Picto Diary - 20 to 23 December 2024 - Tabernacle Choir Christmas Program
Above: Bald Mountain, Deer Valley, UT. 20 December 2022 (file image).
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Above: Ghidhotti Restaurant. Summit County, UT. 20 December 2024.
Drums back at work while on holiday break. They must like him here. We were presented with a free calamari appetizer by the manager, Jose, who, himself, came over to greet us as he, channeling food runner, brought our main courses. Jose told us what a great employee Drums was.
Earlier, I called my sister-in-law, 'Na to wish her well on the birthday of her deceased husband's (my brother, Buh's) birthday. It had been an annual practice of mine to call Buh on his birthday before he died last year.
Above: Jordanelle Ski Run, Deer Valley, UT. 21 December 2024.
Until this year, Jordanelle was the ski run farthest east at Deer Valley. Jordanelle winds its way, east bound, down through the Deer Crest residential area to the Deer Valley gondola base adjacent to US 40. Redefining the eastern boundary of Deer Valley, East Village area, a Deer Valley expansion project to be opened his ski season, extends as far east as Jordanelle but is further south, also based near US 40.
I first skied Jordanelle ski run this season, yesterday, the first day it was opened. I returned first thing today (Carpenter Lift, Little Stick and Deer Hollow ski runs to Mountaineer lift) and did three exhilarating turns on Jordanelle, skiing into the glorious rising sun coming up over the Uinta mountains. The vistas to the east, as can be seen in the image, are spectacular. Steamboat Springs is about 350 miles due east, looking in the direction of the image.
I was alone on Jordanelle on the first of my three runs. There were only two or three other skiers that I saw the next two times I skied Jordanelle. The snow quality was fabulous. Corduroy, all three runs, softened a bit by the direct sunshine. Jordanelle is a 'blue' run, but, back when Deer Valley also used the double blue rating category, Jordanelle was rated double blue. Sections of the run are fairly steep, and the run is quite narrow, adding to its difficulty, particularly when the run is crowded. Jordanelle is one of those runs best to avoid when there are a lot of other skiers. But today, for me, lonely Jordanelle was ski Nirvana.
Codicil: I don't ski Jordanelle all the way to the gondola. I take the Keelty cutoff and ski back to Mountaineer lift. The gondola is too slow and there are often queues there.
Above: Stein Eriksen, Montage, and Bishop. Deer Valley UT. Circa 2004.
Stein in Bogner, Montage in Descente, and Bishop in L.L. Bean.
I have a story to tell about Jordanelle ski run at Deer Valley. Circa 2004 my friend, Montage, invited me to join him and a three of his ski guests from out of town, to ski a half day with Stein Eriksen. SpaGo, Montage's wife, had presented Montage with "A Morning with Stein" birthday present. Of course, I was happy to join. We rendezvoused with Stein at Silver Lake Village. Stein said, "I like to start the day skiing Jordanelle. You ski into the sunlight and the views are glorious over there." The Montage group followed Stein, who skis "the old way," with his feet close together, down to the Crown Point lift. From Crown Point summit we skied through residential area, under a tunnel, via Kimberly run to reach Navigator ski run.
The plan was to link from Navigator to Deer Hollow run and ski down to the Mountaineer Lift which would take us to the gondola summit and the start of Stein's favorite AM ski run, Jordanelle. In a group of six, with Stein at the lead, I was skiing sweep. Halfway down Navigator, a narrow green difficulty level track, Stein stopped to point out the north looking vistas. As I skied up to the group, I caught the proverbial edge and went down to the ground at everyone's feet. Doofus me was pretty embarrassed, but I quickly got to my feet, apologized and we all skied on to accomplish the Jordanelle ski run descent. Now I look at this incident differently. I mean, how many people who have skied with Stein, have fallen at his feet when skiing up to him? I feel special to have had this unique experience!
There were no further incidents that morning skiing with Stein. For the rest of the morning, Harry's ski guests (one of them owned several Baskin Robbins franchises in Hawaii) gave me some justifiable ribbing about my tumble. The highlight of the day, apart from learning about the desirability of skiing Jordanelle first thing in the AM was watching Stein ski. Few skiers seem at one with the mountain as did Stein that morning.
In the ensuing years, as I did today, I have often started my ski day at Jordanelle, thanks to a tip from ski legend Stein Eriksen and Montage's invitation to me to join his group. And I never ski Jordanelle without the skiing with Stein experience coming into my mind.
Above: Iron Canyon Court cul de sac. Park City, UT. 21 December 2024.
Neighbor's driveway. Rafter of turkeys. Tom trying to impress the girls.
Above: LDS Church Conference Center. Salt Lake City, UT. 21 December 2024.
Hot ticket. Tabernacle Choir Christmas Program. Thanks to Kirby and Kristen.
Above: Gallivan Plaza. Salt Lake City, UT. 21 December 2024.
Post Tabernacle Choir concert image of attendees.
Above: St. Regis Hotel, Deer Valley, UT. 23 December 2024
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All ski days where you don't fall are good days, as was today. But today was a bit "less good" than, oh, say, yesterday. Why? Holiday hoards. Frequent lift stoppages. Warm temperatures. Softer, pushed around snow. Flat light. Not complaining. Just sayin'. Took early coffee break at St. Regis.
Addendum
Never had the pleasure of meeting Stein but Libby and I met, had dinner and skied with Franz Klammer and Franz Weber in Aspen.
Had dinner with Weber again in Reno when he was honchoing Squaw Valley and running his business there.
The Archbishop,
Naples, FL
I am empathetic about your office. Best wishes finding a new venue.
An unexpected illness kept me off of yesterday’s call with the FBI veteran.
Dittos re: these hard-working, ambitious, courageous youngsters! I, too, embrace such aspirants to our country. 🇺🇸
Bill Barr may have gravitas, yet help me understand what he did to clean up the DoJ & FBI, both corrupt before & during his tenure—obviously so to us in the hinterlands? Is Bondi weak? We shall see. I’m aligned with you—DJT has the prerogative to pick his team.
I’m thrilled you had such a great day.⛷️
Microsoft,
Park City, UT
Thanks . . like your office
mano,
San Jose, CA
Steve,
My neighbors are going to Idaho.
https://www.snowpak.com/idaho/best-ski-resorts
They have a 5- & 8-year-old to teach them to ski.
Been to Idaho for their snow?
Best wishes,
Panama,
Los Angeles, CA
Great writing thank you
Brand Man,
Ventura, CA
Nice! I skied Wednesday at DV with my son and had similar experience. Sunny, not many skiers, and we scooped up more runs than anticipated to take advantage.
Tony,
Park City, UT
I was introduced to Stein in a less grand way but will not forget what I saw in the man. I was doing PT at a clinic in PC for a pulled MCL (about 10+years ago?) and had regular visits where they’d start me warming up on a stationary bike. I noticed a little guy (it seemed) with a full head of gray hair and very pale skin, who was always warmly received by staff, that routinely arrived at the same appointment time as me and also warmed up on the bike next to me. I had no idea who he was. Being a road biker, I started slowly, but progressed to an aggressive, sustained pace. I thought I was probably imagining things but the “old guy” seemed to keep my pace and even push it harder as I did! He gave me a bit of a mischievous smile several times! I thought it was great, never made a comment to the “old guy”, but it was kind of remarkable and I mentioned the obvious competitive streak to my wife. One day after multiple sessions like this, the gentleman came in a bit later than me, received his usual attention of hugs and greetings from staff, and I asked one of the attending therapists who he was. The reply, to my surprise was, “Oh that’s Stein Erickson. Such a sweet man!” So, I never really knew him but was introduced to his amazing competitive spirit.
Tony,
Park City, UT
Glad the Snow was good 👍
Thanks,
Markco,
LaQuinta, CA