Salt Lake City

It has been 8 years since I've been here. I had forgotten how beautiful this part of the country is. I had a window seat and took it all in.

The lake
The snow-covered mountains
And...the reflection of the mountains in the lake.

I love water and I really enjoy the beauty and wonder of mountains. This city has the perfect combination of both.

I won't be leaving the airport, but felt compelled to comment on the beauty of my surroundings.

Vail day three

Injury report:
Sore left hip (from arthritis, not a fall)
Sore left ankle (from a fall)
Sore right knee (from a boot problem)
Sore right thumb (no good reason for this)

I took it very easy this morning and concentrated on my skills. I did not fall today or yesterday. Skiing today was better also because it wasn't as busy. I never had to wait to get on the lift. We spent lots of time waiting in lift lines yesterday. The waiting was very hard on my feet. My ankle injury yesterday was from falling in the lift line - not falling while skiing.

Vail kicked my butt. But I would totally come back.

Good-bye Vail 2010. Hello Park City 2011.

Vail day two

I should have kept track of the number of times I said "wow", "amazing", or "awesome". Vail is 10 times more beautiful than I could have imagined.

The altitude has been difficult to get used to. I am very tired. But it has been an exciting trip.

I am struggling to come up with a good metphor to compare skiing in Minnesota with skiing in Vail - but I just haven't been able to put it in words. The skiing in Vail is so much more challenging than I've ever experienced before. I love the long runs - we don't have them in Minnesota - but they are exhausing.

I am so glad I am here. I do hope to come back next year- we are talking about making this an annaul trip - but I need to get myself into better shape before I return to Vail.

Vail

Vail is one of the places listed in my book. This is my first trip here and so far it is awesome. However, I have not yet been skiing. I am a little nervous since I just started skiing again after a long absence.

I am not going to fall and injure myself. Or anyone else.

Repeat after me....

I am NOT going to fall and injure myself.

Vail Village is very cute and quaint. This is exactly the type of trip I really needed.

Some people think I am crazy for leaving the snow of Minnesota for the snow of Colorado; but it is very different here. There are actual mountains!

Utah

I've been to Salt Lake City twice. The most recent trip was September 2002. I remember this because I flew home on 9/11/02.

Park City is in "the book" and I did spend a day there. Beautiful!

In Park City I took a gondola ride up the mountain - that was really cool. I am so glad I'm not afraid of heights. I also watched some young kids ski jump into a swimming pool. That seemed weird to me, but I guess that is how they train when there isn't any snow.

Utah has lots of other places in "the book" so I really need to go back there.