On a warm spring day at Sundance Mountain Resort, I experienced my first therapeutic and adventurous Mountain Veteran Program (MVP). Together with five other military veterans and a few spouses, we participated in skiing or snowboarding lessons, yoga, journal-making, painting classes, and much more. As a Sundance ski instructor, I even helped out a bit with lessons. We stayed in the new Sundance lodge and dined in all the Sundance restaurants and delis, including the highly rated Foundry Grill and Tree Room. All of us have some physical or mental challenges from our combined 80+ years of service and several combat deployments. Sundance Mountain and the MVP is a place and program for renewal. And the cost is borne by the Sundance MVP, allowing wounded warriors and families to experience this program at no cost to them.
The MVP director, Christine Russ, is also a veteran and one of the very few women to graduate from the US Army Ranger School and serve as an active-duty Army Ranger overseas. She is also an outstanding organizer and encourager, running the MVP with discipline and grace. Working with Christine, as Operations Coordinator, is Peter Parker (“Spidey”), a veteran East Coast ski patroller and current Sundance ski instructor. Together they consistently ensure a first-class experience for all MVP participants.
Challenging late-season conditions couldn’t dampen the fun. Even during one of Utah’s lowest snowpack winters on record, Sundance’s impressive new snowmaking equipment and dedicated mountain crew kept the slopes in great shape. We had an absolute blast on the mountain.
Several new skiers learned the sport while the few experienced skiers and snowboarders tackled the open blue runs. Next year, with the new Electric Horseman lift going into operation, we anticipate tackling the fantastic runs in and adjacent to Sundance’s epic Bishop’s Bowl.
This June, I was invited back to attend a four-night, five-day MVP summer adventure session. Together with a new group of veterans, we poured ourselves into the amazing activities that Christine and Peter lined up and Sundance hosted for us: White Water Rafting on the Provo River; Horseback Riding at Sundance Stables up to Stewart Falls; Morning Stretching in the Sundance Yoga hut; Ziplining down Sundance’s famous mountain zipline course; Swimming and soaking in the Sundance Springs’ warm pool; Leather book-binding at the Sundance art academy; Guided journal-writing in the pines surrounding the Sundance Amphitheater and once again, dining at some of Utah’s finest culinary establishments right at Sundance – the Deli, the Lodge Living Room, the Foundry Grill and the prestigious Tree Room. The latter is a breathtaking setting, featuring a library and art collection donated by the late Robert Redford and his family, along with an exceptional menu of appetizers, entrées, and desserts that rivals any fine dining experience.
Our group shared stories, experiences, struggles, and joys. As a former U.S. Air Force fighter aviator, I had the privilege of connecting with an extraordinary group of veterans, including a former U.S. Navy SEAL, an Army Ranger, an Army logistics officer, a U.S. Air Force crew chief and armaments specialist, another Air Force veteran, and their spouses. From exhilarating adventures to deeply moving moments, the Sundance Mountain Veterans Program offers an experience that is as inspiring as it is unforgettable.
To facilitate future growth and healing and to help spread the word, the MVP has set up alumni meetings at Sundance where past participants can catch up with each other’s lives. Truly a Come, Grow, Go program, MVP has helped change and improve my life and those of every participant I have met.
