Park City
Claim Jumper
July 22, 2010
After much indecision, meetings, and weighing the costs, I decided to rent a car and go to Park City and
the Rodeo today.
My last real important meeting ended at 3:00 and I was then running to the lobby to get my rental car and
head to the mountains. My car rental person arrived a little late, but made up for it by giving me a
white minivan. Soon
I was on my way to Park City and my first stop, Olympic Park.
The 2002 Winter Olympics took place in Salt Lake City and Park City; the remaining Olympic Park has
turned into an adventure playground. I bought the all access pass so got rides on the bobsled, mountain sled, and
two zip lines. Since I arrived at about 4:00 and everything closed at 6:00 I was told to go to the bobsled first since it
was the only ride of the four that had a wait of less than 30 minutes.
My timing to the top of the bobsled track was perfect. I had just enough time to watch my safety video,
read multiple legal documents, sign a waiver, and find a helmet
before the next sled was departing, a sled that needed one more
rider. I joined a father and his son
of about 12 in the sled for the next minute.
The bobsled goes so quick, but what makes the ride so thrilling is the fact that you are perpendicular to
the ground as you go around the corners at incredible speeds. Through these corners you can feel the force
pushing the blood out of your head and your spine compressing. The worst corner was the second or third, which gave us enough
time to pick up speed, but not enough warning to prepare for the G-force. After that corner you know what to expect so each
corner is thrilling, although probably no different from that first major corner.
We finished the ride and our time said that we were in second place for the day coming in at fractions of
a second over one minute. Our driver said we hit 69.5 miles an hour around corner
six and that equals a G-force of almost 5.
After the bobsled, everything seemed tame, but by the time I got to those rides there was no wait.
2002 Olympics
Ski Jumps at Olympic Park
After Olympic Park I made my way into Park City itself, an old mining town. The town is very picturesque
and reminded me of a stereotypically ski resort town, but the focus on shopping and drinking didn’t keep my interest
long. After walking around aimlessly for about an hour I was headed back to Salt Lake City.
Main Street
A Building in Park City
Olympic Torch
Post Office
A Side Road in Park City
Egyptian Theater
Tatou