skiincy

So... I use to work for CorePower Yoga for a few years. Back in like 2009-2013’ish, they offered “yoga for trade.” Basically, you got free yoga membership in exchange for shifts at the studio. but, they eventually did away with it. I read it was because of labor laws. I think they got a lawsuit because people were being asked to “volunteer” for other shifts and it didn’t meant minimum wage requirements. im clearly not a lawyer but eliminating the free pass for family members could have been a part of a larger initiative to not break labor law rules. Just a thought ..

weird. There’s always one or two crazy people in the bunch. Remember when Cookie Monster got beat up at Sesame Place? When I’ve been to Solitude this season, everyone seemed cool and compliant. The biggest pain at Solitude is the $20 parking or parking on the main cottonwood canyon road. i was at Solitude on Friday with @Schif. We were planning to go on Saturday but changed plans last minutes. Too bad we missed the hoopla first hand. at solitude, when you arrive, there’s some ropes and signs if you want to go inside. There were 2 people outside asking what you’re going inside for (bathroom, rental, lost & found, etc). They required a mask (not just a gator) but they had extra masks if you needed one. There was a door for entry and a separate one for exit. Different parts of the building were closed off and you could only enter through specified doors.

Way to get after it! I’m down for an east coast tour later in the season.

Here’s my snowbird recap in photos. It’s quite a humbling mountain. Trammy tram was not as crowded as usual View from the tram looking towards SLC whaaat. The views are incredible. the quinsential photos for our moms to prove that we’re still alive. It’s not @enjoralas’s sausage Sunday, but we picked up some meats and snacks at Smiths. the beer is Czech your head and Lei Effect by Proper Brewing. here’s a cool pic of @Schifboarding. Cloud cover was heavy at times. And once, just off a green trail, a snow snake got me. It was funny and my legs were so tired. Snowbird is humbling. im all about skiing as much mountain as possible but please - no more election hoopla. I will not ski the election trail. And PS: bananas was bananas.

Here are some picture for @Schif’s post. The nacho appetizer was delicious. I appreciate a flatter mountain of nachos. We still have leftovers in the fridge from Wasatch. wally didn’t actually hate his man bun or the igloo life despite the smug 😐 look on his face no one else was in the igloo area. I feel like if this was Philly - it would have been packed and you would needed to have a reservation.

I've gotten tested a few times (to make sure) and I was never charged. Maybe it's because I have insurance? The last time the website said my test was $129 (No symptoms, not around anyone but I wanted to make sure I was good before going to Utah). The guy at Walgreens said that he doesn't know why it says $129 because he doesn't collect money for it. ha. I don't understand the payment structure for the tests.. Does anyone know how it works?

Heard that some people are skiing aspen and other resorts. Saw this link for some buy 1 get 1 free offers, if you need it. https://www.hellyhansen.com/skifree/resorts/?fbclid=IwAR1GxtSpmm9A80Lz9jhyYmz5_qtiugqyKEuipiPO1Blt7SSJd3OzD34PM-w#na

So, I had some plans do uphill at Park City but I’m not good with plans. I am GREAT at loosing things. in 2020, I left behind (err lost) my Garmin forerunner 235, AirPods, and Nintendo Switch. RIP electronics. In like 2015, I dropped my car key in the sewer and fortunately my brother went in to get it. Just in case, I brought my spare key on this trip. it’s 2021 and I guess I haven’t changed much. turns out, I also left one of my skis in the Brighton parking lot. So, I made the trek back to Brighton to retrieve it, which affected my original ski plan 🙈 Instead ... i dusted off my atomic skis and did some ski touring in the Wasatch on Mill D to Dog Lake. I parked in the Spruces lot and crossed the road. I found the spot through a Facebook group and downloaded the Wasatch Backcountry Skiing map that was highly recommended by my BC friends. i haven’t toured since at least 2018-19 and I haven’t really worked out since Christmas. It was exhausting. I blame it on the altitude. Pretty cool that they have a spot to check your beacon though. I really used the opportunity to take a photo (aka, catch my breath). I thought. Oh wait. I should snap a photo of my skis as I sang Kelly Clarkson, “Catching my breath, letting it go / Turning my cheek for the sake of this snow...” I think approx 1/4 mile in, you bear left. You’re basically ski touring on a road near houses. eventually the houses stop and there’s a gate. You go left and the skin track narrows a bit. I passed a few people. There’s a guy on the distance in the photo below. This is looking down to the beginning part of the trail. the sun started to set and I needed to pick up Wally from dog daycare by 7. No idea of the distance because the “Nordic skiing” function on my Apple Watch doesn’t track distance or elevation. (Miss ya garmin forerunner! I hope you’re in a better place) After of like 45 minutes of touring, I stripped the skins and turned around. It was great to get out and switch up my after work routine. Then, I headed back into SLC to get Wally and my GPS somehow (....) directed me to the Liquor Store instead. I was like damnnn beer is cheap. $2.15. Turns out, it’s $2.15 PER beer.. they definitely have beer laws despite no law claws. Then I saw these ones and I just couldn’t 😂 Made it this far? Hope you’re not asleep like Wally..

suppose to snow on Thursday night. We have Bird reservations for Thursday and Friday. (Fingers crossed)

What an amazing holiday and combination.

Do the stats even matter? What happens if you don't track the vertical?

This morning was my first day back to work in 2 weeks 😑 midday, I went to the dog park to get Wally tired and someone recognized me from Petco on Sunday. It was just a reminder that as much as it’s a city - it still feels like a small town here. I worked during the day, shut down my laptop, and drove the 30 minutes up to Brighton for some night skiing. I was able to pull into the first row and boot up in my front seat. But, first, I needed to do a bathroom selfie. I was quite disappointed that no one else was singing Africa by Toto. I would have totally done the drum part. it got dark quickly but never really that cold. This picture reminds me of a galaxy far, far away. with the snow falling and the shadows (not the PASR shadow though), it was a pretty night. There were times where I was the only one on a run, there weren’t any lights, and I questioned if the run was even open. It’s fun exploring. This is at the top of the main lift (crest express), which reminded me that I should order some white strips. But, no one is likely reading this anyway. As I was driving back to SLC around 7:30, fireworks we’re going off all over. Like real fireworks. Not the kind you hear from west philly during pandemics, looting, and rioting. Turns out January 4 is Utah’s 125th statehood anniversary. Since @Justo8484taught us (err maybe just me) about soaking, here’s a new Utah fact in case anyone has big dreams of making it on Jeopardy. Did you know that Utah applied for statehood 7 times over 48 years??. https://thrive125.utah.gov/becoming-utah/ Tomorrow, hoping to stretch the legs and do a couple laps uphill at Park City or in the foothills. Hopefully they’ll be better pics.

Hahahahahahahah. I just had to Google it. Not what I meant. Fascinating memes and articles about it

for the month’ish of January, I’ll be in SLC. I sang the Book of Mormon soundtrack on my drive and I googled Mormon underwear. So, I think I’m ready for an immersive experience. I work remotely but hoping to ski the ikon mountains on the weekend and, go touring & explore some of the local parks and trails on weekdays & blackout dates. does anyone have recommendations on the most do- Utah list? (I’ve already done the Red & Blue Iguana) And, will anyone else be in Utah during January or February? I found a super cute Airbnb in the Sugarhouse SLC area. Highly recommend if anyone is thinking of doing the same thing. Here’s the link. There’s a jetted tub and 3 shower heads. Pretty pumped for the post skiing soak. Outside, there’s a fire pit and the neighborhood is very walkable & close to the mountains. And the apartment is a seperate entrance from the main house so it feels more like a mother-in law suite. my pass is blacked out until tomorrow. Most midweek days, I’m hoping to do some uphill at Park City since they allow it from 6pm-8:30am or hit up Brighton for night skiing. My next day reservations are at snowbird for January 7-8 with @Schif. while on my drive from Colorado, through Wyoming, and to Utah.. I was looking at mountains that were near my route. check out this logo of a Wyoming resort. Their history page is quite interesting too. I just can’t pick out my favorite Wyoming flair of it yet. Maybe it’s that their pricing lists out “adults n’ teens”. But also fascinating that you can rent out the mountain for $3k?! Has anyone ever rode the pine? http://www.pinecreekskiresort.com/

I’ve skied most of them. They’re all great. It’s great to have such a variety. I’ll be in SLC from tomorrow through the end of the month, at least. I’ll have more intel and will post some trip reports in the next week. Really looking forward to the short drive to ski. If you decide to do Utah in January - let me know. I have some parking reservations set & ikon friend / family discount passes that might help.

Thanks 🤷🏼‍♀️👋🏼 haha I said mud on pig because they’re clearly not trying that hard.

That sounds like a terrible experience! I would have been furious. ive had great experiences as an epic season pass holder. customer service at other vail resort mountains have been awesome. But, I imagine the employees at JFBB are disconnected from the culture at vail corporate. I believe you get the best out of employees when they love what they do and why they do it. I imagine there’s a bunch of people who just work there because the job market is challenging in the Poconos. I doubt any South Americans powder loving skiers would be lining up to work at JFBB. I doubt there are bunk houses of seasonal employees that party and ski between their shifts like you get at Whistler & Vail. The staff is probably the same as it was previously. Maybe the staff loved the park and now that’s not a thing. They’re being asked to do things differently, likely have new systems and no matter how flexible you are - any change is hard. I hope Vail clean the mess they made with JFBB and turn it around soon. It’s possible but they’re trying to put mud on pig for a beauty competition.

@GrilledSteezeSandwich- winter park on 12/27/20

Big Boulder was the first place I skiied. And eventually worked at the kids ski school as a teenager in the last 90s/00s. besides the nostalgic, I don’t think I have any desire to go back. I imagine have an all park mountain has more liability and doesn’t appeal to the mass market. it makes sense though. They’re totally selling vacation clubs.

Oh man. I love keystone and their long runs 😍

I never got around to picking up a chair before I left. And I’m having non buyers remorse. Hah if there are any chairs left, would anyone be interested in picking it up and storing it at your house until I’m back East in February? I could Venmo you dollarz for your time & the drive to get it 👏🏼

I have a pro code with Flylow that gives me 40% everything. Let me know if you need anything. https://flylowgear.com/

Woot! Skied winter park today. It’s day 5 of my 12 days of Christmas vacation. I woke up at 7am and checked ikon for potential reservations. I suppose people cancelled overnight so I snagged a reservation for today. Not gonna lie though. I looked at the weather and thought - shit. This looks miserable. Temp at 11, wind gust at 25 mph, and cloud cover at 80%. When I asked @Schif, do you think this will be miserable? He told me to go for it. While driving over Berthoud Pass, I was like - wtf - why did I listen to him? I arrived around 10:30. Parked in my typical G lot spot. Hopped on the beer cans and got to the base. Thought about taking the gondola but the line was craaaaay-zee. So, I took the Arrow Lift (2x). In the past 24 hours, there was 6” of fresh snow and people were hypedddd about the fresh powder. when I finally made my first run around 10:30, it was tracked out powder... but still fun. I can’t complain. After Arrow, I did laps on Prospector Express (4x) and laps on Eskimo Express (6x). I ended up doing about 11k of vert over 3 hours. The snow on Engledive had me 😍 While waiting in line I heard a voice that I thought I recognized. I foooooor sure I thought I heard VP elect Kamala Harris behind me in line. But, it wasn’t. It was a mirage. Although, I wonder what my reaction would have been if I saw VP Mike Pense at Vail. Recordless. I ended the day on Hughes & Little Pierre and it was so fun. 😍 thought these pics were funny. Hope you all are getting after it and chasing the snow too.

Theres a few that allow it. I just checked uphill policy at like Loveland, Eldora, and others in CO. It looks like they have a little more restrictions and delayed uphill policy until after the new year. I would love it if Blue had an open uphill policy.

Skied Abasin this morning with my brother. Arrived at 8:30. The lifts were spinning and we were 4th row in the lot at the base. ABasin may have changed affiliations a few times but I appreciate that you can park at the base and the cell & WiFi reception is the same as it was 20 years ago (aka, non existent) i love skiing on Christmas. Lines are short and the people are all decent skiers. This was the line at Black Mountain Express at 11am. I’ve seen recirculated pics of long lines with no distancing in place... but I just want to show it’s not everywhere. We have a tradition of skiing on Christmas Day. Previous years it’s been Solitude, Keystone, Wolf Creek, Durango, and others. Obligatory Christmas photo for mom. We skied for about 2 hours because we have a Christmas dinner to prep. It was an absolute gorgeous bluebird groomer day. As the sun started to hit the snow, it warmed up and was even better. We winded the day with the Christmas brunch of pb&j and Colorado brews. On the drive down Loveland Pass, there was a small group with a grill cooking Christmas brunch and a tiny Christmas tree. I’m not sure what next year will bring but I’m hoping to keep with Christmas tradition. merry christmas, all!