Living, Playing & Writing in the Outdoors
Before the TurboPup bar was featured on SharkTank, the makers were drumming up attention at the Outdoor Retailer Show. They handed me a couple of bars to test out. Well, for my pooch to test out. These TurboPups are not snacks and treats. They are a full meal for your pet.
I’m no food blogger but I had these and couldn’t find the recipe online anywhere to “PIN”. They’re perfect for a warm, spring day. Figured I would add to the noise. These are sooo delish!
Makes 3 cups. Time: 10 min
2 c. ice cubes
1 c. part skim ricotta
¼ c malted milk powder
¼ c chocolate syrup
2 tbl skim or 1% milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Blend all ingredients until smooth (not bits of ice left). Pour and serve.
I’m going to give it to you straight: It doesn’t matter how much snow fell in the Wasatch 10 days ago. Those conditions are LONG GONE. Even Powderchasers hasn’t posted a report in over a week. The National Weather Service news for Little Cottonwood Canyon whines “temp trends will continue to climb markedly. High pressure will nose a little south/east through Sunday allowing an increasing/warming southwesterly flow aloft to develop…with temps spiking to between +5 and +7 C at 700mb Sunday afternoon.” NO BUENO. The snow sucks.
If we’re lucky we may see a slight bit of snow Tuesday – Friday but forecasters aren’t feeling confident and it could just turn into rain/mist. And so it’s more like summer in the mountains. Ski days are limited to east and south facing slopes after 10, moving to sunny everything else in the afternoon, done by 2 or 3 before everything turns to mush. It’s no wonder I’m seeing cyclists and rockclimbers everywhere. People are finding alternative ways to love March and the last week of winter.
I found myself doing the same. My friend Mark called and asked if I wanted to climb. I felt conflicted for all of about three minutes. I could sit around moping and wishing for winter or I could get outside and play a different way. Plus, my dog was getting fat and lazy. He needed out as well.
The weather was stellar- bluebird skies, warm sun and not a drop of snow or mud on the trail up to the Hard Wall in American Fork Canyon. I wore my new Kari Traa base layer as an outer layer and packed a puffy just in case the sun had me fooled. Nope, I could have worn a T-shirt.
It felt awkward climbing in March. Normally, I’m struggling on 5.9s around May. But after today, I find myself looking forward to climbing season. Shame on me. I promise to get out to Alta on Sunday but in the meantime, a stop into Momentum Climbing Gym may just be on the agenda for Saturday.
It’s a no brainer. Someone hands you a cute chocolate bunny and the first thing you munch down on? The ears. According to a survey conducted just in time for Easter by the Chocolate Manufacturers Association (CMA) and National Confectioners Association (NCA), not only are chocolate bunnies the number one “must have” item in an Easter basket but they are to be consumed ears first.
“Apparently, this is the most appropriate way to enjoy a chocolate bunny,” said Larry Graham, president of CMA and NCA. Graham admits he’s no different. One thousand adults were surveyed and 76 percent said they start with the ears while only five percent head for the feet. I usually bite the butt but I’m in the minority (four percent).
When you’re done with the bunny you will most likely have a handful of jelly beans to contend with. More than 90 million chocolate bunnies and 16 billion jelly beans find their ways into our bellies. But skiers, on the other hand are destined to consume more jelly beans than bunnies on Easter. There’s just no room for Bugs in those plastic eggs EB tosses out on the slopes.
Grab a basket and see for yourself on April 5-
Park City Mountain Resort
The Easter Bunny supervises a special egg hunt for kids under 6 in the Kid’s Korral at 9 a.m. sharp. Older children have an Easter Egg Hunt on the First Time face and adults can comb the mountain in search of the Golden Egg (containing a season pass) in the all-mountain hunt. EB scatters more than a hundred eggs for early risers to find. some have candy, others have fun prizes like alpine coaster tickets.
Deer Valley
The Easter Bunny visits Deer Valley’s Snow Park Lodge from 9 to 11 a.m.
Alta
Make sure you have the kids in front of Alta Java at Albion Lodge at 11 am. sharp to meet the Easter Bunny and find some of his hidden treasures buried in the snow. They will have three groups: 4 & under / 5-8 years / 9-12 years.
Brighton
Dress like the Easter Bunny this Sunday and ski for free!! The Easter egg hunt in and around the Milly Chalet begins at 8 a.m. and will keep all ages entertained. Make sure to bring your boots, because you never know where the Easter Bunny hid his eggs! Grab some pancakes at the Milly Chalet. There will also be hard boiled eggs to dye and decorate.
Snowbird
Snowbird’s Easter begins with the annual Sunrise Service on Hidden Peak followed by a Pancake Breakfast Buffet at the Rendezvous or the Aerie Easter Brunch. Kids 6 and under are free.
The egg hunt starts in Chickadee Bowl at 9 a.m. for children up to 11. The three age divisions are: 4 & under, 5-7 and 8-11.
Snowbasin
Bring the children up to Snowbasin Resort for an Easter Egg Hunt and to see the Easter Bunny before enjoying a delicious Easter Brunch. Kids under 6 scramble at 10 a.m. Those 7-12 can get their eggs at 11. The Easter Brunch is from 10:30 am – 4:30 pm. Reservations required.
The Wasatch slopes have claimed their first Utah avalanche victim of 2014/15. A snowboarder was swept away yesterday after he and his buddy triggered a slide in Hells Canyon near Snowbasin Resort, accessed from the Mt Allen Tram gates.
Twenty-one-year old Blake Ford was found by Snowbasin’s ski patrol rescue dog an hour after the 1800-foot avalanche. He was apparently pushed through a narrow gully and buried under three feet of snow. Both men headed out of bounds without backcountry gear or beacons, into an area that has been known to claim lives. Not a smart move. Ever. 
Utah mountains saw seven human-triggered slides yesterday alone as eager backcountry skiers skinned out on this bluebird powder day. However, the two feet of fresh powder on top of our thin snowpack has created some scary, slab avalanche conditions.
The beehive state averages about four avi-related fatalities a year and experts are begging folks to stay on lower-angle terrain for the next few days when they go out of bounds to avoid reaching that average.
Weather forecasters are predicting balmy temps in the 50s this weekend and next week with no winter weather in sight. Of course, that can change in an instant. Just take the time to check in with the Utah Avalanche Forecast Center hotline before choosing your route.