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Show MARCH 1997 Snowshoeing Magic By Leslie Miller At 2 p.m. she called me to join her I had been here with my friends, with lovers, with my dogs and sometimes alone. And, I had been in this place in all seasons: During the summer when the treetops are awash with their lime green leaves and vibrant white trunks shading your hot, brown limbs from the ravages of a Utah sun; in the fall when the rustling begins and the beauty of the golden leaves against the sapphire sky sends shivers down in a quick “shoe” up Daly Canyon. I was up for a little fresh air and anxiously dressed for our outing. After parking at the base of the mountain and strapping on our snowshoes we proceeded to bound up the little gorge Now we were still. The sky was gray and beginning to shed snow. Enormous, light crystals drifted gently around our sweating bodies. Giant pines formed a natural edge to the path we followed up the mountain, preventing us from continuing in the same southerly direction. At this point we would begin an ascent through my favorite part of the hike. We would walk amidst the ageold quakies that grace this exposure of the slope. I had been in this aspen grove on many occasions during my years living in Park City. No wonder, I thought, there are those who want to protect, at any cost, Park City’s last natural backdoor escape from being developed. But those of us who had been here many times, Over many years have known the privilege of experiencing the raw beauty of a land that belongs to someone else. And at this moment I felt eternally grateful for that. The wonder and the memories, the excitement and the joys, had been enough. I had been very lucky to know this haven when I had. The unblemished, the uncrowded, the unnoticed little route up to the Daly Bowls had been a blessing. Before the greed and the need of all the new trespassers demanded it for their own. When it was pure the way it was at this very W: stopped in the at the first switchback long, narrow canyon. I of was breathless, and she wasn't, matter course. No what sport we shared, swimming, biking, skiing, and now snowshoeing, my friend the “Juice Goose” always excelled. She is an energetic athlete. Ed ee and we were completely alone. I lowered my goggles over my eyes and scanned the natural surroundings. In the dead of winter, and in the late afternoon light, the atmosphere appeared as if we were in a black and white photograph. The pine trees were not green, they were a lighter shade of black and the snow billowing in front of us was pure white against a darkening sky. Then, I saw it. A sparkle of red. A your spine ee SALE glint of gold. Glass beads adorned a miniature pine tree in the forest. Here, in all of this vastness, was a tiny human detail, left behind by some creative soul. A garland of whimsy. The incompatibility of those colorful, shiny beads must have tickled our fancy. photo by Fred Hayes moment, that’s how I wanted to always remember it here. ; “Do you notice anything?” my friend asked me. “Like what?” I said. “Just something,” she hinted. The silence and isolation of the mountain was overpowering. At that moment the wind picked up and a gust of snow blasted our faces. It felt icy and refreshing. A storm was blowing in Plus New SN) a = 20% me. My soul was filled up with a joyful LOTIONS & SUNSCREENS COLD AND FLU REMEDIES Equipment, ° 40% Hop’n Jalepenio Off Room Polar Fleece sweaters, vests, tights, Gore-Tex shells and pants, hats, gloves, gaitors, underwear Eee (73 I Mi, st A at Nacho mS Come ZS Mamas Come join us for aprés ski or a late “night snack in our relaxing, comfortable non-smoking atmosphere in early for the best selection! Doors open at 9:00 am. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH Pool Table Foose-ball 1821 Sidewinder Drive in Prospector a 645-8226 702 E 100 S « Salt Lake City * 801-359-9361 PAGE 6 (we mix of memories, friendship, and discovery on the mountain. I was lucky again. The little route up Daly Canyon is still a blessing. @ BALANCE BARS he * 30% exhaust- POWER BARS = CLIFF BARS 9-7 MONDAY - FRIDAY 10 - 7 SATURDAY, 12 - 6 SUNDAY PARK CITY'S ONLY ORGANIC GROCERY STORE 1270 IRONHORSE DRIVE - 649-4561 and Accessories ae D adventure, by the elements Clothing i We elated jogged the entire way down the mountain) I knew, again, this was home for ON 0 COMPLETE TOURING PACKAGE Off snowshoeing and BEST PRICES IN PARK CITY tbth Kids Gear, T-2’s, T-3’s, Garmont Extremo, Salomon, Atomic, Black Diamond, Dynastar, R.D., Rossignol By By ed Ly NL: All Telemark and General Touring and Rentals and Demos Se When I returned that evening from our eA Saturday, March 40%-60% “There,” I exclained, “I see it.” And we both began to laugh and laugh and laugh. |
