The Blizzard of Ahhhhhhhhs

Lifted to the top of the new white world - the packed powder freeways flank my paradise.  The human traffic storms by each subtle entrance … oblivious to the world that I desperately seek.  I quickly slip into the quiet forest – leaving life and all worries behind.  Off-piste I am washed clean.  Immediately, the sweet/menacing trees rightfully reach out to embrace or disgrace me.  However, (on this perfect day) the butterluscious powder awakens my boards and I float untouched through the glorious wooded maze.  Creatively envisioning my tracks before they are laid in this gift of virgin snow ... experiencing euphoria with each turn and decision on this magical powder day.

- Skiing is a dance and the mountain always leads.  

Vail

Monday

3.4.13

Powder Day

Highline Pillows

Shangri-La Glade

Skree Field (looking at Lovers Leap)

Ahhhhhhhhhhh

Blue Sky Basin

Recently discovered secret tree run (Front Side)

Blizzard

We are not trying to race down a hill to see who can go the fastest.

We are trying to make the most of the terrain.

There are so many approaches to the same line, and how you decide to express yourself on a slope reflects your style and personality.

Signatures - Sweetgrass Productions

Titled Unicorn Sashimi, this 5 minute 30 second piece edges toward abstraction: there are no words and no discernible plot. 

http://vimeo.com/38121690

Altaholic

That's what they call themselves.  Then we come to Solitude and see a sticker, "I don't care that you Ski Alta".  Wow, haters.  I can SEE the potential.  Drop 6+" there and I'd say it's PROBABLY magical (not like Vail Magical ... I ain't a traitor).  They've been getting puking snow this winter ... sometimes accompanied by sub-zero degree temperatures.  Today was 4 day old powder and 30 degrees + full sun.  Pretty much a sunny day at the beach for you "water people".

I decided to make the most of it and just enjoy the day for what it was.  I cruised.  All day.  In the sun.  I paid $40 and demoed skis.

• Armada TSTs (165 cm)
• Armada TSTs (172 cm)
• Armada VJJs (165 cm)
• Rossignol S3 (168 cm) 

I've been struggling between my carving ski vs. my powder ski.  I brought a Rossignaol S110 with me to Utah because I WANT to ride a powder ski ... because I WANT POW ... but there's never powder... and that wide, rockered ski surfs.  Surfing cruisers at high speed is not smart.  Carving requires 100- underfoot ... surfing requires 100+ underfoot.  What to do?  Want to ride the cruisers ... drop into that surprise garden of powder????  The TSTs were okaaaaaay on the cruisers.  Okaaaaaaaay on the powder.  Too much chatter for me on the packed powder.  Supposedly, the VJJs (vuh-jay-jay ...  yes, that's right) makes a "pat-pat" noise when landing in the deepness.   Fair enough - there was no "deepness" today ... don't ride it in 4 day old powder on groomers.  It sucks.  Stick to the "deepness".  The winner today was the Rossignol S3 skis ... oh my ;)  LOVEly.  Responsive.  Want to turn?  Step on it and wham!  Want to float?  Skis together ... squat and ...

Powder is a dream come true. A child’s dream of flying: weightless, free from the nagging tug of gravity, floating through space. Skiing powder snow is a fantasy barely becoming a reality, a slow-motion fantasy of effortless, graceful movement through an equally fantastic setting—mountains never look more magical than they do under a foot of new snow. Powder and passion go together; for skiers they are virtual synonyms.



They say say ignorance is bliss ... because once you know ... you can't go back.

Today was sun and cruisers.  I lived in the moment.  We loved Alta today (pronounce it AL-ta (like the man Al) rather than AHL-ta).  I would be head over heels in love ... in the powder.  Oh, and did I mention... no snowboarders?  ;) ... sorry Carrie :) and Lori :) and Christin :)  ... feel free to hate ;)

Auld Lang Syne (2012)

Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?

Blue Spruce Inn (1/21/12)

RMNP, CO (7/28/12)

Denver, CO (7/26/12)

RMNP, CO (8/26/12)

Crested Butte, CO (9/14/12)

Lost Lake, Indian Peaks Wilderness (9/22/12)

And surely you'll buy your pintcup! and surely I'll buy mine!

Blue Spruce Inn (1/21/12)

2/14/12

Telluride, CO (2/19/12)

Party @ Lori's (April, 2012)

The Keg (4/13/12)

Gourmet Dog Party at Jess and Matt's

Ozumo, San Francisco, CA (4/20/12)

Ashley

ANOTHER Party @ Lori's (10/20/12)

We two have run about the slopes ...

Telluride, CO (2/18/12)

Vail, CO (1/23/12)

Breckenridge, CO (2/26/12)

Breckenridge, CO (1/21/12)

Breckenridge, CO (1/21/12)

Vail, CO (1/23/12)

Vail, CO (2/11/12)

and picked the daisies fine.

Dipsea Trail, CA (4/21/12)

401 Trail, Crested Butte (7/3/12)

Thanksgiving Color - Dianna Cooper

But we've wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne.

Buffalo Peak, CO (1/1/12)

Beaver Brook Trail (Feb)

Silverton, CO (2/17/12)

Silverton, CO (2/17/12)

Dipsea Trail, CA (4/21/12)

Dipsea Trail, CA (4/21/12)

Mount Mitchell 6684' (6/18/12)

Linville Gorge, NC (6/19/12)

Mount Shavano 14,229' (7/1/12)

Upper Chipmunk, RMNP (7/29/12)

Lost Lake (9/22/12)

We too have pedaled in the dream since morning sun to dine ...

401 Trail (7/3/12)

USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Boulder

The Buck Snort Saloon (post Buff Creek)

R/F/B/D Crested Butte (9/14/12)

Crested Butte (9/14/12)

Lance Armstrong - Gothic Road, Crested Butte (9/15/12)

The King of Breck 

The Queens of Winter Park

White Girl (Yeti ASR-5C)

 But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne.

Sausalito, CA (4/21/12)

Stinson Beach, CA (4/21/12)

Secret Spot, Winter Park (8/18/12)

South Platte River (9/2/12)

And there's a hand my trusty friend, and give us a hand o' thine.  And we'll take a right good-will draught for auld lang syne ...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

In memory of our cherished loved ones lost this year ...

Clifford Cable

Brian Burnette

Doug Lemon

Haley