American mountain towns' future

If 2017 was another evidence - so far - our mountain climate is warming up. In fact it's been a long time since we've seen that warming trend coming.

I was talking about it in this blog more than 10 years ago and the situation has kept on deteriorating at a sinister pace. Okay, we now agree that winters will be warmer, shorter and that snow will become a much more precious commodity.

Yet, during future summers, sea level temperatures will keep on climbing and getting away to the Rocky Mountains will spell some sure relief, even if that new one is not nearly as cool as it would have been half-a-century before.

This said, in the meanwhile, mountain resorts will have beefed-up their recreational offering and spring, summer and fall will be fun-filled seasons, perhaps beating winter as we currently know it.

So, enjoy our traditional winters while they last and get ready for an exciting off-season that will bring year-round recreation, all over the mountain!

Appreciating mountain-biking

This year, I don't ride my mountain bike as often as I used to.

This is my 12th consecutive season straddling this heavier bike and it's undeniable that I've become lazy, seek to keep my body from hurting and let's be frank, I don't have the stamina that still possessed me a decade ago.

This said, I love as much as ever being on a single track, either struggling uphill or zipping down the mountain, especially now, that the opportunities have become few and far between.

There's just nothing like it and I hope that even if it has to be in small doses, I'll be able to savor that very unique pleasure for many years to come.

I can't wait for my next outing!

Useless!

That's what my parents used to say about anything that was not necessary for survival or for making money. Sport, leisure or just idleness were all useless. Not mentioned, but implied, was recovery after a (work-related) accident or a sickness.

Anything that was done to fortify the body or the mind (except going to church) fell into that “useless”, thus undesirable and wasted category.

In all fairness to my parents, they had been on “survival-mode” since the day of the birth and only useful acts and thoughts were essential to their salvation.

There was no room for futile pursuits during their entire lifetime. If upon my passing my parents ever end up being right about their beliefs, and after all is said and done, I will have spent a lot of time and efforts “uselessly” for my entire life...

Tired of being young?

Something I often see on Facebook is this quote from some unknown source: “Do not regret growing older, it's a privilege denied to many.”

When I read it, I always nod in agreement and the next day I forget it all together. This truth, I guess, probably doesn't sink-in until we're ready, mature or old enough to really appreciate it as we should.

This long, enduring state of denial is probably what prompted me, as I was riding my bike this morning, to think that “We begin to grow old when we become tired of being young.” This quote is from me, I swear. Keep it in a safe place.

Construction and local governments

If you are contemplating building, remodeling, improving a home or any kind of construction, expect more and more demands from your local government in terms of demanding regulations and following the arduous procedures imposed upon you by bureaucrats that are multiplying in numbers but alas not in expertise.

For the past five years, I've been involved with several projects and have experienced how bad the situation can be and how costly it ends up being.

Building is no longer a pleasant or an affordable adventure. It's more like the road to hell paved with seemingly good intentions but in reality peppered with booby traps and too many bandits on the lookout to shaking you up.

So much for my “constructive” tone!

The school of “unlearning”

My schooling days were marked by a wonderful time at a boys-only, seven-grades piled together, primary school, in a small room and shepherded by a wonderful teacher, Monsieur Losserand. I learned a lot, given the circumstances and my future looked promising as I embarked to Middle-School.

This time, I was bused to St Jean d'Aulps, 3.5 mile down valley, had lunch at the cafeteria and shuttled between classes like in I had never done it before. Not only that, our new “college” as they called it, was under construction and we had to literally walk miles to another hamlet for most of our courses.

One of our teacher, Mademoiselle Krac, was supposed to make us conversant in English, but the only thing I learned from her was her opening remarks (in French) “sit down and shut up!” Needless to say that instead of picking up new scholastic skills I “unlearn” everything Monsieur Losserand had painstakingly drilled into my head.

Year after year my grades were going down fast, until after three years of that kind of hell, I decided to change schools so I would not forget essential elements like my own name.

This Junior High named “College Henri Corbet” almost was the end of myself. Glad I escaped that dreary place!

Cinco de Momo!

Yesterday was the 170th Pioneer Day Celebration in Utah. This state holiday takes place on July 24 to commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley back in 1847.

We, in Park City, love to call it derisively “Cinco de Momo” (Momo as in Mormon) as a play on words on “Cinco de Mayo” the Mexican annual fiesta held on May 5 by our local Latino community to observe the Mexican Army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

Park City doesn't observe that Mormon festival that is marked, in the rest of the state, by parades, fireworks, rodeos, and other festivities...