let the wild ski-rumpus begin

I haven't posted in AGES but the last houseguests just left last night.  I'll start catching you up post-haste:

Will and Chris all smiles at Alta

Starting with that fabulous day at Snowbird last Wednesday, the Great Utah Ski Tour of 2010 was off and running! I had to go back to work for the rest of the week, but H herded a gang of four Easterners to Alta on Thursday for lots of hiking, traversing and great skiing; and then six of them, plus a local resident, to Brighton on Friday. I was surprised that they picked Brighton but the thought was that since Thursday night had been cold, the snow on a mountain that had slightly less elevation was oriented slightly differently – like Brighton – might not have seized up so hard. And the thought was right: they had a great day skiing in the trees, plus three of them had their season passes from Sunday River and Sugarloaf with them, and got comped their day passes as Brighton is a sister-resort.

Melissa and Judy enjoying the view at Brighton

I met up with them Friday night at the Canyon Inn, after having picked up a non-skiing Eastern spouse after her luxurious spa day at Snowbird’s Cliff Lodge, where the skiers were very much enjoying the cold pitchers of local brew. It was a slight struggle to come up with a place for dinner for all nine of us on a Friday night with no reservations, but we managed to get in at Buca di Beppo’s which, since the pasta is served in massive family-style bowls, ended up being a perfect place for ravenous skiers. The restaurant is a little kitschy, but the food tasted good, the service was prompt and the prices were reasonable. As you might imagine, it was not a late night – off to Alta in the morning!