Picto Diary - 01 to 09 December 2021 - Catching an edge in front of Stein

Above: Freddie's space. Park City, UT. 02 December 2021.

Above: Freddie's other space. Park City, UT. 03 December 2021.

Above: Deer Valley. Silver Lake Express Lift.
1 04 04. Opening day.
PGA, My Belle.

Today's first day of skiing at Deer Valley was open only to season pass holders. I was impressed by organization and staff enthusiasm. Bob Wheaton, GM at Deer Valley for over twenty years, was long credited with sustaining the super ordinary, Edgar Stern conceived, customer service ethic at Deer Valley. But, he's been gone for three years. Alterra, new Deer Valley owners, replaced Wheaton with hum drum executives that seemed not exude the leadership qualities required to sustain a positive corporate culture and ethic. Yet, the good atmosphere seems as strong as ever. Who is keeping that flame burning bright? Not clear. Inquiring minds want to know.

Above: Snow Park Lodge parking lot. Deer Valley. 04 December 2021.
02 06 10
Fenway, My Belle, PGA
Not a great parking place... but, OK.

Above: Snow Park base. Deer Valley, UT. 05 December 2021.
03 08 18/06 December 2021
Nobody here but me and my shadow. Increasing prices for senior annual passes at Deer Valley made sense to me. But, cancelation of my beloved breakfast at Snow Park Lodge? Unconscionable! Deer Valley. Death by a thousand cuts? Risky gambit to tinker with the Stern/Wheaton flame.

Above: Silver Lake area. Deer Valley, UT. 06 December 2021.
04 09 27
My Belle, PGA.
View of Silver Lake from First Tracks Kaffe, Stein Eriksen Lodge.
Leg strength building. Full non stop ski down Success.

Above: Image of Bishop and Stein Eriksen at Stein Eriksen Lodge ski shop. Deer Valley, UT. 07 December 2021.
05 10 37
PGA
Bishop recalls skiing with Stein Eriksen at Deer Valley circa 2003. Montage had received a "ski with Stein" birthday present from his wife, Spago, and I, along with others of Montage's out of town visitor friends, had been invited to join. During the morning our group was skiing down Navigator ski run, direction Mountaineer Lift to access at the lift summit, Tycoon run. Stein said his favorite run on a sunny day was Tycoon, which ran to the base of the Deer Valley gondola on US 40. Stein, leading the group, stopped for an on-mountain ski break near the intersection of Navigator and Deer Hollow runs. I was skiing sweep and skied in to join the rest of the group. In doing so, I "caught an edge," (universal ski excuse for falling down) and tumbled down right at Stein's feet. I was mercilessly ridiculed by Montage's other friends during the rest of our time together.

Above: Wasatch Lift. Deer Valley, UT. 09 December 2021 (file image)
06 08 35
The Actuary, PGA, and My Belle

The file image above not a good representation of today's conditions, which conditions were the first significant snowfall to hit the Wasatch Back since the beginning of ski season. I'm not ready yet to tackle new snow with elan. Pushing around the new snow tires me out and I have to take one or two rest stops on the ski run. Still, the ski atmosphere, with new falling snow as I skied, was exhilarating. Better to be out huffing and puffing than at home on the couch.

Addendum:

Good luck skiing Deer Valley. Family spent Thanksgiving week vacation there. Grandkids had to spend their time in the hot tub because there wasn't any snow to play in.😢

Academy Theater
Salt Lake City, UT