The first stop on the trek across the country was in Vail. My host: Myles Sybley, one of Vail’s finest ski patrolers. If you ever get in a jam, this guy is who you want securing you to a sled and bringing you down the hill, he’s dialed. As a former resident of the extreme city of Park City, this guy is no slouch. Basically, Myles put me up for a day and another buddy got me a flapper ticket or “gondola pass” to ride the resort. I was able to maneuver my way around a few downhill lines that would have left me in need of some patrol assistance.
The point of the story is that this flapper ticket or “gondola pass” was the beginning of the end for my run as a season pass holder. To a normal civilian this means nothing, but to a local skier, its sort of a big deal. I have to get used to the fact that I ll have no more personalized photos as a season pass. I have to start coming to terms with looking like a gapper. Maybe I should get a nice parka with some fur lining to fit in with the rest of the crowd. 5 winters with all mountain passes are gonna have to go on hold. Many thanks go out to the resorts that have accommodated me over the years: Jackson, The Canyons, Alta, and Snowbird… you did your job and gave me the best returns on any investment that I will ever make.
Flapper:
Yeti (She’s mad at me for all the bugs that she bumped into on the road and the potential lack of riding in the future):
