TR - Storm Chasing to Wolf Creek, CO
The successful storm chase to Wolf Creek requires a few key ingredients.
1. The forecast
2. The proper job flexibility
3. A hotel that takes dogs
4. Ullr delivering the goods
5. Fat skis to make it through the notorious flats
1. The Forecast: With SW CO getting up to 4 feet plus in places last weekend and with a similar storm on the horizon, things looked good.
2. Job Flexibility: My boss is based in Austin, TX. Thankfully, he skis and when I sent him an email asking for Friday off, I included the forecast. The reply was, "sure, just take pics to show me when you head to Austin next week." The wife is self employed and her clients were leaving a noon Thursday, just enough time for her to get her ski stuff together before we head out.
3. South Fork has several hotels that take dogs. This is a requirement, as these guys don't do too well hanging in the car all day.
http://biglines.com/photosv2/2007/12...ines_80269.jpg
4. Ullr Delivering the Goods. We awoke Friday to a rain/snow mix in South Fork and reports of 8 inches at 6:30. Game on. The drive up looked like this.
http://biglines.com/photosv2/2007/12...ines_80261.jpg
This was the visibility for the next two days. It snowed the entire time we were there.
We were 3rd car in the lot (the guy in the truck on the right, drove straight through from So Cal.
http://biglines.com/photosv2/2007/12...ines_80262.jpg
and 1st chair
http://biglines.com/photosv2/2007/12...ines_80263.jpg
5. Fat Skis. As many know, Wolf Creek is not known for its steep lines. However, pow and lots of it rules down there. We were going on the theory that the fattest boards possible would allow us to surf the goods and still make it through many feet of snow in the flats.
Ms. Telechuck went with the Goats
http://biglines.com/photosv2/2007/12...ines_80264.jpg
and me the Deep Powders
http://biglines.com/photosv2/2007/12...ines_80265.jpg
It worked. Every run over two days was pow filled bliss. We even avoided getting stuck in the dreaded flats, even with four feet over the two days we skied.
We only got a few pics, as it was snowing hard and we were too busy getting pow. Here are a few pics of Ms. Telechuck
http://biglines.com/photosv2/2007/12...ines_80266.jpg
http://biglines.com/photosv2/2007/12...ines_80267.jpg
http://biglines.com/photosv2/2007/12...ines_80268.jpg
Two days of storm skiing and we were spent. We knew today (Sunday) would be bluebird and crisp. However, life called. I have to head to Austin tomorrow and Ms. Telechuck has to finish a project. But, we are content, knowing our season is off to a great start and the storm successfully chased.
