Deer Valley, Park City Utah

Deer Valley ski resort in Park City Utah has been ranked the number one ski resort in North America several times and it is easy to see why. The skiing is certainly up there with anything that I have experienced, but where they really shine is in all of the extra amenities like the fine dining options, lodge, spa, and lodging accommodations. They are truly first class. I was there for the skiing, and I was certainly impressed in that department. The scenery was also breathtaking, as you can see from these photos. My only complaint is that one of the lodges is halfway down the mountain and prevents you from skiing all the way to the bottom without taking a lift over it. This is a minor thing in the overall scheme of things though. Really hardly worth mentioning. I would certainly recommend Deer Valley to anyone who is a skiing enthusiast. One other nice thing about it is that they do not allow snowboarders. I really don't have a beef with snowboarders, but the lack of their rowdy behavior enhanced the overall experience.  

 This was taken at the top of Bald Mtn., one of the four peaks at the resort. Below is the Jordenelle Reservoir.

 Spectacular scenery...

 ...challenging skiing...

 This is the Steinmark  by Marriott. You ride a tram to get there

"Come ski with me"

Solitude, Utah

I spent four days skiing in Utah this month and am happy to report that everywhere I skied was excellent. First, I skied Solitude. Located in Big Cottonwood canyon, this is a very nice family resort with a family vibe. Unfortunately, a couple of the lifts were down due to a power failure, but there were still many runs to chose from. Although it was a nice place with great skiing, I don't think I will go back. Don't get me wrong, but the scenery, although very pretty, was not as spectacular as the other places that I visited. I don't want to unfairly bash the place, it had good skiing, but if you are going all the way to Utah there are better places.

Impressive marker at the entrance to the resort

This is the view of the lodge from the mountain side

Solitude trail map

Smuggler's Notch Vermont

I happened to have an opportunity to do some work in Vermont this week and of course had to get a little skiing in. I chose Smuggler's Notch and let me tell you right now that it was an excellent choice! Nestled in the Green Mountains, the resort stretches over three mountains, with the center mountain, Madonna, being the tallest. It was an incredible morning! Bright, sunny, but brutally cold at -15 degrees. Thank God it was not windy as well.It had been snowing steadily for the entire week before I arrived and I was delighted to find tons of fresh powder awaiting me. I was expecting  icy conditions comparable to Whiteface, but was ecstatic to find conditions that were reminiscent of mountains out west. This resort was rated 9th best in the East by Ski magazine, but I was told by the locals that the skiing is every bit as good as Stowe nearby, which was ranked 3rd, right behind Whiteface. Granted, they have slow lifts, no gondola, and the shopping, on-mountain food, après-ski vibe may not be as good, but they sure delivered the goods as far as snow, terrain variety,challenge, and scenic beauty.I highly recommend this place to skiers and riders of all abilities, as the three mountains have something to offer for everyone. It is also ranked 1st in the East for family programs.Highly recommended to all skiers and riders who have a chance to travel there!                 

The mountains were encased in arctic -like cold   

A  bright, bright, bright, sunshiny day! 

Upper Exhibition  lift on Sterling mountain

Madonna Lift 

Summit of Madonna 

Upper Chilicoot blue run 

Cccccccccooooolllllldddddd! 

Madonna summit 

 Skiing in a...

...winter wonderland!

Trail Map

Whiteface, Lk. Placid, NY

So here it is, ski season 2010-2011. I had some work to do in New York and in between I got some skiing in. First I skied at Bristol Mountain, south of Rochester, and then pressed on northeast to the #1 ski destination in the eastern US, Whiteface. Let me first start out by telling you that this place is not for beginners. It's a tough, challenging mountain. Grooming is basically nonexistent  and it lives up to it's nickname "Iceface", as there is a lot of ice on the runs from the freeze/thaw cycle. It is also windy and very cold. But to those of us who are good skiers in decent condition, it puts our skills to the test in an invigorating, exciting way. The nearby town of Lake Placid is a true mountain ski town nestled along the shore of Mirror Lake (which I thought was a little odd, because Lake Placid is a couple of miles away from the town). I only had a day to spend there, But there is lots to see and do and if I ever get up that way again I'd like to spend at least a week   touring all of the Olympic attractions like the ski jumping complex, the bobsled and skeleton run over activities. On the way up, I drove the back way through the 6 million acre Adirondack Park, past beautiful mountains, lakes, and trout streams, all encased in arctic like cold. Driving was treacherous as it was snowing in sheets earlier in the day and was still coming down (though not quite as hard) as I made my way north. On the way back I drove down I-87 near the Vermont border and past Lake Champlain and Fort Ticonderoga. All in all I put 1600 miles on the Ford.   

This is a river near the base of Whiteface. The scenic beauty of the place is astounding

The main street of Lake Placid on the night I arrived. Man it was coming down that night!

The Dancing Bear has $2 draft beers during happy hour, so you probably guessed where I was.

The Northwoods Hotel.

Whiteface mountain.

This is the top of the Cloudsplitter gondola, which takes you up 2,400 vertical feet in less than 15 minutes. There are three peaks to Whiteface. Little Whiteface peak (here) Whiteface summit (pictured) and Lookout mountain.  

This is a blue run called Excelsior. Takes almost a half hour to get to the bottom.

Lookut mountain

Lake Placid and Mirror Lake 10 miles away.

1600 miles of winter dirt!

All in all a most awesome adventure.

Number 8

This is a drawing that I did last night on my Intuous 4 Wacom tablet. It is from a photo of my son, Derek. He was on the JV football team this season and was presented two awards at the banquet yesterday. Ironman ( never missed a weightroom conditioning practice, field practice, or game) and the KLAA scholar athlete award ( have at least a 3.3 GPA) Mom and Dad are awful proud of our Number 8.

Father's Day

Here it is again, Father's Day! All that I can say is that being a father of two wonderful kids is without a doubt the most important thing that I have done with my life, and the one thing that has given me the greatest joy and sense of pride. It is also a time to remember my father, Neil Gasco. Dad passed away far too soon at the age of 56 back in 1993. I don't think that a single day has gone by that he has not been in my thoughts, and I still miss him very, very much.

This picture was taken somewhere around 1969 or 1970. Little Timmy and Dad at the Horace Rackham Fountain located in the Detroit Zoo. It's a family tradition for Dad and the kids to gather here from time to time for a picture. I am looking forward to it being a "Grandpa, Dad, and the kids" picture in the future.

Following this tradition, This picture is of Dad (grown up Tim) Meredith, and Derek. I think it was 1997.

This more recent picture was taken three years ago. Meredith was 16 (she will be 20 in November) and Derek is not yet a teenager at age twelve. He has shot up and is now thinner than a rail. It is striking how quickly they both have changed in such a small amount of time.

So here's to wishing us Dad's a happy Father's Day! And thanks to all of the kids who make us so proud and provide us with such wonderful memories.

"Let me tell you a secret about a father's love,

A secret that my daddy said was just between us."

I said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then.

It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."

-Aaron Barker