As snow continues to pile up in the Utah mountains, Little Cottonwood Canyon became a focal point of concern this past Saturday as avalanche risks prompted officials to intervene for public safety. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) closed State Route 210 through the canyon as precipitation built up, posing a grave threat of avalanches. The decision, announced shortly after 1 p.m. on Dec. 4, was a necessary response to the worsening weather conditions which had been steadily turning from grim to foreboding, according to KUTV.
The closure brought both directions of the road to a standstill stretching from milepost 5 near the mouth of the canyon, all the way to Snowbird Entry 1, Gate C, and while the closure was a precaution meant to safeguard the valley residents and the adventurous souls who seek The Greatest Snow on Earth, it left many stranded who were already deep within the canyon's grasp. Skiers and snowboarders who had headed up the canyon found themselves in an unexpected hiatus midst the snowy slopes as the roads closed, uphill traffic was halted at the mouth of the canyon, with downhill closure at Snowbird Entry 1, and though the arterial route was later reopened around 4:20 p.m., UDOT flagged potential delays from the congestion of visitors leaving Snowbird and Alta as noted by FOX13.
In anticipation of further climatic tantrums, UDOT has proactively planned yet another closure for early Sunday morning, a continuation of the chess match against nature's unpredictable onslaught. According to the transportation authority, the canyon's traffic will see another pause shortly after midnight, with uphill movement stopping at 12:30 a.m. at the canyon's mouth and downhill traffic ceasing at 1 a.m. at Snowbird Entry 1, "Plan ahead for your trips to @AltaCentral @AltaAlerts @SnowbirdAlerts and expect uphill travel delays tomorrow," UDOT forewarned through social media, as reported by KSLTV.
