ROGER BOURKE Your Mayor Who Wants to “Keep Alta, Alta”
By Milan Norling
Tucked gently between the towering peaks of the Wasatch Mountains, Alta is a place that deserves protection and stewardship. The role of the Mayor of the Town of Alta has been held by some incredible people throughout history. This role is now held by Roger Bourke, a man who values the mountains and the community that makes Alta unique. Roger Bourke grew up exploring and skiing in California, where he met Junior Bounous, a legend in the Little Cottonwood Canyon community. Junior had just ventured from Alta to become the Ski School Director for Sugar Bowl on Donner Summit. Junior offered him a weekend skiing job and inspired him to visit Alta. After finishing graduate school at Stanford, he finally visited Alta and immediately understood the magic. Roger continued to visit while pursuing a decorated career in aerospace, and now, 50 years later, holds the seat of the Mayor of the Town of Alta. Roger understands the deep roots that have made this place special in the hearts of many and intend to protect this land & town. We had the opportunity to learn more about Roger’s past and his future vision for Alta.
Take a moment to learn more about your Mayor, Roger Bourke
Where are you from originally?
I grew up and went to college in the San Francisco Bay Area. After graduate school, I went to work in Southern California and spent most of my career there.
Do you currently live in Alta?
Yes, although we have a home in SoCal that we occasionally visit.
How did you come to Alta originally?
While in college and graduate school I got a weekend ski teaching job for Junior Bounous. He had come from Alta to be the ski school director at Sugar Bowl on Donner Summit in CA. He and his wife, Maxine, extolled the virtues of Alta. When I finally got out of school, I started coming to Alta.
What has your career consisted of?
I spent my career exploring the solar system with spacecraft. I was fortunate to arrive just as that endeavor was starting and spend a career finding out about those little points of light in the night sky. Over my professional lifetime, those points of light turned into whole new fascinating worlds.
Roger & Margaret Bourke
Our community has a unique character that is hard to describe but those of us who are here know it. I want to preserve that.
What led you to run for Mayor of Alta?
I felt that there need to be more candidates running for office to have a healthy democracy. So I signed up to run when only the incumbent was on the ballot.
Do you have any plans or goals for your time in the office?
I want to “keep Alta, Alta.” Our community has a unique character that is hard to describe but those of us who are here know it. I want to preserve that.
What makes Alta special to you?
The character which I just (inadequately) described.
Do you have any favorite places in Alta?
I’m pretty fond of my home on the summer road! I really like to go up Grizzly Gulch in the summer to Twin Lakes or Silver Fork pass. The scenes are spectacular.
Anything else you would like to share with the community?
Don’t let Alta get ruined—we’ll never get it back.
Roger Bourke’s term as the Mayor of Alta expires in 2026. Be sure to say hello when you see him on the slopes, on the trails in the summer, or around the post office.
AUTHOR: Milan Norling
Originally from the Southern Coast of California, Milan Norling has been living and recreating in Utah for 5 years now. As the daughter of a Snowbird ski instructor and avid Alta skier, her Little Cottonwood Canyon roots run as deeply as her love for the place. Milan has devoted her passion for marketing to the ski and outdoor industry and enjoys using her expertise to create unforgettable experiences in nature for others. On any given day, you can expect to find her skiing, hiking, biking, practicing yoga, and enjoying time outside with others. She holds the Little Cottonwood community dear to her heart.