski. Have fun.
Hope for the case where they won't let you drive. There is a commuter lot at base of the valley. You can get tire chains for about 100$ if want to.
If you need to go somewhere, the ski buses had chains the last time I was there.
Last year on my two week trip to Tahoe there wasn't a 4wd vehicle at or near the airport at my arrival, despite my having reserved one in advance. So I was forced to go with a minivan. Halfway through the two week trip the forecasters started predicting snow and I bought cheap chains for about $48. I didn't need them until my last next to last day when they got us to Sierra at Tahoe for an awesome powder day. I just threw them away in the trash on our last night before flying home. This probably saved me $800 too. If you can verify that chains are as legally acceptable as a 4wd vehicle in snowy conditions in BCC then just plan on that and save your $800 for dining out! Personally, in really challenging snowy conditions I'd rather have a regular car with chains, then a 4wd without snowtires anyway.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a very good weather site that covers the Cottonwood canyon areas?
Thanks to everyone for their sage advice...very helpful.
snowsmith wrote:
Does anyone have any suggestions for a very good weather site that covers the Cottonwood canyon areas?
Thanks to everyone for their sage advice...very helpful.
David wrote:
snowsmith wrote:
Does anyone have any suggestions for a very good weather site that covers the Cottonwood canyon areas?
Thanks to everyone for their sage advice...very helpful.
More useful site for you will be the NWS point forecasts that are linked from each resort's web site. The sites also list the canyon road status.
I've found Alta's site is updated in a timely manner and is easy to navigate.
Also, dial 511 to get Utah's road conditions hotline. IIRC, you'll need to state "Road Conditions" and for city: "Alta." That will give you the canyon road conditions for both Big and Little Cottonwood.
Bookmark this one too,
http://www.utahskiing.org/free-utah-winter-canyon-alerts.htm
Just got back from Solitude, where conditions weren't very good but the sunshine was nice. Stopped in at what must be the most famous 7-11 in all of sking and didn't see the tire chain section! The woman at the register said they now keep them in the back- they're still for sale, just not out on the shelf. Didn't get a price check though.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SALT LAKE CITY HAS ISSUED A
WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING.
* AFFECTED AREA...THE WASATCH AND WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS AS WELL
AS THE WASATCH PLATEAU.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL OF 16 TO 24 INCHES IS
FORECAST. THE LARGER AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED IN THE NORTHERN
WASATCH MOUNTAINS.
Well! Looks like I may need a snow cat not just chanins. Where is this famous 7-11 that everyone mentions?
eggraid wrote:
Have fun, Blue Don! It beats Snowshoe, unless SS gets 12" like they did yesterday.
There is no unless, just saying. ;)
jimmy wrote:
eggraid wrote:
Have fun, Blue Don! It beats Snowshoe, unless SS gets 12" like they did yesterday.
There is no unless, just saying. ;)
I don't know, I'm partial to fresh snow, so given a choice between a smaller hill with great snow or a larger one with better terrain but poorer snow conditions, I'll take the snow. Now usually, you'll find better snow AND better conditions in UT, but just sayin' :)
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