Lynn Mason-Pattnosh's Blog
Posted by Lynn Mason-Pattnosh
Christmas for locals in any tourist town is a mixed blessing. The locals need Christmas tourists financially and are thrilled to welcome them to our home. There is a festive, happy feeling as Sun Valley becomes a bustling mini-metropolis and then, as the lines at Atkinson’s (the only grocery store in Ketchum) become six deep at each checkout that festive mood changes, quickly.
It is undoubtedly this time of year when tourists from Los Angeles are most prominent in Sun Valley, desiring their very own white Christmas. Suddenly, Main Street feels as if you are heading to LAX at rush hour. And uggs and attitude appear everywhere: on the endless lines at Atkinson’s, on the slopes and at the movie theaters.
On Christmas Day, my husband had excitedly planned our holiday to include “Dreamgirls” at the Magic Lantern Cinema in Ketchum. As I waited to get the holiday popcorn, my husband went in to get our seats. I found him in the theater in a less than festive holiday mood. “What happened?” I asked.
“This guy in a U.S.C. hat is saving that whole row up there. I told him this is Idaho, not the Academy Awards,” he ranted.
I looked around and noticed several L.A. patrons in U.S.C. caps, as well as numerous ugg-wearing teenagers. I passed my husband the popcorn and sat down, ready to enjoy our movie.
After the film (and definitely go see it), my husband and I exited the crowed theater. He forgot his hat and had to go back into the mayhem to retrieve it. I waited quietly outside, as the Christmas snow lightly fell.
Suddenly, a prominent Hollywood director exited the theater with five L.A. ugg-wearing teenagers (he was also wearing uggs). “I love it,” he said. And I listened carefully. “The director did a wonderful job integrating the music and the story,” he added.
“Oh, Jennifer Hudson was way too big. I mean she was good, but that crying scene,” said an ugg-wearing teenager.
“Really way too big!” concluded yet another.
“Well, I don’t know,” the prominent ugg-wearing director said. “I really liked it.”
I couldn’t believe it! Just like that, he had been bullied by the ugg-wearing teenagers and changed his opinion of the film from “love” to “like.” Wow.
I was still waiting for my husband, when another teenager wearing a U.S.C. Cinema hat (but not wearing uggs) voiced his opinion. “It was not believable,” he sentenced.
“It was a musical,” I said to my U.S.C. alumni self.
Finally, my husband appeared with his hat. “You would not believe what I just saw,” I shared.
“Someone just told me that Schwarzenegger tripped over his own ski pole. That’s how he broke his leg! It was on Lower Warm Springs,” he gossiped.
“No way. That’s a terrible way to injure yourself, on an beginner level slope, barely moving!” I added.
“Yep,” he said. “He’s going back to L.A. to get operated on.”
“That’s too bad,” I said.
“What a rotten Christmas. Not only did he break his leg and he has to go back to L.A.,” he said, as we started to walk home in our winter wonderland.
Check out Aspen Ski Complaint for more ski town blogs or Local Ski Life: Sun Valley, Idaho to learn more about life as a local in a ski town.
Posted by Lynn Mason-Pattnosh
In recent weeks, the dangers of traveling in the mountains of the Northwest United States have topped headlines around the world. Sadly, when you live in these mountains, this type of tragedy becomes even more common. There are however, mountain stories with happy endings. Many of these rescue stories include a life saving dog.
A Utah woman, who was trail running alone, fell 60 feet and broke her pelvis. Her dog however, faithfully kept her warm throughout the twenty-degree night and the next day lead rescuers to her location. This is happily not the first time I have learned of a courageous mountain rescue by a loyal dog, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.
When I lived in South Lake Tahoe, California I always took my Shepherd-mix with me hiking. Honestly, I must confess, it was simply for companionship. However, during one hike she suddenly became extremely agitated and refused to let me continue forward. After about five minutes, I finally gave into her plaintive whining and we turned back towards the car. She wagged her tail proudly and was overall very please with herself!
A week later, I went to my friend’s home and took my dog with me. Due to several instances with roaming bears, my friend’s back porch was screened in. Maybe “screened in” is an understatement? Standing on this porch was really more like being a caged animal in a zoo. The screen literally went about twenty feet above your head and was even molded to create a makeshift roof. I don’t know how strong the actual screen really was, but if you were on this porch there was certainly an illusion of safety. Ah, mountain life!
The three of us were enjoying a relaxing afternoon on the back porch, when suddenly my dog started behaving in the same agitated state that she had displayed a week earlier. No less than ten minutes later, an enormous bear with her two round cubs appeared about twenty feet from the porch. The family moved at a fairly swift pace for their very large size and left a quickly as they came. It was an amazing sight!
I have never seen anything like this before or since. My dog, she just sat down and looked up at me, proudly panting. “I told you so,” she said.
Go to Local Ski Life: Sun Valley, Idaho or Trailing of the Sheep: Idaho to read more stories about mountain life.
Posted by Lynn Mason-Pattnosh
The Honda Ski Tour’s $500,000.00 in prize money has attracted some of the top skiercross and ski halfpipe skiers in the world! Simon Dumont, CR Johnson, Davon Rahles, Reggie Crist and Zach Crist are all confirmed to compete during the four-event tour. We sure are looking forward to seeing them in Sun Valley on January 11-15, 2007.
Skiercross, scheduled to make its Olympic debut in Vancouver for 2010, pits four racers on one expertly designed course. But don’t blink... Races usually only last about 50 seconds and the winner takes all! Skiercross features Daron Rahles, Reggie Crist and Zach Crist.
- Friday, January 12th, 12:30pm-1:30pm Skiercross Qualifying
- Saturday, January 13th, 12:30pm-2:30pm Skiercross Heats and Finals
- Saturday, January 13th, 2:30pm-3pm Skiercross Awards
Simon Dumont and CR Johnson are among the elite competitors throwing down for the ski halfpipe. Amazing ski tricks, complete with twists and turns, are scored by judges. The skier with the highest accumulated score wins!
- Sunday, January 14th, 10:15am-11am Halfpipe Heat 1
- Sunday, January 14th, 11:45am-12:30pm Halfpipe Heat 2
- Sunday, January 14th, 1:15pm-2pm Halfpipe Finals
- Sunday, January 14th, 2pm-2:30pm Halfpipe Awards
Can’t make the trip up to Sun Valley? No worries! The Honda Ski Tour will also be broadcast on ABC. All four-tour events have individual broadcast dates.
- Sun Valley, Idaho: Saturday, January 20th-2pm ET/4pm PT
- Breckenridge, Colorado: Saturday, February 10th-2pm ET/4pm PT
- Aspen, Colorado: Sunday, March 11th-2pm ET/11am PT
- Squaw Valley, California: Sunday March 25th-2pm ET/11am PT
Posted by Lynn Mason-Pattnosh
If you have traveled to Aspen, Telluride, Vail, the Hamptons, Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket you are most likely acquainted with Plum TV. Plum TV is foremost a mini-television network that is dedicated to high quality programming for locals and visitors alike. It was announced this week that the resort communities of Sun Valley and McCall, Idaho will join the Plum TV family.
At the center of Plum TV is "Morning Noon&Night", “a live 120 minute wake-up call, (shot) live from the center of (each) town five days a week”. "Morning Noon& Night" focuses to the individual towns dally activities, people and up coming events. Plum TV calls "MorningNoon&Night" an “invaluable tool for residents and visitors”.
Plum TV also produces, as well as programs, innovative and provocative television shows for their upscale resort communities. "Bob Builds His Dream House" is a half hour weekly reality show that tracks Bob Balaban's, Academy Award nominated producer and actor, progress while he constructs his dream home. "Boiing" is a half hour film festival for children. On "Artist Studio," Arne Glimcher elite gallery owner, presents a “series on great living artists”. Plum TV original programming currently includes over ten shows.
Plum TV programming also includes coverage of exclusive local resort community events. Some of the local events broadcast have been the Nantucket Wine Festival held each May, cooking demonstrations by world-renowned local/celebrity chefs, charity events and Vail resort snowboard competitions.
Tom Scott is the founder, Chairman and CEO of Plum TV and former CEO and founder of Nantucket Nectars. Mr. Scott also serves on the Board of Directors of several companies, as well as the Nantucket Film Festival.
Go to The Best Luxury Ski Resorts for information on visiting Aspen and Vail or Local Ski Life: Sun Valley, Idaho.
Go to Plum TV for more information and local programming guides.
Posted by Lynn Mason-Pattnosh
Travelers, Danny and Nina want to move from New York City, but don't know where… So, they have asked for your help! Pick from 250 city choices in the United States. The first city that receives a million votes will become their new home.
In making my selection for Danny and Nina, I took into account their age and interests. They are a young couple in their mid-twenties, or so. Nina is an artist, who loves snowboarding and was raised in Boulder, Colorado. Danny, grew up in Florida and ran an online music store. Taking all of this information very carefully into account and calculating as only an expert traveler could, I voted for Portland, Oregon.
I think Danny and Nina would really like Portland, Oregon. It all fits! Danny likes music and Nina is an artist who needs to be close to a ski mountain! Portland, Oregon is a great scene for twenty-somethings. The underground music scene is happening, it is a hip youthful town, and of course, skiing is less than an hours drive from Portland at the Mt. Hood resorts. Danny was also born near the water, so I think he would really like being on the Willamette River. He’s a college football fan too. Maybe he’ll make the switch from Florida to Oregon teams?
South Bend, Indiana is in the lead, followed by Plano, Texas (rumor has it this is a diabolical internet plot, I've never been) and Denver, Colorado. Portland, Oregon only has 850 votes. Still I think they would love it… Help them travelers! Cast your vote at Danny and Nina!
Or learn more about Mt. Hood at Ski Oregon.
