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| Salt Lake City |
It's happen again. I'm seating in a half empty airport while
family and friends are gathered around enjoying the American holiday
Thanksgiving. To most people, this day is full of family, eating, and football,
but to me, it’s another adventure. The holiday gives me a break from school and
the Midwest culture, when I can escape into the mountains. Allowing me the
oppunity to travel where I can immerse myself into the wilderness and clean out
my head of all that doesn't matter. Over that last two months, I have averaged
working 70 hours a week with teaching during the day and working on skis in the
evening at the Alpine shop. To make my full schedule even busier, I am also
enrolled in 6 hours of grad school.
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| Las Vegas Airport |
The other day I was asked why do I do so
much, and the simplest answer is for what lays ahead. This time tomorrow I will
be on the slopes enjoying the sun and pre-season conditions of Salt Lake City.
So to say the least, I am thankful for full rocker skis and the fine people at
Southwest Airlines, who have allowed me to make the trip. Clearly joking, I am
thankful for a family that is back in St. Louis thinking of me but who also
understand that I need adventure in my life. While I am truly grateful for all
that I have, I always need more mountains in my life. As John Muir said
"the mountains are calling, I must go"
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| Little Cottonwood Canyon |
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| SnowBird Tram |
Snowbird
After hearing all types of stories about Utah and little Cottonwood Canyon road, I finally got to experience Utah skiing. What better
place to start then Snowbird, know for its steepness. As we loaded the tram, I noticed that every ski
patroler had on an ABS bag; ABS bags are designed to save your life in the
case of an avalanche. As the tram ascended, it soon became clear why ABS bags
were needed, Snowbird is steep! The days consisted of multiple laps, and with
early season snow, it was a great day full of fast runs.
Alta
Today I Finally made it to the skier’s paradise, Alta
Mountain. Alta is just up the road from Snowbird and once on the top ridge, you can
drop down into Alta on one side or snowbird on the other. Alta was less steep
then snowbird but had longer runs. The snow coverage at Alta was the best of
the three mountains, and we even found a black diamond in the trees with some
POW and a nice 8ft cliff to drop, but as expected, rocks won the battle over my
skis with a real nasty core shot. Skiing Alta was a blast and to make it even
better they don't allow snowboarders!
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| ALTA!! |
Park City
Park City is known as a park mountain, with a discount lift
ticket from Liftopia, I had to check it out. With only 6 trails open, PC was
kind of boring, basically they had one long run from the peak to the base. After a couple laps, I headed to the park. On the lift ride up, I saw 7
different back flips; these kids were throwing them off of every feature. The
park riders were unreal, as in they threw down. Park City was cool to see but I
spent my last day at Alta were I could shred the whole mountain.
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| City Park Utah |
Salt Lake City was cool to see. I didn't really know what
the city was going to be like but after walking to dinner two times, I
have to say, it might be one of the cleanest city's I have ever been to. I also
wasn't sure how the city would be with such a high Mormon population, but it seemed like any other city to me. Utah in general was way different
then I had pictured it, much more legit skiing then Colorado, plus only a 35
minute shuttle from airport to lifts. I still can't believe how steep it is.
Anyways, a great first ski trip. Hope you enjoy the pictures, until the next
adventure.
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| City Creek Center, Downtown Salt lake |
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| LDS Temple, Downtown Salt Lake |
