Several weeks ago I hiked Mount Olympus for the first time this year.   It was an unusually warm week in March the snow had started to melt and I was anxious to get out for a hike.  It wasn’t until we neared the top of the hike that the trail was covered with several feet of snow, which made the hiking a bit more difficult and slow.  The views from the top were amazing.

Top of Mount Olympus

I’d have to say this was one of my favorite hikes.  The views of the Salt Lake valley were incredible as well as the mountain ranges around.  Trudging through the snow was an adventure and going down was even more so.  I spent most of the time wishing I had skis. 

I highly recommend this hike, but maybe not so much in the winter.  I heard, not sure if it’s true or not, that just after we hiked it hikers triggered an avalanche in the area and one girl was injured.  So if you decide to go when there is still snow keep that in mind and plan accordingly.

Yesterday I posted about my Aunt Robyn who in 1973 attended her first Park City Arts Festival. In 1973 Park City was an old town with a lot of interesting and unique characters which lent to her fondness for the festival. She determined to return again.

The next year in 1974 my Aunt showed up at the festival with a friend (her friend was a painter, Robyn was more into crafts like painted glass windows) and the two of them plunked down their art on the sidewalk in front of a store about halfway up main street. She was on the west side of the street, remembering that because of the incredible sunburn she took home from being in the sun all morning long. As she states it: “We were both blonds and got fried.”

She sold some items that year, more than her friend did but it was a small festival, barely 5 years old at the time. It would be many years before the Park City Arts Festival would take over Main Street. No, back then the basis of the festival did not include main street shutting down or anything close to that.

Make the Most of the Park City Arts Festival

I sat down with my aunt, Robyn Card, and got some insights about how she approaches the festival from both a buyer and an artisans perspective. Here are some points to consider if you attend the festival this its 40th anniversary year.

1. If I go, I go with certain expectations to find specific things. Otherwise you’ll end up at the end of the day with either something you didn’t really want and have missed finding what you really wanted
2. As an artist, it’s all about focus. I remember a gal from Chicago that worked with plastic clay, although it’s not considered a fine art clay, it’s what you do with it and her skill was top notch.
3. Sometimes you go to look for a certain kind of art.  Make a pass of the street with that one kind of art in mind and then if you finish your search, go back and visit the other things that caught your eye.
4. Ask questions – although it seems if you engage in a conversation you feel obliged to purchase, ask questions and get to know the artists. There are some amazing people there.

Final Thoughts on How the Park City Arts Festival Was

Having attended the festival at various times over the last 25 years, my aunt had this to say:

“It’s so crowded these days. I think Sundance influences the art festival. Back in 1973-74 it was a fun thing to do, it was a new thing. Art was cool, but it was still more of the 70′s post hippy thing. Art wasn’t that expensive at that time like it is now. Right now, artists are having a struggle given the economy and people’s priorities.

Back then the festival was more loose and there were more of the hippies and free spirits hanging out. People watching was enjoyable at the early festivals like it is today.

Park City was a very interesting mix of people and culture – mostly Caucasian – and the feeling of being in this cool place.  You could walk up the street and know a little about art and fit right in.

As an artist, it was a great learning experience. My mother, who passed away last year, didn’t really look at it like that but to be able to walk around and ask questions was a great opportunity for me.

Unfortunately now it feels like if you ask too many questions you feel like they expect you to buy rather than create a relationship or feeling of learning and exchange.”

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Check out last year’s blog post about the festival for some Park City lodging options for the Arts Festival.

The 40th Annual Park City Arts Festival dates have been announced. On August 1-2, 2009 main street Park City will be transformed into a gigantic art gallery filled with paintings, prints, photography, arts, crafts, sculpture and even food artisans making Park City the place to be.

But it wasn’t always this way.  In fact, it was far from what today’s art festival includes.

In 1973 at the age of 25, my aunt Robyn Card was living in Ogden and teaching art in a local school.  A southern California native and a recent grad from Utah State, her mother suggested she attend the new and recently founded Park City Arts Festival.  Her mother was a traditionalist painter and hoped to sell something at the festival. Robyn recalls:

“The main body of the exhibit was on the sidewalks or just off the sidewalks. It was mostly just art back then with very little crafts or jewelry, especially the high end items you see today. My mom sold 4 oil paintings that first year.  There was a big dirt parking lot where the lower Main Street is today that we parked in.”

Next to them was a woman who made turquoise jewelry who also was a first time attendee. 1973 in Park City was a fun unique place with a lot of old buildings and relics from its past.  As a twenty something gal in the early 70′s, Robyn recalls that first year was a lot of fun.

“The focus of the festival in the early days was painted art, although there were some ceramics – 60′s-70′s style.  There weren’t a lot of crafts which is why I managed to sell some things that second year (1974). It was less expensive so I fared pretty well.”

She fared pretty well that first year as well.  While she was in her mom’s booth standing next to an oil painting of Native American, my Uncle Dell struck up a conversation about the painting as he had recently returned from living among the Native American’s in Arizona.  They got talking, started dating and would eventually be married.

It’s often said of the Park City Arts Festival that you’ll never know what treasure you’ll find.  In the case of my aunt and uncle, they found each other.

–images credit the Kimball Art Center

I skied or boarded four days in April.  AMAZING days at Snowbasin, Solitude, Park City, and Snowbird.  I say this every year, but it bear repeating, “Spring skiing is way better than Christmas skiing.”  Why?  April delivers a 100 inch base, no crowds, powder and corn, park sessions, and if you are lucky -  bikinis.  Two weeks ago the bikinis had to be covered in multi layers.  It looked and felt like January.  Two feet of fresh Utah powder and 20 degree temps made for the very best turns of the year.  The other 5 people on the John Paul lift at Snowbasin surely agree.  But it’s not over yet.  Last year I skied till June 14th at Snowbird.  And this year will probably be similar.  So don’t lock up your stick (s) too soon.  And be sure to bring plenty of sunblock.  Its still Spring Break every day at Snowbird.  Ride On!

Do you remember the first time you skied Alta and had that Alta Experience?

My first day at Alta was a super deep change your life kind of powder day. I recall run after run on Wildcat and the tracks from the run before were not to be found. I recall having lunch out at the end of the backside traverse when a small window in the storm let up and my buddy and I sat there on the rocks, taking in the amazing paradise that lay before us.

At the time, 13 years ago, I could have never imagined that my love affair with Alta would continue to this day.

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