Good Will Running

Today Will gave the other fifth graders in Springville (coming from all six elementary schools) a run for their money. It was the annual Springville Track meet (formerly known as Hershey's Track and Field Meet (a candy company promoting good health!?)) which was held at the Springville High School Red Devil track. Yesterday's rains moved the event to today--which was delightfully not too hot and not too sunny. Just right. In between events I graded final exams--final grades must be submitted by noon tomorrow. Each student was encouraged to compete in a maximum of three events. Will chose to complete in the softball throw (instead of the standing jump) and the 200 and 800 meter runs (instead of the 100 or 400 races). The softball throw was a bust (he takes after his dad in that event).

For the 800 (twice around the track), Will started out fast and only slowed a little on the second lap. He took first in his heat with a time (2 minutes 52 seconds) that was good enough to win First Place among the 24 boys who raced in the two heats. Sarah slipped out of the high school to come and watch while sitting on the cement steps on the far side of the track.

Watch Will run here (he is in the fluorescent yellow shirt always in the lead): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZDWJrWGpYs

After some rest, water and Chex Muddy Buddies, Will ran the 200. He took first in his heat which was good enough for second place out of the 50 some odd boys who ran in the eight or so heats. (30.52 seconds)  First place went to Will's soccer teammate Christian, third place to his soccer teammate Mccae and fifth place went to his long time friend Trevin.

Watch Will run here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz_CxJlZ434

 

Senior Prom

Back in the day when Polaroid cameras were the rage, dad decided that he should instantly document our departure to the Senior Ball at Logan High School with a candid photo. Those photos were then arranged on a bulletin board that hung in the Emmett family room up until last year. From right to left is Bill in blue with a ruffled shirt, Bob in salmon (too bad the photo is faded, it was much more colorful), Chad in white with black lapels and ruffles (it was the best they had to offer at the Kater Shop), Jake in black, Mary in white and Tom in black. Below the prom photos are the LDS mission application photos for the five boys.

Linda Willis was my date. We doubled, and went to dinner before the dance at Sherwood Hills up Sardine Canyon. There was no fancy invitation extravaganza, just a phone call.

Tonight Sarah is off to the ball with Brent Williams--a junior who is in her early morning seminary class. Because of forecasted rain for today, their group of three couples switched the day part of their date to a Friday evening hike. Tonight it is dinner and the dance (a the Provo Convention Center--no trying to turn a gymnasium into a cool place by stinging colored plastic across the ceiling).

Love this beautiful girl.

At my ninth grade Christmas Dance when I asked taller-than-me Debbie Dixon to dance, I jokingly grabbed a milk crate from the side of the junior high lunch room to stand on as we danced. I suggested that Sarah might want to give it a try with much-taller-than-her Brent.

Yeti Fourteen: Brighton

We didn't need enticement from this innovative and amusing advertising campaign (it is healthy to laugh at one's own culture sometimes) a few years ago to get us to ski Brighton. We have been skiing Brighton for years. It (and neighboring Solitude) offers free skiing for young children and nice discounts for older children. Two years ago we all got season passes at Brighton. (see a report here: http://beitemmett.blogspot.com/2014/03/skiing-at-brighton.html ) Brighton is known as the resort for locals. We saved it for the end of our quest knowing that this was the resort the kids have skied at the most so if we ran out of time and energy we could still claim to have skied every resort in Utah. We chose a great day.

The famous S turn in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

We have been served well by our Subaru Outback.




Wall display showing the evolution of boarding--all of which has occurred in less than my lifetime.



Skiers ski and boarders ride. If Brighton has one negative, it is that some days it seems to be dominated by boarders. Boarders (mostly) are fine, except for the fact that they have a different rhythm and flow to their descent down the mountain that does not always jive with how skiers approach the hill.

My ski partners on Crest Express.

The cabin is for sale. Marie?

From the top of Great Western Express.

Mt. Timpanogos.

Top of the Tram at Snowbird. No wind today.

Heading down our favorite run of the day--Golden Needle. We bombed it from top to bottom a half dozen times. Not too hard, not too soft, well groomed, fun.



Our favorite descent after the big dog leg left turn off of the ridge. Here are videos of each of the kids making smooth, fast turns.

Sarah Skiing

Joel Skiing

Will Skiing



What was the only lodge when I first skied Brighton as a teen is now for brown baggers. 

Mmmmm. Homemade banana bread and sharp cheddar cheese for lunch.



Looking east down on Heber Valley.

Speedy Sarah rocked it in her Grandma Norda's souvenir sweatshirt from the Art institute of Chicago.

We did it! We skied all 14 ski resorts in Utah in one season. Thanks to Ski Utah for setting up the Fifth Grade Passport and the Yeti program. We had a blast.

Here our some of our favorites from this season's ski adventures.

Funnest Yeti Day:
1. Powder Mountain (powder plus friends)
2. Beaver Mountain (powder plus family)
3. Brighton (Spring skiing)
4. Deer Valley (blue and black groomers plus family)

Resort we would love to ski more regularly (if travel time and money are of no concern)
1. Will--Park City
2. Joel--Beaver or Alta
3. Sarah--Powder Mountain
4. Chad--Alta

Resorts that are logistically the easiest and least complicated (easy parking, consolidated base, top to bottom runs):
1. Beaver Mountain
2. Brighton
3. Nordic Valley
4. Snowbasin

Best food:
1. Burgers at Nordic Valley
2. Park City
3. Marie's banana bread

Worst Day (truly a weather thing):
1. Windy, icy Snowbird

Best View
1. From atop Hidden Peak at Snowbird
2. From atop Brain Head

Most scenic drive
1. Logan Canyon up to Beaver Mountain
2. Beaver Canyon to to Eagle Point

Friendliest ski shop manager
1. Tom Emmett at Cherry Peak

Notable Runs
1. Snowchaser at Powder Mountain
2. School Hill at Beaver Mountain
3. Mercury at Park City
4. Golden Needle at Brighton
5. Reward at Deer Valley
6. Men's Downhill at Snowbasin



Adios to a great ski adventure. Next up, skiing as many western states as we can (how about a John and Norda Emmett family reunion next year at Grand Targhee in Wyoming) and then skiing as many continents as we can (Japan, Morocco, Switzerland, Chile and New Zealand for starters). It's always nice to dream.

Happy Dad

Yeti Thirteeen: Snowbird

Our Saturdays are now full with soccer training for Joel and soccer games for Will so we decided to take advantage of Spring Break for a little spring skiing. Since I teach on M-W-F, Tuesday and Thursday became our designated days.

Breezy and in the 50s is what the weather forecasts said. Very windy, cloudy and cold enough for the frozen, hard packed, icy snow to never soften would be a more accurate description--at least for Snowbird. It was sunny in the valleys all day.

The kids and I all skied Snowbird (for their first time) back in April 2012. It was a much more enjoyable day--marred only by the dying of our car on the way home. See photos and story here: http://beitemmett.blogspot.com/2012/04/last-days-of-skiing-and-subaru.html


April 9, 2012

At Bob's recommendation we parked at the top of Chickadee lift (the beginner lift) and then skied down to the base of the tram to get our passes.

Brother Bob catching up on some business.

I'll take one of those--we are in need of a new car for Marie so Joel can inherit the 2000 van this fall when he gets his license.

When we first got out of the car we noticed that it was indeed breezy. Our first indication that it was really windy on top came when they held up the tram while heavy barrels were loaded on to add stability in the high winds. We forged onward and upward. 

From the top of the brand new Summit Lodge atop Hidden Peak (11,000 feet)

 Looking east to Alta. Looks are deceptive. It is cold, windy and icy.

Standing tall at 11,050 feet.

E-mail and water stop. 

We headed to Mineral Basin hoping to get out of the wind and hoping that brief appearances of the sun had softened the snow. Silver Dipper was challenging, We could handle the steep, but the hard, icy, windy conditions made it a challenge.

 Mineral Basin Lift and Summit Lodge

When we got to the base we found out that Baldy lift had just closed because of the winds and Mineral Basin would close as soon as all the skiers could move on to the other side. 

We descended the mountain via the Road to Provo, Goblin Gully, Bassakwards and Big Emma.

Coming down Big Emma this time of year is usually akin to wadding through slush. Today the cold front froze that slush solid and the sun did not appear to soften it. This section was more like ice skating.

 Thanks for the photos Bob.

By now the heavy edging had aggravated Sarah's jogging injured arch and Will's pulled knee and ingrown toe nail so they opted to go sit it out in the Creekside Lodge. Bob opted to head home. Joel and I opted to give it one more try on Gad Zoom. I was certainly up for more, but everyone else was good to go.





Joel joined his siblings in the lodge for some grub, while I traversed over to the tram base and up Chikadee to the car to then go and pick up the kids. By noon we were on the road. 

Luckily this time driving home down steep Little Cottonwood Canyon our new Subaru did not throw a belt and need to be towed.

 John, Chad, Bob and Bill Emmett (l to r)

Once upon a time I skied with two brothers and a nephew at Snowbird on the Fourth of July. I also skied at Snowbird with brothers on Memorial Day 1997 as a sort of bachelor party before marrying Marie the next day. Happy Memories. In hindsight, today's bust of a ski day will one day become a happy, or perhaps amusing, or at least memorable memory. 

Two years ago I had a great spring powder day at Snowbird with Bob.