Memorable Things To Do In Park City Utah

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The Ultimate Guide: Best Fests Of The West

Jill Adler Leave a comment

WHY BEST FESTS?

There was an editor once who told me she didn’t take stories about events. Because I was the lowly freelancer pitching tales of fun mountain events in the hopes of experiencing them firsthand, I took that stinging response and slithered away. Of course, I silently (and vehemently) questioned her judgment; after all, the calendar and events lists in magazines and online are the first things I look at. Always. Who wants to sit home on a beautiful day because there’s nothing to do? So I set about creating my own Best Fests of the West list and editors be damned!

WHAT’S THE DRAW

Events- especially multi-day ones- give you reason to get moving, get outdoors, find your community, experience something new- or hone skills you already have- and get joyously grubby. If no one’s writing about them, then how would you possibly know they are happening? A stumble into the local coffee shop and a browse on the bulletin board leaves too much to chance.

Luckily, there’s the Internet and there’s still little ol’ me- hunting and attending these festivals so you don’t have to worry about missing something cool taking place this hot summer. Here’s the rundown. Feel free to comment if I missed something. This list isn’t about every fest; just the best!

FYI: Coachella or Burning Man are not included. They’re both too cool to be cool anymore. This list also does not include “fests” where the general public sits around and watches elite athletes compete (ie. The GoPro Games and Royal Gorge Whitewater Fest). Below are festivals where you can be fully engaged; where you say you can’t wait to do it again. Enjoy!

MAY

GoFest, Whistler, B.C.- Four days of family fun doing everything outdoors like standup paddling, fly fishing, trail running, cycling, sailing, even snowboarding polished off with yoga, photography and film exhibits, fine food, live concerts. May 19-22.

Bottlerock, Napa, Calif.- Like a fine wine, Bottlerock keeps getting better with age. The three-day festival in California’s stunning Napa Valley features 70+ bands and indie acts, amazing food, and of course, lots of the region’s wine. Ani DiFranco, Foofighters, Live, Maroon 5, Macklemore,Ben Harper. May 26-28.

California Roots, Monterey, Calif.- It’s not all about California bands, nor is it just about roots reggae. It is, however, about quintessential California living—and dreaming: Imagine a laid-back experience with sunshine (if it’s not foggy), smiles, and good vibes. NAS, Thievery Corp, Matisyahu, Jurassic 5. May 26-28.

CKS Paddlefest, Buena Vista, Colo.- If you’re looking for a way to get involved in river sports, ready to hone your skills, or just want a good party that involves playing on water; this is the place to be. Clinics, competitions, races, and concerts make it a weekend not to miss. May 26-29.

Telluride MountainFilm, Telluride, Colo. – An epic festival of films, people, stories, and ideas that celebrates spirit, educates and inspires audiences, and motivates individuals and communities to advance solutions for a livable world. Parties, book signings, film premieres, concerts and food. May 26-29.

Sasquatch Music Festival, The Gorge near Seattle, Wash.- The premiere rock/alternative indie music fest. Camp out all three days so you don’t miss a beat from up and coming artists. There’s also a comedy tent that morphs into a dance party late at night for you and your 25,000 friends. Don’t miss The Head and the Heart, Twenty-One Pilots, The Shins, Frank Ocean. Memorial Day Weekend.

JUNE

Campout for the Cause, Rancho Del Rio, Colo. Live music, camping, yoga, lifestyle workshops, a stand-up paddle boarding invitational and sup workshops for all levels. 100% of net proceeds benefit local non-profit organizations. June 2-4.

Eagle Outside Festival, Eagle, Colo.- Free consumer demo, women’s mountain bike clinics, kids clinics and fishing derby, group rides, Firebird XC and LoFi Super-D races, and music. June 3-4.

Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Telluride, Colo.- Woodstock of the West. Four days of bluegrass-based acoustic music that’s been going strong for nearly 40 years. Dispatch, Sam Bush Band, Margo Price, Yonder Mountain String Band, Béla Fleck, Nora Jones, and Jason Mraz. Kids get their own tent and music at the back and late night concerts at local clubs throughout town rock after the field winds down. June 15-18.

Four Peaks Music Festival, Bend, Ore.- An intimate, family friendly fest with over 20 bands on two stages. Throw in free camping, yoga, craft beer, and late night music and you are set for a killer time with the likes of moe., Karl Denson, Infamous Stringdusters. June 15-18.

Great Eldorado, BBQ, Brews and Blues Festival, Reno, Nev.- Reno’s outrageous barbeque block party with acts including the Gin Blossoms and Everclear sharing nonstop rock and blues on two stages with day-long microbrew tasting. June 16-17.

Aspen Food and Wine Classic, Aspen, Colo. – Celebrity chefs, renowned winemakers, and epicurean insiders from the culinary world’s elite bring you three days of cooking demonstrations, wine tastings and panel discussions. June 16-18.

What The Festival, Dufur, Ore.- A four-day, outdoor bohemian rave featuring big names in electronica and EDM, pool parties, landscape-sprawling activities, hookah lounge, yoga, large scale art installations, lectures and trippy light shows. June 16-19.

Crested Butte Bike Week, Crested Butte, Colo.- A 4-day celebration of all things mountain bike in the Gunnison Valley. Clinics, races, a film festival, the Chainless World Championships, good beer, and a great party. June 22-25.

Flaming Gorge Days, Green River, Wyo., Flaming Gorge Days is an annual celebration which originated in 1956. Named after the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and the Flaming Gorge Reservoir, which is almost equally divided between Wyoming and Utah, there are games, live concerts, and much more! June 22-24.

Bonanza Campout, Heber, Utah- Set to the picturesque backdrop of Jordanelle State Park, the boutique music and camping festival will feature over 30 live performances by renowned headliners and emerging artists like Cut Copy, Airborne Toxic Event, Duke Dumont, Cherub, Method Man, Redman, plus local breweries and eateries, a variety of onsite activities, and more. June 23-25.

Blues from the Top, Winterpark, Colo. The Front Range will rock with the sounds of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Anders Osborne, food and craft vendors, and the famous Future of The Blues stage for kids. June 24-27.

High Sierra Music Festival, Quincy, Calif.- The eclectic sounds of jazz, newgrass, bluegrass, jam bands, funk, electronica and world music can be heard about 80 miles north of Reno, Nev., There are also workshops, classes, and family-oriented activities. Galactic, Greyboy Allstars, Trey Anastasio Band, and more. June 29-July 2.

JULY

Park City Food and Wine Classic, Park City, Utah. Experience more than 100 food artisans, wineries, breweries, distilleries, epicurean purveyors, and locally-made products with tastings, seminars, cooking demonstrations, and outdoor adventures with food & wine influences. July 6-9.

Ride Festival, Telluride, Colo. – The two-day fest features renowned rock and roll icons like Beck and ben Harper along with some of current music’s finest emerging talent. July 8-9.

International Climbers Festival, Lander, Wyo., – Celebrate the climbing lifestyle with competitions, clinics, art, food, music, beer, and one hell of a party. Some of the top sport climbers in the world show up for this. July 12-16.

Timber! Outdoor Music Festival, Carnation, Wash.- More than 20 emerging rock bands, yoga, swimming, kayaking, biking, camping, s’mores and an evening stage for spooky storytelling. July 13-15.

Winter Park Jazz Festival, Winter Park, Colo. A fan favorite for over 30 years, share the mountains with world class jazz artists in Hideaway Park. MAZE featuring Frankie Beverly, Marsha Ambrosius & Eric Benét, Brian Culbertson. July 15-16.

Targhee Fest, Alta, Wyo.- Family friendly rock fest framed by the Tetons. North Mississippi Allstars, Karl Denson, Galactic, Leftover Salmon and more are scheduled to perform. July 14-16.

Cheyenne Frontier Days, Cheyenne, Wyo., – Celebrating Cheyenne’st Old West roots with the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, trick riding, a Native American Village, an old frontier town, a saloon, dancing, a chuck wagon cook-off, pancake breakfasts and an art show, a carnival midway, an air show, top-name entertainment, and parades. July 21-30.

Rockygrass, Lyons, Colo. – Known internationally as one of the great traditional bluegrass festivals, Rockygrass becomes the center of the bluegrass universe under the red rock cliffs of the St. Vrain River. Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush Bluegrass Band, Earls of Leicester, Infamous Stringdusters, and many more play while kids can do their own planet-minded activities throughout the day in the family area. July 28-30.

Red Ants Pants, White Sulphur Springs, Mont. – The festival brings in more than two dozen different artists playing grassroots, honky-tonkin’ music performing on separate stages. Local food and craft vendors, agricultural and work skills demos, and a kids tent. A portion of the profits go to the Red Ants Pants Foundation to develop and expand leadership roles for women, preserve and support working family farms and ranches, and enrich and promote rural communities. July 27-30.

AUGUST

Arise, Sunrise Ranch, Loveland, Colo.- Seven stages of live music, yoga, workshops, theme camps, art gallery & installations, children’s village, speakers, films and camping on 100 beautiful mountain valley acres. Atmosphere, Tipper, Ani DiFranco, Rising Appalachia, Brother Ali and more acts will keep the party going for three days. Aug. 4-6.

Outside Lands, Golden Gate Park, Calif.- Launched by the people who created Bonnaroo, this mainstream (think Metallica, Tribe Called Quest, The Who), 3-day celebration of music, food, wine and art brings together more than 70,000 people. Aug. 11-13.

Faerieworlds, North Plains, Ore., – If Middle Earth had a Bonnaroo it would look and sound like this. Faerieworlds is largest mythic, fantasy and faerie themed event in the US. Now in its 16th year of providing music and art-based entertainment, Horning’s Hideout, outside of Portland captures three days of extraordinary live music and performance, amazing art and crafts, and fantasy fun for the whole family. Aug. 25-27.

Salt Lake Climbing Festival, Brighton, Utah.- Get down and dirty with your best new climbing buddies with gear demos, great food, music, yoga and of course climbing workshops lead for all abilities. Children are welcome! Aug. 25-27.

SEPTEMBER

Wydaho Rendezvous Teton Bike Festival, Grand Targhee Resort, Driggs, Idaho. Mountain Bikers from all over the west gather for a weekend-long fest of fun including: guided rides, clinics, demos, raffles and music. Sept. 1-4.

Bumbershoot Arts and Music Festival, Seattle, Wash.- 250 performers at over 20 unique indoor and outdoor venues. There’s music, comedy, film, performing and visual arts, dance, theatre, and events for the kids. Lineup TBA. Sept. 1-3.

Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival, Johnson’s Beach & Resort, Guerneville, Calif.- Vibrant jazz acts and the grittiest blues players in the nation share two days of music, wine, food and paddling. Sept. 9-10.

Zion Rendezvous, Zion NP, Utah- Workshops, guided canyoneering in the most magnificent place in the west, adventure planning, presentations, parties, food, demos and raffles. Sept. 13-17.

Colorado Mountain Winefest, Palisade, Colo.- Ffood and wine pairings, chocolate and wine tastings, educational seminars are part of the state’s largest and oldest wine festival featuring dozens of Colorado wineries, live music, a grape stomp, chef demonstrations & seminars. Sept. 14-17.

Salida Bikefest, Salida, Colo.- Celebrating bicycles of all kinds with free group rides, bike films, bike from work mixer, a chainless race, pump track competition, a bike parade, the return of the Banana Belt Mountain Bike Race, the 17th Annual Monarch Crest Crank and free live music in Riverside Park, plus much more. Sept. 14-17.

Kaaboo, Del Mar, Calif.- A completely curated, three-day sound voyage that combines world-class rock-n-roll music from the likes of Jackson Browne, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alanis Morissette, tastemaking socials, craft libations, comedy acts, contemporary art, dancing and premium amenities. Sept. 15-17.

Yosemite Facelift 2017, Yosemite, Calif. – Ha ha, tricked you! This isn’t a crazy party but a time to give back. More than 1,000 people each year volunteer to spend a day or more cleaning up Yosemite Valley. Participants are eligible for free camping, nightly raffles and presentations from slideshows to films. Sept. 26- Oct. 1.

Idaho Mountain Festival, Castle Rocks State Park, Almo, Idaho
(right next door to the ever-so-popular City of Rocks National Reserve). – A 4-day all-inclusive outdoor event encompasses rock climbing, trail running, and a solid collection of entertaining attractions like the premiere of Reel Rock 10 films, live music, swag giveaways and community meals. Sept. 21-24.

Outerbike, Moab, Utah.- Skills clinics, bike demos, guided rides, food, fun and beer. Oct. 6-8.

SEPTEMBER

Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, Telluride, Colo., Three days of music with a lineup that includes Bonnie Raitt, Steve Winwood, TajMo, and many more, plus yoga and a standup comedy session, along with 56 craft breweries. September 15 – 17.

OCTOBER

Austin City Limits, Austin, TX- Book your hotel or campsite early. Austin’s version of Bonnaroo grown to become a two-weekend event draws crowds around 100,000. This American music event draws artists from the LCD Soundsystem to the Willie Nelson. Kids under 10 get in free and have their own “Kiddie Limits” event- crafts, sand play, School of Rock workshops, DrumZone and rocker hairdos. Oct. 6-8 & Oct. 13-15.

ClimbSmart, Joshua Tree, Calif.- A value-packed weekend of education, inspiration and celebration all to support the Friends of Joshua Tree and Access Fund. Climbing clinics, swag, entertainment, food and camping. Oct. 13-15.

Luxury Lodge at Blue Sky Coming Soon

Jill Adler Leave a comment

And the construction continues in little Summit County.

Auberge Resorts Collection, a luxury lodging brand, has just announced they would be managing a new boutique hotel at The Lodge at Blue Sky. The 3500-acre ranch and whiskey distillery north of Park City, Utah, will soon house 46 rooms and suites, a camp with four luxury tents, restaurant, spa and amenities including a wide range of customized outdoor adventures. If you ever wondered whether Park City needs a $1k/nt hotel take a listen to Stuart Campbell who will be heading up the project.

Guests will be able to horseback ride, work cattle, fly fish, shoot clays, bike, and cross-country ski. At the highest point of Blue Sky, a luxury yurt will welcome guests, there will be a lake for stand up paddle boarding and hikes into the pristine wilderness in summer, or alpine touring in the winter. Want yoga, fitness training, meditation and spa treatments? They’ll have that too. The whiskey tours and tastings from High West Distillery, Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870, will still be open to the public. Construction is expected to begin in March 2017. For more information, please visit:

https://aubergeresorts.com/resort/blue-sky/.

Utah’s Spring Skiing Party

Jill Adler 4 comments

You would think with the snowpack we’ve had this winter that we’d be skiing into July. Darn, if the snowgods didn’t hightail it the Bahamas and leave us skibums to sweat in the 60-degree heat this month while we watch the resorts close all too soon. It’s now time for Utah’s spring skiing party.

Anticipated Closing Dates

Alta : April 16
Beaver : April 2
Brian Head : April 16
Brighton: April 16
Cherry Peak : March 26
Deer Valley : April 16
Eagle Point : April 2
Nordic Valley : March 19
Park City Mountain : April 16
Powder Mountain : April 9
Snowbasin : April 16
Snowbird : TBD
Solitude : April 16
Sundance : April 2

Though sad to see our powder days in the rear view, spring skiing, with its corned-up groomers, funky retro ski clothes, and tailgate parties holds a certain charm. We wear lighter clothes and carry lighter hearts even if the snow is heavier and wet. After all, spring isn’t really about epic powder anymore, it’s about the epic, all-day spring skiing party.

Each day on the hill becomes your own personal spring break so don’t sit home and let it pass you by. There is the spring skiing party and picnics, music streaming from backpack speakers, rainbow wigs and the occasional man in a Speedo with corresponding sunburn. Despite the ever-melting conditions there are still plenty of turns and hi jinks left around the Wasatch. Bring the family and the outrageous costumes. It’s time to enjoy the deals, decent weather and debauchery.

ALTA

Look to the corners of the Wildcat parking lot on any given sunny afternoon from now on. Those hardcore Alta locals are grillin’ and guzzlin’ and they’re happy to share both the food and tales. One story you will tell for years to come is how you sat up at the top of High Rustler on the last day of the season, dancing and tossing snowballs, and skied to the bottom at dusk with a few hundred of your closest buds. Make sure you’re there!

Saturday, April 8 – Demo Day. Demo 2017-18 skis from dozens of manufacturers and enjoy apparel sales, music and more.
Wednesday, April 12 – Beer and Bratwurst for $10 at Alf’s Restaurant.
Saturday, April 15 – Alta Earth Day.
Sunday, April 16 – Alta Community Enrichment Easter Egg Hunt.

Snowbird

The spring skiing goes off here longer than any other in the Wasatch. The March/April days flit from sunny spring bumps to white-out powder days in an instant. There are unofficial pond skims, costumed clowns, torch-faced tourists, and parking lot BBQs. Although the mountain doesn’t really have an official closing date, the big party of record is the day the Tram stops spinning (usually the first weekend in May). “Jortski” celebrates the redneck in all of us with denim shorts and red, white and blue attire, and PBRs in the parking lot.

Spring passes are on sale now if you want to take advantage of this late season ho-down. Ski 12 times between now and close (TBD) and the $579 pass has paid for itself. The second spring pass sale starts April 1st but there’s no price for it yet.

March 25-26 – Subaru Winterfest. A one-of-a-kind mountain destination and lifestyle tour where skiers and snowboarders can come together. Enjoy live music, s’mores and craft OZO coffee. Participate in daily giveaways and test the latest gear from Nordica, Lib Tech, Thule, Klean Kanteen, and Under Armour. Plus, plan to meet adventurous Subaru owners and learn how you can support Avalanche Rescue Dogs.

April 16 – Easter at The Bird.

Easter Sunrise Service on Hidden Peak (stay tuned for timing)

Easter Egg Hunt
9 a.m. in Chickadee Bowl (meet on the Plaza Deck near Christy Sports)
Free Easter Egg Hunt for children up to 11 years of age. Bring a basket and let the Easter Bunny help you find his eggs! The three age divisions are: 4 & under, 5-7 and 8-11.

Easter Brunch at The Aerie
11 am – 3 pm Reservations Recommended: 801-933-2181 or in-house ext. 3663.

Brunch at The Forklift

June 10-11 – Brewfest. Live music, food stations, crafters/vendors TWENTY-SIX local and national breweries sampling 3-5 of their finest brews.

Solitude

As the days wax longer, the number of coolers and barbecues in the lower Moonbeam parking lot multiply. The season hits a crescendo when Solitude pulls off a last-run celebration akin to Alta’s. The on-hill party starts around 3 p.m. from the top of Powderhorn lift, where skiers and riders tough it out until the last chair reaches the summit then the hoard hauls down to the base of Eagle Express for the apres tailgater.

March 19 – Rossignol Demo Day. Test the latest in ski and snowboard technology. Visit the Last Chance Lodge to participate.



March 25 - 27th Annual Chocolate Lovers' Tour. Begin your day at 9 a.m. by grabbing a complimentary “Chocolate Lover’s Passport” from the Chocolate Lover's Tour booth in The Village (under the clock tower) or at Moonbeam Lodge (on the patio by the ski slope). Follow the map on your passport to find different stations on and off the mountain, where complimentary goodies are offered throughout the morning. Receive a stamp from each station and you will be entered to win great prizes. The completed passports are due by noon and the prize drawing is at 1 p.m.
April 16 - Easter Egg Hunt and Ski with the Easter Bunny. Children ages 2 to 10 meet at the Snowsports Academy in the Moonbeam Base Area. All guests are welcome and the event begins at 9:30 a.m. In addition, Swire Coca-Cola will be offering complimentary, full can samples at the Monster tent, located in the Moonbeam parking lot from 2 to 4 p.m.
Brighton
The end of season got so rowdy at Brighton that they had to split the party into two days. And with the area celebrating their 80th anniversary, the last weekend is bound to go down in the rager history books. The beach bash and snowboard jam usually takes place on Saturday but it's closing day's Dummy Downhill that locals anticipate. Around 5 p.m. locals and employees of the mountain's various departments hike up to the top of the halfpipe and send hand-crafted "sleds" with "dummies" on top careening down the slope until they crash into bits. Throngs of drunken onlookers cheer. Money and prizes go to the contraptions that travel the farthest or look the slickest. The contest starts around 5 p.m.
If you want to join in the BCC 'derby' you need to register in advance. Your dummy will be judged at 1 p.m. and only the best are chosen to actually compete. They have to weigh less than 50 pounds with no pyrotechnics.
Thru March 30 - Friday night s'mores. Free treats at 6pm on the Alpine Rose Deck.  ALL AGES WELCOME!
Snowbasin
March 17 - St. Patrick's Day Party. Bag-Pipers, Corn Beef and Cabbage, Guinness Stew, Green Beer, and Free Music. Search for pots of gold on the mountain and win a 17/18 season pass. Après ski party in the Cinnabar at the end of the ski day with more FREE live music in Earl’s Lodge at 2:00pm
April 1 - Tap Takeover Semi Finals. Three local breweries vying for a chance to be named the favorite brewery from the Snowbasin crowd.

April 8 - 9 - Tap Takeover Semi Finals. Uinta Brewing will be facing off against either Wasatch Brewery, Squatters or Bohemian Brewery (votes are still being tallied).
April 8 - 9 - Retro Weekend and Pond Skim. Break out your spandex and best costume. On Saturday, enjoy spring skiing and live music from 80’s cover band, Breakfast Klub. On Sunday, join the annual pond skim and DJ Richie from X96. The Pond Skim starts at 12:00pm. Registration is on Earl’s Plaza between 9:00am and 10:30am. Cost is $5 unless you are dressed in your best retro costume attire.
April 15-16 - Tap Takeover Finals
April 15 - 16- Closing Weekend. On Saturday, April 15, there will be a last chair party at the top of Wildcat following the regular operating hours. Load and ride Wildcat chair one last time at 4:00pm. Participants will need to have a day ticket or season pass. At the top there will be a toast to Wildcat at 4:30pm with beverages for purchase by cash or check. Skiers and Riders who didn’t have a chance to purchase a Wildcat chair, can enter in a drawing for one of the chairs at the top. The winner will be announced following the toast.
April 16, Easter Egg Hunt. Bring the children up to Snowbasin Resort for an Easter Egg Hunt and to see the Easter Bunny before enjoying a delicious Easter Brunch! Ages 6 and under - 10:00 am, Ages 7-12 - 11:00 am

Deer Valley

Get thee to The Beach. Every posh DV patron knows to snag a plastic white Adirondack chair outside the Silver Lake Lodge and never relinquish it. This is the place to see and be seen as one of the Deer Valley elite. Beer is served inside but you can also sip blueberry mojitos from the Royal Street Cafe.

March 25 – Avalanche Rescue Dog Awareness Event. The Deer Valley Avalanche Rescue Dogs and their handlers will be on the Plaza at Snow Park Lodge on Saturday, March 25, from 3 to 4 p.m. Guests can stop by and have their picture taken with the dogs and visit with their handlers. Deer Valley Avalanche Rescue Dog logo merchandise such as t-shirts, stickers, pins and mugs will be available for purchase and the proceeds will benefit the Avalanche Rescue Dog team.

April 16 – Easter Bunny Visits. Guests and their children are invited to bring a camera and take their picture with the Easter Bunny. Snow Park Lodge area from 9 to 11 a.m.

Park City Mountain

In the days of old, Park City threw the best party of all time- Clown Day, April 1. But resort officials and local police silenced the event when the crowd- and drinking -got too outrageous to contain. Anyone arriving in a clown costume would have their pass confiscated and be ejected from the resort. Clown Day was dead. The event eventually rose from the ashes some years ago, reincarnated as “Gaper Day” but it would never again match the status of its extinct ancestor. Dress in a one-piece or neon but leave the clown wig at home.

March 25- April 9 – Spring Gruv.

Park City presents the 10th annual Spring Grüv. Sixteen days of free concerts in the two villages, as well as the 21st Annual Pond Skimming Contest! It’s one of those traditions that has been wild from the start.

NOTE: No outside alcohol is allowed in for our spring concerts. We will have food and beverage options available in the Park City Base Area and Canyons Village, so don’t worry! And, please carpool. Celebrate. Compete. Watch. Ski. Ride. Grüv.

Canyons Resort

March 25- April 9 – Spring Gruv.

Saturday & Sunday S’mores at the Umbrella Bar in Canyons Village
Hang around the fire pit on the Umbrella Bar deck in Canyons Village for all your s’mores fixings free from 3-4p.m.

April 8 – 21st Annual Pond Skimming. It’s one of those traditions that has been wild from the start. The Pond Skimming Contest is Park City’s most popular party and is the true indicator that spring has arrived. Contestants must dress in costume (the funkier the better) as they attempt to cross a 100-foot pond on skis or a snowboard. The pond and the excitement happen at mid-mountain just outside Red Pine Lodge. Must be 10 years of age or older to enter. Spectators will need a lift or gondola ticket to watch. Then, hit up the Canyons Village for a free concert.

RULES:
No teams allowed
Minimum age is 10 years old
No nudity, thongs, or bare butts allowed
No full-face masks or costumes that inhibit full visibility
No fire allowed in costumes
No animals allowed
Must compete on skis or snowboards. No sleds, sit-skis or ski bikes allowed
Costume must be able to fit inside the Red Pine Gondola with the doors closed
Poles may be used but must be dropped before skis touch the pond
No pre-runs; each competitor gets one run to be judged

Sundance Resort

March 17 – F3T FLY FISHING FILM FESTIVAL. This fundraiser for Trout Unlimited will include multiple short films, fly fishing activities and great raffle prizes. This year will feature two screenings, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Doors open at 3 p.m.

March 18 – Banked Slalom. Junior and open classes for skiers and snowboarders. Same day registration is available. Race begins at 10:30 a.m. Lifts open at 9 a.m. Racer check-in at Jake’s Ticket Office: 8 – 9:30 a.m. To register, call 801.223.4849. $25 reg, $20 ticket.

Powder Mountain

The last two weekends of the season turn into Powder Daze at this area. The party kicks off with a mountain scavenger hunt for tons of swag. It’s rounded out with live concerts and barbecues in the parking lot.

Eagle Point Resort

March 18 – Banked Slalom

March 31- April 2 – Fool’s Gold Winter Cabin Ski Party. Bring your neon ski onesies along with your best 80’s ski attire (or WHATEVER funky cool ski outfits) and get ready for a lodge/ condo/ ski dance party like none other! Canyonside Lodge.

The Event Includes: A whole ski resort to ride with event attendees, two nights (Firday and Saturday) of costumed live music, dance, DJ’s, performances, a pond skimming event, and a hearty family group style pre-show dinner inside the Canyonside Lodge (dinner is on Saturday evening).

Brian Head Resort

April 1 – Spring Carnival

Cardboard Sled Race 10:30 a.m. – Build your best and most creative sled out of Cardboard and Duct Tape. Awards for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place for Race time and Appearance
Around The Mountain Noon – Snowmazing Race that sends your team of 2 you on a scavenger hunt all around the mountain. Best time WINS !
Bikini Slalom 12:30 pm– Female & Male – Wear your hottest bikini and ski/snowboard through our Racecourse – Awards for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place for Race Time and Appearance
Pond Skimming 2 pm – Our Crazy Texan “Chuck” wants to know: Can you make it across our Brian Head Resort pond on your skis or snowboard? Awards for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place for Best skim, Best Crash and Best Appearance

Registration will be held at the Last Chair Saloon from 10:00am to 11:30am.

April 15-16 – Kids Easter Festival. 11:00 to 3:00 – Navajo Lodge, Kids Carnival Games, Fish Pond, Lady Bug Toss, Hole in One Golf, Face Painting, Balloon Animals, Dino Dig and more.

April 16 – Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Adults hunt for the Season Pass Egg hidden somewhere on Brian Head Resort property open to everyone. Kids Easter Egg Hunt, 13 and under, behind Navajo Lodge, three age divisions, 4 and under, 5 – 8 and 9 – 13.

Utah Snow Report- March 12, 2017

Jill Adler Leave a comment

You would think that sunny skies and warm weather would lift the spirits but when you are a skier and the Utah snow report calls for 50+ temps, it could cause slight depression. I can safely report that WE NEED SNOW. A couple of days of spring skiing is fine but this is getting ridiculous. It’s early March and things are melting fast around here. Fortunately, we have so much snow that it should be weeks before we see dirt and rocks but the conditions underfoot have done a 180 from last week.

SPRING IS HERE

The only resorts still holding winter-like conditions are Alta and Snowbird – at the very tippy top, north-facing aspects. Friday’s jaunt to The Bird revealed some super fun windbuffed off the Tram as well as into Powder Paradise. The groomers off Little Cloud are bullet proof, softening in the late afternoon if there’s no cloud cover, however, the lower half of the mountain is skiing like softening taffy. Temps at the base of Mineral were 54 degrees AND CLIMBING!

We checked out Canyons Saturday and everything was mashed potatoes by 1 p.m. North facing trees like Deschutes were terrifying in the morning with their crispy, crud conditions while the wide-open, south-facing off-piste areas were full of fun slush bumps. Even 9990 was corning up by 11 a.m. The good news is that the crowds have died down. The bad news is that they will soon pick up as spring breakers head for the Wasatch.

When you’re ready for a break get thee to Earl’s for cheese fries!

Snowbasin skied the same as Canyons but, with more grooming and less snowmaking on that mountain, we were able to ski around without any leg-twisting conditions. There’s a definite difference between when manmade and natural snow soften. We had a ton of fun tearing down Strawberry and Philpot with their “corn-like” texture, and playing on the Grizzly downhill. The Mt Ogden Chutes were closed because of potential wet avi slides but you could still ride the soup can to the Peak. The groomer down Wildflower however was World-Cup firm with a yikes factor of 9.

THE FORECAST

If you are traveling to Utah you will love it right now- unless you are expecting that “Champagne powder”. Yeah, no, that ain’t happening. But the weather is gorgeous and you won’t hear any whines from little ones as they slip and slide in the sunshine. Just make sure you wax up as there is nothing new in the snow report for at least a week and it’s sticky out there.

Valentines For The Adventure Chick

Jill Adler Leave a comment

My boyfriend announced yesterday that we won’t be celebrating Valentines Day. Uh, not an option. It’s not like he comes home every day with flowers and a bottle wine. He’s a great guy who represents quite well but sometimes a girl likes a little extra. And, so, we have a national holiday that boosts retail sales and our feminine egos. The women of the world deserve a day of love and sweetness even if it has to be forced upon the male populace.

The problem is that most people hate mandated gifting days because all of a sudden they have to buy the perfect gift. Being an outdoorsy partner can also present its obstacles. Flowers and chocolates? Nice, but unoriginal and zero energy. If you dig a little deeper, however; nothing terribly traumatizing like open heart surgery, you can find some tender, little, “I love you!” trinkets, that get the message across the way we would want.

P.S. Guys, DO NOT give your gal workout wear for VDay. No matter how great (or expensive) those shorts or yoga pants are, you might as well have handed her a card that says, “You’re looking a little fat. Please exercise more.” On the flipside, however, we wouldn’t complain about a PrAna or Athleta giftcard.

Get out of the doghouse:

Phunkshun Wear infinity scarves and neckgaiters– Keep her warm, dry and still fashionable with these uber awesomely designed “neck tubes” from Colorado. The thermal tube with Polartec on the inside is water repellant and freeze resistant on the outside. Bonus: a portion of the sales go to the High Fives Foundation. $19-29.

Bodipure Keratin Hand and Foot Gloves– If a spa giftcard feels impersonal, fix up a little basket of these combo moisturizing glove packets for a stay-at-home mani/pedi. The waterless, self-activating keratin treatment will pamper and bring life back to dry, winter-damaged hands and feet. $9.95 for a pair of each.

Maria Shireen Hair Tie Bracelet– You ever notice those indents in her wrists from hair ties? Give her something that’s both stylish and functional with these gorgeous bangles. The unique design cleverly hides the band and creates a fun fashion accessory. $35-120

Il Morso coffee chocolates– Energetic chicks love caffeine and they love chocolate. A gift of these little artisan tabs loaded with up to 18 mg of caffeine mix romance with fun. She’ll remember you every time she pulls one from her pocket for on-the-go pep. $60 for 40/ct.

Cairn Subscription Box– Make it a surprise for both of you if you aren’t sure what to get for your adventurous other. The company delivers outdoorsy type products – anything from socks to lanterns for a flat $25 per month. You never know what’s inside from month to month. Go for a three to 12-month subscription for the gift that keeps on giving.

Barefoot Eco Outfitters Red Moose Jogger Pants– While it’s unseemly to present exercise gear on Valentine’s Day, there’s nothing wrong with loungewear. But be careful. If you gift these unisex pants made of soft Eco Tri-blend fleece, organic cotton and rayon, you may never get her out of them. Well, at least they are more form-fitting than most sweatpants. $45

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