USA 2009 - PART 4

Friday April 3rd - Watch Where You Stick That Poles

Up and away at 9.45am I picked up Javy at his house although I went round the block a few times and if he had not opened his garage so that I could see his car I doubt I would ever have found him.

Today we were heading to Snowbird and the 13" fresh snow reported which we started slaying at 10.45am with a few laps on Gad 2 which was deep although quite tricky to see in the poor visibility. We found a couple shoots which I'd have never found skiing myself. Tight but full of snow and impossible not to come out at the bottom without a huge smile on your face.

We then headed up to the Little Cloud lift which again had some great sport but also landed me the comedy moment of the trip so far when I skied off the lift. I usually ski forward slowly while fastening my two buckles on my boots which I loosen at the base of the lift each run. But getting myself in a tangle my poles went in front of me, caught in the snow and the hand grips battered into my groin as I continued to move forward. Unable to free myself I took the pain, landed on the ground and although painful found myself laughing.

We skied right through to 3.30pm and went down to have some Mexican at one of Javy's favourite fast food joints in Salt Lake City and I have to say that it was pretty good stuff and large portions too. Before we got there however we saw one of the most bizarre accidents. On one of the flyovers above the road a car was on its roof only being stopped from toppling onto the highway by an executive chicken wire fence. Perhaps the luckiest person alive was in that car today.

Dropping off Javy we agreed to meet at 7pm at the Stockton and Malone statues in front of the arena and after a change of clothes and a beer in Lumpy's I was ready for action. As ever Javy was running late!

Getting to our seats the Jazz were taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves who have a dreadful record and I fully expected a win as the Timberwolves had lost 9 on the road prior to their trip to Utah with the Jazz having won their previous 15 home matches.

The Jazz yet again blew a good lead, this time 15 points, and in an amazing finish a serious of time outs brought out Jazz bear who was really rallying the troops like I've never see before. At one stage he was standing 20 feet up a ladder with signs telling the crowd to roar and I had to wonder if in the UK that the HSE would stop this, knowing the pathetic nanny state we live in I reckon they would but it made for fantastic entertainment.

Other entertainment during the game included the ridicule of a visiting fan who went into the centre and had to skip on a long rope when the crowd cheered. What he did not know was that he was left jumping on the spot thinking he was doing well when in actual fact nobody was near him. Priceless!

A gripping end saw the Jazz trail by one point at 103-102 when the Timberwolves missed a shot and AK-47 called a time out with 2.3 seconds left. Out came Jazz Bear. Back out and the Timberwolves immediately called another time out to reorganise their defence. Deron Williams missed a shot from easy range at the buzzer and the game ended in a thrilling 103-102 loss.

Preferring to head home I stopped at the liquor store and picked up a bottle of wine and then a McDonalds before a night in front of the TV and a reasonably early night.

Saturday April 4th - A Change From A Scottish Burger Van

The possibility of today being my last day of the year on skis was quite sad and as ever Javier was running late so I had a few coffees in the reception until he arrived at 10.30am and we took my car up to Powder Mountain.

Arriving in a fairly quiet parking lot I was pleased to see around 12"+ of new snow and knew we would find fresh tracks all afternoon. First up we took the Timberline lift and disagreed on what the best lines were but we both had a lot of fun. I thought the turns in upper Dynamite were amongst the best although Javy was having more fun in the trees over towards Hidden Valley.

Next we used the Paradise lift to lap Quick Shot which had some great skiing and boarding albeit with a bit of a long run out particularly for a boarder. Over to the Hidden Lake lift and Sunrise poma we found some great lines as we lapped the powder runs striving to find what we felt was the best terrain. I did not feel we had to look too hard and dropped into Claire's Run a few times and found great snow and dived in and out of the trails each time struggling to find any sign of where I had been the run before!

We finished with a couple more on Paradise and one down Exterminator which was almost untouched powder even at 4pm and we headed back to the car having had a very enjoyable afternoon on the mountain at 4.30pm.

I normally have a beer to finish but having not eaten all day other than our usual Flamin Hot Tamales we decided to head for home via a stop for some Mexican food. I fancied some in Ogden rather than back in Salt Lake City and we passed a few vans just off the main drag through town. Having taken my chances from most burger vans in Aberdeen I am not too choosy but Javy was not so sure. Eventually I put my foot down, we pays our money and we take our chances and were not to be disappointed.

The vans were almost packing up and we choose one and I ordered a burrito and a taco while Javy went with a burrito all for the sum of $8. Back to the car we chatted over our food before heading for home.

Saying our final goodbyes for this trip I jumped into the shower and settled down with a couple of glasses of red wine before taking a look up town and a few beers in Lumpys where I watched a bit of basketball and the local talent who had came out in great numbers for a Saturday night on the town.

A few beers and an early night went out the window as I was enjoying myself and before long it was almost 1am and I headed down the road to the ranch.

Sunday April 5th - The Long Road Home

I had thought about getting up early and setting off on the near 7 hour journey north to Philipsburg but rolling in after 1am is not really conducive to that so after a coffee in the reception and handing in my room card I setoff at 8am with the sun shining brightly and some great tunes on the stereo.

I've driven this route many times so know the road pretty well and don't really see anything new although I smile when passing the turnoffs that would take me to some of the resorts I have visited over the years and I tinkered with the thought of taking a look up to Pebble Creek as I passed Inkom but decided to push on for home.

Stopping only once at Idaho Falls for gas it was not long before I was back in Montana and heading towards the turnoff for the Pintlar Scenic Route which is a beautiful drive that bypasses I-90 between Opportunity in the east and Drummond in the west passing through Anaconda, Philipsburg, Maxville and Hall as well as being home to Discovery Basin.

Closing day at Discovery is something that I experienced back in 2004 so I decided to head to the mountain even though it was 2pm and see if I could land lucky again. Back in 2004 it was deserted in the morning before a few locals appeared in the afternoon.

Today was totally different and only afterwards would I learn why. The access road was ominous with cars parked well down the road and the parking lots overflowing and after failing to find a spot I decided to head down the road to Philipsburg. It turns out that 40" of snow had fallen in the previous few days and closing day had some of the best conditions in memory.

I stopped at one of the pull offs on the pass after Georgetown Lake where the views are stunning with high rock walls towering above the road and the tumbling river below which was swelled by the melting snowpack. Changing out of my ski gear that I had thrown on in the morning and into my jeans as it was simply too warm to wonder around town in that amount of clothes.

I'd spoken to Kathy last week and knew that they were heading over to Kellogg, Idaho to meet Kenny's brothers to celebrate Kenny's 74th birthday so it was no surprise when I pulled up that there was nobody around so I decided to take a look up to the White Front for a few beers leaving a note on my case of beer at the door incase they came home early.

Lorraine was on duty, Deb's was in for a drink as was Paul and Cheryl from Florida so there was plenty going on and a few games of pool quickly ensued. Next I took a look down to the Sunshine Station for a few beers again bumping into a few known faces before heading to the house at 8pm.

It was 9pm when Bill, Kathy and Kenny pulled up outside and Bill went back down to the Sunshine Station and grabbed a couple pizzas and Kenny filled me in on the stories of the day including his white knuckle drive over Lookout Pass and his efforts to find his younger brother Shotgun. Kenny was quite sure that his disappearance would have something to do with a woman!

A couple of beers and everyone was ready for bed.

Monday April 6th - The Perfect Meal

Kenny was up and about long before I got myself up for a coffee and a shower at 9am and not long after Bill was up and about and we had some breakfast. Kathy was working 2 shifts today but Bill is off each Monday so at 10am we cracked open a tin of ice cold beer. While I could not do this every day it was nice to spend some time with my friends, sharing some stories and having a relaxing drink.

A relaxing morning and early in the afternoon Bill and I took a look up town. Bill had to go to the laundry and I took a look into the library and we agreed to meet in the White Front for a couple beers and a game of pool before we headed home at 4pm for my favourite meal.

Bill and I shared around a dozen stuffed Jalapeno peppers wrapped in bacon before the main course of mule deer tenderloins wrapped in bacon. I hate to admit that poor Tank must have been cursing having me as a guest as I demolished 4 in total and I have to say I was stuffed better than any of the Jalapenos.

It hardly seemed like over 3 weeks since I had met in with Mike Coyle down in Drummond and he had promised me that he would have a cold beer for me when I returned before heading home to Scotland so Bill and I decided to take a look down to Drummond although Bill was pretty sure that although close the bar was not yet open to the public so we phoned ahead. Mike confirmed he would be there so off we went.

The transformation in the bar was amazing. The new bar was down and finished, the fittings were all in and Mike was expecting the new coolers to arrive any day. Good to his word Mike had a cold beer for us and we settled down and watched the last 10 minutes of the NCAA basketball final between Michigan State and North Carolina with Ty Lawson guiding his North Carolina Tar Heels home with a convincing 89-72 victory.

We decided to head home and I said my goodbyes to Mike knowing that I would be back again in 11 months or so. The cloudless sky made for a nice drive home and we stopped in the Sunshine Station for a beer before heading home to the house for an early night.

Tuesday April 7th - Cowboy Q

My final day in Montana was a leisurely one and I started by rising at 8.30am and having a coffee with Kenny. Kenny is never short of a story and I miss my breakfast table chats over a coffee and a read of the daily newspaper with him. Today the sun was shining outside and it was going to be warm.

Kathy was working so Bill decided that today was the day to deck me out as a cowboy. Boots, coat, holster with handgun and a shotgun to go along with my present of a cowboy hat and we joked that I could take a wonder into town and see what the locals made of the newcomer in town.

As well as missing my friends when I go home I also miss my favourite dog Tank and with it being hotter than Scotland in summer and Bill and Kathy being out at work in the afternoon I took Tank out for some exercise in the back yard. Launching the ball out of the scoop for miles over the adjacent garage Tank would take off in pursuit and bring the ball back and would happily do this all day and all night if I kept up with him. The heat was too much for me and I could see Tank slowing down a bit so we went in for some refreshments, Tank keeping to the non alcoholic version and myself to an ice cold beer.

We had fun on and off until mid afternoon and with Kenny taking a nap I decided to take a wonder into town for a few beers in the White Front. Poor Tank looked so sad as I wondered off and he must have stood long after I had disappeared out of sight thinking I'd come back. Anyway, I had a few beers and a wander along the historic downtown area in the beautiful sunshine before I headed down to the Sunshine Station to see Bill and have a couple beers there.

I wandered back up the road at 5pm passing Paul in his car who gave me a hearty wave which makes me feel right at home and as I walked up the last 100 yards or so to the house I was met by Tank charging full speed towards me. Now, I am a little uneasy with dogs and the sight of one careering directly at me would normally have me crapping myself but Tank just wanted to play and was jumping up onto my shoulders. After a welcome like that it would be rude not to throw the ball with him so we had another go out the back in the late afternoon sun.

It was hard to believe that this was my last day and after dinner we had a look down to the Sunshine Station to collect Bill at 9pm when his shift finished. We had a final beer or two and as it was quiet we were home not long after 10pm. Each night Tank comes over beside the couch as I put my head down, rolls over and demands a belly rub before he jumps onto the armchair and we both fall to sleep and for me this was the final one of the trip.

Wednesday April 8th - The Final Journey

My flight home was not until 2pm so I had plenty time to get up and get going so I had a leisurely cup of coffee with Bill and Kenny and at 10am said my goodbyes for another year. Always sad but always in the knowledge that I will see them all again next year as well as a letter or two from Kenny throughout the year to keep me abreast of the local news.

I drove up to the hospital to say goodbye to Kathy at her work and with the sun on my back and good tunes made my way down to Drummond where I stopped for some water at the local gas station. On the way back down I spotted Mike Coyle taking delivery of his coolers and had a smile to myself that next year I'd visit a fully open bar. Good luck to Mike.

Making good time I had an hour to spare so I headed to the Wye West casino in Missoula for a couple beers and watched the news and thought about my trip highlights as well as the thought of having to go back to work on Friday for the day.

My flight to Minneapolis was on time which is always my main worry in getting home and I paid the extortionate $5 for a tin of beer and snacks and sat back and relaxed. Once in Minneapolis with time to kill I had a burger and headed to The Lodge for a red lager or two before boarding the flight to Amsterdam and then home to Aberdeen.

All too soon the trip was over and I was home. This year I had skied at 15 different resorts, 8 of which were new, skied in 4 different states and travelled 4026 miles and seen a lot of new places, met old friends and new ones along the way.

I'd like to take this opportunity to personally thank Bill, Kathy and Kenny in Philipsburg who always make me more than welcome in their home as well as Javier for his great company down in Utah. Also to all the people along the way who I will probably never see again but took the time to make me feel welcome in their country.

Until next time.

This article was written by Quintin Chalmers, a 34-year-old skier from Aberdeen in the north of
Scotland. Quintin has skied at over 100 US resorts and is in the process of setting up
www.offthebeatenpath.co.uk designed to help like minded people find the best turns in some of the
more unusual resorts in western USA. He has over 20 years skiing experience and enjoys nothing
more than seeing new places that many people write off as being not worth the hassle.