Visit to Utah (Part 2)
Olympic Park
On that day, we decided to skip the first few classes and head to the Olympic Park. In 2002, the XIX Winter Olympic Games took place in Salt Lake City, with some sports events held in Park City. An Olympic Park was established here, featuring ski slopes, ski jumps, and a bobsled track.
Even now, in summer, athletes are training in the park. Dressed in their full skiing gear, they perform flips and land in a pool or on an inflatable trampoline. Cyclists ride down the mountain slopes. Additionally, they have created a theme park for visitors in this area. From the ski jumps, you can zip down on a “zip line,” ride small summer sleds on a track resembling a bobsled run, or slide down on an inflatable boat from the jump. Instead of grandstands, a climbing playground has been built for children.
Our visit to the park wasn’t without a little adventure. No personal items (bags, keys, etc.) are allowed on the rides. Mark, of course, put his phone in his pocket and lost it while riding the boat. The boats used by visitors are washed, loaded into a vehicle, and then taken back up for new visitors. Fortunately, we quickly started searching for the phone, and Valya had her phone’s “parental control” feature activated. With its help, they quickly found Mark’s phone in one of the boats, which was already in the vehicle and ready for processing and sending back up the mountain.
August 28, Friday
In the evening, after Mark’s classes, we took a trip to Solitude Mountain Resort. This ski resort has 50% of its trails known for easy and intermediate slopes. We took a shortcut, but it turned out to be quite difficult. The road wound up the mountains, was narrow and winding. The scenery was breathtaking, surrounded by tall coniferous forests, but there was no time to enjoy it, as steep cliffs bordered the road on both sides. Additionally, occasionally, oncoming cars appeared on the narrow road. By the time we arrived, our spirits were dampened, and we couldn’t fully appreciate the beauty.
On the way back, we decided to take a different route, which was longer but less dangerous. We didn’t regret it, as the views were stunning. The red cliffs of the canyon we traveled through were covered with beautiful forests, and we encountered streams and waterfalls along the way. There were many parking areas where tourists arrived, unloaded, and set off on foot into the mountains or rode bikes. It was Friday, and it was clear that many people in the state prefer this kind of outdoor recreation.
