Today, Friday, October 3, 2014, marks the fifth anniversary of our arrival in Salt Lake City. We left Maine on September 30, 2009, and never looked back; our transplantation from east to west has been such a good thing for us (despite our families wishing we were just a little closer). We have loved the skiing (obviously), the access to the outdoors, the weather, the dearth of mosquitoes and blackflies, watching the Tour of Utah grow, having folks come visit us so we can share our Utah with them. In celebration of our fifth move-iversary, here are some specific highlights from the past five years.
Year 1: October 2009-September 2010. In our first year, everything was new! We learned that Alta was our favorite ski mountain; A was zookeeper for a day; our friends P and C visited, plus T, plus H's folks, plus A's folks, plus we got the first installment of annual ski guests just a month after moving into our new house; we climbed Timpanogos and Timpanogos Cave; we saw the races on the bizarrely beautiful Bonneville Salt Flats; we got up close to mountain goats at Ben Lomond.
Year 2: October 2010-September 2011. We had lots of visitors in our second year: H's folks; my best girls; P; R; and the ski guests. We got an incredible 723.5 inches of snow to ski on! And after skiing ended, we got MTBs. We watched some impressive speed skating. We went to St. George, the Ashley National Forest and began our Moab tradition.
Year 3: October 2011-September 2012. By our third year, we were beginning to settle in. The ski guests came back; H's parents came back; and H's brother and his family came out to see what all the fuss was about. We had a great hike up Timpanogos with all those mountain goats, plus some other good hikes, including along the Mormon Pioneer Trail. We went camping in the Uintas in June and then again in September with B, and went back to Moab.
Year 4: October 2012-September 2013. The return of the ski guests. The return of P. A went to MTB camp (Trek Dirt Series). H's folks went to Moab with us. We went to Lake Powell with A's family. We camped at Capitol Reef National Park (well, just outside), went to Jackson, Wyoming, for our anniversary, and went back to Moab. We had a great hike up Honeycomb Canyon (at Solitude) and down Silver Fork Canyon.
Year 5: October 2013-September 2014. This last year, well, it was another good one. H got first chair of Alta's season. We had two rounds of ski guests: my brother and C. We finally got into East Castle! Once the skiing ended, we did some fantastic hiking: some particular favorites were Bowman Fork, Storm Mountain/Ferguson Canyon and the Brighton Ridge Loop. We went to Sun Valley, Idaho. And our Moab trip was, as usual, fantastic.
And now we start our sixth year in Utah (where does the time go?) and there's still so much we want to do. Thank you for following along with us thus far and stay tuned right here for the continuing adventures.
Showing posts with label Sun Valley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sun Valley. Show all posts
Friday, October 3, 2014
Monday, August 25, 2014
sun valley, idaho - day 3
Breakfast on Monday was at Perry's, a slightly more local place off the main drag in Ketchum (113 West 4th Street). H had his usual, a Denver omelet with sourdough toast, while I ordered biscuits and gravy with bacon - and wisely went with only a half order, which was plenty big enough. The sausage gravy was a little sticky but quite flavorful and the bacon was fantastic. After breakfast, we drove across town to the Sun Valley Resort center. What had confused us when we arrived in town is that the swanky resort center is a couple miles away from the main ski mountain, Bald Mountain, and is situated at the foot of tiny Dollar Mountain instead. They run a shuttle service back and forth between the resort and Bald Mountain in the winter time so all the celebrities and rich people can ski. The resort center itself is quite lovely, very upscale and packed with high end lodging, restaurants, spas and shops.
Back at our somewhat less upscale motel, we changed into hiking clothes and went down to the River Run Lodge at Bald Mountain (there is another base lodge, Warm Springs Lodge, for the ski mountain as well as several mountaintop lodges). Our initial intent was to ride up the gondola and then hike down, until we learned that we could hike up and then ride down for free - which would also be easier on our knees. We took the Bald Mountain Trail (6.4 miles with about 3,400 feet of elevation gain; average speed 2.7 m.p.h., 2 hours 20 minutes walking), which is actually a combination hike/bike trail, but since it's uphill traffic only for bikes we didn't have to contend with any MTBers. Hiking up ski mountains is always steep and this trail would have been a long, long slog on a bike. On foot it wasn't too bad and we made great time, cruising up the switchbacks as they wound through stands of pine and wide-open fields.
From the top we rode the Christmas chair down to the mid-mountain lodge and then took the Roundhouse gondola back to base. Our knees thanked us! Post-hike beers and snacks were on the quiet, shady banks of Trail Creek; and after that, we took a refreshing dip in the motel pool. After getting cleaned up, we rode our MTBs 3.5 miles on a bike path (Ketchum/Sun Valley has a TON of bike paths, plus the motorized vehicle drivers are amazingly careful and considerate of cyclists) out to the Warm Springs base area/ski lodge. This lodge was quite a bit smaller than River Run and we got the feeling that more locals (and fewer celebrities) skied out of it.
After taking the bikes back to the motel, we walked to the Cellar Pub (400 Sun Valley Road) for drinks (Manny's Pale Ale out of Seattle and a Moscow Mule or two) and dinner (burger and a nice salad with grilled chicken). It wasn't too busy at first and we started talking with a local guy, as well as the bartender and waiter. As it turned out, all three of them had connections to Maine - one was originally from Connecticut and used to ski at Sunday River/snowmobile in Jackman; one's cousin is a ski coach at Gould Academy in Bethel; and the third, also originally from back east, has a buddy who just moved to Maine and works at the Oxbow Brewery in Newcastle. They bought us a round of drinks and when we finally walked back to the motel after a nice evening, we marveled that it is, in fact, a small, small world.
Starting up Bald Mtn. Trail
Back at our somewhat less upscale motel, we changed into hiking clothes and went down to the River Run Lodge at Bald Mountain (there is another base lodge, Warm Springs Lodge, for the ski mountain as well as several mountaintop lodges). Our initial intent was to ride up the gondola and then hike down, until we learned that we could hike up and then ride down for free - which would also be easier on our knees. We took the Bald Mountain Trail (6.4 miles with about 3,400 feet of elevation gain; average speed 2.7 m.p.h., 2 hours 20 minutes walking), which is actually a combination hike/bike trail, but since it's uphill traffic only for bikes we didn't have to contend with any MTBers. Hiking up ski mountains is always steep and this trail would have been a long, long slog on a bike. On foot it wasn't too bad and we made great time, cruising up the switchbacks as they wound through stands of pine and wide-open fields.
Bald Mtn., trail on the right
From the top we rode the Christmas chair down to the mid-mountain lodge and then took the Roundhouse gondola back to base. Our knees thanked us! Post-hike beers and snacks were on the quiet, shady banks of Trail Creek; and after that, we took a refreshing dip in the motel pool. After getting cleaned up, we rode our MTBs 3.5 miles on a bike path (Ketchum/Sun Valley has a TON of bike paths, plus the motorized vehicle drivers are amazingly careful and considerate of cyclists) out to the Warm Springs base area/ski lodge. This lodge was quite a bit smaller than River Run and we got the feeling that more locals (and fewer celebrities) skied out of it.
Ketchum/Sun Valley down behind me
After taking the bikes back to the motel, we walked to the Cellar Pub (400 Sun Valley Road) for drinks (Manny's Pale Ale out of Seattle and a Moscow Mule or two) and dinner (burger and a nice salad with grilled chicken). It wasn't too busy at first and we started talking with a local guy, as well as the bartender and waiter. As it turned out, all three of them had connections to Maine - one was originally from Connecticut and used to ski at Sunday River/snowmobile in Jackman; one's cousin is a ski coach at Gould Academy in Bethel; and the third, also originally from back east, has a buddy who just moved to Maine and works at the Oxbow Brewery in Newcastle. They bought us a round of drinks and when we finally walked back to the motel after a nice evening, we marveled that it is, in fact, a small, small world.
Pretty nice view from the top
Saturday, August 23, 2014
sun valley, idaho - day 2
We slept in a little, then got up and got ready for everything the day might bring us, grabbing both hiking and MTBing clothing and gear, and walked to The Kneadery for breakfast (260 Leadville Ave. North; Denver omelet for H and eggs Blackstone* for me). After the meal, we drove north on 75 over Galena Pass to tiny Stanley, Idaho, pausing at the overlook to gawk at the spectacular views of the Sawtooth Mountains and the gorgeous, lake-studded valley, only wishing that it was a little clearer so the jagged edges of the peaks would stand out more. The Sawtooths are just stunning and so different from our well-loved Wasatch range.
Stanley was hopping with river outfitters and fishing guides but we didn't linger there long, instead driving out of town a little further. We picked out an easy MTB ride, a 16.8 mile out-and-back on Cape Horn Road, a Forest Service road through Sawtooth National Forest and Salmon-Challis National Forest land. Despite a little logging in the area, the rolling road was in excellent condition for riding, only washboarded in a couple of spots. In addition to the great views of Marsh Creek winding through the valley with the Sawtooths looming in the distance, we saw hawks, deer, herons, sandhill cranes, fish, osprey and tons of songbirds.
After our ride we were looking for somewhere scenic for snacks, so we drove to the pretty and immensely popular Redfish Lake, scoring the very last day-use parking spot at 2:30 p.m. We drank our beers on the beach, watching the SUPers, kayakers, waterskiers and sailors enjoying the day; when we walked down to wade in the lake, an extremely cheeky chipmunk climbed onto our tote bag and pulled an apple core out of the empty Pringles can we were using for trash.
Back in Ketchum, we cleaned up and strolled through town for dinner. Again timing it just right, we got a patio table at Rico's on Main Street and devoured tasty Oregon IPAs, salads, margherita pizza and a well-stuffed calzone. Food in our bellies, we stopped back by the Sawtooth Brewery where the friendly bartender was serving two other people. After they left, it was just us and we sat and chatted with her for a while, talking about Sun Valley and Jackson and Yellowstone. When we left to go back to our room, we wondered how much longer she'd keep the place open that night.
* I'd never heard of eggs Blackstone before. How have I never heard of eggs Blackstone before? It's eggs Benedict but with chopped real bacon instead of Canadian bacon. Mmmmmmmmmmm!
View of Sawtooth Mountains
Stanley was hopping with river outfitters and fishing guides but we didn't linger there long, instead driving out of town a little further. We picked out an easy MTB ride, a 16.8 mile out-and-back on Cape Horn Road, a Forest Service road through Sawtooth National Forest and Salmon-Challis National Forest land. Despite a little logging in the area, the rolling road was in excellent condition for riding, only washboarded in a couple of spots. In addition to the great views of Marsh Creek winding through the valley with the Sawtooths looming in the distance, we saw hawks, deer, herons, sandhill cranes, fish, osprey and tons of songbirds.
Marsh Creek
After our ride we were looking for somewhere scenic for snacks, so we drove to the pretty and immensely popular Redfish Lake, scoring the very last day-use parking spot at 2:30 p.m. We drank our beers on the beach, watching the SUPers, kayakers, waterskiers and sailors enjoying the day; when we walked down to wade in the lake, an extremely cheeky chipmunk climbed onto our tote bag and pulled an apple core out of the empty Pringles can we were using for trash.
Cruising
Back in Ketchum, we cleaned up and strolled through town for dinner. Again timing it just right, we got a patio table at Rico's on Main Street and devoured tasty Oregon IPAs, salads, margherita pizza and a well-stuffed calzone. Food in our bellies, we stopped back by the Sawtooth Brewery where the friendly bartender was serving two other people. After they left, it was just us and we sat and chatted with her for a while, talking about Sun Valley and Jackson and Yellowstone. When we left to go back to our room, we wondered how much longer she'd keep the place open that night.
H in Redfish Lake
* I'd never heard of eggs Blackstone before. How have I never heard of eggs Blackstone before? It's eggs Benedict but with chopped real bacon instead of Canadian bacon. Mmmmmmmmmmm!
Redfish Lake
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
sun valley, idaho - day 1
H and I have a tendency to find something that we like and then stick with it (also known as "getting stuck in a rut"). We know this about ourselves and try, on occasion, to branch out and do something new. Although we loved going to Jackson, Wyoming, last year for our anniversary, H suggested that we not go back there this year; instead we went to Ketchum, Idaho - Sun Valley - for a long weekend. After loading the truck with MTBing and hiking gear, we dropped B off at the kennel and headed northwest into Idaho.
To break up the trip a bit, we veered off course by about fifty miles and explored Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, located on a lava flow in the middle of nowhere, between Carey and Arco, Idaho. The area's volcanoes started erupting about 15,000 years ago, with the last activity occurring just 2,000 years ago, and scientists believe that it's not done yet. The national monument was established in 1924, and in 1970 Congress designated much of it as wilderness; the Great Rift and its lava fields were added to the national monument in 2000 and in 2002 Congress established the national preserve. Because it's a national monument and not a national park, however (and because it's in the middle of nowhere), Craters of the Moon wasn't crowded even in the early afternoon on a Saturday in August.
We bought an Idaho gazetteer in the visitors' center (but neglected to pick up permits which are required to explore the CotM caves - dang it) and then had lunch at a small picnic area, accompanied by a bold chipmunk. We did some short hikes - up to the top of the cinder-covered Inferno Cone, out the North Crater Trail to the Big Craters, up to peek into the Spatter Cones and the Snowcone (which, true to its name, still had some ice down inside), and out along the Blue Dragon [lava] Flow to the Tree Molds, which were formed when hot lava flowed around upright and fallen trees, and preserved the trees' forms after the wood burned away. The whole place is weird and otherworldly and worth a visit. Just be sure to drink lots of water: it was dry and very windy and we got parched, even on short walks.
Back to Route 75 up through the Magic Valley, we arrived in Ketchum around 6:00 p.m. and checked into our dated but clean and serviceable Tyrolean Lodge. We tidied up a little and then walked around downtown Ketchum, stopping by a bike shop for a MTB map and insider information, and then making our way to the Sawtooth Brewery (600 N. Main St., but moving to a more foot traffic-favorable location within the year). The brewery is tiny, and never had more than four other patrons at one time despite our going there on Saturday and Sunday nights, but they make most of their money selling their beers at stores and other bars and restaurants. They don't serve food but you are welcome to bring your own in; the bartender who served us both nights was super-friendly and full of information about the Sun Valley area. H had the Flow Trail Pale Ale, which was quite good, and I had the False Summit Amber, which was good but not as good as H's choice. Fun fact: in Idaho, bartenders are allowed to drink on the job! They have to keep to BAC of .04% or below but they can and do enjoy adult beverages during their shifts.
Despite the bartender's suggestion of various high-end restaurants, we opted to go with a recommendation from one of H's co-workers for dinner: Grumpy's (860 Warm Springs Road). Established in 1978, Grumpy's is about as proudly dive-y as you can get. The building is covered in beer cans, signs, skis, stickers and random kitsch; the staff is, as you might imagine, just short of surly; the cleanliness is questionable; they serve beers and burgers; and in the ski season, Tom Hanks drops by whenever he is in town. He was not there that night, though, and we just walked back to our room after our beers, burgers and fries.
Cinder hill. The white bits are
dwarf buckwheat flowers
To break up the trip a bit, we veered off course by about fifty miles and explored Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, located on a lava flow in the middle of nowhere, between Carey and Arco, Idaho. The area's volcanoes started erupting about 15,000 years ago, with the last activity occurring just 2,000 years ago, and scientists believe that it's not done yet. The national monument was established in 1924, and in 1970 Congress designated much of it as wilderness; the Great Rift and its lava fields were added to the national monument in 2000 and in 2002 Congress established the national preserve. Because it's a national monument and not a national park, however (and because it's in the middle of nowhere), Craters of the Moon wasn't crowded even in the early afternoon on a Saturday in August.
View from Inferno Cone
We bought an Idaho gazetteer in the visitors' center (but neglected to pick up permits which are required to explore the CotM caves - dang it) and then had lunch at a small picnic area, accompanied by a bold chipmunk. We did some short hikes - up to the top of the cinder-covered Inferno Cone, out the North Crater Trail to the Big Craters, up to peek into the Spatter Cones and the Snowcone (which, true to its name, still had some ice down inside), and out along the Blue Dragon [lava] Flow to the Tree Molds, which were formed when hot lava flowed around upright and fallen trees, and preserved the trees' forms after the wood burned away. The whole place is weird and otherworldly and worth a visit. Just be sure to drink lots of water: it was dry and very windy and we got parched, even on short walks.
One of the Big Craters
Back to Route 75 up through the Magic Valley, we arrived in Ketchum around 6:00 p.m. and checked into our dated but clean and serviceable Tyrolean Lodge. We tidied up a little and then walked around downtown Ketchum, stopping by a bike shop for a MTB map and insider information, and then making our way to the Sawtooth Brewery (600 N. Main St., but moving to a more foot traffic-favorable location within the year). The brewery is tiny, and never had more than four other patrons at one time despite our going there on Saturday and Sunday nights, but they make most of their money selling their beers at stores and other bars and restaurants. They don't serve food but you are welcome to bring your own in; the bartender who served us both nights was super-friendly and full of information about the Sun Valley area. H had the Flow Trail Pale Ale, which was quite good, and I had the False Summit Amber, which was good but not as good as H's choice. Fun fact: in Idaho, bartenders are allowed to drink on the job! They have to keep to BAC of .04% or below but they can and do enjoy adult beverages during their shifts.
Tree mold
Despite the bartender's suggestion of various high-end restaurants, we opted to go with a recommendation from one of H's co-workers for dinner: Grumpy's (860 Warm Springs Road). Established in 1978, Grumpy's is about as proudly dive-y as you can get. The building is covered in beer cans, signs, skis, stickers and random kitsch; the staff is, as you might imagine, just short of surly; the cleanliness is questionable; they serve beers and burgers; and in the ski season, Tom Hanks drops by whenever he is in town. He was not there that night, though, and we just walked back to our room after our beers, burgers and fries.
Blue Dragon Flow
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Update coming soon: Sun Valley trip
Y'all - we just got back from a long weekend in Sun Valley, Idaho. We're unpacking, doing laundry, organizing photos ... and a post will be up tomorrow, sharing our latest adventures. In the meantime, here's a picture of a cheeky chipmunk stealing an apple core out of a Pringles can at Redfish Lake.
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