Colorado 2020-2021 Colorado Weather and Stoke (and beer)

[nay]

@nay - Nice "W" hat in second pic - I'm an alumni

I have two sons there, it makes me jealous.

 

[nay]

Acceptable.


Unacceptable.

 

[mikel]

I've still got my five days too. With the below-average snowpack and warm temps leading to unusual early March rain in Denver yesterday evening, I wonder if we'll all be trying to use our A-basin days/passes in a compressed May.

My 5 days is an A Basin pass. I went that route so as to avoid any potential issues.

 

[Ron]

another powder day at the Boat! we had a really nice 6-8" of medium density but easy powder over a firm base. the trees on the lower areas were skiing better than up high so we worked some really fun Trees in Closets, Sunshine area and then Pony where on the Northern aspects the snow was light and dry. Truly had a great time skiing with @SKI-3PO and @Gary Stolt over the past week. What a great way to end their visit here. Some pics showing just how good the trees were today.

 

[Noodler]

I have a new Friday "ritual" at LL. Early morning touring lap, then ski until my legs can longer keep me standing. Today proved to be especially prescient in going for the early morning tour as I heard traffic on I-70 hit insane proportions later.

Today I got the untracked run as a reward lap for my slog up the mountain. Conditions were fun if you knew where to look and I had great company along for the ride while we were tearing it up.

 

[SKI-3PO]

Thanks @Ron for showing us around the past week and for finding us some great snow. And thanks to @Drahtguy Kevin and @SkiNurse for joining us to to help @Gary Stolt and I have a great trip.

Here’s Gary with a battle scar

 

[Ron]

he kicked that evergreen's butt and came out with only a flesh wound!

 

[dbostedo]

@Gary Stolt and @SKI-3PO ... I want a trip report! Glad you had a great time!

 

[SKI-3PO]

Nobody can top (or even match) a @dbostedo trip report.

But quick highlights...

Day 1 started with that moose you saw while you were here (or a friend) that ran beside us while we left our condo to give us an early scare. Leftover powder from a big day the previous day made for great skiing. My memory of being here 8ish years ago worked out ok to not get us in too much trouble.

Day 2 we met up with @Ron to get the better tour. Lots of sunshine and good snow. One of us may have ran into a tree which I can confirm wasn’t a great idea.

Day 3 @Drahtguy Kevin joined us for more sunshine and good snow. Sunshine area, a short hike, the Ridge and a few late day Pony Express runs were the highlights.

Day 4 @SkiNurse joined the party. Do they only have sunshine and good snow here? More great runs in Sunshine and off the Ridge were highlights.

Day 5 answered the previous question. No. After a few increasingly warm days the surface solidified. And the sun went away. The smart people didn’t ski. Our first run through the trees reminded us how good we had it the first few days. Eventually the snow started and by lunchtime there was enough accumulation to mask the solid surface on the groomers. And by the end of the day we were enjoying untracked in the trees.

Day 6 we met up with @Ron again and had great skiing in the trees from the snow from the previous day. Lots of untracked all over. @Gary Stolt tried to match the tree encounter but only found a branch.

 

[Ron]

Briliant summary!

 

[Doug Briggs]

After an early start at Keystone helping set up the start, being starter and gate puller...







I left a touch early to get my COVID-19 vaccination, a Pfizer one, in Frisco. This was apparently the first day when there were LOTS of vaccinations available and the scheduling didn't keep up with the influx of recipients. I had to drive all the way to WalMart to get in the line of traffic on CO 9 to get my vaccination. It was a worthwhile 2 hour wait as I am one shot down, one to go.

I had planned to get in a run in the clear cut and did, just 2 hour later than expected. Some people have no eyes for finding the old skintracks under new snow. I didn't have that problem so avoided a soft, dog modified skin track and got a quick up for a beer at the top and a challenging ski down. Yesterday's snow had settled, warmed up and was beginning to crispify when I descended. The layer underneath was a break-into crust which liked to try to persuade your skis to go in directions you didn't desire.

Nonetheless, I got down, unscathed.


Another day of snow that is good for you.

 

[nay]

I have a new Friday "ritual" at LL. Early morning touring lap, then ski until my legs can longer keep me standing. Today proved to be especially prescient in going for the early morning tour as I heard traffic on I-70 hit insane proportions later.

Today I got the untracked run as a reward lap for my slog up the mountain. Conditions were fun if you knew where to look and I had great company along for the ride while we were tearing it up.

We beat the rush leaving Monument at 6, which is fairly leisurely. We also beat the rush and left A-Basin once the Ikon horde showed up. Cool thing about fleeing Ikon on one side of the pass is that it isn’t on the other side.



Snow stayed colder on the LL side it seemed and cooler temps were a bit of a relief - I shed a layer and was a lot more comfortable. 9 didn’t open, not sure why.

Some more pics from Zuma. Snow was light and creamy - just a really nice spring day when one has the Loveland Pass Pass. I usually can’t get ms nay to ski much off piste, but she’s a lot stronger this season and was all over the mountain today. Really sweet.

 

[nay]

Oh, and I literally spaced sitting on my poles on BMX, hopped off right over them, and one took a ride for another 30 yards and dropped under the lift.

Liftie had to slow it down and I went wading. Deep in there, shoulda skied it.

 

[TexasStout]

Oh, and I literally spaced sitting on my poles on BMX, hopped off right over them, and one took a ride for another 30 yards and dropped under the lift.

Liftie had to slow it down and I went wading. Deep in there, shoulda skied it.

View attachment 126741

 

[Ron]

I left a touch early to get my COVID-19 vaccination, a Pfizer one, in Frisco. This was apparently the first day when there were LOTS of vaccinations available and the scheduling didn't keep up with the influx of recipients. I had to drive all the way to WalMart to get in the line of traffic on CO 9 to get my vaccination. It was a worthwhile 2 hour wait as I am one shot down, one to go.

AWESOME! CONGRATS.

We are hoping for our vac's maybe next week??

 

[dbostedo]

One of us may have ran into a tree which I can confirm wasn’t a great idea.

Seems to be a trend... it's kind of hard to see, because this is blown up a lot... but this is me in Olympic trees with a sapling I ran into between my legs and my left ski wedged and stuck under a branch under the snow. Eventually while trying to figure out how to get out, the branch broke and I was able to slide forward.

 

[Ron]

yes, but Yampa Valley Medical Center has an excellent triage and ER center!

The image says it all!

 

[Noodler]

@nay - #9 didn't run today because LL didn't have enough lifties. I didn't get the whole story on why they didn't show up.

 

[VickieH]

I heard traffic on I-70 hit insane proportions later.

I can confirm.

Left home around 9. Parked in remote Village lot around 11. Stood in long line for shuttle. At Chet's Dream, maybe 11:45. (Delay includes dressing and gearing up in car.)

Excellent lesson from 1-4.

Stood in line that extended from shuttle drop-off all the way up to Lift 2. Arrived at car 5 PM.

Kind of insane, yes. But if that's what it takes for the rest of my lessons this season, I'm still in.

 

[nay]

Seems to be a trend... it's kind of hard to see, because this is blown up a lot... but this is me in Olympic trees with a sapling I ran into between my legs and my left ski wedged and stuck under a branch under the snow. Eventually while trying to figure out how to get out, the branch broke and I was able to slide forward.

View attachment 126743

Ok but who was taking this picture?