Brighton, January 28, 2009

Tuesday was a bluebird day in Utah with sub zero temps. Imagine my surprise when on Wednesday the morning weather was clouds, snow, cold, and winds up to 70 miles per hour. Not a day for snow bunnies. Very few people on the mountains.

Due to the possibility of wind holds, I went to Brighton and used my Crystal pass for "free skiing." I knew the snow was good as I walked in the 18 degrees and strong winds to the lift and the snow loudly squeaked under every step.

It snowed hard all day long. The winds were constant and intense. The picture below is typical: snow falling from above and fallen snow being blown off the ground and deposited all over the mountain. Add lots of snow being blown off the packed trees. The wind was so intense it went through my plastic boots. I was actually blown over coming down from the Milli chair.

The skiing was highly variable: ski 10 feet in deep wind deposited snow followed by 20 feet of hard windswept breakable crust, then some powder, then some stretches of wind scoured hard snow, etc. Some very fine runs in the trees mid-mountain where the conditions were relatively consistent.

Thanks for sharing your Utah experience. Glad you are finding great snow. Is there better lift skiing anywhere else in the world? If so, I'd like to hear.

Thanks for sharing your Utah experience. Glad you are finding great snow. Is there better lift skiing anywhere else in the world?  If so, I'd like to hear.

I'm staying in a beautiful room with a full kitchen for $33 a night! Free skiing at Brighton and a superpass to any cottonwood canyon resort (Bird, Soli, Alta, Brighton) for $41 with bus transportation. $150 airline tickets roundtrip. Powder blowing in your face : Priceless

"I'm staying in a beautiful room with a full kitchen for $33 a night! Free skiing at Brighton and a superpass to any cottonwood canyon resort (Bird, Soli, Alta, Brighton) for $41 with bus transportation. $150 airline tickets roundtrip. Powder blowing in your face: Priceless "

Ahhhh - the benefits of retirement.