Why I'm the luckiest girl in the world....

Because I can get up on a Sunday morning, leave the overcast, gloomy, inversion caused smog that blankets the Salt Lake valley in the winter, and in half an hour be at Brighton, where the air is cool and crisp and not polluted and the sun actually shines. And once there I can strap on skis and fly around the slopes. Today started out cold and overcast, the corduroy stripes laid down by the groomers last night were frozen solid and and covered by a skiff of new snow. Skiing the frozen corduroy was kind of a tactile experience for the feet, not scary icy, but oddly rumbling underfoot. The trees on the upper slopes were where frosty and beautiful, frozen and flocked in new snow. Eventually the sun came out and it was gorgeous day. A winter wonderland for sure. Not enough new snow for a powder day, but a perfect day for cruising. I love to ski fast, feel the wind bite my cheeks, feel the exhilaration as I fly down the slopes. I was skiing solo today, so it was easy to push myself, so aside from a potty break, and a trip to my car to grab my camera, I didn't stop all day. I skied 26 runs, surely a record for me. Had some interesting ski lift conversations... met an Aussie that lives in London, a strip club owner from Tennessee, a nice woman who owns a cute Salt Lake store that I've driven by a zillion times but haven't stopped at (but now I will), a guy who drove here from New York, and many others. Last ride of the day was with a cute little 15 year old boy, who was up by himself and seemed thrilled to have someone tell his snowboarding stories to. Such a nice, nice day.

I am not from here, but even after living here for 25 years, I can't spend a day in the mountains without thinking "Wow, I am so lucky, and so thankful, to be able to enjoy this every weekend" Oh regarding the top picture.... just a fumble fingered moment, trying to use my camera while riding the lift, holding my poles and wearing ski mittens, a total inadvertent snapshot I really liked... my happy legs!