Today was our last day of skiing! We woke up 7:00, had breakfast (blueberry yogurt, a biscuit, a banana, an egg, cranberry juice, and water), loaded the car and checked out, and headed for Snowbasin (in Utah). The weather was just like yesterday -- no sunshine, snow, and poor visibility at the top. The cloud cover was just a touch too low...we would get off the lift and ski for 400 or 500 feet before we could see anything. It's not as fun to ski in conditions like that because you have to go very cautiously and slowly due to the horrible flat light, but we all stayed safe, which is important. Snowbasin was the site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games' downhill, combined, and Super G ski races, and we got to ski on parts of the women's and men's downhill runs. Since it was a Friday, there were quite a few people to share the slopes with compared to the last several days, plus it was a powder day! It was fresh, soft, and wonderful to smear through, often up to our knees! Two of the main lifts at Snowbasin are gondolas, which was definitely a factor in staying warm and dry. The temperatures were also higher than yesterday, which helped. Two of my favorite runs were Moonshine Bowl, a wide black with a nice pitch, length, and untracked powder; and Philpot Ridge, another black with some great bumps at the end, giving me awesome air (more than I expected!). It's always important to remember what skiing is all about -- having fun, getting exercise, and enjoying the winter season that God gives us. For me, that includes mixing up the routine, always trying something new, and pushing myself to be a better skier (all while being safe, of course). Just like everything in life, you shouldn't ever stop learning. Lunch was at the John Paul Lodge -- a turkey sandwich with chips, water, and part of a Rice Krispie treat. Snowbasin is owned by Sun Valley, so that elegant atmosphere carries over here, as evidenced by the décor, real china and silverware, and beautiful, big lodges. At the end of the day, we did a bit of shopping (and saw members of the Australian Aerial Ski Team in the shop!), loaded everything in the car, and headed east on I-80. We stopped in Green River, Wyoming, for supper at Taco John's (chicken taco salad, peanut butter-banana smoothie), then drove on to Laramie, Wyoming, to spend the night in a Quality Inn & Suites. We would have gone farther, but the interstate wasn't in great shape (icy spots). Thankfully, we got in safely and will be home tonight (I'm posting this a day late, in the car).
Grizzly Men's Downhill
Below the heavy cloud cover
Matthew and me at Snowbasin
On our way home
~Anna
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