Hey Folks,
This is a tale of dedication that I have no choice but to share with you. The day was Friday January 22nd, a little over two weeks ago, without a doubt one of the best snows so far this season. I had woken up early so I could get to Little Cottonwood Canyon before the heavy traffic started.
To my surprise, when I walked out of my apartment in Sugarhouse there was hardly a dusting of snow on the ground and practically clear skies. Without second guessing myself, I loaded up the Suby with my ski gear, grabbed my coffee mug and headed for the canyon. As I neared the mouth of what is said to be the most avalanche prone canyon in North America, I noticed that not only had the sky darkened but, the lake effect coming off the Great Salt Lake was in full effect. Not deterred from this common sight of jaw-breaker sized fluffy snowflakes I waved as I passed the canyon sheriff who was patrolling the entrance to lil’ cottonwood; and making everybody in two-wheel drive cars (or those lacking chains) turn around.
For those of you who are familiar with the canyon, you know what I mean when I say the road was BAD. For those of you who don’t, the road was scary at best. But being the “local” I am this did not discourage me. As I drove the road got worse, Rock Gardens bad, Stick Rock worse, Seven Sisters scary, and finally about three-quarters up the canyon traffic came to a stop. It was on this faithful turn that a Sears truck had gone off the road and gotten stuck. About five hundred feet from the truck, I sat there in a line of cars at a dead stop. When traffic started to move again, my tires were slipping despite the supernatural snow driving capabilities of a Subaru, I regret to say my tires were bald and I made the executive decision to make a quick U-turn and avoid being that guy holding up traffic.
With tears in my eyes I started down the canyon. Let it be said that the road about ten to fifteen times worse going down than it was coming up. At five miles an hour I contemplated my fate. Go all the way down the canyon I had just fought to get up? Try to find a parking spot at the filled park-n-rides? Or find a suitable spot off the road where I could ditch my car for the day, and still get to shred some fatty pow? Of course I chose the latter of the three. I kept at my safe pace down the treacherous road and chose the Tanners flat pull off, there were already two cars parked there, in my eyes this was a safe bet. So, I pulled off the road threw on my Scarpas’ as fast as physics allowed and hauled ass out to the road to put out a thumb. The first car stopped and gave me the sign to jump in. I ran around to the back popped in open the tailgate and to my surprise there was no snow gear AT ALL. That just meant there was more room for my stuff I tossed in my Maestros and jumped in the back seat.
As soon as I got in there were three foreign faces staring back at me, two Mexicans and a Nicaraguan. One spoke English, one spoke broken English and the one fella’ didn’t even speak a lick of English. I can only remember Nina I couldn’t pronounce the other two boys names. Turns out they were also headed to The Bird to pick up a brother who didn’t have four-wheel drive and had been stuck for almost a day. After a long and only mildly awkward conversation; I arrived at my destination and skied 7 hours of pure bliss.
When it came to quitting time a friend of mine opted to let me catch a ride down to my car. To my surprise after a sort of anxious ride down the canyon we drove right past where my car was parked. It wasn’t there! My first thought was theft, some lowly chump had come by and kifed my car. I wasn’t that far off. The Salt Lake Police Department actually had my car towed on the grounds that it was a hazard and parked to close to the road on a “snow removal day”. Folks, I’ll have you know I was parked safely inside the parking area along with two other cars.
Low and behold, I have my car back, THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY DOLLARS LATER!!! Moral of the story: A fat pow day in the Wasatch is worth any cost…Period.
Max W.
