Alta ski patrollers sworn in as special deputies

ALTA, Utah — In one of many firsts this monumental winter, the entire Alta Ski Patrol was sworn in as special deputies on Monday, April 3.

With this move, Alta Marshal Mike Morey granted patrollers the power to issue interlodge citations. 

An interlodge order requires all Alta Ski Area residents, employees and lodge guests to shelter in place while avalanche professionals from Alta, Snowbird and the Utah Department of Transportation perform avalanche mitigation. 

Alta was under interlodge yesterday, and remains closed today after receiving a whopping 874 inches of total snowfall so far this season. 

 Under Alta town ordinances, violating interlodge is a Class B Misdemeanor, and is punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and 6 months in jail.

“The hills have eyes,” Morey tweeted on Monday. “don’t go outside after closure goes into effect.”