Ski Resort in Review - Deer Valley

Resort #7 - Deer Valley

Date -  February 4, 2017

Runs - 11

Rating - ¶¶¶¶¶ (out of 5 stars)

Ahh, Deer Valley.  The nicest of the resorts in Utah.  I'm not much for celebrity spotting, but I do think that we saw Daniel Stern (Marv from Home Alone) and a couple of others who I couldn't place.

We met up at Deer Valley with the McIntyre's and we had a ton of fun canvassing the mountains with these guys.  The whole family are better skiers than me or Ada.  It was fun to try and follow them around.

Ada and Ashton - Friends since birth.

The McIntyre clan.

The ski kids.

Me and Ada.

Little Grayson following Rachel down the hill.

Up next: Brian Head

Ski Resort in Review - Snow Basin

Resort #6 - Snow Basin

Date -  January 21, 2016

Runs - 1

Rating - ¶¶ (out of 5 stars)

I know this will be blasphemy to most of the folks that grew up near me in Layton, but I've never really liked Snow Basin.  I rarely skied there growing up and every time I went it was so dang windy that it always seemed like it took a lot of extra effort to get downhill.

It took us 45 minutes to get from Trapper's Loop to the resort due to traffic, which wasn't a great start.  I dropped Ada and Kate off at their ski school lessons, then I went off on my own to ski.  It was really crowded (Saturday crowds) and I think I wasn't feeling super great.  I took one lift up the mountain and didn't enjoy fighting the wind and blowing snow so instead I took a nap in the lodge.

Next up: Deer Valley

Ski Resort in Review - Solitude

Resort #5 - Solitude

Date -  January 7, 2017

Runs - 10

Rating - ¶¶¶¶¶ (out of 5 stars)

I knew that we needed to head up the canyon early to beat the crowds heading to the resorts, but I couldn't get Ada to go with me.  I didn't want to give up a good ski day, so I decided to go on my own.

It was an excellent day, and to be perfectly honest, it was nice to be able to explore some tougher areas than Ada is comfortable skiing...

Next up: Snow Basin

Ski Resort in Review - Sundance

Resort #4 - Sundance

Date -  December 30, 2016

Runs - 5

Rating - ¶¶¶ (out of 5 stars)

We visited Sundance on the last Friday of the year and we were joined by Ada's aunt Angie.  Apparently it was the same idea that many others had, because it was super crowded.  We spent a lot more time waiting in line than skiing.

Up next: Solitude

Ski Resort in Review - Cherry Peak

Resort #3 - Cherry Peak

Date - December 26, 2017

Runs - 8

Rating - ¶ (out of 5 stars)

We visited Cherry Peak on their opening day, December 26.  We had been hit with a huge snowstorm Christmas morning and we were hoping that would translate to a good ski day.  Ada's uncle Hyrum was a good sport to join us.

Unfortunately, we were really disappointed. Only one lift was open and the run was quite short.  There wasn't enough snow, so weeds, brush and rocks were showing through.  The biggest issue of all though was that the runs had only been recently groomed.  They weren't groomed earlier in the year which allowed the snow to freeze and turn into ice.  The groomer broke up this icy crust and left it spread all over the run making it really difficult for Ada and not as fun for the rest of us.  It felt like icy spring night skiing.  Everybody who visited the Salt Lake resorts on the day after Christmas had some of the best skiing, while we suffered at Cherry Peak.

Lunch at 5 Guys.

Testing out our skills on the magic carpet.

The real highlight of the day was visiting the lone remaining Taco Maker.  My favorite restaurant.  Apparently Napoleon loves Big J Burgers.

Up Next: Sundance

Ski Resort in Review - Powder Mountain

Resort #2 - Powder Mountain

Date -  December 22, 2016

Runs - 7

Rating - ¶¶¶¶¶ (out of 5 stars)

I grew up skiing most often at Powder Mountain.  In Jr. High I would often go night skiing and once or twice a year I would be able to spend the full day up here.

Ada and I had a great day at Powder Mountain.  Our first 5 star ski day of the season.  Long runs, good weather and short lines.

We skied 11.7 miles and ascended 6.9 miles for a total distance of 18.6 miles in 3 hours.

Ada got a real kick out of the tow rope.  She told me that in French that are called ski-bum-pullers.

Look at that lovely Volt.  Sadly, she is no longer mine.

Next up: Cherry Peak

Ski Resort in Review - Alta

Last year Ada and I skied all 14 ski resorts in Utah.  Now (about a year later) I'm going to post some pics and a quick review of our ski days.

Resort #1 - Alta

Date - December 3, 2016

Runs - 4

Rating - ¶¶¶¶ (out of 5 stars)

Alta gave us the nearly perfect first day of skiing for the year.  Not every run was open, but I only purchased a pass that allowed us on the Sunnyside lift.  We skied 5.4 miles in about 2.5 hours.

Next: Powder Mountain

San Diego - January

In January, Alison and I took a quick trip to San Diego with some good friends. 

We flew on Allegiant out of the Provo airport.

First order of business was some golfing at the Coronado Municipal Golf Course.

Alison and Rachel.

It's only Alison's 3rd time golfing, but she already has the swagger.

More selfies than golfing.

Some pro golfers.

Now some pics of some real pro golfers. We went to the Farmer's Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course.  It was fun to follow some of the famous golfers around.  Above is Dustin Johnson.

El tigre.  We were lucky because it turns out that this was the only tournament Tiger would play in 2017.

Alison and Rachel can make friends anywhere.

Phil Mickelson.

We spent two days at the golf tourney, then made our way to my favorite restaurant in San Diego, Miguel's Cocina, where they give you free queso! The nachos were great too.

We flew home on Sunday, but not before getting some photos of the wildlife.

Good sports to join in.

I'm oddly attracted to that horse.

All of us.

Finally home on Allegiant. The Provo airport was great, but probably not worth driving down from SLC unless you got a real killer deal.

No words.