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I guess summer is kind of an odd time to write about
skiing. Maybe I just had to wait until all of the snow was melted before I
could stand to sit and write about it! Skiing is my winter passion and I
take every opportunity that I can to go. For me, skiing is a family event.
My family, my sister’s family and my parents all went on a ski trip
together this year. Kudos to my Dad for planning the trip of a lifetime
for no less than ten people! The rental unit was great with a floor of
rooms for each family. We ranged in age from 7 to 66 and we ranged in
abilities from beginner to expert. This year’s trip was special because my
family was all new to the annual event! (I got married last June to a
wonderful man who has two beautiful young adult daughters)
We went skiing in the
Salt Lake City
area of
Utah
going of course to Alta. This is the
Mecca
of skiers in the
U.S.
but don’t take your snowboard there because it’s all skis! Alta has
its own flavor and mystique. Alta is a skiers ski area… there aren’t a
lot of creature comforts but the skiing is FANTASTIC! The lifts have no
safety bars… Alta dares you to go skiing! In three previous years (of
our vacations) our ski days at Alta have been plagued by severe cold and
poor visibility – but this year Alta put on a show! It was clear and
sunny (and cold, necessary for good skiing!). The kids went to ski school
for half a day and the rest of us hit the slopes! My brother-in-law and my
husband and I took off for Katherine’s Area and some beautiful off-piste
skiing.
Another day had us at
Brighton
, another beautiful and wild place to ski. We especially love Millicent
Chair and Scree Slope. I ride out across the traverse to the little chute
area and I can feel my hands start to sweat just thinking about the tiny
technical turns I will have to make to get down the steepest part between
the outcroppings of rocks. I am terrified of heights and skiing has
definitely taught me not to look down and not to stand around too long at
the top of the hill. The longer I stand the harder it is to make that
first turn… I guess that’s how it is any time that you have a fear,
having the faith to initiate the first move. When I’m down the mountain
it’s the most powerful feeling of accomplishment to look back up at that
mountain and think, “I did it!”
My 66 year old father who started skiing in his
mid-forties skis all the expert slopes with us. His celebration at the
bottom of the hill is to throw his ski poles high into the air while
letting out a great whoop that can be heard echoing back from the
mountain. Don’t worry, that’s for special occasions, but if you hear
that whoop, look up for flying ski poles! He wants to make it to the 80+
club of skiers. I hope he will!
We took two road trips to discover areas that we
haven’t had time to ski before. They were both great surprises! We drove
out to
Powder
Mountain
, a huge ski area with hundreds of acres of ski-able terrain, if you go
here, plan on more than just one day. You cannot hope to see it all!
Another great surprise was Sundance. This resort has beautiful scenery and
Mr. Redford was careful not to over develop the mountain. For those of you
interested in eco-tourism on skis, this is it! The resort is clean and
tastefully developed. Though a small resort, there is much there to ski.
We took the complimentary guided tour of the mountain and found out all
the sweet places to catch some soft powder (great for the Spring-like day
that we skied there) and some highlights on the mountain’s famous film
history.
Most of all, the trip was a great time for our
blended families to get to know one another and to have a great time while
we did it. We kept meals simple and cooked in the rental house most
evenings with everyone pitching in to help with some portion of the tasks
involved with preparation, serving and clean-up. You know it wasn’t
always easy, families seldom are, we had our fair share of
misunderstandings and some hurt feelings, inevitable in a group of that
size. But we had some fantastic moments of humor and love that outweighed
everything negative by far.
Contributed by: Dr. Susan Stevenson
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