Jan - Feb, 2009

Utah has some of the best skiing in the world, the Utah tourist bureau claims it has the best snow on earth. I can't deny it. I've been coming to Utah to ski for the past 15 years, never disappointed. For years I've dreamed of living here during the winter months so I could take advantage of the big powder dumps come rolling in from the south. This is the year to live that dream. It turned out easier to live the dream after meeting Bob Lutz while cycling in Kansas during the summer (see my Bicycling web site). I found out Bob has been skiing at Snowbird during the winter for several years; he graciously invited me to join him this winter.

 

Bob and Dave (friend of Bob's) looking up the hill before a morning start.

Knee deep powder on January 28. Finally, the three ingredients for the greatest ski day ever came together for me. After nearly a month of skiing I'm strong enough to sustain the skiers crouch and rhythmic jumping. My skills at powder have finally improved enough that I can string together a good sequence of turns before falling. And, of course, the deep dry powder snow of the Wasatch Front in Utah.

I was lucky to have a resort photographer snap a picture of me coming down the Silver Fox run. Not the deepest powder of the day but a very good shot. Other places, in the trees and protected gullies, I found powder up to my waist. Once I skied into some sort of hole with snow up to my chest. Another time my friend fell and ended up with only his head above the snow. At high speed, the snow flies up into my face and and into my mouth, I feel like I needed a snorkel but I didn't need a drink. Perfecting the moment, I was enjoying the blues from my favorite artist, Stevie Ray Vaughn.