Skiing in 2010
Park City, Utah
Sunday, February 7, 2010: Oakland to Salt Lake City, Utah
Julia and I were both keen to leave on this ski trip. Julia was excited to
see Kim, her friend from Brown University, whom she hadn't seen in 10 years.
Kim welcomed us to her home and me as a new friend.
The lovely Park City
From here, we drove into the mountains to Park City to visit Rick and
Tomoko. It was good to see them both, as Julia and I hadn't seen them
since their wedding a year ago. There was
lots of snow on the ground in Park City, but it hadn't snowed freshly
for some time. We were hopeful for snow during our stay.
Monday, February 8, 2010: Deer Valley Ski Resort
Our first day of skiing was at the Deer Valley ski resort. This place
made us happy because it has banned snowboarders. Sorry to my snowboarding
friends, but we just feel safer when everyone is on skis.
A gorgeous day at Deer Valley
The day was sunny and cold, but the snow conditions were very icy. It
was a day of mixed feelings. On one hand, the weather was perfect for
skiing, but on the other, the icy slopes made skiing difficult. However,
Deer Valley has the best on-mountain restaurant I have ever eaten at,
which made up for the challenges. We made the best of it and skied all day.
That night, we enjoyed Rick and Tomoko's company at dinner.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010: Park City Ski Resort
It was another clear blue sky day today, but extremely cold, especially
in the morning. Rick and Tomoko joined Julia and me for skiing.
Julia, the masked avenger, Rick, and Tomoko
The snow conditions at Park City were better than at Deer Valley. The
only explanation could be the snow grooming process used at Park City,
which seems different from Deer Valley's. The two resorts are so close
that this must be the reason the runs at Park City had softer snow. While
they still needed fresh snow, the skiing was better than it was at Deer Valley.
That night, we enjoyed another dinner with Rick and Tomoko, accompanied
by much wine.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010: Canyons Ski Resort
No snow overnight and another bright blue morning greeted us. I have
been coming to Park City for many years but had never skied at the
Canyons Ski Resort before.
Tomoko and Julia at the Canyons
So we decided to give it a try. I must say, this place did not impress me.
First, you have to take three lifts from the parking lot before you can
start skiing, making for a long ride to your first run. The resort is
huge, but it feels like a rat maze of cat tracks connecting different areas.
You spend a lot of time skiing on these tracks. Plus, the snow conditions
were much like Deer Valley's—very icy. Oh well, you pay your money, and
you take your chances with skiing.
We had another great dinner that night, enjoying more wine.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010: Return Home
Finally, it started to snow on the very day we left Park City. Unfortunately,
we had no luck with fresh snow during our trip. The good news is that it's
a short flight from Salt Lake City to Oakland, and it was nice to be home again.
Thanks to Kim, Rick, and Tomoko for helping Julia and me have a great time
in Utah.
Skiing 2010 Video Part 2