NeedhamSkier
New member
Arrived for the family ski-trip to Salt Lake on Tuesday, with wife and our boys, who were playing hookie (the kids, not my wife). Settled in to the Courtyard in Sandy, and were a bit worried by the 70 degrees and sunshine we found in Salt Lake on arrival. But trusted to the advice from the board that it would be completely different up in the mountains. Picked Café Trang from the long list of restaurants provided by FTO posters. Some of the best Vietnamese food we’ve ever had – good call!
Headed up to Alta on Wednesday morning. After no snow for the best part of a week (Tony’s influence, so I understand), the trails were a little hard, but it was a good day to explore and get reacquainted with the area. I skied at Alta a few years ago, but this was the first time for my wife and the kids. Immediately remembered just how good the terrain is and how many variations there are. Kids went to ski-school in the morning. Skied a couple off Sugarloaf, on the second one dropping into Glory Gulch (I think), where we found big, hard bumps, which convinced us too avoid anything too serious off the trails until it snowed again, as the whole mountain looks like it has been similarly worked over. Headed up to Supreme and had some fun cruising on the blues there, poking around and trying to avoid more bumps.
Skied with the boys in the afternoon, who both had good lessons in the morning. Took them back up to Supreme and Sugarloaf. About 2pm the snow which had been threatening all day finally arrived. It only snowed for about an hour, for maybe an inch or so, but it really changed the trails, putting a smooth layer on top of the hardpack so everything seemed so much smoother. Surprising how much difference it made. Finished up with some great runs, poking into the trees a bit and enjoying the sunshine which appeared later.
Another board recommendation for a restaurant was Loco Lizard, near BCC. Unfortunately, we drove over their for dinner and found out that Loco Lizard is now extinct – recently closed down by the look of it. They optimistically have the address of their other location (in Park City) on the door, but the 45-minute drive didn't appeal and we ate next door at Café Trio instead, which was very good.
Obviously many on this board know Alta way better than I do, but today (Thursday) summed up the whole Alta experience for me. For a start, it was snowing as we arrived and continued on and off for most of the day. Maybe only 4 or 5 inches total, but enough to begin to cover the bumps and make every different line in the woods a fun experience. Then on our second lift ride, we shared a chair with Kate, a transplanted New Yorker, with kids the same age as ours, who had sent the kids to school, put the dinner in the Crockpot and was out enjoying her season pass. She kindly offered to show us a couple of her favorite runs after we had talked for all of 3 minutes. Following her, we explored the low-angle woods off Rock and Roll and enjoyed some really friendly hospitality. She even offered to take us out to Catherine’s when we saw it was open, but unfortunately we figured that us flatlanders wouldn’t be able to hike quick enough to get back in time for the kids. A shame we couldn't do that, but nevertheless a great experience. Then at lunch we talked with a retired school principal, staying at the Alta lodge, who seemed such a great example of the old-school lodge thing (and who when he was younger used to do the cheap thing just like us, driving up from San Francisco with his family and staying in a motel in SLC) So one day, we’ll get the necessary cash together for a week at one of the lodges….
Spent the afternoon with the boys exploring a few of the runs from the morning and also getting into Yellow Bear, where they went with their lesson that morning. I finished with one solo run back down Glory Gulch and then traversing across the bottom of East Greeley (I think), on terrain which was rapidly being transformed by the new snow. Quit early, around 3.30 as the boys were beat and the snow was still coming down heavy. Guy in parking lot (and we all trust those guys, right?) told us they were calling for 6-9 inches tonight – let’s hope.
The boys have (unfortunately) progressed to Level 6, which means half-day lessons in the afternoon only, so we think we'll keep them out of ski-school tomorrow (which we may regret if it's a powder day). But their instructor said we should take them to Ballroom, so that seems like the call if it opens tomorrow, depending on the visibility and the depth of the snow. Came back, swam in the hotel pool, watching the rain pour down outside and wondered if it was snowing up the mountain.
Headed up to Alta on Wednesday morning. After no snow for the best part of a week (Tony’s influence, so I understand), the trails were a little hard, but it was a good day to explore and get reacquainted with the area. I skied at Alta a few years ago, but this was the first time for my wife and the kids. Immediately remembered just how good the terrain is and how many variations there are. Kids went to ski-school in the morning. Skied a couple off Sugarloaf, on the second one dropping into Glory Gulch (I think), where we found big, hard bumps, which convinced us too avoid anything too serious off the trails until it snowed again, as the whole mountain looks like it has been similarly worked over. Headed up to Supreme and had some fun cruising on the blues there, poking around and trying to avoid more bumps.
Skied with the boys in the afternoon, who both had good lessons in the morning. Took them back up to Supreme and Sugarloaf. About 2pm the snow which had been threatening all day finally arrived. It only snowed for about an hour, for maybe an inch or so, but it really changed the trails, putting a smooth layer on top of the hardpack so everything seemed so much smoother. Surprising how much difference it made. Finished up with some great runs, poking into the trees a bit and enjoying the sunshine which appeared later.
Another board recommendation for a restaurant was Loco Lizard, near BCC. Unfortunately, we drove over their for dinner and found out that Loco Lizard is now extinct – recently closed down by the look of it. They optimistically have the address of their other location (in Park City) on the door, but the 45-minute drive didn't appeal and we ate next door at Café Trio instead, which was very good.
Obviously many on this board know Alta way better than I do, but today (Thursday) summed up the whole Alta experience for me. For a start, it was snowing as we arrived and continued on and off for most of the day. Maybe only 4 or 5 inches total, but enough to begin to cover the bumps and make every different line in the woods a fun experience. Then on our second lift ride, we shared a chair with Kate, a transplanted New Yorker, with kids the same age as ours, who had sent the kids to school, put the dinner in the Crockpot and was out enjoying her season pass. She kindly offered to show us a couple of her favorite runs after we had talked for all of 3 minutes. Following her, we explored the low-angle woods off Rock and Roll and enjoyed some really friendly hospitality. She even offered to take us out to Catherine’s when we saw it was open, but unfortunately we figured that us flatlanders wouldn’t be able to hike quick enough to get back in time for the kids. A shame we couldn't do that, but nevertheless a great experience. Then at lunch we talked with a retired school principal, staying at the Alta lodge, who seemed such a great example of the old-school lodge thing (and who when he was younger used to do the cheap thing just like us, driving up from San Francisco with his family and staying in a motel in SLC) So one day, we’ll get the necessary cash together for a week at one of the lodges….
Spent the afternoon with the boys exploring a few of the runs from the morning and also getting into Yellow Bear, where they went with their lesson that morning. I finished with one solo run back down Glory Gulch and then traversing across the bottom of East Greeley (I think), on terrain which was rapidly being transformed by the new snow. Quit early, around 3.30 as the boys were beat and the snow was still coming down heavy. Guy in parking lot (and we all trust those guys, right?) told us they were calling for 6-9 inches tonight – let’s hope.
The boys have (unfortunately) progressed to Level 6, which means half-day lessons in the afternoon only, so we think we'll keep them out of ski-school tomorrow (which we may regret if it's a powder day). But their instructor said we should take them to Ballroom, so that seems like the call if it opens tomorrow, depending on the visibility and the depth of the snow. Came back, swam in the hotel pool, watching the rain pour down outside and wondered if it was snowing up the mountain.
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