Celebrate Alta's 70th anniversary with 'The Alta Experience'

January 9, 7:30 AMSalt Lake City Outdoor Recreation ExaminerJared Hargrave

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The 08/09 ski season marks Alta's 70^th anniversary, and there are several fun and informative ways to celebrate. In the coming weeks, I'll highlight a specific event or recommend a book or film that provides a glimpse into Alta's storied history.

Anyone interested in learning about Alta's past needs to watch the documentary, “The Alta Experience.” The film is a nostalgic look back at Alta's 70 years. It begins with the town's days as a mining camp, and examines its history up until today. Historical photos, archived film, and interviews with early skiers still living chronicle a legendary place that has changed the lives of those who carve it's powder-filled slopes. The film also shows us the ski community at Alta, where people arrived for a seasonal job and never left. Ultimately, "The Alta Experience" tries to find the answer to the intangible aspect of the place which sets it apart from other ski resorts.

“The Alta Experience” was produced by Salt Lake City's PBS station, KUED, and it originally aired in December. If you missed it but would still like to see it, they will send you a DVD for a $75 donation to the station. Although the price is steep, if you're a hard-core Alta fan it is well worth the price to own it. Plus you'll be supporting public television which makes documentaries like “The Alta Experience” possible.

According to Alta's website, On October 19, 1938, the Forest Service issued the initial permit to the Salt Lake Winter Sports Association to construct a lift at Alta. Alta officially opened as a ski area that December. After mechanical issues were fixed, the Collins lift started running on January 15^th, 1939. Around 350 skiers rode that day, paying 25 cents a ride, or $1.50 for a full day of skiing.