TRIP REPORT: June 12, 2005, Snowbird, Utah

It’s not often you get to pack your skis and your golf clubs into the same bag, but that’s exactly what I found myself doing on Friday night. The clubs were a no-brainer. Ski Utah was flying a group of journalists out for a party to celebrate their record-breaking season, and on the list of activities was a round at Park Meadows Country Club in Park City.

The skis were a little more of a stretch. It was June 10 as I was packing. Snowbird was still open (still is), but the consensus was that summer was here. Winter was over. Lugging skis a thousand miles for a two-day trip seemed a bit excessive.

What the hell. I grabbed my Salomon 1080s, my shortest, skinniest skis, in anticipation of maybe getting some spring corn in the Cirque, and stuffed them in my ski bag. Then I crammed my clubs and a bag I scored at a thrift store in with them.

Saturday stayed sunny through 17 ½ holes of golf. Then the rain started, and the downpour continued in downtown Salt Lake City through out casino night at the Grand America Hotel, through our night out at the circle lounge, and into morning. By nine, it had cleared in the valley, but dark clouds still hung over Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Keith Carlsen and I drove up the canyon with a back-up plan already in hand. We’d check the ’Bird, and if it sucked, we’d catch the rest of the group at brunch in the Alta lodge. And so far it wasn’t good. Former intern and local Volkl ripper Kelly Holland had heard reports of rain to the top. She was heading back to bed. Tom Winter was claiming snow at the base, but Tom is an optimist when it comes to skiing, and one flake in a downpour of rain would be enough to get him on the tram. We parked in the access road in full-on rain. Motivation was waning.

Take a lap, we figured. And if it was, indeed, raining on the Road to Provo, we still had Brunch waiting.

When we got to the top, low and behold, snow! Not mixed precipitation, not sleet. Winter. We’re talking blizzard conditions on Little Cloud, an easy slide-in over the normally peppered section of Hanging Bowl, and cream cheese turns to the bottom of the cirque. Hanging Bowl was stellar. Not Mid-January good. Better! Baldy was faring just as well.

Though far from crowded, the resort sported an impressive gathering of local hardcores. Every tram was at least half full. Winter staples like Pete O’Brien and Jamie Pierre were on hand for some summer turns. As was Rob Greener, skiing for only the third time since breaking his femur last fall. Kelly rallied up by afternoon, too.

Golf and skiing, 24 hours and 24 miles (as the crow flies) apart. Utah: this is the place!