Final month in Heber City, Utah…
Why we came…
To enjoy the snow in the spectacular Wasatch and Uinta Mountains!
The campground…
Heber City and Mountain Valley RV Resort are excellent and we have really enjoyed our stay! Thanks to Cache, Mike, Loni, Judy, and Gary for taking care of us and managing this top-notch RV resort.
Fresh snow on the beautiful Wasatch Mountains
Weather summary for March…
Average high temp: 48F Average low temp: 22F Average snow: 8.6 inches
Record high temp: 70F Record low temp: -17F Record snowfall: 38.5 inches
Observed high temperature: 70.8F on 15 and 28 March
Observed low temperature: 11F on 4 March
Measured snow: 4.0 inches
NOTES: The first five days of the month were cooler than average and some snow fell. Nearby ski areas got nearly 30 inches of snow in a 7-day period…it was great! The rest of the month was MUCH warmer than average and dry. Utah’s 2014-2015 winter made history as one of the driest and warmest on record! Sadly, powder days were few and far between.
Temperatures compared to average / Precipitation compared to average (Web link: http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/anom/)
Utah drainages snow equivalent % of average on 29 March 2015. We are in the Provo - Utah - Jordan drainage. (Web link: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/gis/images/ut_swepctnormal_update.png)
Adventures…
Ski route at Park City Mountain Resort / It’s puking snow!
On 3 March we skied at Park City Mountain Resort. There was finally powder…nearly knee deep! We chose to do laps on the numerous blue runs off the King Con Lift. Most folks headed to the far reaches of the resort leaving this area pretty quiet. We never waited in a line. Visibility was tough at times, but didn’t slow us down. This was one of the best days of the season!
Lots of snow and lots of fun!
Ski route at Canyons Resort / Fresh snow and bright blue skies…perfect!
On 4 March we skied at Canyons Resort. It snowed off and on for the previous week resulting in nearly 30 inches of new snow. The clouds cleared with brilliant blue skies and soft Utah snow. The good conditions allowed us to enjoy new sections of the resort. First, we hit Iron Mountain and then Dream Catcher. It’s good terrain. Unfortunately, due to lousy conditions this winter, this was the only time we explored it.
Carving the soft snow
Snowshoe route in the Uinta Mountains / Bobcat tracks
On 6 March we snowshoed in the Uinta Mountains. We had been eyeing this route all winter long, waiting for prime conditions. It was worth the wait!
The “Mine Trail” climbs nearly 1,500 feet in over three miles to mining remnants on the shoulder of 8,574 foot high Fir Peak. We went three days after the storm ended, but we were hopeful to get fresh tracks. It was a Friday, so the weekenders hadn’t invaded yet.
The first third of the trail was already packed. Once we made the right turn that climbed the steep Mine Trail, we enjoyed fresh tracks in 6-12 inches of new snow! It was serene and beautiful. We saw all kinds of critter prints. The bobcat tracks made our day!
As we climbed we got warmer and shed layers of clothes. We were also thankful to sport a healthy layer of sunblock!
We broke into a clearing above 8,000 feet on the shoulder of Fir Peak… the view was incredible! Mount Timpanogos loomed large to the southwest and the jagged heart of the Wasatch Mountains dominated the western horizon. Initially the snow was pristine, but we tracked it all up posing for pictures. We put the camera on a tripod, hit the timer, and set it to take 10 quick shots. Sure enough, a couple of those pictures turned out great!
Of course, the trek down was much quicker and took significantly less effort. It was about 55 degrees when we got back to the truck. We never saw another person and thoroughly enjoyed a perfect day!
Kicking up some powder. (Mount Timpanogos in the background)
Having a ball in the snow! (Wasatch Mountains in the background)
Ski route at Sundance Resort / A beautiful place!
On 9 March we skied at Sundance Resort. Aspen Grove and Sundance have an interesting history. But we wanted to experience the amazing scenery. The resort is practically in the shadow of Mount Timpanogos.
We waited for a bluebird day and decent snow. The scenery matched our expectations…it was amazing.
Unfortunately, Arleen had a close call. She picked up speed to make it through a flat section and hit deep slush. Her skis stopped, she popped out of her bindings, and she flew forward, superman style. She slid under a rope and continued about 40 feet down a steep, rocky ravine. The rocks gave her various bruises and she hyperextended her arm. Thankfully, she was able to climb up to the trail and didn’t feel the need to visit a hospital. She’s tough!
Posing at Sundance Resort
Soldier Hollow info / Sitting on the train platform
On 11 March we hiked the Deer Creek Reservoir trail. We started at the Soldier Hollow train platform and briskly walked two miles out, posed for a couple of pictures, and then briskly walked two miles back. The trail was a little sloppy in places, but mostly dry. The views of the lake and Wasatch Mountains were terrific.
Deer Creek Reservoir and Cascade Mountain
Ski route at Canyons Resort / Gary giving the “thumbs down” for yucky weather and yucky snow
On 12 March, I skied at Canyons Resort with Gary. The temperature was in the 40s with occasional rain showers, so we had soft, slushy snow. It seemed more like mid April, not mid March. We did 5 or 6 runs and called it a day.
Mary visits…
“This a return guest blogger, Arleen’s sister, Mary.
It is always a great pleasure and thrill for me to take off, escape, and spend a few days with Arleen and Shawn. If they are within a day’s driving distance I will try to go… So once again I hit the road and headed west.
I had been to the Salt Lake City area and skied at Brighton years ago, but had never been to the Heber City area. Both Arleen and my Mom said it was very special, so I wanted to check it out too. I drove over to Utah via I-80 across Wyoming, fighting wind and truckers the whole way. God bless the truckers…That has got to be a tough job. By the time I got to where I-80 splits in Utah, I was getting a little tired. I was expecting to see the Salt Lake at any moment around the next bend in the very winding road. This will tell you that I did not study my map very well. Imagine my surprise and amazement when I rounded a bend and WOW, there was the Wasatch Mountains in all their glory! No gradual build up to them, just all of a sudden, there they are. Park City and Heber City are in a truly beautiful location.”
Olympic Park near Park City / Mary with the Olympic flame
On 15 March we toured the Olympic Park and Park City…
The first stop on our busy agenda with Mary was the Olympic Park near Park City. We wandered slowly around the interesting museum and then took an hour long tour. Our guide led us to the Olympic long jump, luge, skeleton, and bobsled venues, and thoroughly explained what we were seeing. It was really interesting.
“Arleen and Shawn have been disappointed in the lack of snow this year, but there was still so much to do that we could not do it all during my 2 ½ day visit. The first item on the agenda was a visit to Utah Olympic Park. We have always faithfully watched the Olympics so seeing this venue in person had a lot of meaning. The tour was great. Among the highlights, we got to stand at the top of the high ski jump. Oh my! What a case of vertigo I got looking down that very high, very long drop. I can’t imagine shooting off of it and flying through the air. Eeeeck! Not without wings anyway. The aerial ski jump is also there and athletes were scheduled to practice on it, so we made plans to come back and see them the morning that I was scheduled to leave.”
Next we walked Park City’s Main Street. We read plaques on the old buildings and learned about the town’s history. Before we left, we had to stop at the quaint Atticus Tea and Book shop to enjoy some warm tea. We were worn out after a full day of touring and walking!
Bobsled craziness / Lifting the 40lb curling “rock” / At the top of the ski jump
Snowshoe route near Daniels Summit / Yep, we’re snowshoeing!
On 16 March we snowshoed near Daniels Summit…
We promised Mary a good snowshoe adventure, but frankly, we were concerned about snow.
We parked at the Lodge Pole Campground gate near Daniels Summit. Across the highway, the south facing trail was bare. We had to carry our snowshoes up the route to find snow…SAD. The snow looked more promising as the trail curved around the north side of the hill. Sure enough, as we crested the relatively flat 8,200 foot high ridge, there was 2-3 feet of mostly untracked, old, crunchy snow. It was peaceful and the view was great. Mary had fun and we considered the adventure a big success!
“Shawn and Arleen always ease me into their routine. The first day is kind of a warm up and by the second day, they let me have it! So my second day we took off for the back woods to find some snow to go snowshoeing. First we had to hike, carrying our snowshoes strapped to our backs. Isn’t that what pack mules are for? Shawn is meticulous in keeping track of the distance and elevation variances that they hike. He says we hiked out and back about 3 miles. Honestly, I know it was 30, and uphill both directions! Actually, it was a very nice hike up to the back of a ridge where we found plenty of snow for snowshoeing. Of course, Shawn had to set up camera shots. Did you notice the fantastic picture (above) of Arleen and himself running on snowshoes through the snow? He wanted to get that same kind of a shot with Arleen and me. What did he get? He got a picture of Arleen running and me falling flat on my face! So much for my modeling career. We did get to snowshoe quite a ways back into the woods, it was a perfect day. Very serene, very quiet, the sun was shining in a dazzling blue sky, making the clean white snow sparkle like diamonds. What a gift from God! There were lots of tracks of different critters in the snow. So, as we jibber jabbered, we made up goofy stories about the animals lives. Regular woods people, that’s us.”
Where’s the snow?!? / Here it is!
Arleen and Mary snowshoeing near Daniels Summit / Whoops…Mary has fallen and can’t get up!
Hike route near Mount Timpanogos / Arleen and Mary dwarfed by Mount Timpanogos
Also on 16 March we hiked near Mount Timpanogos…
After our snowshoeing adventure, we had a quick lunch, changed clothes, and headed to Mount Timpanogos and Sundance. We walked a mile up the closed Forrest Service road and felt so small compared to the 5,000 foot vertical walls towering above us. “The hills are alive with the sound of music” played in our heads.
“That afternoon we hiked up above Sundance to get a real nice view of Mt. Timpanogos. If you have never seen Mt. Timpanogos, it’s a majestic peak that dominates the skyline. It has a very horizontal lined pattern to it. All my years of geology classes paid off; I was able to deduce that Mt. Timpanogos is composed of limestone and dolomite. Whoo hoo! That was a thrill for me! Good thing Arleen and Shawn are science geeks, too.”
Next, we stopped at Sundance Resort. We walked around the pleasant trails and popped into the General Store. Along a hallway in the old log cabin is history and pictures of the area…it was enlightening.
“Sundance resort was interesting too. We found, tucked away in a hallway, a pictorial display of the history of the resort. Very informative.”
After snowshoeing and walking most of the day, we were whipped!
Happy sisters (Sundance Resort in the background)
Watching Olympic athletes practice aerials
On Mary’s final morning with us, we went back to the Olympic Park to watch the Olympic team practice aerial ski jumps. Spectators can walk nearly right up to the jumps and get a great view of these daredevils launching 40 feet into the air. They twist and flip and land like it’s no big deal. It’s a great venue!
If touring the Park City area, stop at the Olympic Park Visitor Center and ask for the training schedule. Teams come from all over the world to practice in both winter and summer. In summer they launch into a big aerated swim pool. By the way, it doesn’t cost anything to watch these incredible athletes.
“The last morning of my visit, we went back to the Olympic Park to watch the athletes practice their aerial jumps. Amazing! They twist, turn, fly through the air, and make it look so easy. It was so cool to see them doing this in person after having watched them on TV for years.
As always Arleen and Shawn were the perfect hosts and we had a fabulous time!”
Bye Mary!
Ski route at Canyons Resort / Having fun on a glorious spring day
We went to Canyons Resort on 19 March. Gary unexpectedly invited us to do a few runs and we abruptly changed our plans to tag along.
It had been warm and dry for the previous two weeks. The ski areas were accurately reporting “spring conditions” and starting to close some sparsely covered runs. Snow coverage usually peaks the second half of March, but not this season. The snow was slushy, thin, and rocks were cropping up everywhere. The groomers were doing everything they could, but they were losing the battle.
We only did 4 runs and had fun taking pictures under the brilliant blue sky. We knew this would be our last time and we were glad to do it with Gary.
Gary and I shredding some spring slush
Season skiing summary…
We ended up skiing about 20 times this season and racked up over 100,000 vertical feet…not bad for a historically warm and dry winter. We only had 4 good powder days and experienced wet, slushy snow most of the time. Had it been a “normal” winter, we are confident we would have skied twice as often! Because Old Man Winter cheated us, we plan to return for winter 2016-2017.
Gary fighting a trout at “The Ladders” on Strawberry Reservoir / A nice chat with the Game Warden
On 22 March, Gary and I fished Strawberry Reservoir. We had hoped to fish open water in a few of the coves, but ice still covered 99% of the lake. Ice-out usually occurs around 1 May, but due to a warm winter, it will be 3-4 weeks earlier this year. Strawberry is known for big trout, and the best time to catch them is as the ice recedes.
We found open water at “The Ladders” along with a bunch of hungry rainbow trout. The little 8-10 inchers were feisty and eagerly hit any fly we threw at them. We each caught about 10 and called it quits after a fun chat with the Game and Fish guy.
Misc…
We like to support local businesses. Here are two that we want to spotlight:
- Anytime Gym, owned and managed by Allison and Dave. The staff was always friendly and the equipment was clean. It was rarely busy. We set and accomplished some goals and we leave Heber City physically fit.
Dave and Allison
- Heber Valley Chiropractic, owned and managed by Dr. Cody and Jennifer Nix. I left the military knowing that my back is in poor shape. Thankfully, it hasn’t bothered me much, until now. Dr. Cody took x-rays, identified the problem spots, and spent the next six weeks working out the kinks. Now I feel much better and look forward to backpacking this summer!
Dr. Cody trying to work miracles on my curvy spine
Get ready for departure…
We have been in Heber City for five months! The longer we stay in one place, the more we get entrenched, even more so in the winter. This week has been busy. We have removed the trailer’s skirt and de-winterized everything. The skirt and a few other things were shipped to my sister in Colorado. The truck got an oil change and the trailer will get new tires tomorrow. Stuff was out of place and has been reorganized in both the truck and the trailer. We know this area well and we have been comfortable for awhile. Now the butterflies and excitement are a little more intense as we hit the road for new adventures!
The skirt and its pieces. We filled the jugs and boxes with water and used them to weight the skirt down…they worked pretty good.
Next…
We will spend two weeks in Victor, Idaho. We plan to snowshoe the Tetons, ski Grand Targhee, and fish the famous Henry’s Fork. After that we head to Ennis, Montana. Spring is here!
Parting shots…
Exercising at the gym on a snowy day / Bobbie, Missy, and Bella with our snowman
Spiderman says “brrrrrrrr” on a powder day / Hot air balloon flying over the Wasatch Mountains
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