Picto Diary - 08 to 15 February - 2025 - Three Ply

Above: Deer Valley, UT. 08 February 2025. 08 February 2025
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Image: Quincy Express and Red Cloud lifts at 11:00 AM. Crowded lift lines are indicative of a foot of new snow over the last 24 hours and the fact that its Saturday.

I skied alone on the mostly bluebird AM. I got thirteen runs and a coffee break at Empire Lodge in before leaving the resort at noon. I managed to do this by mostly avoiding lemming lift lines seen in the image. Lady Morgan Lift was an exception where, unexpectedly, I was forced into a ten-minute wait. Lady Morgan must have had a lift stoppage, and a line build up before I arrived. Lady Morgan is typically not crowded.

On Wasatch Lift, (my second lift ride) I rode up with a black clad lift mechanic. Responding to my query, he said the mechanics didn't have to attend special training sessions for DV's new high-tech, high-speed six-pack lift, Keelty. "We just kinda figure it out," he said. I thanked him for his work and told him that it's just amazing to me that DV can produce this fabulous ski experience, including in the East Village new terrain, day after day. He smiled. "You're right," he said. "It's almost a miracle." Over his radio I overheard that the seldom groomed Three Ply, a black run coming down from the Red Cloud lift, was groomed, but not on the daily grooming announcement. Three Ply is only groomed once every three weeks. I skied via Homeward Bound to the Quincy Lift, skied down Hidden Treasure to the Red Cloud Lift and then ripped the mostly untracked corduroy on the steep Three Ply. The sun was out. Kinda like nirvana skiing, Three Ply was.

On Silver Strike lift I rode with a 55 something woman. She said she and her husband had moved from Orange County, CA to Park City a year ago. She had two kids "at the U (University of Utah)." "It was time to get out of California," she said. This is something we Parkites hear a lot these days. I was at a political meeting the other day where Utah's Speaker of the House was asked by a Summit County resident why the State Legislature was forcing high density housing projects in Summit County when the local residents didn't want same. He said, to the effect, "people from California are moving here in droves, driving up the cost of housing, especially in your county. They're also turning the state 'blue'." The NIMBY's up there (Summit County/Park City) need to be less resistant to lower cost housing initiatives." Utah is not a home rule state. The Utah state legislature has a lot of power to impose its will on the counties and often does so.

On the Ruby lift, after break, the guy next to me... a sixty-five something... started grilling me pretty intensely. "Where do you live?" "How many days do you ski a year?" "What did you do for a living?" The young woman next to him said, "Dad, knock it off." The guy turned to me and said, "I'm a prosecutor. I can't help asking people questions. It seems I'm embarrassing my daughter." I told him my son, Koessler, was a prosecutor for a few years in West Palm Beach, FL before coming to Utah to finally end up in private law practice. I asked the fellow where he was from. "Westport, CT," he replied. "Hey, I lived in Westport, CT in the late '80's. My prosecutor son graduated from Staples High School," I said. "So did I (go to Staples)," the guy replied. I stated that my son worked at the local movie theater in Westport where he sold tickets to the likes of Westport residents Joanne Woodward, Paul Newman, Don Imus and Martha Stewart. The fellow replied, "once I gave a drunk Paul Newman a ride home from that theater!" Small world story.

Utah Wasatch Mountain snow is only at 80% of normal. Hopefully, last night's snow augurs for a good next two weeks of regular powder. Season to date Deer Valley has turned 600 million gallons of water into skiable snow. Skiing continues to be a good daily regimen for me, when I'm in town. When the East Village project is complete next season, Deer Valley will be a world ski resort up there with the best. Four five-star hotels on site: Grand Hyatt, St. Regis, Montage, Stein Eriksen Lodge. 8000 skiable acres. Amazing.

Above: Willow Creek Park. Summit County, UT. 08 February 2025
Freddie and friends.

Above: Deer Valley, UT. 09 February 2025.
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Two 79-year-old ski geezers. One (John Hainey) a genuine Park City ski legend. The other (Mwah [sic]) a wanna (sic) be/will never be Park City ski legend.

Above: Deer Valley, UT. 10 February 2025.
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'Cake exults at skiing Trump!
Bishop exceeds 500K vertical feet ski season to date.

Above: Deer Valley, UT. 11 February 2025.
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Sprinter ski prep.

Above: Deer Valley, UT. 13 February 2025.
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Land Rover exhibit adjacent to Chute 11 apres ski club.
Today: Cold, windy, flat light but still fun.

Addendum:

Love the pictures of Deer Valley! Thanks a million!
Music in the Mountains,
Racine, WI

Great pics
Brand Man,
Ventura, CA

You inspire me, Steve!
Marc,
Portland, OR