Ski season is wrapping up with a bang this year. The best powder skiing of the whole season was in the last week or so. And it was sweet. In an otherwise sort of uninspiring season, this last week really stands out. That’s not to say that the rest of the season wasn’t good. I can really think of only one day that was bad enough that we took an extended hot chocolate break just because we couldn’t quite justify going home after two icy runs. The rest of the year was really just fine.
In fact, for a year with so little snow, the rest of the year was nothing short of a miracle. That’s due to the hard work of a whole lot of people we seldom see who are out there making snow all night in unspeakable conditions, driving snow cats off cliffs in the dark, and otherwise making the most of a scarce snow pack. So here’s a big thanks to all the resort employees who made this ski season possible. They are the unsung heroes of the town, and a lot of them will leave to get on with the rest of their lives with nothing but good stories to tell. Others have worked here for several years, and become familiar faces and friends, like the crew at Snow Park Lodge. They know what I want for lunch before I’ve even ordered it.
It’s been a good season all around. Last week’s day of hiking in Puma, Jupiter Peak and skiing the Hourglass may have been the best day of the season. Other days with deeper snow had more runs, but there was something about those hikes into Puma that is hard to duplicate. There have been great days in the Centennial Trees and Daly Chutes, mushy moguls on the mine dump, the Black Forest, and new stuff off the Crescent Lift like Silver Willy. I’ve had more of my share of groomers this year. Groomed runs are always the last option. But the groomers have been pretty good this year, too. The little bits of new snow we got came often enough to freshen things up just when it really needed it.
With Park City staying open for a bonus week, I think I will hit 100 days. I didn’t keep a real accurate count, but between the electronic count at PCMR and the credit-card charges for lunch at DV, I’ve got to be close, especially when adding in a few days at The Canyons. That’s a lot of skiing. I’m tired. Deep down, flat out, tired. A week on a beach someplace would be nice, but I’m about to go back to the “real world” of getting the ranch ready for summer. Not much of a break to rest up. But I need to stay active there’s about five pounds of the “Deer Valley Difference” hanging over the belt line again this spring.
Aside from the real joy of skiing, of being out there in all conditions and seeing nature up close, I’ve had great company. The quality of the lift and lunch conversations was brought home the other day when I was skiing alone, and the lift conversation went something like this:
“Dude.”
“Nice day, eh?”
“Sick.”
“I just hiked Scotts. It’s great.”
“Totally off the hook.”
“See you.”
“Dude.”
I’ve come to really appreciate my iPod. Then the next day, I’m back with the usual group and we’re trying to understand the physics behind that atom smasher thing in Switzerland and how to balance the federal budget and the cosmic convergence of Western and Orthodox Easter. Great skiing is improved by great company, but in a year when the skiing hasn’t always been what it could be, the quality of the company has mattered even more. So thanks to the Tuesday group and the Thursday group and the weekend pick-up groups for keeping it interesting all the time.
The only thing missing was a couple of good friends who were out on the injured reserve list this year. With luck, they will be back next year with bionic knees, successful chemotherapy, and fresh stories to share. After skiing with people for 25 years, it’s just not right having them on the bench.
Thanks for another great ski season. And for you seasonal folks who are moving on, I hope your adventure in Park City was all you hoped it would be.
Tom Clyde served as Park City attorney in the 1980s and is the author of “More Dogs on Main Street.” He has been a columnist at The Park Record for more than 20 years.