The Fat Flakes Fall

That's more like it...
from the Solitude Facebook page

It's hard to get more depressing than rain in January when you live in Utah. Adding insult to injury is that thousands are gathered here in Salt Lake City for the Outdoor Retailer (OR) show this week and the skies in the valley have been dumping nothing but 33°+ water droplets. For some attendees, this was their first taste of Utah's winter. Our mountains should have been cutting a crisp white line across bluebird skies- instead they've been socked in gray while rivers of rainfall run through the downtown gutterways.

But that changed yesterday. I was buried in my smartphone's calendar, busily trying to sort out my next appointment at OR when I quickly took a glance to establish my surroundings. A ceiling to floor window caught my eye, revealing the magic that had taken place: the 33°+ droplets had transformed to fat feather-like flakes drifting through the air. I stopped still and stared, forgetting my smartphone and appointments. A rush of relief spread over me. It was finally snowing in Salt Lake.

from skiutah.com - Jan 18, 2012

I do need to clarify... we have been graced with a healthy punch of winterness in our mountains for a couple of days, but when it's raining below it usually means a dense layer of snow in the upper elevations. Hey- not that I'm complaining. We've seen well over 3 feet of snow since January 18th, so at long last I'll be off my rock skis. However, a bit of jubilation is expected when the rain changes to snow in the valley- skiers know that means conditions are improving at their favorite resort. 

Therefore, as a skier, it was my duty to check one of my favorite resort's snow report first thing this morning. Solitude is boasting a healthy 27" of new snow in the past 24 hours- which is close to what the base depth was previous to this storm. It's a cold 23° up there, which helps keep this particular snowfall lighter than what we've been experiencing the past couple of days. Hallelujah!

I wasn't the only one rejoicing. As I tore myself away from the window and continued on, the hum of "Did you see?", "It's snowing!" and "The flakes are huge!" carried me all the way to my appointment. The first five minutes of conversation with the PR rep I was meeting with were taken up by discussion surrounding this weather phenomenon and the skiing that would ensue as soon as Outdoor Retailer concluded.

As for me, I have no doubt where my Line Pandora skis and I will be rocking (on powder!) tomorrow morning- a secret stash at Solitude will be waiting. And for all you "snow snobs" who have been allowing your skis to gather dust- it's time to brush them off and wax them down. Winter has arrived. 

Seek and Ye Shall Find

With so many neglected skis gathering dust in closets, there's bound to be treasure out there for the one who searches in the right places. To this minority, I applaud. While the snow snobs keep sighing over lack of snow, your skis, dripping from melted snow in the back of your truck, have just enjoyed a day of secret stashes. This is the story of how I found mine:

I was running on about two hours of sleep after baking all night for a Sugared Magnolia order when I was asked to go skiing at Solitude Mountain Resort. I didn't think I would have the energy needed to keep up with my own skis, let alone those of my friends. But, already missing the cold mountain air I had been in this past weekend, I complied and hoped for the best.

Since I was ice climbing in Colorado during the last snow storm, it completely escaped my mind that a new layer of white had fallen on the Utah mountains and patches of it still hung around off trail- my favorite area anyway. I was expecting more icy conditions upon my return to Solitude, but was surprised by how soft even the base layer was. No, these were not pristine conditions that begged for my powder skis, but my trusty rock skis could maneuver between the occasional exposed hard spot and the soft snow that was plentiful off-piste. And when I was funneled back to the trail from my wanderings in the ungroomed, I found no occasion for keeping a wary eye- the runs were clear of obstacles so I was free to make the wide, arcing turns that are the beauty of groomers.

Now, dear reader, you get a bonus for joining me on my search for snow. I'm about to divulge what another skier should never share. If you want the good stuff, head up the Summit lift and stay left off the top. Enjoy a few hits of powder there (I got about four turns of untracked goodness) and then continue on down to the Headwall Forest. Inside this magical place the trees have dutifully protected the soft snow below. You'll find each turn as good as mid-winter (in a normal year) and lots of powder pockets between the trees. As you exit, take note of the smile on your face. You're welcome.

Don't think I've given away my best secret, though! You gotta do some exploring yourself.  There is one other area off the Summit chair that will make you feel as though you've hit gold... just follow a traverse. That's all I'm going to say.

Skiing may be the last thing on people's minds but the diligent seeker shall find, and find well. So dust off the skis, my friends. There's goods to be had.

On the Road Again :: Ouray Ice Climbing Festival 2012

Photos from members of my ice climbing entourage

As soon as I piled into the truck with my climbing gear and four other people, I knew I was in the right spot. We were headed to Ouray, Colorado for my second trip to the annual Ouray Ice Festival, about 6.5 hours away from Salt Lake City. Although the climbing had changed from rock to ice and my trip partners had multiplied from one to ten, being back on the road felt exactly like going home to The Most Epic Trip. I felt an inward sigh of relief as we hit highway speeds in a truck filled with gear.  I was on the road again. 

One of my favorite climbs this weekend

This weekend was refreshing both physically and mentally. Imagine going from living in the clean air for six months to a smog-filled basin filled with traffic, noise, and dangerous air-borne particulates trying to lodge themselves in your lungs. Because of this inversion-caused pollution and lack of snow, I hadn't been venturing much into the outdoors. It's been a rough transition. Therefore, the opportunity to escape into the mountains for four days and exert my pent-up energy on sheets of frozen water was as welcome as being fed a homemade meal after months of fast food. I felt gratitude for the amazing world we live in, for the body I have that can move among the elements of rock, ice and snow, and for the people milling about the festival- reminding me that I was not alone in my love for tackling the challenges of those elements.

I was greeted warmly by some familiar faces from last year- some even by name which surprised me. The ice climbing world has a level of acceptance that surpasses the clubs and organizations to which I've belonged. It's probably because there are few people "crazy" enough to want to stick themselves on something as unstable as frozen water. When these people find each other, the "whys" of ice climbing is a given, lending itself to a great foundation for conversation and camaraderie. I was given hugs, passing high-fives and shouts of hellos as I walked by. Talk about making a girl feel good! 

Our moms are all glad we're off the ice...

Aside from the competitions, raffles,  rubbing shoulders with athletes and leaders in the industry, there was the ice. It was simultaneously the backdrop and the highlight of the weekend. Flicking my tools into the clear blue surface of the ice, I felt a shock of exhilaration speed from my heart throughout my body. My crampons bit into the smooth frozen water and I moved up, flicking my pick into a placement overhead. I was climbing again. And not only was I climbing, but I was climbing with icicles dangling overhead, snow falling lightly onto my face and sporadic calls of congratulations for well-placed moves coming from below. 

It's dangerous, yes. It might be crazy (sorry, Mom). But when you are faced with a mass of ice and the tools to tackle it- when you are in that moment where people believe in you and you believe in yourself- there's nothing like taking on that challenge and achieving it. There's nothing better than standing on top of that frozen waterfall, looking down over chandelier ice and knowing you are the reason you made it up there.

For more photos, click here.