51 Resorts

 

Wednesday, Feb 6

Deer Valley in Park City has built a reputation for quality machine grooming as well as fine dining.  It is also one of the remaining few resorts in the country that is exclusively for skiersÉ ThatÕs right, NO Snowboarding.  They also pride them selves with above and beyond customer service with ski valets helping to unload your cars and mountain tours offered to guests.

 

It was cloudy and cool when we rode the Silver Lake Express up to the mid mountain to then decide where to head from there. Once there, we decided to ride up the Sterling Lift

to access some of the great groomed runs offered there. We ended up riding just about every lift and skiing down select runs from Flagstaff Mountain to Empire and back and forth.  And, it wouldnÕt be skiing at Deer Valley unless you took a cruise down SteinÕs RunÉ Stein Erickson is still active and runs a Lodge up at the Silver Lake Base. The PR folks at Deer Valley really know how to welcome and treat the media as we were invited to enjoy lunch at the Snow Park Lodge located at the base and later that evening we were treated to an incredible dining experience at The Mariposa in the Silver Lake Lodge.  Wow, unbelievable array to select fromÉ Kumamoto Oysters, Pan Seared Sea Scallop, Pork Belly Salad and Nimus Ranch Short RibsÉ all small portions served with a selection of paring wines.  Last but not least, Deer Valley put us up in a 2-bedroom townhouse in The Lodges at Deer Valley for our final night in Park CityÉ

 

Thursday, Feb. 7

The next morning we headed to Park City Mountain Resort. Last week Park City hosted the Sprint US Grand Prix where Shaun White took honorsÉ This resort also hosted the Snowboarding venues during the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games.  Originally owned and developed by the BadamiÕs, who also owned Alpine Meadows, they use to host ÒAmericaÕs OpeningÓ World Cup Races in the early 90Õs and I was lucky to be able to get media credentials to cover these races and attend all the hosted media parties, press conferences and award ceremonies.  Skiing this mountain and terrain brought back all those great memories.  We skied most all sides of the mountain from top to bottom, east to west and back down, but had to get off the mountain early as our next move was to drive to Steamboat Springs that evening.  Changing out of ski clothes in the parking lot with everything loaded, we head east on Hwy 40, grabbing a quick meal in Heber and stopping for petro in Vernal before crossing into Colorado at Dinosaur National Monument.  Just like crossing the Salt Flats, we encounter freezing fog along the way but just at the Colorado border, the skies had cleared and beautiful sunset was behind usÉ

 

We arrived in Steamboat Springs, Colorado around 6:30pm and check in to the Holiday Inn, got settled and made sure the internet and all the other devices worked before dining in their adjacent restaurant, RexÕs.  Ever had Chicken Fried Chicken over Mac & CheeseÉ my buddy, Dan enjoyed it! 

 

The last time I skied Steamboat was about 8 years ago in the spring during their closing week and it was very much spring skiing with mostly upper-mountain lifts open.  The first time I skied Steamboat was about 13 years ago with mid winter conditions and met up with Nelson Carmichael on the hill.  This week Steamboat was celebrating their 100th Winter CarnivalÉ IÕm sure youÕve seen horse pulled cowboys on skis negotiation an obstacle course with jumps and all down Main Street in Warren Miller movies in the past and not only that signature event was happening but ski jumping, a Black Tie Ball where Women dress to the nines but have to wear SorelsÉ all kinds of kids races and activities

on and off the mountainÉ

 

Friday, Feb 8

We took the Holiday InnÕs complimentary shuttle to the base of the resort, pick up our lift tickets and headed up the hill.  Being a Friday and Winter Carnival, all the local school kids got the day off and families and kids plus visiting skiers from all over converged on the slopes of Steamboat for this 100th annual event.  But, even with thousands of other skiers on the mountain, the lift lines were not more than a few minutes and yes we skied our usual fashion of attempting to ski at least one run from each of the upper mountain lifts and by days end, at least 20,000 vertical.  So far on this mid winter road trip, we have skied 4 resorts and my plan is to ski 4 more before returning to TahoeÉ

 

Some of you south shore locals and Heavenly people might remember Molly Cuffe, who spent several years as the PR/Communications person for Heavenly.  She moved on about 6 years ago and worked PR for Colorado Ski Country USA and for the past 4 years has been working with Smart WoolÉ She is based out of Steamboat and we were able to connected for an Apres Ski opportunity in downtown Steamboat, the Bistro CV, and it was great to share some time with her and catch up.  After Apres Ski time we head to a local Mexican Restaurant, La Fiesta Grill & Cantina, to grab some taco for dinner and it was all goodÉ

 

Snow was forecast to come in tonight, but still nothing as I write. We are to ski most of the day tomorrow again at Steamboat, maybe meet Molly for a few runs and by afternoon will be heading to Salida, Colorado on the eastern side of the continental divide to MonarchÉ