The third annual PC trip, I love this time of the year, my cousin always comes, so its a good opportunity for us to hang out and do some venturing. Our ride forgot about us, so we were venturing around SLC airport confused. It is so unlike Steve. He has been picking us up for three years now, all without fail. His phone was going to vmail, and he was a no go. As soon as we booked our shuttle, Steve called, he had an emergency and he was on his way. We got to Sundial Lodge, which is at the base of the canyons, this was the closest we have ever been to a ski in, ski out accommodations. Quick check in and observation our studio room and we were out the door. We walked into the bar at the base "Drafts" and learned that we missed the food cutoff by minutes. A few Wasatch Black Lager pints later, we called the shuttle to take us to the 7-11 for a midnight snack.
Day 2 - thursday started efficiently, we got our gear, jumped onto red pine gondola and we were on the way. It was cold, but it was "Dry cold" which is easier to take. The first run off the lifts was refreshing. All this work and travel and money, for this moment, this view, this feeling!! Funny how quickly you get back in the groove, its just like riding a bike. A few runs in, we were on a double blue, too soon I thought, but thats what you get when you ski with Dmitriy. It is so intimidating, to stand on a side of a mountain looking down what looks like a 90 degree drop, that first turn to drop your skis facing downward is so scare, then your muscle memory kicks in. We got off the slopes early and enjoyed rum and ciders. Went right to bed, we both needed the nap. After the naps, (FIRST SIGN OF AGING), we hit the jaccuz, perfect after a day of skiing. We ventured downtown, which netted a large dinner and fish bowl drinks @ Oshucks, a perfect dive. All I remember is strong perfume and a dude named Matt, who lives 5 minutes from my new house. Small world, you travel to UT to meet someone who lives 5 minutes away. After a long journey home, that tested my patience we finally went to bed.
Day 3, friday, was the best ski day, legs and kennes are still fresh, and you are fully in the groove. We were the first ones on and the last ones off the mountain. That night we settled for marginal bar food at Drafts and retreated back to the room. Steve surprised us with a gift of 1.5 of a free lift ticket. Next day we cashed in 2 extra tickets and woke up early to scalp them. Scalping was harder the we thought, most people had tickets or discounts and were buying tickets at the base of the mountain. Personally, I think Dmitriys "boys in the hood" scull cap and sunglasses had decent, wealthy Americans questioning our motives. Finally after removing the cap and taking the merch out of my pockets the sale was made. I probably offered a low price, my negotiating position was hurt by feet feeling frost bitten. I was glad to just rid of the tickets and move on with life.
Day 4 Saturday, was a super busy spring break end of the season. The slopes were super packed. The canyons were hosting competition to to go my homeland and compete @ Sochi in the Olympics By day 3 on the slopes, the legs are feeling the pressure. The ride on the lifts feels longer, we just bob up and down slowly, in silence, taking in the scenery. By now we are tired and powerless to yell over our headphones. We got off the slopes early to get ahead of the curve, jacuzzi, shuttle and dinner in record time. We went to a an OK steak house, Butchers block, the both of us were tired of daily doses of pizza, chilli and burgers. The very good waitress sold us on the elk and since neither of us tried elk we rolled with that We went back to the lodge and stopped by the "on premise convenience store" it was gutted from a fully functional late night stop to a more upscale establishment. Fine finish, wines even a starbucks. Armed with a couple of PBRs we headed for a second round of the jacuzzi. Before going to bed we watched a bit of TV. I haven't had television in now 1.5 years and had my beliefs reaffirmed. The load of "reality" TV is out of control. It has taken over the last of the intelligent channels, discovery, history, TLC. While it is fun to glimpse into the life of a Kardashian, a logger, gold man cheapskate, hoarder, pawn guy, Amish mafioso and rap star it isn't long before you are mindlessly consumed. Then I ask myself, is this really "reality"?
Day 5, Sunday. Steve was on the money there to scoop us up and drive to the airport. On the way out, I was ready to go skiing again, go figure. It is snowing and raining and Steve is going 80, in a older Audi A6 (just like y old car) he is a fun conversationalist as he is a real estate guru and adventurist for life. I love his stories, but feel uneasy when he uses his hands to explain the story, and steers with his knees while we go 80 next to 18 wheedlers in the snow and rain. The airport is the first sign the trip is over :( This year was a slow one for snow and Im convinced to go to Whistler next year. Canada, huge resort and town at the base. Sold! The universe put an interesting Argentina cutie next to me, not a bad way to spend 4 hours.
Day 2 - thursday started efficiently, we got our gear, jumped onto red pine gondola and we were on the way. It was cold, but it was "Dry cold" which is easier to take. The first run off the lifts was refreshing. All this work and travel and money, for this moment, this view, this feeling!! Funny how quickly you get back in the groove, its just like riding a bike. A few runs in, we were on a double blue, too soon I thought, but thats what you get when you ski with Dmitriy. It is so intimidating, to stand on a side of a mountain looking down what looks like a 90 degree drop, that first turn to drop your skis facing downward is so scare, then your muscle memory kicks in. We got off the slopes early and enjoyed rum and ciders. Went right to bed, we both needed the nap. After the naps, (FIRST SIGN OF AGING), we hit the jaccuz, perfect after a day of skiing. We ventured downtown, which netted a large dinner and fish bowl drinks @ Oshucks, a perfect dive. All I remember is strong perfume and a dude named Matt, who lives 5 minutes from my new house. Small world, you travel to UT to meet someone who lives 5 minutes away. After a long journey home, that tested my patience we finally went to bed.
Day 3, friday, was the best ski day, legs and kennes are still fresh, and you are fully in the groove. We were the first ones on and the last ones off the mountain. That night we settled for marginal bar food at Drafts and retreated back to the room. Steve surprised us with a gift of 1.5 of a free lift ticket. Next day we cashed in 2 extra tickets and woke up early to scalp them. Scalping was harder the we thought, most people had tickets or discounts and were buying tickets at the base of the mountain. Personally, I think Dmitriys "boys in the hood" scull cap and sunglasses had decent, wealthy Americans questioning our motives. Finally after removing the cap and taking the merch out of my pockets the sale was made. I probably offered a low price, my negotiating position was hurt by feet feeling frost bitten. I was glad to just rid of the tickets and move on with life.
Day 4 Saturday, was a super busy spring break end of the season. The slopes were super packed. The canyons were hosting competition to to go my homeland and compete @ Sochi in the Olympics By day 3 on the slopes, the legs are feeling the pressure. The ride on the lifts feels longer, we just bob up and down slowly, in silence, taking in the scenery. By now we are tired and powerless to yell over our headphones. We got off the slopes early to get ahead of the curve, jacuzzi, shuttle and dinner in record time. We went to a an OK steak house, Butchers block, the both of us were tired of daily doses of pizza, chilli and burgers. The very good waitress sold us on the elk and since neither of us tried elk we rolled with that We went back to the lodge and stopped by the "on premise convenience store" it was gutted from a fully functional late night stop to a more upscale establishment. Fine finish, wines even a starbucks. Armed with a couple of PBRs we headed for a second round of the jacuzzi. Before going to bed we watched a bit of TV. I haven't had television in now 1.5 years and had my beliefs reaffirmed. The load of "reality" TV is out of control. It has taken over the last of the intelligent channels, discovery, history, TLC. While it is fun to glimpse into the life of a Kardashian, a logger, gold man cheapskate, hoarder, pawn guy, Amish mafioso and rap star it isn't long before you are mindlessly consumed. Then I ask myself, is this really "reality"?
Day 5, Sunday. Steve was on the money there to scoop us up and drive to the airport. On the way out, I was ready to go skiing again, go figure. It is snowing and raining and Steve is going 80, in a older Audi A6 (just like y old car) he is a fun conversationalist as he is a real estate guru and adventurist for life. I love his stories, but feel uneasy when he uses his hands to explain the story, and steers with his knees while we go 80 next to 18 wheedlers in the snow and rain. The airport is the first sign the trip is over :( This year was a slow one for snow and Im convinced to go to Whistler next year. Canada, huge resort and town at the base. Sold! The universe put an interesting Argentina cutie next to me, not a bad way to spend 4 hours.
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