Monday: My first few days in Utah have been epic. I went snowmobiling, snowboarding, saw wild deer, and drove around the gorgeous mountains of the Wasatch Valley. On Monday morning my family and I went on a snowmobiling trip and rode around for hours plowing through nearly a foot of snow. I was really enjoying myself until I flipped my snowmobile completely over. Luckily my fiancé is very strong and lifted it up without breaking a sweat! After my wipe out I was afraid to keep going, so I went about 10 MPH the entire way back! Snowmobiling is fun and adventurous, but it’s definitely not the activity for me.
Tuesday: The next day I hit the slopes from the first lift until last lift. Needless to say, my entire body hurts. I was riding through three feet of fresh powder at some point. The snow and mountains in Utah are on a whole different level and I rode nearly 15,000 vertical feet in one day! I skied Canyons today and tomorrow we are headed to Snowbird. I’m not used to this much powder and it definitely is intimidating to ride through at first. You pretty much need to bomb it and go straight, or else you lose momentum and flop into the snow and have to dig yourself out – I did that about 15 times yesterday and have learned to stay on the groomed stuff until I get on that snowplow level, haha! Even though I am so physically exhausted from yesterday I can’t wait to get more snowboarding into this vacation!
Wednesday: On Wednesday I took the day off and relaxed. My family and I made pulled pork sandwiches and just enjoyed our recoveries from a powder day on the mountain. My soon to be mother-in-law and I drove around and scouted places to have my western-style photo shoot. We also drove around to take pictures of the pretty landscapes and farm animals. Later in the day we went on a horseback riding adventure. The horseback riding was such an amazing experience! I rode a Friesian horse named Albert and he looked like he was straight out of Black Beauty. The small winding trail took us along the ridge of a mountain and it had the most beautiful views of the mountains and the sun setting behind them.
Thursday: On Thursday we took an hour drive to Snowbird Mountain. Scott’s parents won a night stay in the hotel and a few free lift tickets, so we couldn’t pass on this wonderful opportunity! The hotel we stayed in looked like a secret spy agency straight out of a James Bond movie. The entire building was made of solid concrete because there are so many avalanches throughout the season. Scott’s dad told me sometimes they have a lockdown due to avalanches and people can’t leave until two or three days later. Luckily there were no avalanches while we were skiing, but there was a ton of fog. I took a tram up to the top (this mountain looks like it’s straight in the Alps) and when I strapped into my snowboard I could barely see 5 feet in front of me. It was probably the scariest experience I’ve had riding, but I made it down four runs and decided to stop after that. I went straight to the hotel and sat in the hot tub for a good hour. It was much needed.
Friday: Friday was the BEST day I had snowboarding. The skies were crystal clear and the snow was perfect. Groomed overnight with a few inches of fresh powder on top. Yum! Since the fog cleared, I could finally see the entire mountain and the gorgeous views. I could ride Snowbird for the rest of my life and be the happiest girl in the world! You ride down a trail that lines the edge of the mountain and can drop down into a bowl at any moment of your choosing. It is so steep you can literally sit at the edge of the trail and have your legs dangling into the bowl.
Saturday: On Saturday my wonderful fiancé took some amazing photos of me for a photo shoot that I like to call ‘Wild West.’ You can see the pictures in this post. There is a part of Heber City, UT that has a little fake town that is modeled after an old western community. There are old, run down-looking buildings that are actually fully-functional businesses. I thought it was the perfect location to shoot my outfit!
Sunday: We had our last day of skiing on Sunday. I wore an 80’s Obermeyer ski suit that is neon pink and everyone on the mountain loved it. It was a true spring skiing day so the 70 degree weather warmed up the snow and at one point I felt like I was surfing, not snowboarding! I love spring skiing and I was glad I could get a powder day and a sunny, warm day of riding into my trip. I had a BLAST in Utah and I can’t wait to come back to this adventurous state soon!
Gail
April 9, 2016This is such a great post Taylor. I love the journal type entries of your daily adventures. Your photos are stunning! Looks like you had a great time. P.S. The wild west shoot was definitely one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing love. Xoxo
tayloraube
April 10, 2016Thank you Gail! I wrote what I did every day so it was easier to keep track of/remember. I’m glad you liked it
Kait Elizabeth
April 9, 2016Gorgeous photos and looks like such a fun trip!!! Hugs, Kait
http://www.makeminemaroon.com
tayloraube
April 10, 2016Thank you! I had such a great time
Kim
April 9, 2016The pictures are fantastic! The landscape is just gorgeous.
tayloraube
April 10, 2016Isn’t it beautiful out there?!
barbara.aube@gmail.com
April 9, 2016awesome pics … would love to go there someday … and WHAT ??? … you flipped your snow mobile !!!
tayloraube
April 10, 2016Yes I did and it was pretty scary! Those machines are so powerful. Still had fun nonetheless!
Jenna at Boston Chic Party
April 10, 2016This sounds like an amazing trip- and seriously the scenery is so beautiful! I wish I was a more confident skier, this looks like a stunning place to ski!
xoxo, Jenna
Boston Chic Party
tayloraube
April 10, 2016There are definitely beginner trails in Park City, but Snowbird is totally for advanced skiers! Both mountains are beautiful, but Park City has a better après ski and there is an adorable little town (the picture I posted of the downtown area). Snowbird is like a gettaway in the Alps. So beautiful
Cassidy
April 10, 2016I love these pictures!!! After our cruise I wanna go here!
tayloraube
April 10, 2016LET’S GO!
Elaine pano
April 10, 2016Fantastic Picture! You are always having so much fun
tayloraube
April 10, 2016Thank you! And you know me, I love having fun everywhere I go
Emily
April 10, 2016I’m so jealous of your amazing vacation! You have some pretty incredible shots
tayloraube
April 10, 2016Thank you! It’s hard not to take a bad picture out there, hehe
Bernadette
April 11, 2016Wow, breathtaking photos!
tayloraube
April 11, 2016Thank you so much!
Kim
April 12, 2016Drop dead gorgeous! And not just the views! Taylor you always looknow amazing!!!
tayloraube
April 12, 2016Thanks Kim! It really was an awesome trip. I can’t wait to go back
Kim
April 12, 2016Correction look amazing!!
Yulia
April 14, 2016I really enjoyed reading this, Taylor!:) It sounds like you had a great time in Utah with your fiancé and parents-in-law. To be honest, I never tried mountain skiing and snowboarding. I guess I am just not that into extreme sports, lol. But I love working out and sweating in general, so I might actually try skiing next winter. You made it sound like so much fun:)
http://www.yuliannova.com/
tayloraube
April 15, 2016You should make at least one trip. It’s such a fun sport and I must admit the apres ski and the views are just as amazing <3
Kavya
April 17, 2016Wow!! Such a fun trip! Those are some really beautiful pictures! Love love them all.
tayloraube
April 17, 2016Thank you! It’s so pretty out there it’s hard to take a bad picture haha!