Winter Playground

If you've read this blog before, you likely already know that Utah is quite the playground. But usually, I'm posting about summer activities... this post (and the last), are about the joys of WINTER in Utah.

It's been a crazy winter, lots of sun, and more recently, lots of snow. Until recently, mother winter had been holding out on delivering as much white champagne fluff as we are usually so blessed to receive... Jan and parts of Feb brought us wild temperature swings, from 60's and raining-in the mountains- to 20 below zero at the base of the mountain. Wind chill not yet added!

But lately, temps have been moderate, and snow's been a-fallin'. And so we play!

Following Des and Dave through an area Dave calls "Sticks and Stumps"

Today was a big day- today Des and I went to Snowbird with our dear Uncle Davie. The snow was deep, and the company was outstanding. And then it happened.... Des got her very first (and then her second, and her third...) FACE SHOT.

For non-skier readers, a FACE SHOT is when you're skiing powder, and it's so deep it comes up over your head, and hits you in the face. Doesn't sound fun... but it is! It's a pretty special experience when the snow is light and deep enough for repetitive face shots!

Des gets initiated to the church of the Face Shot

And just in case you don't think there's good flying to be had in Utah in the winter months... here's Cal Hadley flying a site called Stockton Bar, in the small town of Stockton, UT

Cal flying his U2 at Stockton Bar, UT

'Bird Dog Day

Pretty epic day at "the Bird" today. Skied with Snowbird regular (and extraordinary pilot) "Dangerous" Dave Gibson... who knew all the right spots to go. Although, honestly, the snow was so good I don't think you could go wrong!

Anyways, definitely my best powder day of the year to-date. Good turns, good talks, good terrain...

Powder Day at the 'Bird from Ryan Voight on Vimeo.

A GoPro HD helmet cam of a face shot :-)

Frigid Febuary

We've officially started the shortest and coldest month of the year... and so far it's living up to it's reputation. Driving in to work in the morning, I've seen as low as -17 on the car's thermometer. For those of you that are mathmatically challenged, that's a full 49 degrees BELOW freezing. YOUCH!

That's one cold Scooby Doo!

When it's this cold, it's sure hard to think about flying. I now have my new T2C (currently lacking knickname) on order, as well as a new tandem glider. I'm also planning a trip to SoCal in late April to pick up said gliders... more on that as the date approaches. Thinking either Easter weekend (second to last weekend in April), or the last weekend in April. Dates will depend on Uncle Davie and Sky Shaddo's work schedules...