Hi all... wondering about ski bus to Alta/Snowbird reliability? Is it a good option on powder days and days when you're waiting for the road to open? Is there less service during early/late season compared to peak season?
I've been using the UTA ski bus service since the 85-86 season (minus the 7 years I resided elsewhere in UT) and, generally speaking, it's reliable. To answer your last question, the bus schedule doesn't change from the first day through the last day of bus service. What UTA will do is add buses on powder days/busy days by having drivers who are scheduled to end their shift remain on duty longer by picking up an extra run or runs up the canyons. The ski bus supervisor has each driver report to him or her via radio how many people the bus has left behind at major ski bus stops (due to the bus being at maximum capacity) and the supervisor will react accordingly. If it's only a couple dozen or so left behind, that's usually left for the next scheduled bus or buses to resolve; however, there are now quite a few days per season where the system is overwhelmed and skiers/snowboarders waiting at the final stop or stops on the route can be stranded for an extended period of time because all buses fill to capacity prior to arriving at said stops and have no room for anyone else.
During canyon closure days, many buses may be stranded up the canyons and are unable to run their routes according to schedule. If the canyons are closed due to avi control operations, buses that are unofficially considered "employee buses" can receive police (canyon patrol) escorts to the beginning of the closure gate but this is not always possible due to the queue(s) of vehicles often being miles long from multiple directions with complete gridlock in full force. The worst possible scenario occurs when both canyons are closed. Buses not considered to be "employee buses" typically are staged at various locations along the bus routes around the valley and resume operations when canyons reopen. There's always a significant contingent of canyon users that line up at the closure gate very, very early in the morning to ensure they are one of the first to their intended destination. While waiting they typically take a nap, work remotely, eat the breakfast they brought with them, socialize, surf the Internet, etc. Nobody gets through the gate during a closure but canyon patrol, UDOT plows, other UDOT vehicles, or an ambulance (if the helis are grounded due to weather).
A potential completely new problem for this coming season pertains to a lack of drivers for the UTA system. Supposedly UTA has had to scale back on some of their regularly scheduled non-ski bus service due to a driver shortage and adding seasonal ski bus service will only exacerbate their labor shortage. Those allegedly in the know have told me this could mean a more limited ski bus schedule for the coming season or a modification of the ski bus routes (only certain buses returning from the canyons will drive to the beginning of their usual route (typically mid-valley/Trax Station) and instead will reload at or near the mouths of the canyons for the next unbound trip). Those individuals requiring a ride to or from valley locations other than at or near the mouths of the canyons will need to use a regular/city UTA bus to connect them to a ski bus.
Parking has become a very real problem at the four CC resorts. I lost track of how many times all spots at Solitude filled up prior to 9:00 a.m. last season, even with the expansion of the Moonbeam parking lot, and how many times BCC closed due to "extreme congestion". An early start up the canyon is an absolute must on powder days, especially during the first half of the season. No worries about parking if you use the ski bus.
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Thought about noon tickets, but we will hike and hit up other wine bars.
