Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Park City->La Grande->Portland
The dreaded 800 - mile drive from Park City, Utah to Portland, Oregon had arrived.
The night before, it was dumping. I really wanted to visit with Mary Roz, her husband Paul and sister Maria before I left town. That meant driving down the valley beyond The Canyons in this storm. It was interesting. First I had to remove snow from my car. Then when I got to their house, their driveway was really steep - downward sloping. But somehow none of the snow had stuck. I really wondered if it was heated. So, with me thinking I'm pretty unwise to park there, I did it anyway. We had a really nice dinner and visit. We said our good byes. But afterward, I got stuck in the newly snowy driveway. We used salt to make it less slick. Problem solved. But there was to be more.
That was only the beginning. Back at Ed's house, while watching a late night TV show, the house thundered and shook. We all went out back to find out what happened. A glacier had fallen off the roof! It had busted off the outside faucet from the house and water was leaking all over the frozen yard. With no outside shut off we tried as hard as possible to shut off the inside valve - but it was so old as to be frozen - no way to move it without breaking. So calls were made to 24 hour plumbers and the city water department. Within 90 minutes a city guy arrived to shut off water to the house. Prior, I filled as many buckets/pots of water as possible so certain necessities could continue until a regular plumber arrived the next day to fix things. None of this helped a driver needing rest before a 12-hour trip.
In the morning, the 24 hour total was 21 inches of downy snow had fallen on the ski slopes, 17 overnight. It was so much I decided to just relax and let the city snow removal crew do their job. The prior evening Ed said it's best to park in the public library lot - good move. They had it 100% plowed by 8:30 a.m. So although my original time slot was to be on the road by 6:00 a.m. there was no point in rushing. I was on the road by 9:15 a.m. I had also used the National Weather Service's website the prior evening to check the forecast all along my route back to Portland. The forecast looked good for the whole route back to Portland except for the Wasatch. So there was no doubt I was headed out - once I got into the valley in Utah I'd be good to go. So, with more snow cleared off the car, I was off.
The one stop I planned to make was in La Grande, Oregon. My friend Craig lives there, and I wanted to stop in an pay him a visit. The Elkhorn Mountains of eastern Oregon were very picturesque with new snow!
We met late in the day, and it was actually a nice way to stretch my legs! We had a beverage for about an hour and then I had to get back on the road.
The night before, it was dumping. I really wanted to visit with Mary Roz, her husband Paul and sister Maria before I left town. That meant driving down the valley beyond The Canyons in this storm. It was interesting. First I had to remove snow from my car. Then when I got to their house, their driveway was really steep - downward sloping. But somehow none of the snow had stuck. I really wondered if it was heated. So, with me thinking I'm pretty unwise to park there, I did it anyway. We had a really nice dinner and visit. We said our good byes. But afterward, I got stuck in the newly snowy driveway. We used salt to make it less slick. Problem solved. But there was to be more.
That was only the beginning. Back at Ed's house, while watching a late night TV show, the house thundered and shook. We all went out back to find out what happened. A glacier had fallen off the roof! It had busted off the outside faucet from the house and water was leaking all over the frozen yard. With no outside shut off we tried as hard as possible to shut off the inside valve - but it was so old as to be frozen - no way to move it without breaking. So calls were made to 24 hour plumbers and the city water department. Within 90 minutes a city guy arrived to shut off water to the house. Prior, I filled as many buckets/pots of water as possible so certain necessities could continue until a regular plumber arrived the next day to fix things. None of this helped a driver needing rest before a 12-hour trip.
In the morning, the 24 hour total was 21 inches of downy snow had fallen on the ski slopes, 17 overnight. It was so much I decided to just relax and let the city snow removal crew do their job. The prior evening Ed said it's best to park in the public library lot - good move. They had it 100% plowed by 8:30 a.m. So although my original time slot was to be on the road by 6:00 a.m. there was no point in rushing. I was on the road by 9:15 a.m. I had also used the National Weather Service's website the prior evening to check the forecast all along my route back to Portland. The forecast looked good for the whole route back to Portland except for the Wasatch. So there was no doubt I was headed out - once I got into the valley in Utah I'd be good to go. So, with more snow cleared off the car, I was off.
I don't need to go on about the drive, because it's a real slog. What I do want to get across is that when the goal is 800 miles in one day you need to get determined and realize you can't make long stops, you need to minimize stops, and you must stay focused on keeping your speed consistent throughout the day.
The one stop I planned to make was in La Grande, Oregon. My friend Craig lives there, and I wanted to stop in an pay him a visit. The Elkhorn Mountains of eastern Oregon were very picturesque with new snow!
We met late in the day, and it was actually a nice way to stretch my legs! We had a beverage for about an hour and then I had to get back on the road.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Wasatch Powder at Deer Valley!
Finally on my last day a forecast of fresh pow pow! Utah's Wasatch Range is world famous for blankets of downy snow like nowhere else. It's the fact that these mountains rise out of bone dry desert which makes the snow so dry. Once you've ridden on it, there's no going back. One time at Alta in a 38" dump I remember people from Montana and New Mexico hollering, "It NEVER snows like this back home!" NOTE: Click on this photo and look in between the branches to the left on this photo and you'll see the real word of the day!
With a forecast of more snow overnight, Ed was urging me to stay an extra day
. Although the overnight forecast was for five to eight inches, locals know micro storms can drop a good three times that much up on the hill! But I absolutely had to be back in Portland, so I was set.
. Although the overnight forecast was for five to eight inches, locals know micro storms can drop a good three times that much up on the hill! But I absolutely had to be back in Portland, so I was set.Still, we had four inches the night before, and then it began to snow after noon again - in earnest. Today we picked Deer Valley for variety. Deer Valley is a jumble of peaks and lifts spread across a micro range. While the trails are nice, unlike Sundance, here the management has never relaxed its fervor for development. Amongst some of the peaks developments of million dollar homes sprout like weeds. Riding the lift, you sometimes pass over a heated driveway and peer into somebody's living room!
Then there is the casino-like Empire Lodge - a mega hotel complex under construction smack up the hill.
And the lifts seem to go in haphazard directions - we skied off the top of one lift and accidentally found ourselves riding to the bottom of a completely different lift several times. Still, the soft feathery powder is all that we needed to enjoy this day given to us from Gods above.
The snow was terrific. And the crowds minimal. I found lots of wind-protected runs and tree / mogul runs here, and the hero snow made us feel super human. I brought two pairs of skis to Utah Rossignol R11 - slalom racing skis and my 50/50 frontside/backside mid-fat skis. This day I decided to use my racing skis - silly me in this snow! But they did great in the moguls.
The snow was terrific. And the crowds minimal. I found lots of wind-protected runs and tree / mogul runs here, and the hero snow made us feel super human. I brought two pairs of skis to Utah Rossignol R11 - slalom racing skis and my 50/50 frontside/backside mid-fat skis. This day I decided to use my racing skis - silly me in this snow! But they did great in the moguls.
It started to dump about an inch an hour in the afternoon, but a brief respite offered a chance to get Ed skiing down the side of this trail...looking good, Ed! (Left side of trail)
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Nordic Skiing in Park City
Ed and I took a day off from alpine skiing. Not a day off totally. To us a day off means more activity - this time Nordic, or Cross Country Skiing!
There are lots of tracks all around Park City. This day we chose a spot down near the ski area called The Canyons. Actually the trailhead park is just across from the iconic "barn" so often photographed. We also brought along Ed's border collie Turbo! I've known Turbo since he was a pup. Such a good boy. Today his work involves herding us!
I could see Nordic skiers on both sides of the valley. It seems people take their Nordic skiing seriously around here. I saw guys across the valley on some kind of track. They were going all out, skate skiing, using both poles to push even faster! I'm not even close to that level - heck I don't even have a cross country outfit. I just had my alpine ski pants. Even worse - when we left the house it was snowing hard so I brought my alpine parka and goggles! Ridiculous.
Because down where the trailhead was, it was spotty clouds and some sun. My outfit was totally unnecessary. In fact there were a couple of people jogging on the trail in shorts! We skied for three and a half hours and I cannot say how many miles. There are trails winding all around the subdivisions that have popped up near The Canyons.
During the day we stopped and threw a chew toy for Turbo, who was happy to oblige. He'd chase the toy and try to catch it in the air. If it landed off track, where the snow was not packed, he got a bit of a surprise, going waist deep in the snow.
I was not able to keep up with Ed. My forced down time because of my shoulder dislocation robbed me of valuable XC practice! And more, the snow in Oregon's Cascade Mountains has been real low this year. I was sweating bullets. But it's very good exercise. Not the same as downhill, but very good!
Now, there was recently a debate I overheard about whether you use your poles when Nordic skiing. The answer is an emphatic yes!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Skiing Robert Redford's Sundance Ski Resort
I've skiied in Utah's Wasatch Mountains many times. Since I have friends in Park City, most of my alpine time has been spent on the nearby resorts of Park City Mountain Resort, The Canyons, and Deer Valley. Favorites, though are Alta and Snow Basin. I've also spent time at Solitude and Snowbird. Flying somewhat below the radar is Sundance.
When the word Sundance is uttered around here, most think you're talking about film stars and the annual Park City event titled Sundance Film Festival. But about 40 minutes away there's a ski area with the same name. In fact both Sundance Film Festival and Sundance Resort are inspired / owned by the legendary actor Robert Redford.
Driving from Park City to Sundance, you pass by Mt. Timpanogas, at 11,549 Utah's second tallest peak. It makes the drive a treat.
Sundance Resort is not known for huge hotels, real estate development and huge skiable acreage. On purpose. The place is managed to be intimate. Not a big condo development in sight. Robert Redford stipulated that the homes be built in such a way as to be inconspicuous. There are several hundred of them sprinkled amongst the nearby valleys, but one can't see them when skiing - unlike Deer Valley where they seem to be built so as to be McMansion-in-your-face as possible. No, here, things are to be "as they were."
I'd heard from Park City locals that Sundance can get boring, but that was not the case. It does have older fixed-grip lifts, that's for sure. And it doesn't have a big terrain park. So what? What it does offer is stunning views and un-crowded bowls/trees and powder lasting far longer than the other areas closer to Salt Lake City. It almost felt like it was a private ski area!
Because it doesn't offer some of the expensive frills like high speed lifts, half pipes and terrain parks, lift prices are low. A day pass at Park City Mountain Resort is $86, at Deer Valley - $48.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Portland to Park City
I've driven from Portland to Park City before. Long drive - it's under 12 hours if you push it. It takes you through the Columbia River Gorge, through eastern Oregon's Blue Mountains, past the Snake River, Boise Idaho, and then into some pretty remote areas in southeastern Idaho and northern Utah.
You've got to shove off early and stay focused to make this drive work. I left Portland, OR at 6:15 a.m. This day, dawn broke not too long after I departed. Passing Hood River and The Dalles, I left Mount Hood behind.
This morning's weather was fog which would burn off. As I passed east of The Dalles, bands of fog wrapped around the cliffs of the gorge. It was a Saturday, and some fishermen were out on the river. Freight trains sped along both river banks. Some filled with grain, others with containers bound for distant markets. Plying the river were tugboats pushing fully laden barges.
Highway 84 winds through the Columbia Gorge, and eventually tops out in the eastern dry scrub lands. In my rear view mirror, I saw the highway cut through a small hill with Mount Hood perfectly framed!
Not long afterward I spied a very long Union Pacific freight train on the opposite shore - speeding along probably at 65 mph. I found it captivating how this mile-plus long train was moving so fast. But all along this way, the fog shrouded the hill tops, with sun occasionally peeking through.
Then, magic happened. Above the fog, like something out of a science fiction movie, gigantic wind turbine generators floated, spinning above the clouds. With no bases visible. I'd never seen anything like it before. Hundreds of them. There was nowhere to stop to capture the image, but later on I found a bridge with an exit. I managed a video...but now the fog was below the summit of the rim of the gorge. Still, a beautiful image!
Later I passed through eastern Oregon's Blue Mountains and into Idaho. From then on, the speed limit is 75 mph, which means traffic moves at 85 mph - and in some regions - significantly faster. I removed my VW Jetta Wagon's roof rack/gear box specifically to improve my mileage for these conditions!
In Portland, Oregon, a liberal enclave in an otherwise red state, a Toyota Prius is a status symbol for some. They're as ubiquitous as the VW Bug once was, well almost. In pickup truck-driving Idaho, though, they're a target for scorn. This is the only Prius I saw in Idaho!
You've got to shove off early and stay focused to make this drive work. I left Portland, OR at 6:15 a.m. This day, dawn broke not too long after I departed. Passing Hood River and The Dalles, I left Mount Hood behind.
This morning's weather was fog which would burn off. As I passed east of The Dalles, bands of fog wrapped around the cliffs of the gorge. It was a Saturday, and some fishermen were out on the river. Freight trains sped along both river banks. Some filled with grain, others with containers bound for distant markets. Plying the river were tugboats pushing fully laden barges.
Highway 84 winds through the Columbia Gorge, and eventually tops out in the eastern dry scrub lands. In my rear view mirror, I saw the highway cut through a small hill with Mount Hood perfectly framed!
Not long afterward I spied a very long Union Pacific freight train on the opposite shore - speeding along probably at 65 mph. I found it captivating how this mile-plus long train was moving so fast. But all along this way, the fog shrouded the hill tops, with sun occasionally peeking through.
Then, magic happened. Above the fog, like something out of a science fiction movie, gigantic wind turbine generators floated, spinning above the clouds. With no bases visible. I'd never seen anything like it before. Hundreds of them. There was nowhere to stop to capture the image, but later on I found a bridge with an exit. I managed a video...but now the fog was below the summit of the rim of the gorge. Still, a beautiful image!
Later I passed through eastern Oregon's Blue Mountains and into Idaho. From then on, the speed limit is 75 mph, which means traffic moves at 85 mph - and in some regions - significantly faster. I removed my VW Jetta Wagon's roof rack/gear box specifically to improve my mileage for these conditions!
In Portland, Oregon, a liberal enclave in an otherwise red state, a Toyota Prius is a status symbol for some. They're as ubiquitous as the VW Bug once was, well almost. In pickup truck-driving Idaho, though, they're a target for scorn. This is the only Prius I saw in Idaho!
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