Utah skiers report traffic delays before hitting the slopes

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COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — Drivers in Large Cottonwood Canyon reported visitors delays and restricted parking the primary few days of 2022 ski season.

Solitude and Brighton resorts opened early, after current storms introduced heavy snowfall to the mountain areas. Skiers reported a gentle line of automobiles that led to extra lengthy strains of individuals on the two resorts.

“Everybody’s psyched to see the brand new snow, everybody’s stoked,” skier Quin Taylor mentioned.

Snowboarder Aiden Hascall mentioned folks have been anxious to stand up the lifts.

“The strains have been simply loopy,” he mentioned.

At occasions, the wait began nearer to the bottom of the canyon.

The Utah Division of Transportation shared footage on social media of near-capacity roadside parking. The publish warned drivers to not park downhill, or in “No Parking” zones.

“I do know that down by Brighton, each infrequently, you get like 100 automobiles there they usually’ll give everybody a ticket,” Hascall mentioned.

UDOT additionally reminded early season skiers to park behind the white line and be ready for downhill delays.

Resorts additionally posted that their parking tons have been full by mid-morning.

Hascall mentioned extra folks ought to carpool. He mentioned he lives close to the College of Utah, and would love extra public transportation choices to get to the resorts.

“I feel our first effort needs to be to enhance our bus system,” he mentioned. “I feel we must always have extra bus stops and extra direct routes up the mountains.”

Hascall mentioned the upper he climbed up the street, the extra crowded it received.

“As soon as we received right down to Donut Falls, it received fairly congested,” he mentioned.

Taylor mentioned he averted the dangerous delays through the use of technique on the slopes and on the roads.

“Simply stand up early, get after it. Do not be slacking,” he mentioned.

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