Picto Diary - 04, 05, 06, 07, 08 December 2020 - Freddie and the Longhorns

Above: Deer Valley. 04 December 2020

01 10 10

Early open for season pass holders. Three lifts running: Carpenter, Homestake, and Sterling. Numerical convention above is day one, ten lifts today, ten lifts cumulative, season to date. Passed on the bag lunch provided for season pass holders.

Protocols:

Two per four person lift chair unless three or four consenting family members. Singles are asked to take one other single on the chair, unless they don't want to. Most singles are happy to accompany another single, spaced wide apart, on the chair. Masks required when around others.

Throughout, staff seemed well trained, were overtly friendly.

Greeted Golf half way through my two hour skiing stint. But, saw no one else I knew.

Overall, a good start to an unusual season.

Above: Deer Valley. 05 December 2020.

02 10 20

Skied five of my ten runs with Comic Mom. Glorious day. Hats off to DV who has accomplished more with less (little natural snow). Mountaineer, Little Bald, Baldy and Flagstaff all connected with skiable runs.

Reservations required (I didn't know) for my regular, 8:15 AM Snow Park breakfast, though all the old employees were there, recognized me with great customer service enthusiasm, and assigned me a table.

No more buffet. All table service. Only a couple of other tables occupied in that vast space. Everyone was trying so hard to make the new restaurant processes work.

Did DV rehire Bob Wheaton ? If not, I'd like to meet new management to offer my congratulations. DV people are trying so hard!

Skied lower Big Stick, most difficult groomed run currently open.

Above: Freddie and TIMDT. McPollin Farmstead, Park City, UT. 05 December 2020

Freddie settling in nicely. Prefers being on a leash! A little nervous when he senses people walking up from behind. Keeps turning his head to see if the follower is gaining. Very obedient. Comes when called. Sensitive tummy. Gave him a bit of peanut butter, which he relished... but, one of the throw carpets needs to be cleaned. TIMDT told me that I would be the one cleaning up the mess if I gave him any more peanut butter.

Above: Snow Park Lodge restaurant. Deer Valley. 06 December 2020.

Socially distancing at breakfast. Image from my breakfast table. DV going to a heap of trouble for little revenue.... so far.. Everybody trying very hard.

PS. Prefer the table service routine, though I wonder how long the business model can be sustained sans raising prices.

A friend, Montage, rightly points out that its very early in the season and that you can't use low restaurant attendance on day two as a proxy for the rest of the year. I hope not. Its not just the resort that you need to worry about (if you are a shareholder). Low tax revenues coming from low resort attendance put the city in a heap of trouble down the road.

Above: Deer Valley. 07 December 2020

03 10 30
Image. Ohly (not Ohl... another Houston guy who was in the oil business) and Comic Mom. Later joined by B1b.

Above: Freddie and Longhorns. Midway, UT. 07 December 2020.

When the steer on the right started walking toward Freddie, he beat a hasty retreat. Smart! I remember when Khumbu decided to mess with a moose (not behind a fence) and learned to rue the day.

Above: Horse girl. Midway, UT. 07 December 2020.

Growing from strength to strength in this avocation. Fun to watch the horse respond to her. Balou is her own horse. She takes care of him from start to finish.

Above: Granny and team. Park City, UT. 07 December 2020.

Sunday dinner.

Above: Deer Valley. 08 December 2020.
04 11 41

Skied with 'Cake.

Geezer talk:

How to curtail excess pees at night.

Nuisance of forearm bruising.

'Cake gem: "Herbert did good job with Utah coronavirus. Took foot off gas, but, didn't depress the brake pedal."

Nirvana local bluebird sking. "Nobody" here. So much effort by DV for so little return...so far.

Addendum:

"I Am Pilgrim." Good read - I read it about a year ago.

Dr. G.
Crow Agency, MT