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A Little Solitude

This February I gave Jason the same thing for Valentine’s Day that I gave him last February, a year’s supply of monthly date surprises. Now don’t you be thinking that my unoriginality is lame. I only echoed the concept from last year not the actual activities; I don’t do gift repeats. Jason’s most recent date surprise centered on snowshoeing. Since Jason and I are both suckers for new terrain and we’d never snowshoed at Solitude Mountain Resort before, you can probably guess where we decided to go.

Silver Lake looked like a snow-covered meadow not a buried chunk of ice.
Silver Lake looked like a snow-covered meadow not a buried chunk of ice.

Solitude turned out to be a great choice. It was still an abominable snowman’s paradise when elsewhere winter’s fluff was slushed beyond recognition. We shoed around the Cabin Loop and Silver Lake, which was an alpine ice block at the time. Plus, we detoured through part of the Solitude Trail. In total, we trekked a little over two miles through that sun-speckled forest. Not a terribly impressive distance? We were hiking with giant paddles strapped to our feet so give us a break!

Spring is a great time to play in the drifts. Don’t be too hasty exchanging the racquets on your feet for the one in your hand.

On a side note, sections of Solitude’s cross-country skiing trails actually go over Silver Lake. You can ski on top of a frozen lake. How cool is that? I almost wanted to toss my snowshoes just to give it a try.

Rachel May 18, 2016 No Comments

Going Viking

Although Jason and I had dined at a yurt recently, (How many people can say that?) we ended up doing so again last month. When our friend Jeremy and his fiancé invited us to check out The Viking Yurt at Park City Mountain Resort with them, we said ja.

As it turns out, besides its round shape and mountainous setting, The Viking Yurt shares little in common with Solitude’s primitive Mongolian version. The Viking Yurt is posh, fully heated, pumping with electricity, and even has a grand piano somehow sandwiched in its innards. It may be remote but rustic it is not.

The Viking Yurt is 1,800 feet above the base of Park City Mountain Resort.
The Viking Yurt is 1,800 feet above the base of Park City Mountain Resort.

To get to The Viking Yurt, you hop on a massive sleigh pulled by a snow cat. It dashes you up 1,800 vertical feet, which takes about 25 minutes. At 8,700 feet, you find a warm mug of glogg, a spiced berry drink, awaiting you inside a surprisingly inviting shelter.

My many Viking ancestors were "peaceful traders" according to my mom.
My many Viking ancestors were “peaceful traders” according to my mom.

You are then served a six-course dinner with Scandinavian flair that begins with butternut squash soup and smoked trout salad. Next, to cleanse your palate, you’re given a scoop of sorbet stuffed in a rock from Norway. (My stone came from Goxdeglicindovajavinojaslovan.) The main dish, braised short ribs and Jarlsberg potatoes, follows. A cheese course, which features a variety of unusual fermented and pickled products, comes next, presented on aspen slabs. Then, a warm pear strudel with lingonberry ice cream crams itself into your already occupied stomach. Yummy!

The helmet, the mug, the look, the man... it all fits doesn't it?
The helmet, the mug, the look, the man… it all fits doesn’t it?

After all that eating, you jump into the sleigh again and it drags your heavy butt back down the slopes. The particular night we went the moon was full so we were expecting a spectacular return ride but clouds came between us and that lunatic dream.

The Viking Yurt seemed particularly luxurious considering its isolated location.
The Viking Yurt seemed particularly luxurious considering its isolated location.

So which of the two yurts was my favorite? Would I rather be conquered by a Viking or a Khan? That’s a hard call because Vikings have those cool hats and Khans have… those cool hats. Really, the two experiences were dramatically different but we loved both of them. The food at Solitude was a little better and it was cool to watch it being prepared. Plus, it was refreshing to completely unplug from modern disruptions. However, if you want to be pampered at 8,700 feet, then The Viking Yurt may be your kind of hut dining. You can’t go wrong either way… unless you don’t like eating amazing food in unique settings. If that’s the case, you best stick to gobbling P&J in your PJs.

Rachel May 2, 2016 No Comments

Summit Riding

Last month, some friends invited us to join them for a two-day “company retreat” at Daniels Summit. We did this very thing a couple of years ago with this very group and it was very amusing. So we kindly accepted the invitation again. We are, after all, the embodiment of kindness.

What a bunch of liars!
What a bunch of liars!

The first evening, I cooked homemade chili and cornbread for everyone’s dinner. After eating, we played games, or one game rather, until the wee hours. Avalon, which involves a lot of social manipulation (AKA lying), was that game. Some members of our group were rotten, no-good liars. Really, they couldn’t lie to save their lives… or Merlin’s.

This trick jolted Jason; he only did it once.
This trick jolted Jason; he only did it once.
Cindy dared to fly.
Cindy dared to fly.

We spent most of the next day snowmobiling. The snow was plentiful but the temperatures were a bit too toasty for winter layers and the surface oscillated from slush to ice as the day progressed. Still, all things considered, it was first rate, meaning I didn’t hit a tree this time.

Just off the trail, many tempting meadows awaited.
Just off the trail, many tempting meadows awaited.
Cam also rocked the two-legger.
Cam also rocked the two-legger.

Our snowmobiling destination was a peak that bestowed a 10,000-foot view of the Wasatch Range and its lowly valleys. We made it there despite endless sidetracking. Elevating!

What a range!
What a range!
I used to be a wild snowmobiler but a tree talked some sense into me.
I used to be a wild snowmobiler but a tree talked some sense into me.

That night, after socializing around a raclette dinner, we played Avalon again until we were too tired and slaphappy to keep our deceits straight. Of course, some of our group couldn’t do that even if they’d just been rejuvenated by a six-month coma.

I started to transform into a unicorn after snowmobiling all day thanks to my helmet confronting my vast forehead without the mediation of a skullcap, which it was too hot to wear.
I started to transform into a unicorn after snowmobiling all day thanks to my helmet confronting my vast forehead without the mediation of a skullcap, which it was too hot to wear.

Daniels Summit may not have provided ample snoozing opportunities but it did offer chances to practice good life skills like story fabricating and slush sailing. Many thanks to the knife clan for allowing us to join the fun. We were more than happy to keep you company even though we aren’t part of your company… did I mention that Jason and I are the embodiment of kindness?

Rachel April 12, 2016 2 Comments
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