Sorry so late, much to do here. Let's start at the beginning:
Friday, Day 1: Picked up at DIA by my sis and her "rolling frat,". She is a freshperson at CC and brought 1/2 of her sorority to the airport to pick me up. We're off to a good start.
Roll west into the mountains and drive directly into Vail Village to meet some of the dudes from last winter. I show up at the bar around 11:30 to find my friend well primed. Share a few laughs and head home, pal George stays to make out.
Saturday, Day 2:
Up at 7:30 and in the lineup by 9:15. Funken running late, no sign of Up & Down. Funken's phone stops ringing and I decide to take off by 10. Sorry dude, need to maximize ski time. George calls to tell me that he got a DUI driving his makeout friend home and spent the night in jail. Ouch. Looks like I'm skiing alone today.
Head straight over the top and into BSB. No new snow in 2 weeks and heavy sun exposure = bowls are thin and crusty. Hop Blue Sky chair and head straight through the gate to skier's left to traverse out to some of the old stash. Pete's and Earl's are holding snow very well and it is surprisingly light out there. Traverse takes about 10-15 but well worth it. There is still loads of knee-deep creamy pow back there and I had some. On lap 4 I ride the chair with a 50-something named Tom. We are each skiing alone and he tells me that he lost his crew because he waited at the top of the chair for 5 minutes and couldn't wait longer. Tom lived in SLC for 10 years and when I asked him where he skied he replies, "primarily Alta and Snowbasin, I always preferred the vibe there." Tom asks me where I've been skiing and I point to the right to show off the ridgeline and the open fields with a few tracks running through. Tom likes the look and asks to tag along. Normally I would not bring a stranger out of bounds but the line on Alta and Snowbasin was a seller. I said sure.
Tom killed me on the traverse out. There are a few short hikes/stomps and he charged. Good sign. We get to the point where we are going to drop in and his grin is huge. Big GS turns through the open face and then tighten it up through the trees. After about 10 turns Tom had his pow-legs under him and was ripping. He had to stop a little more often than I would have liked, but it was a pleasure to see how much fun he was having. I couldn't stop smiling either. Great snow, pretty good pitch and good company makes for a fun day. We pick our way through the trees (careful to stay high and not wind up in the wrong drainage) we finally hit the runout and shoot back to the chair. Tom tells me that he should go find his family so we shake and go our separate ways.
I finish another 2 laps there then head over to the Northwoods Chair to bomb a few groomers. After 3 laps using Texans as gates I decide that it's time to retire for the day. Big fun all the way around.
Sunday, Day 2:
Due to George's incarceration and consequent vehicular impounding, I had no way of getting down to Ahhhhhspen to ski with Raddam. After some early morning phone calls I realized it was a lost cause and called him back to say no go. Hopefully next time, thanks again for the offer.
Headed over to the Beav and got an old friend to send me up for free. Also saw an old boss of mine who mentioned that the brass at VR was furious with the letter that I wrote to Powder in August. Sorry fellas, the new skis are great, though.:D
Took a crew of 4 up Grouse for a couple of "warm ups" through super-hard, boney bumps. After 2 laps we had had enough and rode 8 to hike the Bald Spot. 20 minute hike got us some more knee-deep untouched. A good buddy of mine was on teles in pow for the first time and had a rough go, but the turns were too good to complain. Found a few 10-footers and basically played around in the bc all day. Lapped Bald Spot and the Football Fields 4 times and headed back to the ranch.
More to come my boss is killing me right now.
