Given the fact that they are only a short hike from the top of Shadow Basin and that they are within the resort boundaries (when patrol have opened them), this means that the Alta Chutes see a lot of traffic of varying ability levels. Be aware that there are some people skiing in resort and have little consideration for avalanche safety or safe travel practices, and don’t be surprised if someone knocks a load of sluff down on top of you within these chutes!

From the top of the Shadow Basin Chairlift, take your skis/board off and bootpack up towards the ridgeline that is ahead of you to your south east, you should pass a resort boundary gate and there should already be a track set from patrol securing the chutes each morning. Elevator, Escalator and Alta Chutes are all accessible from this ridgeline.

Escalator is the middle chute along the Alta Chutes ridgeline and is and is a great choice to head towards if the masses have inevitably all flocked towards Elevator. You’ll normally find much less people have skied this couloir, yet it’s not far from being as great-a couloir as Escalator, so sit back and enjoy the freshies in this one!

Once out of the chutes, a simple westerly traverse (snowboarders stay high) is needed to be made before you reach Lake Alta to make your way back to the pistes and reach the lifts for another lap of these awesome chutes!