Snowbird

Monday, January 13, 2020
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Day one – up, dressed, had breakfast and out by 8:30am.  Pretty good start.  Snowbird is only 20 minutes up the canyon from our hotel in the city – not bad at all.  Good base of ten feet and some fairly fresh snow – five feet in the last five days!  Not too cold but a little windy.  The top was closed but we hit a lot of runs and rode in the trees on the lower mountain.  Snow started falling in the afternoon making visibility tough.  Did a few more runs in the increasingly soft snow but called it around 3:30 and hit the spa, sauna, steam room, and rooftop Jacuzzi – complete with snow falling on our heads giving us little ice caps.  Wrapped up with some tea and relaxing before the semi sketchy drive down the mountain.  I heard someone say they may close the road for avalanche control but usually open it back up a few hours later – hmmm, what happens if we get stuck up here?!?  A bit later I saw a snowplow drive down canyon and it had stopped snowing so we were all good.  We hit a Mexican place for dinner (and some tequila) and headed to bed.
IDay two - lja’s cold got worse so he sat today out hoping to get better and not ruin the rest of the trip.  Guess the tequila and outdoor Jacuzzi were not the best idea.  Now familiar with the mountain, I hit it solo and took the tram to the top.  The backside, Mineral Basin, wasn’t open yet so rode all the way down the front.  Then up and down again, had lunch, and took the tram to the top when I heard the backside was open.  As I rode the ridge, I saw an Experts Only double diamond sign so chickened out and stayed on the front but then traversed to another “Experts Only!” warning so the only choice was to drop in!  Trammed it back up – this time I decided to go over the edge and give it a go.  Snowbird is very steep but I had pretty good snow (although a little heavier than expected making turning tough, especially once it got tracked up a bit).  Got into the groove though and started digging the big deep turns (and yes, I stopped to rest a lot).  I decided to head back to the front side but then saw that the tunnel back through the mountain was open (complete with a magic carpet) so had to take it.  One more ride up from the back and then all the way, peak to lodge, down the front.  Wow, I’m tired. 
Next, headed back to pick up Ilja and drive to Jackson, WY.  Five hours, mostly on a two-lane road bordered by barbed wire fences.  Beautiful open range country covered in a blanket of snow with the pastel of a sunset painting the sky to the west.  Once it got dark, the driving was tough with blowing snow obscuring the road and a couple big mountain passes to cross.  We made it safely to Jackson and hit the Roadhouse Brewery (for some elk chili) then the Cowboy Bar before turning in.  Fun day!

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