My auto must have liked being fondled a few days ago and wanted more. Yesterday, I started getting the your brake pads are dangerously low squealing sound. Then coming down Big Cottonwood Canyon from Brighton, a little grinding could be heard.

This morning, I reluctantly took my car to Les Schwab to have the brakes checked. 5 hours and $213 later, it is ready to go. I was not so annoyed about the $213, but about the 5 hours as it meant no skiing for me today (and that I would not be able to hit Alta during this trip).

I got 3 great days of skiing/boarding here in utah.

Powder Mountain: on friday, I tele-ied at Powder Mountain. It is up by Ogden, north of SLC. It is not a big high profile resort, which is something I really liked about it. It is a strange place as the resort is spread over a series of drainages and has some really nice steeps but also has many long cat-tracks down the bottom of the drainages. It was a perfect place for me on teles as it had tons of not-so-steep powder skiing. I had a great time.

The saw the best slogan on a t-shirt in the ski shop, “I have used up all my sick days, so I am calling in dead”.

Snowbird: Had a great day on Sunday both boarding and tele-ing with Mark. He was a great guide who knows the mountain like the back of his hand. We had ~1ft of fresh powder. I have to say it, “it is the lightest stuff on earth”. I was constantly amazed at the Utah powder. I had a big white beard from all the face shots. The picture above is me crashing and burning for the camera late in the afternoon.

Brighton: This was the only place where I brought my camera. It was a leisurely day. Not a cloud in the sky and fantastic sunshine skiing. I found some good powder in the trees and just went fast on the groomers. I took a few pictures around 3pm. Check them out here, here, here, and here

Sadly, I missed Alta again. I was planning on hitting it on Tues, but the brake repair kept me in the city. Oh well, I guess I will just have to go back.

On Saturday I took a day off from traveling and did some trip maintenance. The plan was to perform car maint., clean and vacuum the car, go food shopping, post some journal entries (which you can see I did not get done till today) and send some postcards. Well I got 2 of the 5 done.

All I wanted done on the car was an oil change and a lube job, but after talking with the mechanic and looking over my previous invoices I realized I would be spending more than $34.95. $201 more. Dammmit. Got the oil, front and rear differential, and tranmission fluid changed. Oh and my rear brake light was out.

Getting the car washed turned out to be cheaper, but more difficult to complete. After a number of direction malfunctions (ie. I got lost). I finally found the place. Now the car is clean, all windows washed and everything vacuumed. All for $9.

Shopping, postcards and journal entries will have to happen tomorrow.

On Saturday (Feb 4th), I did one of my favorite things, I aimlessly wandered around the city I am visiting. I try and spend atleast a few hours doing this in any city I visit.

I started out at the Cathedral of the Madeline which was built in 1903 and recently remodeled. The highlights have to be the stain glass windows and the huge organ. The sacrament paintings were also like none I have ever seen. (another shot) This is definitely worth a visit.

Next I hit the Temple Square and wandered among the impressive 60’s architecture and watched what seemed like a never ending stream of wedding parties take photos in front of the temple. Other pictures here, here, here, here, here and here(I love the suitcase).

Here came the aimless wander part. I hit Main Street, went by the performing arts center, admired older areas southeast of main street (here, here and here. Finally I hit the City/County Building and Library (another pic

All and all, my impression of Salt Lake City is that the downtown core, still has some character with great old buildings. However the only people wandering around with me on Saturday were the homeless and street grommits (ie no one lives there). I have been told that there are a few projects underway to bring people back into the city core. Lets see if it works.

If you asked me 3 days ago, I would have said, “I think I am going to skip Utah on this trip. Just not a enough time.” Well it turns out I will be skipping Montana and Wymoing instead. Got to Ogden, UT last night and will ski/board at Powder Mountain today.

I will head to SLC tonight and probably take tomorrow off to be a tourist. I’ll be staying in Utah till Wed, I believe.

This was taken from Keith’s patio. If you look closely you can see the ski tracks on the hillside behind the house. All the hillsides around town where tagged this way. Now that would be a fun coffee break.

Another view from Keith’s patio

The terrain around Sun Valley is an area I really love. I think it is the way mountains are completely white without any trees, cliffs or sage brush showing. Take a look at these pics.

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All I can say is Sun Valley was fantastic. I will recommend it to any and everyone.

For Sunday and Monday I stayed at the Lift Tower Lodge. A very mediocore dive of a hotel. On Tues and Wed I stayed with Keith.

Monday: It snowed all day. A little windy and foggy up top but down on Seattle Ridge and Cold Springs the visibility and the snow was great. My first impression of Sun Valley. Way, way, way over the top. Do you really need the dividers between the urinals to be granite? My favorite moment has to have been ordering a French Dip sandwich up at the Seattle Lodge. The French Dip sandwich is constructed by a nice chef carving prime rib at the Carving Station. 3 nice pieces thrown on a bun. Gotta love it.

Tuesday: Keith suggests that we go and do some backcountry. We decided to go to Durance(I think this spelling is correct). A 3000+ ft peak right off RT 75 north of Ketchum. There were a few people there with us, but we did get 2nd tracks down the bowl back to the car. Here is Keith, myself and one of my favorite self portraits (and another). Sadly, we got some high clouds and thus no great photos, but here is a one down the valley back towards Ketchum (notice Sun Valley’s Bald Mnt on the right) and another looking into the Sawtooths. We got a great ski back down to the car. It was heavy snow, but it had a nice even pitch which even I could get some good tele turns in.

Wednesday: Today dawned blue bird blue. Keith and I snowboarded. It was a great day. Keith showed me all his favorite spots, including a number of great runs in the bowls. I took some great photos of the incredible views off the top of Bald Mnt. I took more incredible photos of the Seattle Ridge Lodge. I took even more video of Keith jumping off a cornice and boarding down untouched powder slopes. At 4:15 we returned to the lodge. Keith bought some beers. We took a few sips, listened to the cowboy play the guitar, harmonica and sing. Keith suggested we look at the video. This is where my luck has run out. I accidentially left the zipper open in my jacket. The camera liberated itself and is now running free somewhere on Bald Mnt. If found. please send me a message.

I originally was not going to head to Sun Valley, because well… it is Sun Valley. However, I had a great time. Keith was a great host (thanks to Jim and Doug for the introduction) and he is a great skiier. I am already looking forward to my return trip. I snowboarded, on Monday, when it was storming and blowing. A great powder day with only a few runs of skiing by feel. Tues, Keith and I did some backcountry tele-ing at Durance(3000+ft of open slope right next to the highway) and Wed Keith and I boarded at Sun Valley on a blue bird day.

You know you are at Sun Valley when you go for lunch in the lodge, order a French Dip sandwich and the chef carves 3 1/2 thick slaps of prime rib. Damn it was good and worth the $8.25.

I’ll post more pictures later this weekend and give a more detailed trip report.

a lazy day at Keith's

Wooohooo it is snowing here in Sun Valley. The forecast is 8-16 inches today and tonight. Then another big storm on Wed.<br /><br />Woohoo! Days and days of powder skiing in my future.

Now I only need to figure out how to get a discount on the $68 dollar lift tickets.