I'M GOING TO UTAH!!!!

[CantDog]

MARCH 16TH-MARCH30TH!!!

I'm incredibly excited, nervous, overjoyed, freightened, etc. Just purchased a plane ticket(after talking about it for a few weeks), flying in the morning of the 16th. Holy crap, I cant believe I just did that.

I've never been west of the Mississippi River, and only been in a plane twice. Whoa, I'm really stoked now. Don't have transportation or housing, but do have a good sleeping bag, tent and lots of ramen noodles. How does Alta feel about people camping in their parking lot for two weeks? Do drivers pick up hitchhikers on the canyon roads?

Holy crap, I'm really going out west.


WAAAAAAHOOOOOOO!

I had to get another job working at FedEx 5am-730am every morning to pay for lift tickets, and now have under five dollars in my bank account.



I'M GOING TO UTAH!!!!!!!!

[iceman]

Dude....Utah is closed those days.

Some Mormon thing.

[CantDog]

crap. and i didnt get the travel insurance.

[CantDog]

I figure since my flight gets in before noon I'd try and go to Park City, since they ahve that free ticket deal if you show up with a plane ticket. Anyone know if a shuttle runs from the airport to PC?

Besides that, I have no idea what I'm doing

[CS]

Originally posted by CantDog:
Besides that, I have no idea what I'm doing

Well, at least you've thought this all the way through.

[Vinman]

coll mang go get some!!!

[CS]

Seriously though man, you'll love it. Way to pull the trigger.

[altagirl]

Originally posted by CantDog

How does Alta feel about people camping in their parking lot for two weeks? Do drivers pick up hitchhikers on the canyon roads?




You're not allowed to sleep in your car (or a tent) - combination of avalanche danger and the fact that they need to plow the parking lots.

Yes, if you're hitchhiking up the canyon you should have no problem getting a ride. But taking the bus might be just as easy.

Glad to hear you're coming - you'll have a blast!!! :D

[CantDog]

I've spent every waking and sleeping moment for the past two years thinking it through, but all those thoughts were about skiing. So now the question is how to ski eat and sleep for two weeks for under 400 bucks.

Does the peruvian lodge hire temp dishwashers in exchange for floor space?

[gincognito]

Way to go for it. I applaud your vigour.

Sick and ashamed and happy (and also applauding your vigor),
d.

[365wp]

Congratulations! That's awesome!

You do realize, though, this is only the beginning of an addiction...an addiction to Real Skiing in the west...it got so bad I had to move west 5yrs ago...it will claim you too, promise. :)

Are you a Dartmouth alum or are you going there? My sisters graduated '98 and '00.

[CantDog]

I'm going there now, but just for the year. Studying in the engineering school. Its a program with colby college(my main school). basically it was an excuse to ski more mountains in the east coast.

and about falling in love with the place, thats what everyone tells me. I havent been there yet but already love it and want to move there. Worst of all, this addiction developed in only 3 years. Its amazing how fast priorities change in life.

[365wp]

Oh, the addiction can form in one powder run. I'm proof of that. :)

[CantDog]

Anyone know anything about The Avenues in SLC? Rates are listed at 17 bucks a night for a 4 man room. Not exactly the ritz, but oh well.

Also, whats the deal with bus transportation to the mountains? I'd like to spend most of my time at Alta, and maybe check out some stuff in BCC. Actually I have no idea what I'm doing.


Edit: The Avenues is on F Street in SLC, the site says a few blocks from the mormon temple

[Bum Z]

Avenues are too far from LCC if you don't have a car. The bus ride will take forever.

Try to find lodging in Sandy.

Get some extra money - $400 won't last you two weeks.

I'd skip Park City on the day you arrive.

[Xover]

Originally posted by CantDog
I've spent every waking and sleeping moment for the past two years thinking it through, but all those thoughts were about skiing. So now the question is how to ski eat and sleep for two weeks for under 400 bucks.

Does the peruvian lodge hire temp dishwashers in exchange for floor space?

don't know 'bout the P'dog ..

but GMD does and your less than 50 yards to the transfer tow to get over to Sunnyside

save your cash for lift tix - 400 bucks will just cover it - tix only

[Dexter Rutecki]

Just so everyone reading this knows, CantDog has the right idea about things. He's a third season skier, but skis more like a guy who's been at it for most of his life (OK, he's already had a 50+ day season, but that only proves my next point...). Most important, he's got a great attitude about the sport. After skiing with him for a day at MRG this became evident--not the easiest conditions, we were in the trees almost the entire day, and he was loving it. I did hear him mutter something about us being crazy a few times, but he was right there with us for all of it. Any maggot who can should show this dude around.

[iceman]

Seems to me Dude does not have enough money.

But as long as he doesn't starve or freeze to death, it doesn't really matter to me.

Nice effort, CD. Keep us posted.

[Lumpy]

CD-
If it works out that I'm in SLC I'll give you a ride up north for tour of Basin or Powder for a day. Usually an open seat since I can't pry Frizzo out of LCC.

[jayfrizzo]

Originally posted by Lumpy
Usually an open seat since I can't pry Frizzo out of LCC.

If I had the cash I'd follow you to the ends of the earth, pookie.

J-

[The AD]

Bus info:
http://www.utabus.com/schedulesAndMaps/routeSchedules/byCounty.aspx

Lots of people looking for cheap lodging stay at a hotel in Sandy that's on the bus route. I think there's an Extended Stay hotel that's pretty cheap and has kitchens in every room. Might still be over your budget, but probably a pretty good deal.

Try this link for the Extended Stay: http://www.extendedstaynetwork.com/Details/Details.cfm?LocationID=3570&Airport=

It's around $40/night. Not going to find much cheaper than that...unless someone offers you space on their floor :)

[Lumpy]

Originally posted by jayfrizzo
If I had the cash I'd follow you to the ends of the earth, pookie.

J-

Now I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy...

[H-man]

I'm to much of a JONG for a link, but go to extstayamerica.com studio with kitchenette in Sandy for $250/week. Auto Mall Road. I'll let you know how it is when I get back on Feb18th.:D :D :D

[CantDog]

Sick, I appreciate the help guys, I'll definately be turning to the Utonians for more advice when the date approaches...

Gonna call up GMD on monday and see if I can work something out, that or find some other people that want to share a hotel room. 250 a week with a kitchen is pretty damn good. I can even warm my clothes up in the oven. Maybe they'll smell like calzones.

Lumpy, thanks for the offer, I'm definately going to take you up on it.

Is there a website that has a listing of SLC strip clubs?

[gonzo]

no one has a garage or crawl space or dumpster for this kid to set up his tent in? sounds like you could probably get some indentured servitude out of the deal too. skis tuned, dishes washed...

[CantDog]

So I still cant wipe the smile off my face, and things have just gotten a little more interesting.

Since the housing situation was daunting, and a friend offered me a place to crash in Bozeman, the decision has been made to take an evening bus to Bozeman from SLC. Best of all, Jackson Hole is between Bozeman and SLC. So the only logically thing to do is get off the bus, ski all day at Jackson, and get back on another bus in the evening. The next week will be spent skiing around Montana, hoping to hit up some of the smaller areas, and pretty much follow the snow. Then for the final days, take the bus back to jackson, jump over to targhee if possible(or just ski jackson) and then hop back on and go back to SLC, hoping to ski a day in BCC, and then one final day at Alta before leaving.

Trip just went from sick, to sicker. And I was thinking about how new all of this is going to be. I've never been above 6288 feet, never been in another time zone(is south bend indiana eastern or central?) Never ridden in a tram(spent the day at Jay riding the freezer). I'm already smiling now, and realize I'm going to have a permanent grin on my face when this is all said and done. Damn you skiing for taking over my life!

Finally, since I'm only going to be around Utah for a few evenings, any friendly mags got a corner for me to crawl up into? I can cook well, and I'll pay for dinner and alcohol while I'm at your place.

[fez]

Dinner AND alchohol?

In slc?

Dude, go cheap and get a hotel room.

When i lived there good beer was $2 a bottle. And that was if you bought 1 or 100.

[Lumpy]

Sounds like a backpack full of pb&j and a loaf of wonderbread will keep you in eats, and some cheap beer from 7-11 at night will do you fine. Go gettem kid!