2005-08-03 Park City
08:30 Sue had wanted to see what Park City and the surrounding area looks like in the summer for a while and this is the opportunity. We start the day sitting in Mount Air Café for breakfast (no facilities in the Marriott Mountainside). It is a beautiful day, but threatening to be very warm.
10:17 At Deer Valley. The summer lift operation at Park City is almost exclusively geared towards the Alpine Slide and Ziprider. Payday doesn't really go high enough up the mountain for scenic hikes. Sterling Lift at Deer valley on the other hand goes to the top of Bald Mountain with views in all directions.
10:40 On the Summit of Bald Mountain we are faced with a decision. Do we take the short walk to the scenic overlook above Jordanelle Reservoir and Heber City and then take the chair back to the bottom, or do we hike the 2 miles down along one of the two hiking trains. We postpone our decision until we get to the scenic overlook to see how we feel when we can actually see the trails.
11:06 We decide to walk down Silver Lake Trail (2 miles around Bald Mountain). The top section is quite steep and rocky, but quickly we reach a more defined track.
11:30 We start to cross the ski runs down the backside of Bald Mountain. They are all impressively steep. We pass the top of Mayflower Lift, but Sultan Lift is missing. There is a lot of engineering work going at the bottom of slopes; the lift is probably being upgraded for next season.
11:40 It is not downhill all the way as we encounter an uphill section.
12:00 Getting nearer the lower section of the mountain, we find ourselves on narrow zig-zag trails through the wooded areas. For a while we think that we are never going to escape and the flies start to congregate and bite.
12:45 Finally down at the bottom of the trail and looking forward to getting something to drink and taking advantage of the air conditioning in our minivan.
13:20 We take the road across Guardsman's Pass to get to Brighton for lunch. This was not a success. The road is in much worse condition than I remember from a previous trip and Sue is not at all comfortable. The road is unfinished and heavily rutted.
13:40 Finally down in Brighton, we enjoy a sandwich for lunch at the Brighton Store and Café and a quick drive around a very sad and deserted looking resort. Clearly Brighton does not go in for summer activities.
14:35 Snowbird on the other hand has a thriving summer business. We realise this as soon as we arrive and have to park almost as far away from Snowbird Centre as during the winter. It is now almost brutally hot and the base area.
15:05 Finally we are on our way towards Hidden Peak on the Aerial Tram. The breeze as we ascend provides some relief from the heat and when we finally emerge for our short visit to the summit area, the change in altitude results in much more comfortable temperatures. There is still quite a lot of snow in the upper elevations of Gad Valley.
16:05 After a brief rest at the Plaza, we are back in the car heading down Little Cottonwood Canyon.
17:05 We have both been to Salt Lake City many times but never made it to the feature that gives the city it's name. We are now at a small Marina at the Southern end of the Great Salt Lake and it is even hotter than earlier. The lake stinks. I am surprised that there are any boats at all on such a salty lake because of corrosion, but there is even and evening dinner cruiser. There is a boat rinsing station for removing the worst of the salt. Signs warn of falling water levels and shallow rocks.
18:30 We stop for dinner at Ruby Tuesday near Kimble Junction. This is a lot less crowded than in the winter. Finally we head back to the Marriott Mountainside overnight.
Read More10:17 At Deer Valley. The summer lift operation at Park City is almost exclusively geared towards the Alpine Slide and Ziprider. Payday doesn't really go high enough up the mountain for scenic hikes. Sterling Lift at Deer valley on the other hand goes to the top of Bald Mountain with views in all directions.
10:40 On the Summit of Bald Mountain we are faced with a decision. Do we take the short walk to the scenic overlook above Jordanelle Reservoir and Heber City and then take the chair back to the bottom, or do we hike the 2 miles down along one of the two hiking trains. We postpone our decision until we get to the scenic overlook to see how we feel when we can actually see the trails.
11:06 We decide to walk down Silver Lake Trail (2 miles around Bald Mountain). The top section is quite steep and rocky, but quickly we reach a more defined track.
11:30 We start to cross the ski runs down the backside of Bald Mountain. They are all impressively steep. We pass the top of Mayflower Lift, but Sultan Lift is missing. There is a lot of engineering work going at the bottom of slopes; the lift is probably being upgraded for next season.
11:40 It is not downhill all the way as we encounter an uphill section.
12:00 Getting nearer the lower section of the mountain, we find ourselves on narrow zig-zag trails through the wooded areas. For a while we think that we are never going to escape and the flies start to congregate and bite.
12:45 Finally down at the bottom of the trail and looking forward to getting something to drink and taking advantage of the air conditioning in our minivan.
13:20 We take the road across Guardsman's Pass to get to Brighton for lunch. This was not a success. The road is in much worse condition than I remember from a previous trip and Sue is not at all comfortable. The road is unfinished and heavily rutted.
13:40 Finally down in Brighton, we enjoy a sandwich for lunch at the Brighton Store and Café and a quick drive around a very sad and deserted looking resort. Clearly Brighton does not go in for summer activities.
14:35 Snowbird on the other hand has a thriving summer business. We realise this as soon as we arrive and have to park almost as far away from Snowbird Centre as during the winter. It is now almost brutally hot and the base area.
15:05 Finally we are on our way towards Hidden Peak on the Aerial Tram. The breeze as we ascend provides some relief from the heat and when we finally emerge for our short visit to the summit area, the change in altitude results in much more comfortable temperatures. There is still quite a lot of snow in the upper elevations of Gad Valley.
16:05 After a brief rest at the Plaza, we are back in the car heading down Little Cottonwood Canyon.
17:05 We have both been to Salt Lake City many times but never made it to the feature that gives the city it's name. We are now at a small Marina at the Southern end of the Great Salt Lake and it is even hotter than earlier. The lake stinks. I am surprised that there are any boats at all on such a salty lake because of corrosion, but there is even and evening dinner cruiser. There is a boat rinsing station for removing the worst of the salt. Signs warn of falling water levels and shallow rocks.
18:30 We stop for dinner at Ruby Tuesday near Kimble Junction. This is a lot less crowded than in the winter. Finally we head back to the Marriott Mountainside overnight.
