Ten reasons I love winter in Utah
1. Actual weather conditions. Not the pansy steady 80-degree stuff you can always count on in places like San Diego, CA. We have real weather: rain, snow, sleet--and a wind that'll blow right through you. It's the kind of weather that makes one appreciate an occasional vacation to places like San Diego, CA.
2. Driven snow. I used to think of it only as the snow flyin' in those white-out, white-knuckle driving situations, but the product is that beautifully drifting snow that seems too perfect to have been formed at random.
3. Extra refrigerator space. Yeah, I like storing my 2-liter soda bottles, a crockpot full of soup--or whatever else is too big or bulky to fit in my fridge--just right outside my kitchen door on my deck.
4. Cold clear water. Every summer I secretly lament the fact I don't have a water and ice machine handily provided in my refrigerator. Every winter I enjoy glasses full of ice cold water right from the tap and I am perfectly content with what I have.
5. The sense of power and pride I feel when I do the math and realize that while shoveling my walks and my driveway I have single-handedly moved literally tons of snow. You go girl!
6. White mountains. Face it. The Wasatch Front mountain range is spectacular. But those majestic mountains are even more awe-inspiring when they are dusted with white and set against a clear blue sky or the tempestuous black and grey clouds of a winter storm.
7. Slippin' and slidin'. Yeah, I'll admit it. As long as none of my impressionable kids are in the car and there are no all-seeing and all-questioning officers of the law nearby, I love to take a corner just a tad too fast and catch a little skid. But don't worry, I also keep an eye out for pedestrians and the friendly neighborhood mailbox.
8. Simple things: Stephens Gourmet Hot Cocoa, black leather gloves, wool socks, performance fleece, hot showers, down comforters, vinyl windows, a crackling fire and the proximity of other warm bodies--just to name a few.
9. The exhilaration of perfect powder. Although its been far too long since I have hit the slopes myself (this will date me, but I used to schedule my classes for M, W, and F only so I could take advantage of those $10 lift tickets at Park West, Solitude and Alta), I can still appreciate that we are blessed with the greatest snow on earth. I love seeing my kids get a rush from a great day of snowboarding. And someday I just might get brave enough (and rich enough) to tackle my favorite--the moguls--and play in the powder again.
10. Contrast. I am always amused by the fact that in the fall when it cools down to 65 we get goosebumps and go grab a jacket, but in the spring when it warms up to about 45 we do somersaults in our shirt sleeves. I'm sure that little quirk is completely lost on those poor people from San Diego.
2. Driven snow. I used to think of it only as the snow flyin' in those white-out, white-knuckle driving situations, but the product is that beautifully drifting snow that seems too perfect to have been formed at random.
3. Extra refrigerator space. Yeah, I like storing my 2-liter soda bottles, a crockpot full of soup--or whatever else is too big or bulky to fit in my fridge--just right outside my kitchen door on my deck.
4. Cold clear water. Every summer I secretly lament the fact I don't have a water and ice machine handily provided in my refrigerator. Every winter I enjoy glasses full of ice cold water right from the tap and I am perfectly content with what I have.
5. The sense of power and pride I feel when I do the math and realize that while shoveling my walks and my driveway I have single-handedly moved literally tons of snow. You go girl!
6. White mountains. Face it. The Wasatch Front mountain range is spectacular. But those majestic mountains are even more awe-inspiring when they are dusted with white and set against a clear blue sky or the tempestuous black and grey clouds of a winter storm.
7. Slippin' and slidin'. Yeah, I'll admit it. As long as none of my impressionable kids are in the car and there are no all-seeing and all-questioning officers of the law nearby, I love to take a corner just a tad too fast and catch a little skid. But don't worry, I also keep an eye out for pedestrians and the friendly neighborhood mailbox.
8. Simple things: Stephens Gourmet Hot Cocoa, black leather gloves, wool socks, performance fleece, hot showers, down comforters, vinyl windows, a crackling fire and the proximity of other warm bodies--just to name a few.
9. The exhilaration of perfect powder. Although its been far too long since I have hit the slopes myself (this will date me, but I used to schedule my classes for M, W, and F only so I could take advantage of those $10 lift tickets at Park West, Solitude and Alta), I can still appreciate that we are blessed with the greatest snow on earth. I love seeing my kids get a rush from a great day of snowboarding. And someday I just might get brave enough (and rich enough) to tackle my favorite--the moguls--and play in the powder again.
10. Contrast. I am always amused by the fact that in the fall when it cools down to 65 we get goosebumps and go grab a jacket, but in the spring when it warms up to about 45 we do somersaults in our shirt sleeves. I'm sure that little quirk is completely lost on those poor people from San Diego.
Comments
We make up for it by doing what the rest of California does, we drive to the snow, or visit grandma. We buy winter coats for the kids every year just to use to visit Heber and to ski once or twice. :-)
I also miss the mountains, not only for the beauty, but for orientation/sense of direction.
I pretty much agree with the rest of your reasons for liking winter in Utah (even if I haven't been skiing...I've still had my thrills in the snow).
After walking to classes in -3 degree farenheight weather not including windchill while sliding on ice an inch thick on the sidewalk, i find that utah weather is quite nice. almost like going to san diego.
When it was in the 20's i shouted hurray and put on a t-shirt and shorts. My parents came to pick me up to take all my stuff home they were very surprised to see me in a t-shirt while they were bundled up in ski coats, but it was practically a record high at 28 degrees.
she giggled.
One year we took the kids to San Diego the day after Christmas. We were so excited to swim in the ocean. The natives thought we were nuts, fearing it was much too cold. But having grown up thinking nothing of the frigid coastal waters in northern Oregon, I just laughed. And we had the best time!
Lyle--what impurities? We have it pretty good here in Provo anyway. I should know--the city water manager lives right across the street from me.
And, speaking of giggling over first-time adventures in Utah snow (I'm crushed you didn't call me and Lorien to join in your fun, Julie), I got a little giggle wondering about Lyle's "thrills in the snow." But don't worry, I won't ask for details!
I love Provo water. Don't get me wrong. I was just differentiating between spring water (I'm not talking about the bottled water) and city water.
Who said anything about giggling in the snow? I enjoyed all the other typical snow fun, other than skiing, such as: tubing, sleding, bizzing, snow ball fights, doughnuts in church parking lots, etc.
Even though Lorien and I were neighbors, we really weren't part of the same play group cause she was a girl and I was a boy and that just would have been tacky.
I think that only those who live in a place that has all four seasons can truly appreciate wearing shorts the moment the snow melts yet you can still see your breath.
Sorry, I misunderstood the last part of your comment about giggling. My bad.
Julie- do a doughnut for me.
Yet, while most people grab an umbrella and many complain about a rainy day, I embrace it (I grew up in Oregon, so rain is what's familiar to me). In recent years of drought I've even been known to dance in it. So, maybe that is it. I'm not overly fond of the hot, dry Utah summers, but maybe I take comfort in the grey skies of winter--whatever form of moisture they bring--because they are familiar. Thanks Cyn and Bek--that's the cheapest therapy I've ever had!
And I, too, love that I don't need fridge water during the winter! The best water I've ever tasted, though, is the 54 degree-year-round spring water at my childhood cabin in Big Springs, Idaho. Mmm, mmm good. And it made your hair crazy soft when you washed in it. Talk about nostalgia!
One more thing: I thought I and my siblings were the only native Utahns that had never been skiing. Thanks, Lyle, for showing me that we're not alone.
As such, I have been forced to purchase special filtered water at $.25/gal. And then we store a gallon at a time in the fridge to get our substitute for what all of you still in Utah have.
I just ask that all y'all save some water for me for when I should return.
About skiing. If you ever change your mind Cyn don't just go once. I found learning to ski just like learning to play raquetball. The first time pretty much sucks. But if you go twice it's easy to get your groove and it can be a lot of fun. And for those of us who are accident prone (I tore my ACL in a dutch-oven cookoff--it really doesn't get any worse than that) the best thing about skiing is that the first thing they teach you is how to fall. I actually prefer hobbies where expectations are low right from the start.
Cynthia
paulandcyn@msn.com
I have to say I love Utah for many things but one of the main reasons is the change of seasons.
I've lived here for 5 years but still marvel when the leaves change colors and the first snow comes. Where I grew up (in ugly Central California) there were two season: Hot and Fog. The hot lasted from March to November and then the fog came in. I had never seen a true "Autumn" until moving here. And I have to say every year I love it more and more!
Also the snow thing...I will never get used to waking up and having everything be white. Rain is loud, snow is so damn quiet!
And don't even get me started on having the mountains so close by!
And what I really wanted to mention about the mountains is just their simple but magnificent presence. I was out of the country for over a year and because the entire experience was foreign I just sort of mixed up everything I missed into one big blur of empty ache.
When I came home the thing I noticed most of all those things I loved being restored to me was the awesome presence of the mountians. They seemed so close I felt I could reach out and touch them. The only thing I now regret about having moved from the east part of Provo (no fears western friends--I only lived east as a student and as a basement dwelling renter) to the west is that the mountains seem just a tad smaller this side of town.
Hmmmmm.
Hey, I'd like you Sour Cream Pie recicipe too. That sounds great.
Not the snow though...I've yet to miss that. I don't mind the fact that I have not had to commute in the snow once this year. Rain? Heck yeah, snow? Not for this little productive member of society.
But...give it some time, and I know I'll start to miss the snow.