Happy March – Happy Ski Day!
Stephen made the cross-country trek from New Hampshire to enjoy our Colorado powder AND to visit Ro of course.
[Aside – Ro will make a blog return for Spring hiking season. Appreciate everyone’s emails & comments :)]
Warm weather weekend but still lotta snow on the slopes after last Wednesday’s blizzard. Headed out early to Eldora after dropping Ro for the day at his pal Molly’s house. Next year I’ll venture past Eldora – still my first year of downhilling.
Grabbed a half day lesson with Wilf, a veteran German ski instructor (> 40 years of experience). Most of us feared Wilf but I did learn additional skills (Christie turns) to help improve traversing.
Still believe the key is to stay aggressive, show no fear. Skied Blue this day (bit embarrassing at my age but not crazy horrible after only 2 downhill lessons). Love the challenge of tightening turns. The tighter the turn, the more snow I spray & the more physical the sport becomes (the part I like). ALSO helps to maintain some semblance of control.
Fun day – always fun skiing with friends.
All said, ready to x-country ski again. Easier on my wallet, love the back country isolation & enjoy the workout. Next year, think I’m investing in x-country skis and an annual pass to RMNP.
LOVING all the possibilities in my Colorado life!
Happy March 2013!
Colorado powder
learned ‘Christies’ from instructor Wilf
1st time Skiing ‘Blue’
Happy Groundhog Day 2013!
Depending on which varmint you follow, winter is either coming or going. Punxsutawney Phil saw no shadow this year (early Spring) but our local marmot, Flatiron Freddy saw his shadow (which means 6 more weeks of winter). That said, Farmer’s Almanac (sadly) has been bang-on this year – go Ben Franklin!
…winter will return with a vengeance for many East Coast states. But states west of the Continental Divide will see mild temperatures and below average precipitation.
Editor Peter Geiger writes: It will be a ‘winter of contraries’. It’s like Old Man Winter is cutting the country in half. The eastern half of the country will see plenty of cold and snow. The western half will experience relatively warm and dry condition. As in the political arena, the climate this winter will render us a nation divided.
How best to celebrate Groundhog Day than x-country skiing in Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park! FAAAANNNNTASTIC!
Met up with Annmarie, John & their meet-up friend Chip at the Stone Cup in Lyons – for breakfast before our ski day. Picked up rental skis in Estes for only $12 (thanks Annmarie for bargain shipping!), then trekked to Wild Basin Trailhead in Allenspark.
Argh…not much snow – but kept positive thoughts [that] conditions would improve as we climbed higher. Sunny weather, temps in the 30’s – BEAUTIFUL day! AND lucky for us, Chip was a skilled x-country skier – and navigated our way. Hiked a half mile to the trailhead (road closed this time of year) and SUCCESS – just enough snow…which only got deeper as we increased elevation 🙂
At the trailhead, met a guy who works at McMurdo station in Antarctica. WOW – what a dream job! Antarctica has been a bucket list destination since I was eight (4.21.2012 post: still on my adventure ‘wish list’). Someday…but today – lovin’ my life in Colorado! CLICK HERE for McMurdo Station Webcam.
Passed the (closed) warming hut (no hot chocolate for us 🙁 ), then ahead 2 more miles thru towering lodgepole pines. X-country skiing is in my blood – LOVE this sport! Our $12 skis were slightly wider than those rented at Eldora AND had metal edges – talk about a ROCKSTAR bargain. Edges make all the difference in controlling turns & allowing ya to skate ski (vs classic x-country).
3 miles in, saw a sign for Ouzel Falls – only 0.9 miles away. But because it was 1pm, made a group decision – turn-back here or forge ahead. Ouzel Falls, YES! Think all 4 of us are like-minded & addicted to Colorado summit destinations.
OF COURSE this last 0.9 miles was the best of the entire day – isn’t that the way it always is? Snow deepened (whole lot more powder), trail opened to several amazing views and our destination Ouzel Falls was SOLID ICE – WOW! Spectacular!
Raced back in under 2 hours as my body started to fatigue. Had run 10 miles BEFORE x-country skiing 10 miles (true marathon training). Refueled at Smokin’ Dave’s before picking up Ro from his play-date. What a crazy FUN day!
Ro play-date (short clip w/ baby Clara)
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- Chip, Annmarie & John – ROCKSTAR ski pals!
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- for the record – Annmarie was the first down…LOL!
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- met snowshoer who works at McMurdo station – SUPER JEALOUS! (bucket list destination)
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- typical — Annmarie leading the boys!
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- proof that John can smile
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- …and make snow angels
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- frozen Ouzel Falls – WOW shot!
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- ski hike SUCCESS!
Cross country skiing 2 weeks ago, today was Downhill day. Can’t live in Colorado without attempting our #1 sport.
Travelled to Eldora with my Colorado friends, Annmarie & John, who patiently baby-sat thru lesson sign-up & equipment rental – before dropping me off at Ski School & hitting the slopes independently (both already experienced skiers).
Made fast friendships with 3 folks at Ski School before our class was split because of size. Our first 2 hours (before lunch break) was super elementary because of varying skill levels within the group — consisting of me, a lady named Kate, a CU sorority & 4 guys from Pakistan. Pairing was like a reality show social experiment.
After lunch our group was split again based on ability level – and FINALLY hit the slopes! (Getting down the basics is essential but who doesn’t want to ‘ski’ after you’ve enrolled in Ski School? :)) Me & my new all-girl group learned to traverse – and most important, how to STOP. Didn’t want to end up wrapped around a tree 2 ski outings in a row.
Had to endure riding the ‘Magic Carpet’ before graduating to the beginner’s ski lift. Riding the ‘Magic Carpet’ was our Ski Class, a blind skiing group (literally BLIND), and thousands of wunderkinder. Yeah…a slightly humiliating experience.
wunderkind [ˈwʌndəˌkɪnd (German) ˈvʊndərˌkɪnt]
1. a child prodigy
2. a person who is exceptionally successful in his field while still young
Everything AFTER the ski lift – AWESOME! Skiing is definitely in my blood. LOVED it! I think the key is being aggressive & showing no fear (like a wunderkind). Once you start over-thinking, you end up on your backside – in a pile with others.
Completely hooked! LOVE this sport, LOVE this place! Think I’ll buy a season pass next year.
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- equipment rental
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- dropped off by my ‘ski parents’ for a 4-hour lesson (you’re coming back, right?)
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- still smiling after lunch break – ready to hit the SLOPES!
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- FINALLY! Riding the lift & downhill skiing! YES!
