Welcome to the Solitude Blog

Today I changed my Facebook background picture for the first time this ski year. Since November, it had been a photo I snapped in Honeycomb Canyon last season. I’ve been proud to sport that photo and rep my home resort all this time. However, for the past week, I’ve been heli-skiing in Alaska and thought maybe I should go for a change- everyone else flying with me here had updated their profile pictures and I felt the need to follow suit.

It’s funny how a little thing like where you ski can be such a source of pride. As I changed my photo from my sweet Honeycomb shot to an impressive aerial view of the snowcapped islands dotting the Gulf of Alaska, I felt a twinge of guilt creep in. Was this being disloyal to my local mountain? Did this mean I didn’t love Soli as much as I believed I did? Would Honeycomb ever forgive me for enjoying the snowy pitches to the north?

And it’s not just pride that I discovered, but jealousy… even though I was in the wilds of backcountry Alaska, high in the most rugged peaks and pristine landscape I had ever witnessed, I still felt left out of the fun as I read news of the 40″ of snowstorm back home. Here I was, skiing fresh tracks all day, enjoying what others pay thousands of dollars to experience, and I kept thinking, “Man, my friends back home are having the time of their lives in our favorite secret stashes.”

How is it possible to feel both guilt and jealousy when I was in a situation others would give up their life savings for?

I figured it out- while being here in the Chugach mountain range is impressive and undoubtedly the experience of a lifetime, I have never had a day to complain about at Solitude, and many to rejoice over. I know my way around the mountain and can find the good stuff even on a day when the snow may be less than ideal. It’s close to home, so I can sleep in my own bed and be on hill within a half an hour. I don’t have to get geared up with avalanche equipment just to take turns. And days after a storm, I’m still slaying powder at Solitude- no helicopter necessary. Don’t get me wrong, I love this heli-skiing gig and am grateful for the every minute I’ve been here. But my local mountain- 3,000 miles away from the remote beauty of Alaska- has my heart. And if Honeycomb has a forgiving demeanor, you’ll know where to find me my first day back.

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Simply Stunning!

Alright folks, I have put this one off long enough. I am going to start off by saying that I am one of those girls who is ready to ski in October and ready for something else in March. Not saying that I am totally over skiing, but my brain starts thinking of other things when the tulips start peaking their little green tops out of the wet soil. The last couple of weeks it has been hard for me to get into a “ski” state of mind. It started with Isaac cracking his head open and getting staples which put a damper on things and then that sun, that warm shorts weather sun, came out and decided to blast Utah with some early spring heat. We have totally been duped by winter this year and so instead of embracing the news that a large, wet, pacific storm might actually renew the goods up in the mountains, I sort of brushed it off and put it out of my mind. Besides, it was probably going to rain…right?

Hello Snow!

Rain, it did not! Saturday at the Tude was slushy and icy, you know, knee ripper stuff and the weather was grey and damp. The DEVO team was sorely lacking in numbers (everyone stayed in bed) and by noon, I was ready to bail and so were the boys. Sunday is an off day for us but I started getting texts that the snow was falling and it was starting to get deep. Hmmm. The sky was overcast as I walked into church but, the temperatures were rather comfortable and I presumed that whatever was coming down up there was going to be cement so, I committed myself to the next three hours with a bit of unenthusiastic determination. Stepping out of the doors, several hours later, I was immediately knocked over by the cold. Temperatures had to have dropped at least twenty degrees and my springy skirt and blouse did nothing to block the icy wind which whipped through my thin clothes. Flakes were swirling and I knew that all the heathens who had turned away from the “light” were turning in some fresh light powder! Dangit, sometimes, Sundays can be a paralyzing moral dilemma when faced with the choice of deep pow or deep piousness. I lived by the rule that the mountains were my church for many years but now, now…well, you know the story. I wonder what the fate is for those who suffer from alpine apostasy?

Isaac (6) getting some leftovers

A roaring fire and some good food helped quell the loss of a great day and I soon realized, as the snow started accumulating outside, that Monday was going to be even better. The weather reports were calling for another foot onto the 12-15 that had already fallen and the Cottonwoods were finally getting their due justice. I walked into my office and looked at my calendar, it was full. My husband was out of town and couldn’t pick up the slack and I knew I was doomed. Why, Why, Why? Was I really going to have to miss the biggest day of the year? It looked that way and I begrudgingly tackled Monday with as much joy as a lifty stuck smacking the chairs with a broom. My friend, Jill freakin Adler, made a point of posting her every turn with the conniving skills of the world’s greatest ski wench while I sat at the elementary school and read with the kids (whom I adore). My phone kept vibrating in my pocket as post after post and picture after picture was popping up from every last ski friend I know. I think I smacked my head against a wall or a desk at least five times in self pity. Jill later said it best, when she called and left a message around 3:00… “Hi, it’s me (super sickly sweet voice), if you didn’t ski today you should HATE yourself…bye” You can insert the B-word here with an exclamation point. I am currently ignoring her phone calls.

Of course I don't hate myself! Ahhhh...

Who cares, right? Your probably wondering why I am even writing this, what does this have to do with anything? Who really cares that Rachael didn’t ski, that she wished she had, we know Jill doesn’t. Well, the thing is this. I moped around Tuesday morning, wallowing in misery when I realized that if I didn’t get up there and at least make one turn in the stuff then I really was a loser. How could I even consider myself anything other than a weekend warrior instead of the girl whose life (from Thanksgiving to Easter) depends on the white stuff? I looked outside at the bluebird sky and thought of that fantastic winter wonderland just minutes away and I rallied…I RALLIED! Isaac looked at me and caught that gleam in my eye (five minutes before he was to catch the bus for Kindergarten to be exact) and said “I want to go skiing!” I looked at him and his three friends (who were over for playgroup) and said, “Mommy does too…go get your stuff on, NOW!”  Five minutes, that’s all it took, to get his friend’s on the bus, all our gear loaded and out the door to see what was left of the storm’s fury. I couldn’t leave Noah so I snatched him off the playground (with permission of course) and off to Solitude we went.

Are these boys ever in school?

Noah hiking out Honeycomb

The canyon road was busy with people heading down and I knew that my timing couldn’t be better. Oddly enough, I love to hit Solitude in the afternoon, after a dump, when the crowds are gone and the mountain is peaceful and quiet. I don’t mind missing out on first tracks because I know that I am still going to get mine. I know this mountain, I know where she hides her best kept secrets. You think I am going to tell you…uh, no. It was better than I could have hoped and I am so glad that I got my sorry self up there! Tuesday may not have been the deepest and softest but it had to have been the most stunning! Jaw dropping beauty greeted us. Snow laden trees glistening in the sun and the silence of the canyon  enveloped us in absolute peace and serenity. No one, I mean no one was there. The weekend had taken its toll on the powder junkies and there I was, with my two favorite boys, basking in the glorious sunshine, taking in the gorgeous scenery, laughing with my kids, rolling around with them in deep powder and still making turns in fresh, sparkling snow that had lain untouched (I promise), just waiting for me to cut through it. I know that I missed the chest deep powder that so many of you blew through over the weekend and I am happy for each and every one of you (even you Jill…I really am) who felt the sweet joy of the return of winter. I know that I missed the thigh burning race for fresh tracks and face shots. I know…I know…that I missed the “best” day of the season but it’s fine, I still got mine.

Pure Joy!

Stopping to ENJOY the scenery

Solitude...being Solitude...shhhh

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What does pure exhaustion, sore thighs and utter contentment all have in common? They all mean that I have literally skied my heart out over the last seven days! Sleep has come easy this past week as I have crawled into bed each night worn out and happy. Although, the warm March sun is finally peeking it’s face out and melting the piles of snow that has fallen the last few days, I am grateful that the “best snow on earth” actually lived up to it’s reputation and gave us all the best week of the year!

YAY FOR SNOW!!!!

I know that I am not the only one who is ready for a “break” today (even though I know that Solitude is going to be quiet and peaceful this morning). It has been a mad dash for powder, not only for the snow starved locals but for tourists as well as even a Monopalooza convention that found its way to Solitude this week. If any of you noticed the odd amounts of mono skiers gracing the slopes of the Tude, now you know why. They literally told me that a “MONOPOCALYPSE” of skiers had taken over the mountain! I wouldn’t exactly say they “took over the mountain” but, there sure were a lot of them smiling, partying and having a grand old time.

Monoskiers posing for the camera

Okay, I am going to let you in on a little secret that I hope you won’t hold against me but, I feel that it is pertinent information. I love Alta! I have loved Alta since I was 19 and fresh out of my one semester of college in Colorado (probably TMI). I love to get over in Little Cottonwood Canyon and stomp on the home turf. So, why this, why now? Can’t I love to ski at more places than just Solitude? Well, I can and I do but, this is where I am going with my “I love Alta” nostalgia.  Please read on for explanation. Although, I can attest (as well as most of you reading this) that Big Cottonwood Canyon was busy this past week, it was nothing like the mad chaos that was LCC! I am not trying to create a stir here because yes, I really do lust after the LCC some days but, I have never been more grateful to have a pass at Utah’s sweetest little (big) mountain!

Traffic on Wasatch..Heading up Little...Turn Around, Turn Around...No, don't!

Was I ever appreciative when I drove past the standstill of traffic heading up Little, or talked to those of you said you couldn’t find fresh powder after 11:00 am. Even my frustrating thirty minutes of canyon sitting, while I waited for the U.S. Forest Service to do control work, was nothing like the hours that some of you spent in your car in LCC.

This is why we were stopped on the road in Big for 30 minutes on Thursday afternoon.

Now, I am not trying to throw Little Cottonwood under the bus here, because, like I said, I am one of her greatest fans but, Solitude was where the endless stashes were to be discovered and skied over and over!

Snowboarder, Shannon Farner, getting some freshies in Black Forest

Thursday morning, I actually rode up the lift with a boarder from Snowbird who complained that Solitude was just as tracked out and that he should have just waited in line for the Bird. I looked at him, dumbfounded, as I said “Okay, so you would rather be sitting on Wasatch right now, then sitting on the lift” Insanely, he answered yes and said there was nothing to ski at Solitude. My friend next to me gave me the evil eye and pinched my leg so, that I would keep my mouth zipped. She knew wicked words were about to fly. It was all I could do to not call him out on his idiocy but, I held it together and as we slid off Powderhorn, I politely replied that there was plenty of sick terrain and untracked goods if only he knew where they were…but, of course I wasn’t showing him!

Does this look tracked out to you?

Tuesday was probably my favorite day of the week as I let Noah skip school and there is no one I would rather shred the hill with then the phenom ski grom which I will take full credit for. His little brother is about there but, I am not waiting for him on an epic powder day…yet.

I Promise...Noah is in that Pile of Blowing Snow...

The big snows had just begun to pack a punch but, it was windy and cold and the middle of a school and work week. I think most knew the best was yet to come and stayed away. Skiing in these conditions is ALWAYS the best time to ski! With every run, fresh snow fills your tracks and at Solitude our turns remained untouched by other skiers. It was quiet and peaceful and many employees were out racking up the vertical before the bigger crowds showed up. In fact, Noah and I were riding up Powderhorn to hit Milkrun when we noticed a sole skier carving up gorgeous, fluffy turns below us, it was Amy Nelson (Solitude employee and long time Solitude local). I caught her smile and I was happy that she had a chance to shred the gnar! It’s why she’s at the mountain for goodness sake! Tuesday was plain sick!

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and even Saturday were days that dreams are made from but, can I just say that the best run of the week was Thursday afternoon. Patrol got the Powderhorn gates open (Honeycomb side) and guess who was the first through? Untouched, pristine, deep, deep, deep, sparkling powder blew around me as I carved my way down through the open glades and trees that make up the north side of the canyon. Is there anything better? I think not!

Powder Junkie

So here I am, writing this blog, watching a short and tee shirt clad Isaac ride off down the street on his bicycle and wondering if it was all a dream but, the burn in my thighs after endless days of hiking out to Cathedral and all over Honeycomb, tell me otherwise. I couldn’t sum it up better than Nick Como (Solitude PR) who said on his Facebook page…”What is better than a powder day? A snow week!”

Thanks to Solitude and her quiet unassuming ways, her untouched stashes (that I know will be found long after the excitement of this week has passed) and to the quiet moments of epic freedom that were only broken from the whoops of happiness that often escaped through my lips. I was never more grateful to be shredding on her slopes than this week!

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I (we all) have been waiting for this day all year! Saturday was cold, blowing and nuking and it was definitely the beginning of something immanently good and, today, well today delivered and good ol’ Utah powder is finally back in the house!

Don't tell me there isn't snow!

Although, there are still some spots that are still waiting for a few more feet (ahem, Here Be Dragons) of solid coverage, the mountain is finally looking like it should…drenched in white! Runs are now open that have sat untouched since last season and most of my favorite stashes are rippable (I know that is not a real word…just go with it). In fact, the only places that I want to ski that I can’t, are closed because of unstable conditions and too much snow not for lack of it.

Hey, where did my son go?

I knew I was skiing this morning, even though I had to ditch some important tasks and I knew I was pulling at least one of the groms out of school to join me (I think I need to find a Solitude posse). It wasn’t even a question. I got Isaac squared away and then showed up at Noah’s school around 11:00 a.m. to free him from the third grade. The girls in the office know what I am about and when I showed up in neon yellow ski pants with fresh snow falling outside they didn’t even bother to question where I was taking my kid. Why lie? Skiing, dentists, doctors, it’s pretty much all the same thing. Serious business you know, that thing called powder.

Navarone

I passed two Park N’ Ride’s for Little Cottonwood Canyon and the cars were piled up…looked like everyone had the same idea. However, upon arriving at Solitude’s parking lot which was not even half full, I pulled right up to the Moonbeam front doors and parked. Not a soul was in the brown bag area and Noah and I quickly booted up and headed outside. A woman was coming in as we were heading out and I asked her how the snow was (just being polite). She said that it was good early on but, now it was all tracked out and she was heading home. I looked at her and smiled and then thought to myself “Where was she skiing, Diamond Lane (which actually still looked pretty decent when we went up Powderhorn)?” I laughed inside because I knew, even though it was 11:30 that we were about to get some serious something, something! Besides, the fact that fellow riders were few and far between, it was snowing hard enough to quickly fill in whatever was “skied out” early in the morning. Granted we weren’t on the main runs, but, hey, I didn’t pull out the Noahmeister to ski anything but steep and deep!

In case any of you are wondering what and where we actually skied, here it is, three hours of pure, peaceful, snowy joy. Powderhorn lift to Here Be Dragons (a little sketchy getting in). Honeycomb Return to Navarone (first time all year there has been enough snow to get back there), two times. Back to Powderhorn and through the gates to Milk Run. Summit to Headwall. Summit to Cathedral. Standing at the top of Cathedral is one of the most glorious spots at Solitude and skiing it (with fresh snow) is always worth the sidestepping. Summit and a hike out past Buckeye Junior, last run in Queen Bess and that was that. Had to head down to pick up the other munchkin.

Having gotten called out on my last post by fellow skiers when I stated that a “behemoth” of a storm was coming, I am going to refrain from saying that any such thing happened or is possibly going to happen but, I will say that, today, Mother Nature did not disappoint. She came through and if any of you are considering a momentary lapse of reason and want to skip out on your responsibilities, now would be a good time to do so. The wet weather looks like it should continue for a few days and trust me, you will be sorry if you miss out!

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The caption above explains just how I feel about skiing yesterday. The double punch of being both a snow day and President’s day, I headed up to Solitude just after lunch hoping to miss at least a portion of the crowd. Nearing the first entry, the sight of an unusually packed parking lot hit my eyes. Cars were spilling out onto the shoulder of the highway. Ugh. There goes my powder day… if you can call two inches of snow a “powder day.”

However, as a Solitude regular, I should know better than to ever be worried about finding snow. As if rewarding my efforts to ski, the resort always hands over a plentiful amount, and yesterday was no exception. Giving over the groomed runs to the holiday skiers and checking out the off-piste, there were suddenly no crowds and…

Find out more in this photo-packed post on ginabegin.com

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Shelly Poulton (Solitude Girl!) Loving the Sun!

There’s a behemoth of a storm coming…or so they say. The next couple of days should be epic, that’s right, I said it…EPIC! Just in time for all the vacationer’s to rip some serious snow. Can I shed one tear for timing though? I am sorry guys, I am happy for everyone who has the weekend off and who will get to come up and ski in the famous Utah pow (although, tomorrow may be a little intense for anyone not used to a serious Wasatch blizzard) but, I am just a wee bit sad that the hill isn’t going to be all mine. I am sure there are a few locals out there who are probably on my side on this one. Am I right or am I right? Why not a couple of days ago or better yet, next Tuesday when everyone is back at work. Oh well, I guess I can’t complain too hard seeing how I really am as excited about this supposed dump as the rest of you snow hounds out there and everyone who has paid the big bucks to come and support Utah and her mountains!

What Can I Say...I Love This Kid!

Noah Getting Some Sun Baked Goodness in Parachute

But, lets talk about today for a second because oh baby was it warm and beautiful! You know that warm before the storm thing that happens in Utah before the BIG ONE hits. Temperatures raise to 50 in the valley and it feels like spring for a few minutes and then, WHAM…flipping blizzard and two feet of snow! I think that was what was going on today. It was definitely nice enough to shed your coat this afternoon and chill out at The Roundhouse and enjoy a burger on the deck with friends. Plenty of people did just that and good times were had by everyone who decided to kick back and relax slope side. You could smell barbeque all the way at the top of Eagle!

Burgs at the Roundhouse

Christan and Noah Checking Out The Goods

These Guys Are Loving Life!

The crazy thing was that for all the cars in the parking lot and all the people that had to be on the slopes, it really wasn’t that busy. I don’t know what it is about Solitude but, somehow it always seems to live up to its name. Baffles the mind. Maybe we (the locals) will get lucky this weekend and shred some untouched turns even though it is President Day Weekend? We are skiing Solitude right? I suppose I shouldn’t worry about it too much…besides, cha-ching, cha-ching goes the registers.

So, back to today, I was pleasantly surprised by the snow conditions even after a few days of warm temperatures and the absence of flurries. The north facing lines in Honeycomb were still fluffy in the shade and Noah and I ripped down them without a soul around. I even let a holler roll out of my throat as I hopped over small tree covered in winter’s blanket of white. Sheer happiness can be found if you only look…no matter what conditions or holidays exist!

Honeycomb...Still Giving it Up Days Later!

Today was great but tomorrow…tomorrow…can’t wait to see what it brings!!!

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Our guide explains the history and structure of the Mongolian yurt at Solitude Resort

The moon was hidden behind the frosty mountains as we wound our way over the wooded snowshoe trail to Solitude Resort’s yurt. Three or four of us carried lanterns to assist the group of diners- roughly 20 of us- to the structure located about a mile away from the base of the resort. Energy ran high as we picked our way through the forest, some stumbling over the snowshoes strapped on their feet and laughing as they learned a new way of walking.

Getting ready with provided gear

Hidden away at Solitude, it is not surprising if you haven’t heard of the yurt dining experience. An observant rider may catch a glimpse of the round, tent-like structure while riding the Sunrise chair, but other than that, this restuarant- though I hesitate to call it that as the dining area is intimately limited to 22- is strategically located to create a solitary mountain experience.

A warm glow intensified as we neared the yurt, and though the sub-freezing temperatures didn’t stop our cheerful spirits, we were eager to remove our snowshoes and step inside…

What’d we find? Read more at ginabegin.com

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I said I would blog about today and so here I am doing what I do best. “Spraying”, as my old friend, John E. at Atomic used to call it, is what I do so, here goes. First of all, I am not going to say something that isn’t true so, no cherries today because it wasn’t as deep as I had thought it was going to be. However, I actually hate cherries, especially those mushy things out of the can that people put on their Sundays so, I am actually okay with just the ice cream. Vanilla, fresh and creamie…is just the way I like it. Today was Vanilla! I am going to spray about today because I believe that 1% of you actually got out today to enjoy the foot of pow from yesterday’s storm.

I don’t know about Little Cottonwood Canyon but, Big was surprisingly empty. Noah, his buddy Carter and I pulled into the lot at 9:15 and we parked, once again, right in our usual spot. Hardly a soul was around. I know you all got your goods yesterday while I sat in church but, geez, no love for a Monday? Who’s complaining? Not me and definitely not the lifties who got their fair share of turns in! In fact one, operator, Neve, back on the Honeycomb Return Lift, claimed that his morning had been magical. MAGICAL…You hear that boys and girls! Magic was happening all morning while you all did your thing down in the valley.

We had three hours to kill before the boys had to head back to school and trust me, we found everything that you missed yesterday incuding untouched pow in Honeycomb. The gates opened just in time for three killer lines down the west side of the canyon. Mmmm…Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, you name it we found it and devoured it. I am not going to go on and on as if I haven’t ever skied powder but I just had to “spray” the fact that yes…I got some today!  I guess that with so few days of it this season it’s hard to contain my excitement? I am going to let the following photos of Noah and Carter fill you in on the rest of whatever it is that I am trying to say.

P.S. the next few days should be just as nice so, why don’t you find an excuse to come up and partake in the MAGIC!

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I wished that I could have been up in the mountains today but, for all you powder junkies who got up there and skied pow all day without me…kuddos to you…you lucky dogs! Howevs, while most of you get back behind your desks tomorrow, I will be cruising over your tracks that are now buried beneath a bottomless blanket of white. HALLEFREAKINLUJAH! It’s about time, right?

I promise to let you know how that goes for me tomorrow but, for now, let me fill in the last week. Most of you know that although we haven’t had a lot in the way of storms the last week or so, doesn’t mean that the skiing isn’t any good. Quite the contrary my friends, it has been downright springy and sweet in a laid back, chill kind of way. Honeycomb has been super fun to explore with the kids, who love the hidden tree trails and natural jumps and pipes that make Woodlawn one huge organic terrain park at the moment. Challenger is super fast and furious and the bumps all over the mountain are building up some much needed thigh muscles. I am telling you…good stuff!

February doesn’t usually allow for too much tailgating, but with the recent warm sun, the lounge chairs and grills have been getting their groove on in the Moonbeam parking lot. Who’s complaining about that? Nothing like barbeque, family, friends and good skiing to keep your spirits high.

Last Saturday was my cousin, Liz’s birthday and she celebrated in typical Solitude style. Happy Birthday Liz! It was great to hang with family and rip up the mountain. The kids scored some good eats in the parking lot and showed off their mountain and their skills to anyone who would follow them around. My boys had so much fun that they wore themselves out to the point of exhaustion and that is where my happy little story ends.

And now, for the comedy…featuring us. In case any of you were standing in line at the bottom of Moonbeam and the shrieks of two young boys sprawled out across the snow caught your attention last Saturday, let me explain. Isaac was skating as fast as he could past Moonbeam so that he could cruise down to Eagle when Noah came up behind him and pushed him as hard as he could. Of course, Isaac fell face first onto the hard snow and consequently got entangled in Noah’s gear. So there they were, two brothers who don’t want to be closer than two feet at any given time, were snarled up in a heaping, angry mess. Enter, me, who whacks Noah across the back of his helmet with my pole only to have him fall over and scream to the world that I could have killed him. Seriously. Neither boy cares that they are each freaking out in front of about 40 people who are intently staring at all of us and making their dear mother wish that she could be anywhere else in the world. And then it happened, the only thing I could do was call it as it was so, I turned around, faced the crowd and in my loudest voice announced “Welcome to the Hodson show, I hope that you have enjoyed it” and then I bowed. Noah, finally realizing the situation that he had caused, jumped up (I guess he wasn’t injured by his mom after all) and skied off as fast as he could. I picked Isaac up, gave a last wave to the crowd and headed out of sight. I am sure most of you would rather forget such a scene but, I would dare bet that some of you reading this blog witnessed my little crisis and I am just here to let you know that yes, even me, sweet little Rachael (not) loses it!

Now, it’s a week later, everyone is fine, everyone is skiing and having a grand time and it is as if nothing ever happened…well, except that now, I am writing about it and immortalizing our insanity forever. What the heck is my deal? I am not sure if this stuff is really what Solitude is hoping that I write about but, I am supposed to be blogging about my ski days and well, sometimes, skiing isn’t always ice cream with cherries on top. Hey, that is a good headline for tomorrow’s epic powder day. Let’s see if it happens for me!

P.S. In case you are an administrator at Granite Elementary…please be forewarned that the Hodson boys will NOT be in class tomorrow.

Scott and Isaac Downing Some Serious Grub in the Parking Lot

Nice Turns in Honeycomb Chris C.!

Isaac Playing in His Favorite Secret Trail in Honeycomb

Yesterday, Saturday...THIS is why I LOVE Solitude!

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Big Cottonwood Canyon, January 24th, 2012

Although, we are not where we need to be, the canyons are looking a little more white and wintery than they have been the last couple of months. It has been a great week of skiing and I have been so busy making turns that I have all but, forgot about blogging about it.

If any of you have been looking at the photos from Solitude’s Facebook page, than you know that there has actually been some serious goods on the hill this past week. I have been promising Noah, all season, that I would pull him from school on the first big powder day and Tuesday definitely delivered his pink slip! Although, he had to get in a few hours of class in the morning, we still had plenty of time left to play. I knew driving up the canyon at 11:30 meant that most of the untouched powder would be gone but, I also knew that we wouldn’t be fighting over lines. The locals had obviously come out in full force that morning as I pulled into the parking lot and noticed the bumped out frontside of Solitude. However, as quickly as they had come, they had all but vacated the premises. Although, I was a little bummed at the obvious disregard to the late starters (me), I suppose it was just as well because it ended up being just us and the mountain. I love Solitude for that! I pulled right up to the front in typical Solitude fashion and we headed up towards Summit.

The sun was shining, the snow was sparkling and I was happy to find Headwall Forest empty of fellow skiers but, surprisingly, full of fresh, untracked Utah powder. You have to remember that this was the first time we have been able to ski anything but cruisers and bumps since last season and it was awesome! We lapped Headwall so many times that I believe the two of us may have shredded all the precious snow in there.

Noah "Getting Some" in Headwall Forest

Noah and I drooled over Honeycomb (which was closed) for a few minutes and wished that we could imprint ourselves onto her untouched slopes but we also understood and felt the danger of the unknown which was hidden beneath the heavy slabs of snow precariously sitting upon the steep canyon walls. With all the flakes that Utah has received over the last week or so, conditions, although so much better, are currently treacherous out-of-bounds. Visible slabs of cracked snowpack and the tell tale sign of slides are evident throughout the Wasatch and the surrounding terrain around Solitude is no exception. The patrol were out in full force, on Tuesday, training and working with their avalanche dogs and it was great to see them out there doing what they do to keep all of us safe.

Working Hard

I thought about them (patrol) as I stood on a ridge looking down into Milk Run early Saturday morning. There were tracks above me heading over towards Middle slope and possibly some tracks entering from the south side but, nothing from where I stood. Well, nothing other than the slide down the center of the run which undoubtedly was set by Solitude’s finest to stabilize the slope. I was tempted to just traverse in and head down but, I just couldn’t do it alone. I knew that the patrol wouldn’t have opened it if they didn’t feel it was safe but, I just had a nagging sensation in my gut to not go it solo. I stood there for a good ten minutes until two telemarkers pulled up next to me. “Looks a little sketchy” they said and I nodded but, I so wanted to hit it….we all did! I figured at least I had a chance of being uncovered with two big guys behind and carefully made my way over the ridge and down into the slide zone. At that point, I was a free bird and giddily bounced through the fluff and crud all the way down towards Summit. It was sweet and I was so grateful after such a lame start to the season to be skiing one of my favorite runs again! I was thankful to those who work their frozen fingers off, before any of us have even gotten out of bed, so that we can safely ski the amazing terrain that Solitude has to offer! Thank you, it was a wonderful day.

The last couple of days have been snowless but, no longer is dirt visible and the little rocks which tagged you on every run are all but gone, buried beneath the thick snow that finally came. The weather has been beautiful and mild and Solitude is empty once again from the onslaught of crowds which made their way up to the slopes over the weekend. This morning was quiet and calm and utterly relaxing as I played around the mountain with my little Issac and my husband, Matt. Isaac got in a good 3 1/2 hours of ski time before he had to head back down to the valley for kindergarten and officially end his ski weekend (I suppose his ski week is just beginning). I love these passing moments with my children that will be gone before I know it but, how fun to watch my 6 year old shred the bumps off Eagle or figure out how to turn on the steeps of Black Forest or scout out his favorite jumps for a little air time. He is gaining confidence and before long, he will far surpass his mother’s skills on the hill! Noah is just about there…Ahhhh!

Isaac Playing in Black Forest for the First Time!

The Eagle...Looking Pretty!

Bumps and Sun for Isaac

Posted by rachael under Blog Entry
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