Snowbird To Expand!… By Building A Stupid Mountain Coaster

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Snowbird Mountain Coaster Location Get Preliminary OK – KSL.com

The Salt Lake County Planning Commision has given preliminary approval to a new location for the Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort mountain coaster, the resort announced Wednesday.

Snowbird initially proposed building a mountain coaster on the lower face of Mount Superior in Little Cottonwood Canyon, which at one point would have crossed the canyon road on a bridge over state Route 210. That plan was scrapped amid controversy over building in the environmentally sensitive canyon.

The new proposal calls for the mountain coaster to be located within Snowbird’s existing developed resort footprint on private property with loading and unloading at the base of the Peruvian Express chairlift.

“We are excited to provide another form of summer recreation for our guests and Utah’s growing population,” Snowbird President Bob Bonar said in a prepared statement.

Bike Day #10

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I rode The Avenues about as fast as I can remember doing a full lap. I used my MapMyRide app on my phone to record my stats. Looks like I finished a full lap from the driveway to the top and down in 38:19. I’ll try to beat it next time.

Check out the public map and stats on MapMyRide.com:

 

The Avenues on MapMyRide.com

Ski Day #75

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Sunday was closing day at Snowbird. This time last year, we were still skiing powder, with 100 inch or so base. Last year’s closing day was July 4th. Crazy.

We took the tram to the top, hiked Baldy, hung out (read: stood near the Collins Brothers), and skied Little Chute into Alta. I’ve never skied Baldy Chutes before, and I’ve been missing out. Chute skiing is so much fun! Turns have to be precise, your heart rate is elevated, and as my good friend Lyons once said, “there’s just something about that run… I hope we brought enough supplies… that guy’s wearing a freaki stocking cap on his head… not me, I wear a helmet.”

We traversed a ways through Alta over to Devil’s Castle and Cabin Hill. Great exercise. I skied my first corn run ever. Almost as fun as powder… ok not even close, but when combined with a 65 degree bluebird day, it’s a lot of fun.

So that does it for my 2011-2012 ski season at resorts in Utah. I have a few days in Chile in August. I’m planning on busting out the skins to do a little spring touring before all the snow melts. Stay tuned!

Bike Day #7

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Sam, Liz, Tracker, and I set out for a ride on The Avenues. We didn’t have much time to ride before an LDS wedding that evening, but we went for it anyway. Liz and Tracker left early and stopped at the halfway point (which is actually 1/2 mile from the top of a 2.5 mile ride and thus, is not halfway, but rather 80% of the way, yet we still call it halfway to shame ourselves into riding the second half, which is actually only 20%).

I followed Liz after a few minutes waiting for Sam. Sam left a few minutes after me, due to a few extra minutes spent inflating his shock pump.

I still say we all road together despite the fact than we couldn’t see or hear each other for 99% of the bike ride.

Regardless, Sam and I rode to the top. Tracker ditched Liz and followed us. With only 20 minutes until our planned departure time for the wedding, we started riding down. I stopped at the “halfway” point to wait for Tracker. He never showed up.

I climbed back to the top imagining finding an 11 year old Golden in bad shape on the side of the trail somewhere. Sam climbed back to the 80% point. I rode down to Sam. Still no Tracker. Thinking he may have gotten lost, I rode the Switchback Trail for the first time in a few years. It’s just as muddy and un-fun as I remembered. I rode back to the trailhead before Sam called to say Tracker had been found and looked to be ok.

We were late for the LDS wedding. So we missed out on the non-alcoholic punch, rice krispy treat cake, and, probably, five versions of the chicken dance.

2012 – Ski Edit #21: Spring Is Awesome

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 One of the best days of the year. May 10th, 2012 in Park City and Salt Lake.

 

Yesterday was Spring appreciation day. Remember way back when I quoted myself saying “you can ski, bike, hike, swim, BBQ, and catch a baseball game all in the same day.” Well, we did it. All of it. In one day.

Spring is awesome.

Song: Ice Cube – “Today Was A Good Day”

A Story About Adam Yauch & Snowbird

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Requiem for a Mullethead: RIP Adam Yauch – by Melissa Larsen. ESPN Snowboarding

The Adam I knew, during the time that I knew him, was a snowboarder — a real one. He chose Salt Lake City as a winter base because if he was in the country and saw a storm headed that direction, it was easy to fly to. The places he rented were bare bones, meant only for sleeping and showering and storing the busted-up Subaru he used to get to the mountain. That car was so kicked-in. He had to pop the hood, fiddle with wires and beat on the engine with a wrench to get it to start. It was awesome.

 

There was no flash to his program. All he cared about was that he was on the hill when the lifts opened on a deep snow day. This part of him might be only a grain of sand in an ocean of more interesting and wonderful things that made him who he was, but I still feel like it should be noted. Because, for a moment in time, he was one of us. It was not an act, and we loved him for it.

Ski Day #74 & Biking Day #6: Spring Is Awesome

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  • 7am: woke up and played with the puppy
  • 8am: best breakfast ever at Park City Bread and Bagel
  • 9:30am: Tram
  • 10:00am – Noon: Spring training for Chile at Snowbird
  • 12:30pm – Lunch at Lone Star
  • 1:30pm – Hiking with the dogs
  • 2:30pm – Bike ride on the Avenues and Parley’s Lane
  • 4:00pm – Swimming lessons for Jameson at the Parley’s Pond
  • 6:00pm – Drive to SLC
  • 6:30pm – Bees Game at Spring Mobile Ballpark
  • 8:30pm – BBQ for Jaeden’s Bday
  • 11:00pm -Home
  • 11:30pm – Sleep
For years I claimed Spring was my favorite season. I’ve always followed my claim with something along the lines of: “you can ski, bike, hike, swim, BBQ, and catch a baseball game all in the same day.”
Last year, Spring never happened. Winter lasted until June, then summer started. It rained or snowed pretty much everyday. I hated Spring and I began to wonder what the hell I was thinking. We went on trips to warm places last Spring. We went to Hawaii, Arizona, Moab, and Hawaii again. Every time expecting to come home to the amazingness of Spring in Park City. It never happened. Before I knew it, it was summer.
I tried to write it off as an anomaly. But some doubt stayed with me through the other three seasons.
Yesterday was Spring appreciation day. Remember way back when I quoted myself saying ”you can ski, bike, hike, swim, BBQ, and catch a baseball game all in the same day.” Well, we did it. All of it. In one day.
Spring is awesome.

Biking Day #5

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Sam and I rode The Avenues. My rear tire completely blew out a minute after finishing the downhill section, before the mile road ride home. I decided to jog my bike back home. I might be off the trails for a little while.

Researching La Parva: Ingrid Backstrom’s Freeski Camp

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Backstrom to host women’s camp in Chile – ESPN Freeskiing Blog

 Every summer since 2004, pro skier Ingrid Backstrom has flown to the southern hemisphere, a place where cold and snow is just a day’s travel away. With her winters spent filming with Matchstick Productions and Sherpas Cinema, her summers have consisted of coaching at Chris Davenport’s Ski With the Superstars camp and exploring the Andes. But this year, for the first time Backstrom is branching out into her own camp, hosting a women’s specific camp in La Parva, Chile, this August.

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There’s a certain level of patience needed to succeed in South America. What advice would you give to first-timers?
There is a different pace in South America, that’s for sure. We are so rushed and pro-active in North America. Down south, they are more reactive, I would say. Once you let go of your preconceived notions of, ‘But it’s my ski vacation, why isn’t the lift open now?’ and adopt the, ‘Have another cafe con leche, go for a walk, and when the lifts do open, it will be just me and a few other people enjoying all of the powder,’ you will really become open to the possibilities and the little miracles that happen down there all the time. Smile a lot and say ‘Por favor,’ and ‘Gracias,’ and try to order your meals at least in Spanish, even if it just means reading off the menu right above the English translation. And for heaven’s sake, carry your ski boots on the plane with you.

Skiing in South America in the summer: skiing luxury or life list must do?
Depends on your level of obsession with skiing. For me, it’s both. It’s definitely a luxury but it’s also a must-do. I mean, if you love winter and if you love travel — how can you not be curious that there is a whole other winter happening somewhere else? Another winter, in such a cool place — it’s mind-blowing.

Ingrid Backstrom is an amazing skier. She also grew up skiing at Crystal Mountain (her parents patrolled with mine for a few years) before moving to Squaw and becoming the top female freeskier. Check out her Athlete Extra from last year’s MSP movie, Attack of La Nina.

Liz and I will be in La Parva the same week as  Ingrid’s camp. I hope we don’t steal all their lines.