Below is a fun video we put together of our night with Alex. First we went to a powedery hill in Mill B South to give Alex a feel of his board. Boarding in powder in a not so steep slope is quite difficult and a lot more different than a groomed run as you will see in the video. After we played around for a bit, we hit up Brighton Ski Resort for some night skiing. A very fun and enjoyable experience was had by all!
Here is another video of a different sort. This was recorded at Molly Green's, the private club and bar at Brighton Ski Resort. We were having a fun time playing with the video camera and I happened to catch an interview with an Eastern European by chance! Enjoy the silliness!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Happy Holidays!
To all of our family and friends, Happy Holidays!
Heather and I had a great xmas, spending the morning with Heathers family, lunch with mine and the afternoon with both of Heathers Grandmas.
The days leading up to xmas was filled with parties at our closes friends houses, this made xmas 2007 the best one yet for both Heather and myself. We also spent quite a bit of time with x136, a bikeforums member. We were able to go night snowboarding at Brighton and hot springing in Meadow, fun was had by all.
Heather and I had a great xmas, spending the morning with Heathers family, lunch with mine and the afternoon with both of Heathers Grandmas.
The days leading up to xmas was filled with parties at our closes friends houses, this made xmas 2007 the best one yet for both Heather and myself. We also spent quite a bit of time with x136, a bikeforums member. We were able to go night snowboarding at Brighton and hot springing in Meadow, fun was had by all.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
The Finca has a name, Quebradon!
Quebrar means to break. Quebrada is a stream that falls over rocks.
We have lots of water that breaks over rocks, these two pictures show a spring fed river that will be used for both drinking water and energy production via micro hydro:
We have lots of water that breaks over rocks, these two pictures show a spring fed river that will be used for both drinking water and energy production via micro hydro:
Snowboarding Day 6!
Well, this week has been almost a nonstop snowboarding experience. We've been 3 times since the last, 2 of them being at different resorts. After hitting up Brighton again on Tuesday, we went to Solitude on Wednesday for some lovely powder, and then on Friday we went to meet my brother Collin at Sundance. I have started to refer to the two of us as Ski Resort Whores. Our friend Brian asked if I meant Ski Bums when he heard me say that, but I think Ski Resort Whore is more appropriate. I really am beginning to see why people dig this lifestyle!
My muscles are getting more used to the movements and I can feel myself getting stronger. I can also feel the after effects of a full day of snowboarding. Sore, stiff muscles and an insatiable hunger. This snowboarding is really screwing up my juice fast plans! One thing we came to agreement on is that we need to start packing our own lunches because the cost of lunch at a resort is pretty ridiculous, but it can be a fun thing from time to time.
We added another video from our day at Sundance.
Today, we are off for a snoeshoeing adventure! Maybe we can get some fun videos from that as well! Stay tuned!
My muscles are getting more used to the movements and I can feel myself getting stronger. I can also feel the after effects of a full day of snowboarding. Sore, stiff muscles and an insatiable hunger. This snowboarding is really screwing up my juice fast plans! One thing we came to agreement on is that we need to start packing our own lunches because the cost of lunch at a resort is pretty ridiculous, but it can be a fun thing from time to time.
We added another video from our day at Sundance.
Today, we are off for a snoeshoeing adventure! Maybe we can get some fun videos from that as well! Stay tuned!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Snowboarding Day 3!!
The third day of snowboarding was definitely the best so far. I think I'm really starting to feel more comfortable on the board. The hardest part for me still is getting off my butt after strapping my feet in the binding. I've been experimenting with different ways of getting on my feet, and one of them ended up with me twisting my leg underneath me. That was pretty much the only bad fall I took and I happened at the end of the day.
Some good news is that we finally made if off the bunny hill! We took Mary's trail, which is another green run, but it is a lot longer and a bit more challenging. It was rather fun, although I had a bit of a panic attack when we got on the lift. I wasn't sure what lift we got on, and I thought it was the lift that took you to the black diamonds! Fortunately, we got on the right one and I didn't have end up having a heart attack after all.
Joe took a great little video of me going down the bunny hill.
Some good news is that we finally made if off the bunny hill! We took Mary's trail, which is another green run, but it is a lot longer and a bit more challenging. It was rather fun, although I had a bit of a panic attack when we got on the lift. I wasn't sure what lift we got on, and I thought it was the lift that took you to the black diamonds! Fortunately, we got on the right one and I didn't have end up having a heart attack after all.
Joe took a great little video of me going down the bunny hill.
Chocolate for all, a small Costa Rica update...
Fred, our friend from Costa Rica, just informed us today that he found fully grown cacao bushes on our land! The cacao bushes were planted for raising chocolate in the past.
I guess making chocolate will be one more thing to keep us busy while living in Costa Rica! I think I'll double the amount of space we are going to give to various spicy peppers in our garden. There is nothing better then chocolate that bites back.
I'll post more Costa Rica updates as they happen. If you have not yet subscribed to our blog, feel free to do so! Every time we blog, you will get an email with the full blog post. You can subscribe in the top right corner of this page, make sure you check your email after subscribing, as you have to confirm that yes, you really want us to email you every-single-time we blog! :)
I guess making chocolate will be one more thing to keep us busy while living in Costa Rica! I think I'll double the amount of space we are going to give to various spicy peppers in our garden. There is nothing better then chocolate that bites back.
This is what cacao looks like:
Heather and I sat down last night and started to figure out our house plans. Most of night was spent talking about creating an Art / Music building, away from our primary residence. The Art / Music room will be around 600 sq feet in size and contain a small kitchenette and bathroom. We really just want one big open space, a large stone fireplace / kiln on one wall, and lots of windows all around to take advantage of the views. We will live in the Art / Music room while we build our house, if all goes well, we should have our first building complete by the end of the summer. And our house started by next winter.I'll post more Costa Rica updates as they happen. If you have not yet subscribed to our blog, feel free to do so! Every time we blog, you will get an email with the full blog post. You can subscribe in the top right corner of this page, make sure you check your email after subscribing, as you have to confirm that yes, you really want us to email you every-single-time we blog! :)
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Snowboarding, Day 2
Heather and I had another great day at Brighton today. Heather's first run was flawless, top to bottom without a single fall! We have a deal where if she does 3 consecutive flawless runs on the bunny hill, we will make our way to the real runs...
The weather was great, temps in the high teens with powder falling at the rate of 1/2" per hour. The new snow made everything look fresh and gave the day a 'vacation like' feel. We ate at the Brighton Lodge, Heather had a salad, the bus boy was very excited to see such a beautiful salad, and I had a Garlic Burger. Heather's 'Hot Toddy' (A hot drink with lemon and whisky) was not nearly as good as the one Janny made at the hot springs last winter. My Hefeweizen made the last two runs of the day a bit more enjoyable then the first dozen or so.
I cleaned both post-lunch runs and had a lot of fun tossing up powder on each turn. Heather did not do as well and took a nasty fall on the 2nd run after lunch. We decided to call it a day and take the weekend off from snowboarding.
While walking to Lunch we passed a firetruck and two ambulances. From our table in the restaurant we watched as Ski Patrol assisted the Paramedics in loading an injured snowboarder into the ambulance.
KSL is now reporting that there were two avalanches just outside of Brighton, and two snowboarders where caught for a ride! The snowboarder we saw is in critical condition with facial and head injuries. Ouch! I hope he makes it out okay...
I took our new camcorder with us today, and did not record a single minute of footage! I'll make sure we get a few runs on tape on Monday.
The weather was great, temps in the high teens with powder falling at the rate of 1/2" per hour. The new snow made everything look fresh and gave the day a 'vacation like' feel. We ate at the Brighton Lodge, Heather had a salad, the bus boy was very excited to see such a beautiful salad, and I had a Garlic Burger. Heather's 'Hot Toddy' (A hot drink with lemon and whisky) was not nearly as good as the one Janny made at the hot springs last winter. My Hefeweizen made the last two runs of the day a bit more enjoyable then the first dozen or so.
I cleaned both post-lunch runs and had a lot of fun tossing up powder on each turn. Heather did not do as well and took a nasty fall on the 2nd run after lunch. We decided to call it a day and take the weekend off from snowboarding.
While walking to Lunch we passed a firetruck and two ambulances. From our table in the restaurant we watched as Ski Patrol assisted the Paramedics in loading an injured snowboarder into the ambulance.
KSL is now reporting that there were two avalanches just outside of Brighton, and two snowboarders where caught for a ride! The snowboarder we saw is in critical condition with facial and head injuries. Ouch! I hope he makes it out okay...
I took our new camcorder with us today, and did not record a single minute of footage! I'll make sure we get a few runs on tape on Monday.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Snowboarding VS Skiing - An Observation
Yesterday I had my very first day snowboarding. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be. We only spent a total of maybe two hours at the most going down the bunny hill. The most difficult part was trying to stand up, and it got to be a bit frustrating at times. I would fall down, then try to get up, but I couldn't! It would take a few tries, then finally I would get up, wobble around on my board and then start the whole process again!
Eventually, I was able to board for a short distance without falling. Unfortunately the last spill I took went straight to my knees! I have a couple of lovely purple circles now, and they hurt like hell! In fact, my whole body is sore. It must be from the continuous falling and attempting to stand up, or it could just be the standard soreness from learning a new sport.
Today, Joe and I decided to smooth out some of the stiffness with a bit of skiing. I have to say right off that falling down in skis is a lot easier on your body than falling down on a snowboard! I've fallen down plenty on skis, and I've never thought I would need to wear a helmet or kneepads in the future as a result.
Overall, I don't know if I'll like one over the other. It's still too early to decide on that. I think I will really enjoy snowboarding. By the end of the day yesterday, I was feeling a bit more confident. I suppose the only way to find out which I like better is to keep on doing both activities and have fun doing it!
Eventually, I was able to board for a short distance without falling. Unfortunately the last spill I took went straight to my knees! I have a couple of lovely purple circles now, and they hurt like hell! In fact, my whole body is sore. It must be from the continuous falling and attempting to stand up, or it could just be the standard soreness from learning a new sport.
Today, Joe and I decided to smooth out some of the stiffness with a bit of skiing. I have to say right off that falling down in skis is a lot easier on your body than falling down on a snowboard! I've fallen down plenty on skis, and I've never thought I would need to wear a helmet or kneepads in the future as a result.
Overall, I don't know if I'll like one over the other. It's still too early to decide on that. I think I will really enjoy snowboarding. By the end of the day yesterday, I was feeling a bit more confident. I suppose the only way to find out which I like better is to keep on doing both activities and have fun doing it!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
2 New Videos!
Here are a few videos that we recorded up Millcreek Canyon while we were skiing. Enjoy!
The snow is here!
What a storm! Utah needed this one badly, and mother nature delivered!
Watching the storm roll in near the bottom of Big Cottonwood Canyon.
It dosent feel like winter until you have your first powder day. Heather and I had our first powder day on Friday while snowshoe the Mill-D trail to Dog Lake.* We made fresh tracks on the first mile or so of trail before calling it a day. Fresh tracks in 14" of Utah powder is a lot of work!
We have also visited the top of Millcreek canyon three times in as many days. The last few miles of the paved road is blocked off for 6 months of the year. Every winter hundreds of xc skiers, snowshoer's and hikers make there way to the small parking lot at the trail head. We take our backcountry skiis and make the long slow trudge up to the many summer picnic spots. We have found that picnic spots contain some great newbie friendly hills and lots of fresh powder.
The road makes for a fun return trip as well, it takes a bit of work in the powder and becomes a really fun ride after a few dry days. Its easy to find yourself on the steeps traveling well over 20mph! or, it at least feels that way...
What are you guys doing? Who should I put on my short list of people to call for snowboarding? Skiing? Snowshoeing?
Heather is buying her snowboard on Monday, and we will be getting season passes at Brighton, M-T only. Lots more blog posts about learning how to snowboard in the upcoming months!
Quick shout out to all the Foosters at BikeForums! :D
* We got engaged at Dog Lake last winter while snowshoeing.
Watching the storm roll in near the bottom of Big Cottonwood Canyon.It dosent feel like winter until you have your first powder day. Heather and I had our first powder day on Friday while snowshoe the Mill-D trail to Dog Lake.* We made fresh tracks on the first mile or so of trail before calling it a day. Fresh tracks in 14" of Utah powder is a lot of work!
We have also visited the top of Millcreek canyon three times in as many days. The last few miles of the paved road is blocked off for 6 months of the year. Every winter hundreds of xc skiers, snowshoer's and hikers make there way to the small parking lot at the trail head. We take our backcountry skiis and make the long slow trudge up to the many summer picnic spots. We have found that picnic spots contain some great newbie friendly hills and lots of fresh powder.
The road makes for a fun return trip as well, it takes a bit of work in the powder and becomes a really fun ride after a few dry days. Its easy to find yourself on the steeps traveling well over 20mph! or, it at least feels that way...
What are you guys doing? Who should I put on my short list of people to call for snowboarding? Skiing? Snowshoeing?
Heather is buying her snowboard on Monday, and we will be getting season passes at Brighton, M-T only. Lots more blog posts about learning how to snowboard in the upcoming months!
Quick shout out to all the Foosters at BikeForums! :D
* We got engaged at Dog Lake last winter while snowshoeing.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Gardner...
We had an interesting expireence at the Hot Springs the other night. The last guy to share the pool with us was a guy named Gardner. He told us his parents were quite the hippies, hence the name.
Gardner (his first name, our last) was traveling around the western states jumping from hot spring to hot spring. He has been on the road about a month, camping each night, getting in his truck, and moving on. He had a few great stories to tell including spending a night with 13 cats and 4 long haired chihuahuas!
As we left the springs we found Gardner hanging out behind his truck making dinner and playing guitar. We went to say bye to him but got sucked into hanging out & telling stories to Heathers guitar music. He gave us a nice little gift and we gave him our contact information...
Gardner, if you are ever in SLC, give us a ring. We don't have a big place but you are more then welcome to crash in the front room after a night of spirits and stories.
Travel safe,
Joe & Heather
Gardner (his first name, our last) was traveling around the western states jumping from hot spring to hot spring. He has been on the road about a month, camping each night, getting in his truck, and moving on. He had a few great stories to tell including spending a night with 13 cats and 4 long haired chihuahuas!
As we left the springs we found Gardner hanging out behind his truck making dinner and playing guitar. We went to say bye to him but got sucked into hanging out & telling stories to Heathers guitar music. He gave us a nice little gift and we gave him our contact information...
Gardner, if you are ever in SLC, give us a ring. We don't have a big place but you are more then welcome to crash in the front room after a night of spirits and stories.
Travel safe,
Joe & Heather
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
The hot springs.
It's 11pm and Heather and I just got back from spending a night with our good friends Janny and Mo at Meadow hot springs. For our family; Janny made the chocolates at the wedding & Mo filmed the ceremony.
We actualy spent Tuesday night at the hot springs, spent the night at Mo's place, had a great breakfast in Cedar City and a private film fest featuring Mo's movie and our wedding footage!
Unlike our last trip to the springs with Janny and Mo, last nights trip was a bit warmer. In Nov of 2006 the four of us hit up Meadow in the middle of a cold snap, the temperature when we got out was 18 degrees below zero! It was a good 40 degrees warmer this time.
Heather and I brought down our camp stove and some home made red Thai curry and rice, Janny and Mo provided the drinks. If you have never had Thai food while soaking in a hot spring on moonless winter night, I highly recommend it!
It looks like it may Snow tonight, if so, we will be out skiing tomorrow. We have already been out snowshoeing once and skiing twice this season. Not much snow out there, but its only a matter of time!
We actualy spent Tuesday night at the hot springs, spent the night at Mo's place, had a great breakfast in Cedar City and a private film fest featuring Mo's movie and our wedding footage!
Unlike our last trip to the springs with Janny and Mo, last nights trip was a bit warmer. In Nov of 2006 the four of us hit up Meadow in the middle of a cold snap, the temperature when we got out was 18 degrees below zero! It was a good 40 degrees warmer this time.
Heather and I brought down our camp stove and some home made red Thai curry and rice, Janny and Mo provided the drinks. If you have never had Thai food while soaking in a hot spring on moonless winter night, I highly recommend it!
It looks like it may Snow tonight, if so, we will be out skiing tomorrow. We have already been out snowshoeing once and skiing twice this season. Not much snow out there, but its only a matter of time!
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