Illegal snow boy!!
Hi again, We arrived at the Cottonwood Residence Inn in Salt Lake, a jumping off point to all the major ski areas of the region (Deer Valley, Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Park City, etc.). We hit windy weather the day after our arrival, and Joe missed his plane, so we only had 2 days to ski. But they were memorable days. We headed up to Alta the first day and were blessed with 11″ of new snow, still falling while we skiied. The altitude at the top is over 10,000 feet, so needless to say, the snow is light and hardly a “push around” like it can sometimes be at Baker. I skiied until my quads wouldn’t hold me up any more (about 2:30 p.m.), even though the lifts stay open until 4:30. I left the boys to ski a few more runs while I looked vainly for a glass of chardonnay. The watershed in the Alta area (unbeknownst to me) is closely guarded against any polution, including dog pee and poop (not sure how they control the deer and badgers). Anyway, the staff who helped us park informed me that Cisco was not allowed in the parking lot, or even in the car, and that the “marshall” was watching us. Well, I was descrete, and kept the boy between the cars during luch break, but at the end of the day, the thought “what the hell?” and let him loose on his first taste of snow in his entire life (he was born in March in Ferndale and we’ve been in the south west all winter, right). I just couldn’t resist.
Liquor laws in Utah are extremely frustrating. Anything over 3.2 beer is considered “hard liquor”, so you can’t just walk in and order a glass of wine. Nothing over 3.2 beer is sold in grocery stores, so you drive miles to find a state liquor store. Restaurants are just as frustrating. Unless they have a special liquor license, which few do, you have to order a meal to get served a glass of wine. I have to say, the snow is the best we’ve ever skiied, but if you like your wine, as we do, it’s almost worth traveling the extra distance to Colorado to ski.
Well, enough “whining”. The next day, we skiied Deer Valley. Both Alta and Deer Valley are snowboard free, so that makes things rather relaxing. Comparing the ski areas is like comparing a lovely, down-to-earth country girl with her sophisticated city cousin. Alta is small, unpretentious, and has way more snow. The snow is light, and not often do you encounter groomed runs. Deer Valley is huge, with gorgeous homes and people, and every ammenity you could imagine.
Last chance run
Docents wait for you as you drive up to the lodge, helping you with your equipment and providing directions to locker rooms, restaurants and lifts. There are 10-12 ski lifts, maybe more, with mountain hosts stationed everywhere, providing directions and advice, depending on your ability level. Every intermediate run is groomed daily. And there is a restaurant in the lodge that sells WINE!! (However, only after 2:30 and you have to buy food). Even though we ended up with only 2 days of skiing, we had a great time, and enjoyed some hiking as well with our 4-legged friend in the Parley wildlife refuge about 15 minutes from our hotel. We loaded up the airstream on our last morning and headed up I-15 towards Pocatello, ID.
Teresa Van Haalen Ventures 