Just thought I'd put a couple pictures from my recent foray to SLC and the surrounding mountains (for work, of course). Got in early and headed out to Brighton with Eric to catch some fresh powder. Good snow, mellow vibe, and relatively empty trails made the trip up Big Cottonwood worth the drive. Later in the week we dropped in on Snowbird, but my oxygen-starved brain left the camera in the room.
Today, my last day on Killington, wasn't quite as nice as yesterday but the conditions were still good and they'd continued snowmaking for the holiday visitors. I did my warmup run down Great Northern, then did a run down Frolic to Easy Streat to check out Snowdon and Ramshead. I did another full run down Easy Street and then a run down Caper to the car where I grabbed my lunch and took the K1 gondola up to the lodge on the Killington peak for lunch. Bringing lunch was a good idea—buying a seriously spiked hot chocolate to go with it was a great idea! I then took Great Northern back down to Caper and then did another round of Easy Street and Caper before moving the car to Snowshed and ending the day there to meet up with Hugo, Sarah and Jen. I am glad really happy that I finally feel like I can snowboard again. Hopefully I'll get up for one more set of runs before the season is done—but even if I don't, I'll feel like I managed to really board this year. And I managed to remain basically unbruised and almost unsore! With the help of some hot tubbing and ibuprofen.
Today was the best day yet! I managed to get on the mountain at almost a reasonable hour, it snowed most of the prior two days (the best skiing day being while I was in NYC of course) and there was a nice layer of fresh powder and it was still snowing!. I started by taking the gondola up to Kilington peak and then enjoyed the gorgeous view of snowy peaks lost in snow and clouds. I did a run down Great Northern, then two runs down Bear Trax/Bear Cub. Both were actually attempts to find Great Eastern, which appears to be easily accessible, but actually turned out to require a hike up a path or taking Launch Pad--which is not what the guide had said. Bear Mountain was actually nice as it was less skiied off than the any other the other trials I'd ridden this trip. But, the triple you had to take back up the mountain was very cold... After realizing the mistake on my third attempt I hiked up to the head of Great Eastern and took it all the way down. Which is a long way. It's a nice run, but a bit narrow at points and by the time i got to some of the flatter bits, both skiied off in places and (because of snowmaking) covered in slow snow in places. Which would have been ok if it hadn't been for the families stopping in the middle of the trail! I almost took out two groups when that pulled that trick on a narrow section. Both times I slowed or stopped and then had to push myself along until the gradient picked up again. I warmed up for a few minutes after Great Eastern and then decided I had enough time to get up to the top of the Skyeship Gondola and board down the Bittersweat! I was feeling the blue! What I had not realized is that as it was now 4pm and the light was getting low, the wind was picking up and I was tired. Not the best time to jump up a grade. luckily for me, the Bittersweet was in very good condition and only had a couple of tricky spots—but I ended up having to remove my goggles to be able to see!
At the end of the day, the most important thing was that the hot tub was working again!
So the second day on the mountain was much better for me. I was up and going fast when I hit the mountain—even if we hit the mountain a bit later in the morning than I would have liked. And, apparently, I'm at least half descent at teaching basic snow boarding techniques. At least on the toe side. I worked with Jaclyn on her balance, use of the edge and slowing down to keep control. All with her on her toes as we were going down in tandem—I was heel edging—and we kinda did a dance down the mountain. And we did better than the other pair trying the same thing! Taryn and Adrianna were off skiing after Taryn's brief attempt to snowboard. We made it back tired but reasonably happy and Jaclyn, while still not quite understanding why people freeze themselves voluntarily, at least thinking she wanted to try again someday. Unfortunately, the hot tub at the house was acting up which is not what you want to find out after a day of skiing!
Not enough snowboarding for the last four years means that every time I hit the mountain it takes me a full day to get my skills back up above rank novice. It also seems to take a day to get my body back into the ski/snowboarding thermo-regulation regime (not to mention used to the lack of blood flow to your feet). Lucky for me I'm used to wearing climbing shoes so my feet scream less loudly when I stuff them into boots.
I managed two runs down the green beginners slope to remind myself how the snowboard worked while Jaclyn went in for her lesson. Taryn and Adrienna headed up Ramshead for some runs. After my basic runs I took the gondola up to meet the T&A at the top of Killington Peak. We took the long green down, dodging people and ice patches. Finally, I ended the day giving Jaclyn a second lesson as her first instructor apparently left a lot to be desired. We took quite a while to get down the beginners slope--the last ski patrol passed us as we reached the bottom at almost 5...
Spent the afternoon in day-old powder on the slopes of Snowbird with Robb and my buddy Steve. Five hours of nonstop riding left absolutely nothing in the tank by the end of the day - note to self: no ME squats in the days before riding...
By the way, we passed the spot where the last time I skied here, in a fit of youthful stupidity and unwarranted bravado, I leapt off a cornice to receive a quick 500 yard trip down and a broken rib. This time I peeked over the edge and wisely continued on. Still looks scary.
