The Fall Line

We Have Moved!

2009-05-15T15:37:00.002-06:00

The Fall Line blog has officially moved to a new blogging platform. The Fall Line can now be found at Taste of Park City.

We made this move to better organize our blog and to offer additional content about Park City, since we are based there. We hope you like the new format.

Please update any bookmarks or links you might have. Our old content will stay active at this address, but this blog will not be updated again after today.

Check out Taste of Park City for the latest Park City Deals and Park City Restaurant Coupons!

Nick-n-Willy's Pizza - A Fresh and Delicious Experience

2009-04-29T17:46:00.006-06:00

Considering that we run a restaurant guide and that I'm domestically challenged in the cooking department, one can assume that Kevin and I eat out more than we should. We've tried almost every restaurant in town at least two or three times, if not more. But one place we haven't tried before was Nick-n-Willy's Pizza. We decided to give it a go last night.

First, a little about the restaurant from Nicknwillys.com
"Nick-N-Willy's Pizza® was founded in Boulder, Colorado, and grew quickly as a purveyor of a truly unique concept serving high quality gourmet pizzas. Our signature pizzas gained an avid following and grew to be known by many as an incredible taste experience fondly recalled from a visit to Boulder. Our exceptional pies continue to form the mainstay of the Nick-N-Willy's menu today.

Nick-N-Willy's Pizza® now offers family-style restaurants designed for today’s busy working professionals and their families. Our fast-casual restaurants are designed for our consumers to enjoy the Nick-N-Willy's experience by providing dine in or take out. Pizzas are prepared fresh in an open style kitchen and baked in our traditional gas-fired stone oven while you watch. Our proprietary dough bakes to perfection in ovens that are specially designed to produce a light, crisp and golden brown crust, characteristic of traditional European baking."

Back to our experience:
Our dinner experience began with heading to Albertson's to grab some salad making goodies. We then cruised to the Prospector Shopping Center off of Bonanza Dr., where Nick-n-Willy's is located. Since the restaurant is famous for their "take-n-bake" pizzas, we ordered a large Veggie Delight pizza and then took it home to cook. Our total for one pizza, uncooked, came to $20.41 (including tip). Definitely not the cheapest pizza in town.

The first thing I noticed is how many toppings were put on the pizza! It was loaded with fresh mozzarella, cheddar, provolone, marinated artichoke hearts, roma tomato slices, mushrooms, and green/red peppers. Underneath the many veggies was a very thin layer of freshly made tomato sauce, which I was very excited about as I hate when pizza sauce covers up the takes of everything else! I wasted no time when we got home and immediately set the oven to 425 degrees, as directed on the pizza label. After a quick 12 minutes in the oven and some speedy salad making, I could smell the yummy aroma oozing out of the kitchen and into the dining room.

My first bite was great, aside from having to run and grab some garlic powder from the pantry. (a side note: I believe that there is no such thing as too much garlic.) The crust was thin, but not crunchy, and the flavor of each veggie was apparent, even with all my garlic. The pizza sauce was very mild, but added a great mellow flavor to each and every bite. Kevin and I were both so satisfied with the pizza that we devoured most of it, but managed to leave a few slices for the next days lunch.

Nick-n-Willy's is definitely a place we'll visit again and is the perfect place to make a quick stop and grab something to take home to the family. To make your stop faster, call ahead on the phone and your order will be ready to go.

Nick-n-Willy's isn't on our restaurant guide just yet, but you can find more information about them at nicknwillys.com or by calling them at 435-658-4872.

Bangkok Thai - All you can eat Pad Thai Special

2009-04-28T18:17:00.004-06:00

Craving the irresistible flavors of Thailand? The spicy and peanut infused noodles that make your mouth water when hearing the words "Pad Thai"? Well check this out!

Bangkok Thai on Main is bringing back their amazing all you can eat Pad Thai special for $9.99! That's right, for ten bucks you can eat the best Thai food in town until it hurts. I double dare you to try and go for a second plate!

So grab some friends or a date, and head to Bangkok Thai on Main. Make sure you sit in the bar area and let the bartender know you want the local's special.

Java Cow Cafe and Bakery - New Restaurant Listing

2009-04-27T20:54:00.002-06:00

Java Cow Cafe and Bakery has just recently been added to our Park City Restaurant Guide. Java Cow has an amazing local's special going on right now. Considering that most of the restaurants on Main Street are closed for the Spring, make sure you put Java Cow on your to-do list for lunch this week.

Java Cow's Local Lunch Special - ONLY $6.50 !!!!
Get a "half" Deli Sandwich & Cup of Soup or Chili
Come with your choice of bagel chips or a roll

Visit their restaurant page here to see some pictures, check out their menu, and read more about them.

Prime Steak House & Piano Bar - New Restaurant Added

2009-04-27T18:43:00.002-06:00

I'd like to announce our latest restaurant to be listed on our Park City Restaurant Guide, Prime Steak House and Piano Bar! Prime is currently closed for the Spring Season, however, they will be reopening on May 22nd for the Summer. They will also be offering their 2 for 1 dining special starting then. We'll keep you updated! Meanwhile, here's some info about Prime.

Prime Steak House & Piano Bar, Park City

Located right across the street from the town lift at the bottom of Historic Main Street, Prime Steak House and Piano Bar offers guests a dining venue close to everything in Park City. After a hard day of skiing or for an elegant night out on the town, Prime Steak House and Piano Bar is in the heart of it all.

Prime has been voted "Best Steak House in Utah" (2008) and claimed to be "By far, some of the best steaks in Park City" by the Zagat Survey. Try some local favorites like the mouth watering Sea Scallops appetizer or their Signature Filet w/ Crab Bernaise. Special menu items include Kobe Filets and 20 oz Prime Bone in Ribeye. Prime Steak House and Piano Bar also has a large array of wines to choose from and has one of the best selections in Park City. Most of their wines have been awarded over 90 points by Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Robert Parker.

The Piano Bar and Lounge offers guests a less formal dining experience with the same menu that made the restaurant famous. Whether you want to catch a game or just grab a cocktail after a hard day on the slopes, the Lounge offers a variety of options. The Bar offers over 200 wines and many fine spirits to accompany any item on our menu.

The Staff at Prime Steak House and Piano Bar have been here since the beginning. Today you will find the same group of men and women serving you that you would have nine years ago when they opened. What does this mean to the guest? Outstanding service! They believe that their exceptional food is only half of the dining experience. The Staff is the other half that makes Prime Steak House and Piano Bar a wonderful dining experience.

Prime Steak House and Piano Bar offers outdoor patio dining with mountain side views in the summer, and free underground covered parking throughout the year. Reservations are highly recommended year round.

New Off Season Dining Deals - Adolph's Restaurant

2009-04-24T18:04:00.005-06:00

With the official closing of Park City's three famous ski areas, we have packed up our winter gear and are getting in shape for bike season. We are also in the process of building a new feature that will offer all of Park City's restaurant's coupons and dining deals. Our new Dining Deals page will have every restaurant's off-season deals, summer specials, and "two-fers" all in one place. You will no longer have to hunt down a Park Record or remember where you might have shoved your 50% off coupon to Bill White's restaurants!

Our Park City Restaurant Dining Deals page will be live starting May 15th, so stay tuned. However, while we are building the most desired feature on our site, we'll be offering a few dining deal samples till then right here on our blog.

Our first one: Adolph's Restaurant

Adolph's Restaurant is one of Park City's most successful restaurants and has been in business since 1974. Dine in their casually elegant atmosphere and enjoy exquisitely prepared cuisine such as their perfect Buffalo Burger ($15.50) or step it up a notch and taste their Tenderloin Elk ($45.50). Swiss specialty's include Roast Rack of Lamb, Veal, and Duckling a l'orange. Save room for a fabulous selection of desserts, enjoy patio dining, or sit at the bar which is open nightly.

Adolph's Restaurant is open all year and is offering this fabulous deal, valid till 7/31/09:

Price Fix Dinner Special $25.00
Includes Assorted House Salad & Choice of three nightly entrees
Chef's choice dessert. Special valid for the entire table.

The Best "Local's Secret" Restaurants in Park City

2009-04-12T22:47:00.000-06:00

1. El ChubascoThis local favorite is tucked away in a strip mall in Prospector. The fresh salsa bar is one of the best I've ever tasted, and it goes great with authentic Mexican specialties like tostadas, large burritos, fish tacos, and much, much more. Expect a huge crowd during peak lunch hours, but the wait is worth it.

2. Szechwan Chinese Kitchen
The secret may already be out on Szechwan, but it's a true local's hotspot. The incredible lunch specials are the best value in town, and the food is consistantly superb. Like El Chubasco, expect a large crowd during peak lunch hours. Located behind Wendy's at Kimball Junction.

3. The Famous Spring Chicken InnA short drive from Park City is one of the oldest restaurants in the county. The Spring Chicken Inn serves up genuine comfort food in a historic, cozy atmosphere. Friendly locals frequent this restaurant because of the great food and excellent prices. Fried chicken is their specialty, but they also serve great breakfast. Take a drive and dine at a true piece of Utah history.

4. Good Karma
Good Karma features great Persian and Indian fusion dishes at reasonable prices. The curry platters are amazing and great for sharing. Friendly service and a funky vibe will keep you coming back.

5. The Stew PotThe Stew Pot is most famous for its large deck with views of the lake in lower Deer Valley. Locals congregate here in the off seasons for a working lunch or to relax after a Deer Valley bike ride. Located inside a lodging office in lower Deer Valley, The Stew Pot is a little hard to find if you haven't been there before. Give them a call for complete directions.

Cafe Sabor Shuts Its Doors

2009-03-04T22:33:00.002-07:00

According to Park City Voyeaur, Cafe Sabor unfortunately became the first Park City restaurant closure of the year. It was announced on Saturday that the restaurant would be closing later that night. Cafe Sabor's owner, Mike, confirmed the closure this week saying, “Unfortunately the rumors are true. We had to close Saturday night. Many different issues and it was the right time to leave.”

Cafe Sabor had become a popular Mexican hangout in Jeremy Ranch, and we are saddened to see it go. Hopefully this economy doesn't claim any more restaurants.

The Best Breakfast in Park City

2009-03-02T22:16:00.006-07:00

1. No Worries Cafe & Grill
Our top-pick for Park City’s best breakfast spot. This local’s secret boasts some of the best burritos, biscuits and gravy, and eggs benedict in Summit County. A definite don’t miss if you aren’t already “in the know”.

2. The Eating Establishment
One of Park City’s oldest restaurants, the “double E” offers everything from healthy granola and fruit to killer Huevos Rancheros. Conveniently located on Main Street, make sure you visit this historical hot spot.

3. The Corner Store
Known more for their crazy après ski and rowdy outdoor patio, The Corner Store has the best breakfast burritos in Park City. Before you hit the slopes, make sure you visit Miss Cheryl and tone-def Jeff at the base of PCMR.

4. Squatters Roadhouse Grill
When Squatters Roadhouse replaced the beloved Mount Air Café, we were all afraid of losing one of the best breakfast spots in Park City. Well fear no more – Squatters breakfast menu offers all of your favorites, and is the best priced in Park City.

5. Wasatch Bagels
Looking for something with a little more personality that Einstein’s? Check out Wasatch Bagels, located in the Park City Market Shopping Plaza. We highly suggest the Wasatch Huevos breakfast bagel and a cup of Park City Coffee Roaster’s finest.

Steamboat Springs Restaurant Guide - Now Online!

2009-03-02T17:39:00.004-07:00

Due to a mild dose of the "high pressure blues" and a lack of snow, we've been able to finish off our newest ski town. We welcome you to check out the Steamboat Springs Dining Guide!

Steamboat Springs is a cute and quaint ski town located in Northwest Colorado. The vibe in Steamboat is kinda country with a hippy twist. Steamboat has an eclectic mix of restaurants, ranging from amazing steakhouses and breakfast eateries to hip slopeside sushi joints and popular pubs.

Kevin and I had the opportunity to visit Steamboat twice in the last year. During our winter visit we skied some of the amazing trees skiing that the mountain offers, and during the summer we enjoyed ourselves while hiking and eating at all the best restaurants in town.

Here's a list of our favorite five Steamboat Restaurants and a sample picture of the goods.

1. Freshies - Hands down my favorite breakfast spot in Steamboat and is worth the wait to get in. Get the granola old fashioned oatmeal breakfast - you won't be sorry. No, seriously... get the granola breakfast!!!

2. Mahogany Ridge Brewery & Grill - A great apres ski hotspot that offers an incredible happy hour and very creative menu. It get's crowded in the winter, but again, well worth the wait.

3. Saketumi - Slopeside Sushi in Steamboat, not just a cool alliteration after all. (Someone should tell Saketumi that I've got a new catch phrase for them!) No, seriously though, Saketumi is amazing. Friendly owners, a local vibe, and yummy rolls that would give any coastal restaurant a run for their money.

4. Mambo Italiano - Mambo Italiano has a energetic atmosphere that you won’t find anywhere else in Steamboat. The owners make sure that their patrons experience "fun dining", not just "fine dining". Definitely check it out!

5. Rex's American Grill & Bar - To be honest, when we first walked in to this reinvented Denny's location, I was a little nervous about this highly recommended local's joint. After experiencing some gourmet mini grilled cheeses, basil infused tomato cream soup, and then the most tasty peel-n-shrimp I've ever had, I was sold. Run, don't walk, to Rex's American Grill & Bar.

Now that I've spent the last five minutes typing about amazing food, I've worked up one hell of an appetite. As promised, here is a picture from our ski trip last year, and don't forget to check out our new Steamboat Restaurant Guide, now up and running.

The Best Burgers in Park City

2009-03-01T21:45:00.002-07:00

1. No Name Saloon - Their signature burger is 100% buffalo at a great price with a true Park City atmosphere.

2. Hapa Grill - The Hapa Burger won the "Best Burger in Utah".

3. Legends Bar and Grill - New this year is a Kobe Beef masterpiece with a spicy aioli sauce...worth every penny.

4. The Grub Steak - This burger is only available at lunch, but it's low price and optional salad bar are a great combo.

5. Royal Street Cafe - This burger features Vermont Cheddar, plus you can't beat the ski-in/ski-out location on the Deer Valley beach.

Park City Restaurant Reviews: 350 Main

2009-02-08T22:04:00.002-07:00

The other night Casey and I went to 350 Main with a few of our friends that just so happen to work there. They have a reputation as one of the finest restaurants in Park City, and we jumped at the chance to dine with our friends who know the menu inside and out.

We arrived around 7:30 to a completely packed house with several parties waiting for tables. This was definitely a welcome change from the empty restaurants we've been seeing all over Park City this year. We had brought a few bottles of wine with us, and we decided to open the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc while we waited for our table. A few minutes later we were seated at the best table in all of 350 Main; the round booth right up against the large windows that overlook Main Street. This table is perfect for people watching, as well as making passers-by jealous of your excellent food.

For starters our hosts suggested the Tower of Ahi and Hamachi, Four Cheese Ravioli, the Roasted Eggplant Salad, and the Oganic Baby Greens. The sushi tower of maguro and hamachi was my favorite because it was surrounded by an excellent wasabi aioli for dipping. The server even brought out chopsticks specifically for this appetizer, which was a nice touch. Also, be sure to ask your server for the multi-grain bread basket, which is fresh-baked and perfect for soaking up the sauce from the Four Cheese Ravioli.

After corking our bottles of Argetinian Malbec and Coppola Diamond Claret, we decided it was time to order some entees. Casey went with the Ono-Ono prepared two ways, and I ordered the Coffee Rubbed Pork Tenderloin. Both entrees are priced around $35 and come with their own unique accutrements. The Ono plate is divided in half with one side containing grilled Ono on a bed of Asian stif fried vegetables, and the other with seared Ono on rice noodles. Casey and I both agreed that the grilled side had the better flavors, but the dish was great overall. My pork tenderloin came with black truffle mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, sauteed mushrooms and a simply amazing tomato bearnaise sauce. Our waiter even claimed that she would eat the plate if it was covered in the tomato bearnaise...I have to agree. The pork itself was cooked medium to medium rare and was extremely tender and flavorful. The coffee rub didn't detract from the pork flavor at all, but just gave it an extra, subtle enhancement. From talking to some of the staff, it seems that the pork tenderloin is the unanimous favorite at 350 Main. Definitely give it a try next time you're there. I also have to mention the Seabass that our friend Kristen ordered because I will most likely order that next time. I just had a bite, but it was supremely tender and had a great butterly flavor.

For dessert Casey and I decided to go with the Mocho Pot. It's basically a very rich mousse served in a latte cup with fresh berries. It doesn't look like a very large dessert, but we barely finished it between the two of us. The chocalate was rich and went well with our soft but full-bodied Malbec. It was the perfect end to our evening at 350 Main.

You can view a sample of the 350 Main menu here, but the chef is always making seasonal changes. You can also reserve a table right from Ski Town Restaurants using our Make a Reservation link.

All images are courtesty 350 Main.

Epic Skiing in the Wasatch Backcountry

2009-02-03T22:46:00.007-07:00

Yesterday my friends Terry and Will invited me to do a sizable tour in the Wasatch backcountry. They were planning on skiing from Alta in Little Cottonwood Canyon to a campground just off the road in neighboring Big Cottonwood Canyon. They wanted to shuttle a car up Big Cottonwood and then drive over to Alta in another car. Sounds like a great idea to me.

We met at the mouth of Big Cottonwood at 8am to get an early start on the day, before the sun had a chance to warm things up and increase the avalanche danger. The avalanche report was reporting stable conditions on all aspects and elevations, and it sounded like tons of people had gotten out in the mountains over the weekend. I wasn't expecting much in the way of skiing; just great day in the mountains under sunny skies with marginal snow...I was seriously wrong.

After dropping off my car in Big Cottonwood, we arrived at Alta about 45 minutes later and began gearing up. We had decided to skin up the edge of Grizzly Gulch to the ridge above the Silver Fork drainage. The skinning was tough on the frozen sun crust of these south-facing slopes, but the views were incredible.

Petrified ancient trees with Mt. Superior in the background

We gained the ridge in about 45 minutes and peered over the edge, expecting crusty snow that had been skied out 2 days ago. Instead we were looking at 1000 feet of blower, boot deep powder with absolutely no tracks! We took our skins off, put on goggles, and proceeded to make some of the most perfect powder turns of the year. The snow was bottomless, very light powder that had re-crystalized over the past week from the cold temperatures at night. I think all three of us shouted out loud on the way down - it was that good.

The first run of the day in Silver Fork, with our 3 tracks on the left

After a short break for some food, we skinned back up to the Silver Fork ridgeline for another lap. This time we skied a more easterly facing slope, and while the snow wasn't as light, the turns were almost as good. Once we got to the bottom, we put the skins back on and headed up towards the ridge that separates Silver Fork and Days Fork.

Once on the ridge we could see into Days Fork, which had been skied much more heavily than Silver Fork. However, we spotted a long, north facing slope on the western ridge of Days that looked amazing. The decision was made to make the long trek around the rim of Days Fork, to Reed and Benson Ridge.

The rim of Days Fork, with a great view of Mt. Superior

About an hour and a half later we made it to our destination on the other side of Days. We celebrated by eating some lunch on a helicopter landing zone for the Wasatch Powderbirds.

Terry and Will relaxing on Reed and Benson Ridge

The descent that was before us turned out to be one of the best runs of the year. I dropped in to 2500 vertical feet of untracked, boot deep powder that was incredibly light. I made about 10 turns on a small ridge above a cliff, veered right and aired off a smaller cliff above a narrow chute, and then proceed to ski another 1000 feet of perfect powder on steep, rolling slopes. It was incredible.

Looking down Days Fork, towards Park City

After this epic run, we had to ski another 4 miles or so along the canyon bottom to finally reach the car parked in Big Cottonwood. The ski out was fast, icy, and mostly all downhill so we made quick work of the 4 miles.

We arrived at the car around 3pm, and couldn't believe how good our day was. The ski resorts were crowded and filled willed icy moguls, but we skied untracked deep powder and saw maybe 3 other skiers all day. The Wasatch backcountry is no good, stay away....

Michael Franti Concert on Main Street, Park City

2009-01-30T13:08:00.006-07:00

Now that the Sundace crowds have left Park City, it's time to get back to what Park City does best, skiing and hosting great parties. Last night was the kickoff of the Visa Freestyle International competition that comes to Park City every year. Some of the best halfpipe, moguls, and aerial skiers from around the world compete in this 3-day event held at Deer Valley and Park City. This weekend is known for it's live music, incredible skiing, fireworks, and best of all it's a free event for all the locals.

This year they kicked things off on Thursday night by closing lower Main Street for a free concert by Michael Franti and Spearhead. I don't think Main Street has hosted a concert of this size since the Olympics in 2002, and the locals turned out in massive numbers. The night was clear and cold, with most everyone dressed in their warmest puffy jackets and hats. Franti comes to Park City once or twice a year, but I don't think he was ready for a truly cold winter night.

Despite the fact that the band couldn't feel their fingers, they put on a great show. The highlight was definitely "Obama Song" that pays tribute to our new President. Who would have thought, four years ago, that a social activist band would be sining about the President in a good way? That was a pretty cool sight. Check out the video below for a short clip of this song.

Casey and I got to catch up with tons of people we hadn't seen all winter, as well as hang out with the people we see every day, while listening to a great show. The night was capped off by fireworks over Main Street...it's good to live in Park City.

Escaping Sundance - Backcountry Skiing in the Wasatch

2009-01-17T19:16:00.006-07:00

With the arrival of the Sundance Film Festival to Park City, I decided to get away from the chaos and escape to the Wasatch backcountry with my friend Ben. The weather was warm, but it had been a little while since the last snow, making for very stable backcountry avalanche conditions. Just a few weeks earlier the backcountry had been so dangerous no one was venturing out, but time and warm temps do seem to heal the snowpack very well.

Ben digging a pit to see how the snowpack is shaping up underneath

We decided to ski a line called the Hallway Couloir, which is off of Reed and Benson Ridge in Cardiff Fork in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The Hallway is a classic Wasatch chute that runs about 2000 vertical feet, is somewhat narrow in spots, and has large rock walls on both sides that keep the snow cold and pristine for making good turns. It is best accessed from Little Cottonwood Canyon at the lower Alta parking area. From there you skin up about 1600 feet to the top of Flagstaff Mountain and traverse the ridge to the north.

The skin up Flagstaff was especially grueling because of the warm temperatures. It felt like summer up there. A nasty inversion was in place in SLC, making the temps on the mountains much higher than in the valley. It was around 45-50 degrees out, but the route up Flagstaff is completely south-facing and just bakes in the afternoon sun, making it feel like 75 degrees. I would have been perfectly comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt on the way up.

The view from Cardiff Pass looking back towards Alta, just below the peak of Flagstaff

The entrance to the Hallway Couloir hasn't totally filled in yet this year, but we managed to work our way in from the left side. Once inside the couloir, the snow was colder and chalky, making for good turns all the way down.

Ben at the top of the Hallway

Looking down the couloir

The Hallway with Cardiac Ridge in the background

After we exited the couloir the snow got much more firm, with a nice inch-thick layer of ice crust on top. That made for tricky riding conditions on the way out. We then had to skin for another 45 minutes or so, to get back over Cardiff Pass so we could ski back to Alta. The snow on the Alta side of the ridge was warm, slushy, and soft, just like it is on the best spring days...except it's the middle of January. This long, soft descent back to the car was a great end to the day.

Another great day in the Wasatch backcountry away from the crowds and the smog in the valley below.

Mount Superior from Cardiff Pass

The Calm Before the Storm, Sundance Film Festival

2009-01-12T10:42:00.003-07:00

The curtains of the Sundance Film Festival will be opening in three days...

We will be very busy during the next two weeks, but stay tuned. For now, here are some pictures from the last few weeks of pretty little Main Street in Park City, pre-Sundance.

A Tribute to Following the Dream

2008-12-15T12:52:00.007-07:00

What does it mean to live? To really be alive? To experience the feeling of an incomparable moment and give up everything you have to seek more of that same feeling? Is living following your heart? Your passion? Is living giving up everything in the world to pursue what you love? To me, living is skiing. Living is being able to find those few singular moments while all is white in the mountains.

I ask myself these questions after hearing the tragic news of yesterday's inbound slide at Snowbird. A 27 year old woman, Heather Gross, was caught in the slide while pursuing what she loved. While I did not know Heather, I do know many people like her. I know many people who have had close calls or have been seriously injured while skiing. People who would give up careers, loved ones, homes, and money to spend their lives following their skiing addiction. Even at the cost of their own safety. From everything I've read in the last 12 hours about Heather, I know she was a skier at heart who spent all the time she could on the mountain and my condolences go to her family and friends who have lost their loved one.

Every time I hear about someone who has died skiing, I try to justify their death by saying "at least they died doing something they loved". But when someone is having a fun day at a resort, laughing with their friends, and an in bounds avalanche claims their life, it makes me incredibly angry. It also reminds me how dangerous skiing is, regardless of how safe you may feel out there.

The skiing community is like no other community I've ever seen. We are a group of people spread across the world, with our love and passion for the mountains as our bond. Unlike many sports, skiing is not just another activity. It's not just something to do or a reason to vacation somewhere. Skiing is a way of life, and for many, a reason for living it. And when someone loses their life while doing something they love, it effects us all.

To Heather, and all of those who have had their lives claimed by the mountains, this is to you. May you find never ending fresh lines and blue bird days where ever you are.

Winter Park Restaurant Guide - Now Online

2008-11-25T20:38:00.003-07:00

With the holiday season quickly approaching us, Kevin and I are trying our hardest to get our towns online as fast as possible so that you have more information than ever. Last week we put the Aspen Restaurant Guide and the Breckenridge Restaurant Guide online. This week we give you the Winter Park Restaurant Guide.

When Kevin and I visited Winter Park a few months ago, we were absolutely blow away with the friendly people and incredible food we experienced. We have both traveled all over the country, visited every ski town, and spent some time abroad, and we can both honestly say that there is no friendlier place than Winter Park, Colorado. We discovered over 35 restaurants in the area and ate at many of them. Among our favorite are the Mountain Rose Restaurant, Hernando's Pizza and Pasta Pub, and Deno's Mountain Bistro.

We hope you enjoy the Winter Park Restaurant Guide and take some time to review your favorite, or not so favorite, restaurants.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Now Online - Breckenridge & Aspen Restaurant Guides

2008-11-20T15:39:00.005-07:00

Between skiing, mountain biking, and eating out, we somehow manage to fit 12 hour work days into our schedules and get new restaurant guides up and running. Don't ask us how, it just happens! We've been so busy working on our new towns that we've forgotten to blog about all the exciting things we've been doing. Here's a breakdown . . .

Some New Ski Towns:

We are proud to announce that both the Breckenridge Restaurant Guide and Aspen Restaurant Guide are online and ready for you to browse! We have over 58 restaurants listed for Aspen and over 54 restaurants listed for Breckenridge. We are adding new restaurants to our database everyday and won't stop until we have them all (insert evil laugh here). We feel very strongly about listing 100% of the restaurants in every town so that our users have the most comprehensive ski town restaurant guide to date. If your favorite restaurant is not on our site, please contact us and we will make sure to include them.

In the meantime, feel free to browse the Breckenridge & Aspen restaurant guides and review your favorite, or not so favorite, restaurants. If you are heading to Colorado or are new to the area, use the "ask a local" feature, send us any questions you may have and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Our Newest Feature:

We've gone back and forth about how to easily present restaurant photos on each restaurants page and have finally come to a solution. Each restaurant page now has a slideshow that has multiple restaurant shots including interior, exterior, and when possible, food shots. You can now read and see what each restaurant looks like, what the atmosphere is like, and decide whether flip flops, ski boots, or stilettos are appropriate.

To Snow or Not to Snow?

Early November brought the Wasatch Range cold weather, tons of moisture, and a deep blanket of white fluff. As you can see from the previous post, Kevin got to enjoy the deepness before the high pressure curse kicked in. The last few weeks have been dry, unseasonably warm, and full of mountain biking! PCMR has canceled their opening date of Nov. 22nd and will await colder weather before deciding to run their lifts. But fret not. If this year is anything like last year, with a very late and warm start, then we are in for a very deep winter. Keep your fingers crossed!

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy browsing the Breckenridge and Aspen restaurant guides. Have a happy weekend, and pray for snow!

First Powder Day of the Year at Alta

2008-11-05T22:43:00.002-07:00

In the past 48 hours, Little Cottonwood Canyon has been pummeled by over 36 inches of snow. Not just any snow, but the first big storm of the year, that brought the light and deep Utah powder that this state is famous for. Just over a week ago, Snowbird and Alta barely had any snow, as you can see in our blog from Snowbird below. By this morning Alta had more snow that they knew what to do with, and it was time to get some early season powder runs before the lifts open in a few weeks.

I called up my friend Ryan, and we headed down to Salt Lake and back up to Alta around 11am this morning. It was a late start, but the snow was coming down hard and we wanted the deepest snowpack possible to avoid any collisions with rocks under the snow. The road in LCC hadn’t been plowed, so the drive was slow and a little sketchy. We pulled into Alta and saw about 40 other cars that had the same idea. We suited up, checked our avalanche beacons, put on our skins, and started working our way up the mountain.

The air was absolutely freezing for early November, with temps hovering around 10 degrees at mid-mountain. We decided to skin to the top of the Wildcat chair and ski the north-west side of the mountain, known as Westward-Ho. Early season hiking is tough on the body because you haven’t used those muscles for a while and your lungs aren’t adjusted to the cold air yet, but we made it in pretty quick time.

Once we started down we realized the snow was much deeper than we originally thought. Only the steepest slopes were skiable because the snow was easily waist to sometimes chest deep. It was absolutely ridiculous for this time of year. Today was easily the deepest early season day I’ve ever had.

Ryan and I wasted no time in snapping a few photos. Enjoy.

I think this snow is here to stay, and winter has officially begun. Bring on the next storm!

I Am Lucky To Be Alive - A Snowbird Cautionary Tale

2008-10-30T23:47:00.004-06:00

My ribs have been hurting me lately, so I thought I would share the worst day of skiing I've ever had in my life. What you are about to read took place on April 9th, 2008 at Snowbird, a little over 6 months ago.

Wednesday the 9th was just another epic April powder day at The Bird...until I crushed a tree at over 30mph. I was stoked that morning because the last two days had been amazing, with cold weather and deep snow. That morning Snowbird was reporting about 9" of fresh, and it was still coming down hard. I was with my frieds Tom and Steve, who rip harder than most anyone I know, and were in town for a few weeks. We had just skied some lines that I've been thinking about all season, and things couldn't be better.

On the last run of my season, I was just making some big turns through some chopped pow below the Gad Chutes. There was a group of smaller trees to my left with some untouched powder that needed to be slashed, and I decided to make a big turn at high speed through those trees. Halfway through a big, sweeping right turn, I caught something under the snow and went into the air. My legs were out to my left, and my body was pretty much horizontal at this point. Much to my dismay, there was a lone tree in my flight path, and I couldn't do anything about it. I took the trunk of the tree squarely to the chest, and since I was horizontal, the impact was distributed across my entire chest. I instantly lost both gloves, poles, goggles, and one ski. My helmet did stay on however. The impact was huge and I instantly felt the worst pain of my life. It felt like there was a dump truck full of lead pipes parked on my chest. I couldn't catch my breath and I was making some horrible noises. I was conscious for about 10 seconds and all I remember was thinking how I sounded like the grape lady that fell off the stage in the infamous youtube video. Then it all went black.

I had a very long, strange dream, and all I can recall was feeling very warm and thinking I was in my bed at home. Then I woke up. I was face down in the snow, bleeding, ears ringing, and my arms were jammed into the snow, sans gloves. Needless to say, I was freezing and in tons of pain. I put my phone back together somehow (it was in my chest pocket), and miraculously it worked. I called my buddy Tom that I was skiing with, and he dialed patrol. I couldn't really breathe at this point, and talking was even more of a chore. I just remember trying to get my bearings so I could tell him where I was. Tom and Steve had been skiing just to my right when I hit the tree, but they didn't see any of it. They had already been on the tram deck for a few minutes waiting for me when I called. That means I was probably unconscious anywhere from 4-7 minutes; we're not really sure.

Snowbird ski patrol called my phone a few seconds later and kept me on the line so I could guide the patrollers to my location. They found me in less than 2 minutes, and I was in the trees in a huge area with no real points of reference. Big props to Snowbird patrol on that one. I was in pretty bad shape, so they strapped me to a board, put a neck brace on me, and got the oxygen flowing. Everything was moving pretty fast at this point, and I was fighting to not puke or black out. Needless to say, the sled ride down the mountain from the top of Gadzoom was not the most pleasant. Patrol did their best to make the ride smooth though.

Once I was in the clinic below the Tram deck, the medical staff took over and did a great job. I had an irregular heart beat, so they did an ECG and took some x-rays immediately. The verdict was 2 broken ribs on my left side, just below the armpit. They were concerned about internal bleeding and damage to my heart because the impact was so hard, so they called an ambulance to take me to the ER in Salt Lake. The morphine started to flow and things got much better at this point. Also, it turns out I just had a small cut on my chin that decided to bleed quite a lot, no big deal.

Once I was down the canyon and in the ER at the U, I had another ECG, a couple ultra-sound tests to check my heart and organs, and tons of x-rays. Everyone kept saying how lucky I was, and the final verdict was two broken ribs, lots of bruised ribs and cartilage damage. They were concerned because I had blacked for out so long, but I think that was a combination of extreme pain and a lack of breathing. I am pretty sure I didn’t hit my head at all. They also said that I have an extremely stong heart, and if was about 10 years older I probably would have died instantly. I guess most people's hearts would just fail from hitting their chest wall that hard. Scary stuff.

It's been about 6 months since the crash and I’ve had some time to reflect on all of this. I know one thing for sure, I am damn lucky to be alive. This whole thing had me pretty shook-up. I was completely airborne and doing somewhere around 30mph when I hit that tree. If I had hit the tree with my neck, face, or even abdomen, I might night be typing this right now. The impact was enormous, and I am really glad my ribs were up to the task of saving the rest of my body. I have skied fast for years, and never really thought twice about dipping into the trees at ludicrous speeds. I have had some close calls in the past, but this was my first real injury that endangered my life. I know this will have an impact on my skiing, and I will definitely hesitate the next time I am getting ready to do a straightline or jump off some cliff.

For those of you that know what I’m talking about, how do you get past this? Am I doomed to a life of skiing trees at slow speeds?

I also want to say thanks to the Snowbird Patrol and everyone in the Snowbird clinic. You guys were amazing, so professional, and you made a bad experience much better. Thanks.

Stay safe this winter.

The Heart of the Wasatch

2008-10-29T17:19:00.009-06:00

Living in Utah provides a unique and incredible lifestyle that often goes overlooked by those passing over our state and heading straight for Colorado. However, nestled between the Pacific Ocean on the West Coast and the incredible 14,000 foot Rocky Mountains in Colorado, hides the Wasatch Range. Blanketing the Wasatch Mountains in the Winter, Utah boasts the world's lightest snow. In the Summer, we have the fresh mountain air, plentiful mountain biking trails, and access to the best hiking around. In the heart of the Wasatch Range are the Cottonwood Canyons.

The Cottonwood Canyons are comprised of two distinct canyons just 5 minutes from Salt Lake City. First is Big Cottonwood Canyon and it's two ski resorts, the very popular Brighton Resort, followed by the quieter Solitude Resort. Next is Little Cottonwood Canyon, where two more world famous resorts sit, Snowbird and Alta. Generally, this time of year the mountains tucked in the Cottonwood Canyons are buried in snow. However, this year the warm temperatures are lingering and it's a great time to get in some last minute summer activities.

Last weekend, Kevin and I decided to take a mini-vacation from Park City and spent some time at The Cliff Lodge at Snowbird. During our stay at The Cliff, we ate delicious food at The Aerie Lounge and Sushi Bar, enjoyed the upstairs spa area, took the tram up to the top of the mountain, and then hiked down 2,900 feet to the base area. We had a great experience all around, but the highlight of our stay was definitely the killer food at The Aerie. With it's classy atmosphere, stunning views of the mountain through their ceiling high windows, and superb entrees, we were more than satisfied at the end of our dining experience. Our dinner consisted of Kevin's Wild Fig Glazed Pork entree, my Ahi Steak and Wasabi Mashed Potatoes entree, and to top it off, the spectacular Chocolate Fondue Fruit and Dessert Platter.

While The Aerie is certainly not the cheapest place for food (our meal was well above $100.00), it is certainly one of the best we've experienced. My Ahi was seared to perfection with a deep red hue and melted right in my mouth. The Wasabi mashers are not for the faint of heart, as they have an incredible kick, but complimented the Ahi beautifully. Kevin commented that his pork was also cooked perfect, was very flavorful, moist, and was just the right portion to allow room for a little dessert. That brings me to . . .The Chocolate Fondue Platter! This enormous dessert is plenty large enough to share between four people, offers fresh cut fruit, cookies, coconut macaroons, and many other bakery delicacies.

Here are some pictures from the last weekend, our yummy food, and perhaps our last weekend of warmth till Spring. Keep your fingers crossed!

Ski Fever in the Mud Season

2008-10-20T19:52:00.001-06:00

October in Park City means that each and every day is mixed with hints of Winter and Summer. A few days ago I woke up to 3 inches of snow on my door step, yet today was in the low 70's. The smell of wet summer grass is quickly fading away and will soon be replaced with the crispness of jack frost. I'm looking forward to leaving behind lazy summer mornings and 90 degree heat. Living directly between Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort means getting jarred out of bed with every snow fall. Avalanche charges at 7am followed by frantic phone calls at 7:15am is the only way to wake up. Forget the alarm clock, forget the automatic coffee pot that tries to arouse you in the morning with it's irresistible aroma. Nothing gets your blood moving in the morning like rolling into your gear, half asleep, and trying to catch first chair.

As the fall colors slowly disappear and mother nature airbrushes the mountains white, a whole new group of young and old ski bums begin their trek to Park City. The town is on the verge of coming out of it's social hibernation, reinvigorated with new locals and familiar faces as we near December. It's getting closer. I can see the look in people eyes that are ready. People that have already put on their gear, popped into their skis, and sat on their couch watching ski movies desperately seeking a fix of the stuff that keeps them alive. It's a very delicate mixture of passion, obsession, and love. It's also a sickness. Ski fever. No amount of beer, food, biking, golfing, or hiking will cure it.

Park City BBQ and Fat Kid Pizza

2008-10-16T21:09:00.014-06:00

One of my favorite Park City restaurants is located where to old Texas Red's used to be, and luckily, serves similar BBQ and Seafood entrees. Bandits Grill & Bar is about a 1/4 mile up Main Street on the left, just past the post office. They have an excellent variety of burgers, ribs, salmon, salads, and mouth watering side-dishes.

I decided to take Kevin to Bandits last Tuesday for his birthday, and we had a delicious dinner. Kevin couldn't resist the all you-can-eat rib dinner and went through a good amount of Baby Back Ribs, followed by some St. Louis Style Spareribs, which he mentioned where the better of the two. I ordered the BBQ Shrimp Skewers, a side of their famous green beans, and a side of caramel drizzled yams. The restaurant definitely did not skimp on the shrimp, as I was served about 16 of them on three skewers. They were tasty, but not the best thing I've had on their menu. The side-dishes, however, are worth going for alone. Their yams and green beans are always mouth-watering, and their ranch beans do not disappoint. Bandits Grill & Bar is a place I love to recommend for it's fun old west vibe, family friendly large booths, and just plain ol'good food.

Other than stuffing our stomachs with BBQ, we hit up another ski movie this week, followed by some good times at The Sidecar. CLAIM, this years Matchstick Productions' film, premiered for three nights at the Jim Santy Auditorium located at the Park City Library. We caught the Friday night showing and were lucky to get good seats as it was totally sold out almost an hour before the showing. The movie was excellent, just long-enough to whet my skiing appetite, and hilarious to boot. Right before the movie, Kevin ended up meeting Dean Cummings for a quick chat and scored me a signed poster. Thank Dean! I now have something to hang in my office!

After the movie, we hit up The Sidecar, a locally owned and operated Private Club in the old Mrs. Fields Mall on Main Street.

Familiarize yourself with Utah Liquor Laws here.

The Sidecar is a really cool and hip, yet casual, place to hang out. It's got that swanky artsy thing going for it and has the best views of Main Street from it's outdoor patio. The Sidecar usually has live music, has a fun and perfectly located dance floor, and serves the best damn pizza in Park City! Trust me, you can't have just one slice! A night of good beer, awesome music, and some Fat Kid Pizza is a night you shouldn't miss in Park City!

Home Sweet Home - Back in Park City

2008-10-06T17:31:00.006-06:00

After living on the road for a month, and eating out three times a day, you can't imagine how good it feels to be in your own bed with access to your own kitchen. Kevin and I had an incredibly successful trip and collected more information than we know what to do with. We should have the restaurant guides for Colorado up and running by November, just in time for your winter vacation planning.

Spending the last month on the road traveling throughout Colorado and all of the unique mountain towns has been great. We got to experience Aspen and its international resort atmosphere. We were treated to top-notch French food and high-end gelato at Beaver Creek and Vail. We caught ski movies and hung out at The Beetle Fest in Summit County. We made friends and partied in Winter Park with the locals. We made ourselves at home in Steamboat and discovered what ski town sushi is all about. And last but not least, we ended our tour driving home from Steamboat to beautiful Park City, just in time to catch the peak of the Autumn colors.

Yesterday, after doing a massive food shopping, I drove up Guardsman's Pass and over to Sundance Ski Resort to check out the Autumn colors and newly fallen snow. The aspens are in full bloom and with the contrast of a cloudy day and the fresh white blanket of snow on the mountains, it was quite a spectacular overdose of awe. Enjoy . . .