Fit-Fact: Trees at Deer Valley

That's skiable--the trees aren't as tight as they look--Centennial at Deer Valley

While I'm really trying to move away from the skiing references--after all I've been back in Chicago for two weeks--I still have skiing on the brain. Of course, it doesn't help that I whine about the weather all the time (and sorry for mentioning it constantly, too), wishing I could trade Chicago flats for Rockies peaks. But as I'm yearning for more ski time and sorting through my pictures from my last trip, it's really difficult to part with thoughts of Deer Valley, Park City and Alta, and all of the interesting things I learned about the areas. That Park City was a mining town and the old structures on the mountain--there's one near the Bonanza lift and another by Thaynes--were used for mining the mountain. That Alta operates snowcat skiing but on a very limited basis. That Deer Valley prunes its tree skiing spots.

Prunes its trees? I thought I was hearing things when Craig McCarthy, Park City Chamber of Commerce Communications Manager, confirmed that Deer Valley picks through its forests each summer to make for pristine tree skiing in the winter. No forays into the forests only to hit a pack of trees so tight you can't pick your way to the bottom. No dead-ends or random branches to hit you. No wonder I like these tree runs--I can actually pick my way through them without tumbling into a tree well or wrapping myself around a trunk (and trust me both have happened). I'm someone who tries to avoid trees at all costs--even if it means skiing a green--yet at Deer Valley the trees seem less intimidating, still challenging, and offer the hope of untracked powder on a snow-less day. My faves: Centennial off the Lady Morgan Express lift and Ontario Bowl. Posted by Kate

Fit-Pic: Skier's Paradise

Fresh powder in the Daly Chutes of Empire Canyon at Deer Valley Ski Resort and a skier who's about to bite it. Photo by Vishal Verma.

Chicago and most of the Midwest got hit pretty hard with a snowstorm on Friday and Saturday. My friends wrecked their car driving up to Alpine Valley to hit the slopes when it landed in a ditch, and I was too nervous to take the car out even to drive a few miles north to trek in my snowshoes along the Lakefront. But when a friend sent this picture reminding me of our times at Deer Valley, I thought it was snow-worthy. And it is far more action-packed than a serene shot of Lakefront scenery captured on my own camera. Posted by Kate

Fit-Pic: Utah Powder Day

My husband and I always like to say a powder day is a good day. After being spoiled with skiing in Utah for the past week, we finally got our wish: fresh powder. We jumped into Empire Canyon at Deer Valley at first chance to track up the six new inches of snow. Above is me tackling the powder--and at this moment actually looking good doing it--on Solace. Posted by Kate