Because It's Hilarious!!

Since talking to Squirrel a few days ago, I have been busting out into random fits of hysterical laughter which is usually accompanied by tears streaming down my face and the obligatory text to Jimmy to share in my laughter. Here it is:

"It's like throw- up telling poop; "You Stink!"

Four Feet of Fresh!!

It's a good thing it was a holiday, because with 4 FEET OF FRESH I was not going to be going to school anyway!!! Headed up early (as in 9:00am!) but Little Cottonwood Canyon opened late due to avy control so cars were backed up to the Sev at the intersection of the two Cottonwood Canyons. It took 2 hours to go from that intersection to the Bird parking lot. It was a good thing I had my Rockstar, Gatorade, bag of carrots and a friend from San Francisco who flew in for work, but timed the storm perfectly! (He actually did extensive research on the weather pattern and what day would yield the best fresh pow as well as nice weather).

We hopped on the Tram and headed straight for the Baldy side of Mineral. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I was in pow field heaven!!! 4 feet of fresh, low water content POW!!! I was FLOATING!!!! We took a few runs back there and while we were doing that, about 100 people had lined up on the Road to Provo cat....waiting for that bad boy to open. Right as we were reaching Hidden Peak via Mineral Basin Express ski patrol dropped the flag and it was powder madness!!! We raced down the cat and dropped right at the Wave into a powder oblivion!!! Everyone was screaming and hooting and hollering!!!! It was like a mad dash of people traversing and then dropping like little lemmings!! As I was floating down on my magic carpet, the T. Rizzle (AKA The Powder Slayer) a Powder Shot photographer was posted up and he took some really awesome pictures of me tearing through the gnar! I went down later and purchased two of them! I don't have any pics of me actually in action! I am so excited!!! Plus, Provo is my favorite Bird run! Perfect!!!

After that madness, we went through the black forest and took some amazing deep pow tree runs through Tiger Tail, Thunder Bowl and down to Baby Thunder. AHHHHHHHHH :)

At one point, I was bombing through the trees and somehow my mitten got stuck in the tree and I had to hike up and bat my mitten down, while getting dumped on. We hit up Zoom and then did one more Tram run down through Chips, the Primrose Path and down through a gully stocked up with pow.

I wanted to take more pictures of the amazingness that was Snowbird today, but there was no time for stopping. Charging hard all day long, I finally took off my soaking wet boxers and took a nice hot shower. I love Utah!

All Tatted Up

One of my favorite weeks of the year at work is the weekend of the International Tattoo Convention. Artists and collectors from all over the world converge on downtown Salt Lake to tatt and be tatted. Almost every single person that comes in my bar during this weekend is sporting at least one, if not full face and body tattoos. I don't have any ink myself but noticed that the majority of these dudes had knuck tatts. Most of them say something like; "Live Hard" or "Sexy Lady" or something referring to how bad ass they are, the trials and tribulations they have been through or their impending death. I was feeling quite like the virginal Molly Mormon with my blonde hair and inkless canvas....so I decided that I needed to take the knuck tatt for a spin. My coworker and I considered a few options, and he, knowing how much I love my tried and true Taco Bell 3 crunchy tacos and chips and cheese for $5.13 threw out "Taco Bell." I knew immediately that it was the winning suggestion. And, before I knew it, I Sharpied "Taco Bell" on my knucks, wrote an Arabic saying on my wrist, and was off serving Blue Moon to the comb-over, collared pilots who were wondering "Why do you let these kinds of people in your hotel???" (Delta Dicks). Then, at 10:00 when all the artists and collectors came over after the show, it didn't take long for me to end up in numerous pictures and on numerous facebook pages. Everyone thought I was absolutely hilarious and I had many offers of getting it inked permanently, for free. One guy even said that because of me, he was going to convince someone to get the "Taco Bell" knuck tatt for real. All in all, I love this weekend. These guys are really cool dudes, tip super fat, and bring some excitement to the place. Of all the conventions we see, this group is the most generous and the most polite and considerate bunch of people we have. I'll be sad to see them go, but will remember my temporary knuck tatts....and will be glad that it was only temporary :)

Good Bye Old Friend

It may be that only 2 wonderful summers were meant to be spent on the Sweet Unit. For today, I rolled out of bed recovering from a migraine to find that... SOMEONE STOLE MY MOTOR!!! What kind of sick twisted bastard would steal the fun right out mine and Mischa's summers!!!??? Forget that this thing has been in most of the lakes in Utah, some in Idaho and has had the likes of Josh, Zach, Mischa, Wayne and Spjute, Biff and Axel, Jimmy, Squirrel and Skippy and lets not forget Larry (who once we realized was a pregnant trout was renamed, Lorena). My poor, poor sweet 1964 Evinrude has fallen victim to Rose Park (AKA Tijuana) and possibly the drug infested Salt Lake valley. My attempts at walking around with a flashlight (and my Glock) and looking in everyones cars and trucks, talking with my buddy over at the Quick E Mart, filing a police report,calling every single pawn shop in the valley, looking on craigslist and KSL has proved to be fruitless. So, if you happen to be out at the lake or meandering through the pages of craigslist...keep an eye out for the 1964 Evinrude. Above is a close up of the stolen "unit".

There is No Replacement...

There is no replacement for a favorite riding buddy..... The T Rizzle has tried to take on the role, but he is not living up to the duty. There is no replacing someone who I can chat with on the lifts, to share a flask, to share a beer, to share a lunch, to share gum, to share riding stories, to share new tricks, to share laughs...... riding is not the same when it's just me and T.

Still Talking About This....

The top picture is from the first part of the hike above Ninety Nine 90, looking South. At the very end where all the trees are is my favorite spot. (Straight and then off to the left)

The second picture is of the cornice I wanted to drop, but didn't because I didn't want to trigger an avy with that bad boy.

The last picture is from the top of Dream Peak looking at the ridge! The far right peak is where the first picture was taken from! I hiked that ridge all the way to the far left of the picture and dropped the line to the right of the big section of trees, through that chute.

Today I went to Brighton and stopped in the Solitude parking lot and was able to see my spot! When I was at the top the other day I plotted exactly in the parking lot where I'd be able to see up to my place. It was pretty cool!

Powder Stakeout

All week long I had been chomping at the bit to get up to the Canyons to hike the ridge above Ninety Nine 90. Today was the most beautiful and perfect day to make it finally happen. It was 50 degrees at the base so I wore one layer of peppers and a sweatshirt and was off. (Oh yeah, and LOTS of sunscreen). I made my way straight over to Ninety Nine 90 (Well after 2 stupid gondolas and three chairlifts). I zipped up the first part of the hike, usually where everyone stops and drops. I took a few pictures and then made my way up to one of my favorite panorama spots in Utah... a really special spot that overlooks Big Cottonwood Canyon.

I was prepared with a little pack complete with camera, snacks, drinks and my binoculars. I sat in the sun for about a half hour looking at the view and I saw all kinds of things I hadn't seen without my binos! I saw: the Great Salt Lake, Kennecott, the King Con lift over at Park City, the entire Brighton resort, the entire Solitude resort, all of Park City, Jordanelle Resevoir, the route Josh and I are going to take to ride the backside of the Canyons into Big Cottonwood Canyon....and the coolest thing was a MASSIVE slide in an upper bowl above Big Cottonwood Canyon. It was about 300 feet wide at the crown and it slid about 120 feet. I didn't actually see it slide, but it looked fresh. It looked like a solid slab, North East facing, at about a 45 degree pitch and there were no tracks in that bowl.

The purpose of this powder stakeout was to satisfy my unending curiosity of "what's over there...", to plot lines to ride into Park City and Big Cottonwood Canyon and also to see what bowls could be a possibility for my heli drops. I had a hard time leaving my favorite little spot. I was warm in the sun, looking at a beautiful panorama and was so fascinated with what all I could see with my binos. There was hardly anyone skiing at Brighton or Solitude. I was really surprised. Maybe they were all out golfing!

The first time I hiked this ridge, we came down through Dutchman's Draw, but I don't know the name of the one I did today. I was the only one up there (REALLY low avy danger) and I couldn't find ski patrol to ask. But, it is my favorite run in Utah. I had fresh tracks all the way down, with a huge rooster tail. The snow was crusty but still soft underneath. It is so exhilarating to hike that incredible ridge and then to ride my favorite run on a virgin line. Ooohhhh- life was good for me today!!!!

Because I had a good tour guide to show me the rest of the resort before, I was able to find some other fun runs on the Dreamscape side of the mountain today. It obviously all pales in comparison to hiking and riding that bowl, but I have been able to find some other little treasures on that mountain :)

I had more pictures, but the idiot at Best Buy sold me the wrong cord, so I can't put my camera pics up until tomorrow. But, the ones up above are taken from my favorite spot overlooking Solitude straight ahead and Brighton to the left. I am happy I had such an amazing day. PCMR almost got 86'd from my snow arsenal the other day, but the Ridge park was so fun, it saved the day. I can't stand being all amped up to ride and then to drive around the parking lot for a half hour looking for a parking spot. But, all was remedied when I started to land my front side half cabs. Oh the little things that amuse me!!! Now the biggest decision for tomorrow is...What resort do I go to on a 50 degree day on my day off.... I will ponder that while I finish my Arabic homework!

Powder Leg!

On Monday night it dumped 18 new inches of fresh onto the Dirty Bird. With all the self control I could muster, I reluctantly attended my Arabic class on Tuesday, but flew up Little Cottonwood Canyon like a bat out of hell afterward! By the time I got up there, the whole front of the mountain was pretty much torn up and tracked out. So, I bombed Chickadee and went straight for P Dog. I rode through the tunnel and made a B line towards The Baldy side of Mineral. I was still getting fresh tracks, even if I had to cross over others. It was a beautiful blue day, rockin out in my hoodie.

My new "secret" stash is the Red Lens Line over in Thunder Bowl. So, I took a second to move my binding back a notch up at Hidden Peak, flew down Road to Provo and hit up the Black Forest, which was so pretty with the sun shining through the trees. I caught a chair on Gad 2 and pointed it right through the Tiger Tail gate. Once past the gate.....untracked powder paradise!!! I floated through untracked thigh high powder all the way until I lost elevation. Granted, I had to hike out of fresh pow for about 100 yards, but it was SOOO worth it!!! (The picture above is right where I flatted out.) I came down though the Pearly Gates and hopped on Zoom. By this time, I was completely exhausted after my long hike and powder leg. (One of the reasons I learned how to ride switch, so I wouldn't get it, and I actually didn't really get it!)

I traversed back to Chickadee and dragged my tired but really happy body back to the car. After a couple of really bad weeks, a blue bird POW day was exactly what I needed. Like I have always said, The Bird is my favorite place in the world and all is right in my world when I am at Snowbird. Many said it was the "best day ever" up there. It wasn't for me, but it definitely was pretty awesome!!! I'm glad it's finally February! Time for some big dumps!

My New Mission In Life is to Learn How to Ski....

WHAT!!??? You may ask! Aside from the fact that I generally can't stand skiers, except for Skippy and a few select bangers I have met, I am ready to learn how to ski for the sole purpose of going on this interconnect tour. I have snowblades and was whipping down the mountain in no time on those bad boys, so I assume that riding on two larger planks won't cause me much of a problem. I already have ski boots too!

A description of the tour from the Ski Utah website:

"Experience Utah’s Wasatch backcountry by interconnecting six resorts in one day. Ever wonder what the skiing is like on the other side of the rope? The Ski Utah Interconnect Adventure Tour offers a safe, exciting and unique way to experience the Wasatch mountain backcountry via routes in and out of up to six different ski resorts. Seasoned guides lead the way to fabulous off-piste turns, incredible views and a day not soon forgotten.

Tours depart daily from Deer Valley Resort or Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort, and are led through Park City Mountain Resort, Solitude Mountain Resort, Brighton Resort and Alta Ski Area. Cost of the Tour includes guide service, lunch, lift access and transportation back to point of origin.

The Ski Utah Interconnect Adventure Tour gives an advanced to expert skier the opportunity to experience the magnificent beauty and incredible backcountry terrain of the Wasatch Mountain Range. Tours operate seven days a week, weather and conditions permitting, and are open to advance to expert skiers in good physical condition. Due to the nature of the Interconnect Adventure Tour, snowboarding is not permitted. Guests will ski backcountry routes between and through as many as six resorts in one day. Interconnect Adventure Tour guides are trained in snow safety and backcountry etiquette."

خليل جبران

Ever has it been known that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation

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