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Day 1 ---- Taos I don't remember when I first heard about Taos but it has always held a shangri-la like reputation so when I was going to roughly be in the area it was saddle up buckaroo. I found a cool place to stay that is basically an rv park where they've setup 60's airstreams and such, update the interior kinda plus it has next level views. I highly recommend it if you're in the area and dig that kinda thing. I woke up early and hit up Leonels for tamales, NM knows what's good but I thought they were delicious and was in the lot by 815. There were negative people around and I was getting all the good omens. The moon could just be seen right over Al's, not a cloud in the sky and two gigantic Crows were dicking around by the ski racks. It was in the 20s last night so shit was firm to start but the groomers had super nice grip and I ran the sunny blues off lifts 4 and 8. Shakalaka or whatever was just perfect set it and forget it super high speed with barely another soul on the trails. Around 10 or so I wanted to up the wager and went up Kachina. I had my eyes set on k3 but stayed up on the ridge too long and ended up in cabin chute which held surprisingly soft super nice steep jump turns with a slush bump apron. I ran main st which was better bumps but not as interesting and then k3 which held super nice buttery bumps. NM had told me about a secret dope bathroom and with the tamales in the chamber I checked it out and followed some patrolers into Hondos for lunch. I had the green chili burger and mussels both were dope and a much needed respite after 12k shenanigans. After lunch I tried to find some lines on west basin I had seen from lift 8. Like an old man getting into the bathtub kinda speed I walked and traversed my way out there twice, both times not to end up where I wanted but took two nice ramps of taters on a plate as consulation. I don't know what the names are, it may be called thunderbird but it's tight entrance called to me from the lift but I couldn't find it. By now my legs where telling me to fuck off hard just about every 10 turns so I ran Hunziker which was absolutely perfect spring super fast falling down the hill carving. I thought it appropriate to end the day on Al's and by the end it was a bit rough but you gotta pour one out for your homies. I cannot say enough good things about today, some places you ski and it's like a religious experience. Alta/Bird, JH, etc, you'll remember the way the turns made you feel your whole life. In my opinion Taos absolutely has to be on that list. Better groomers than DV no lie, I ran so many I don't know the name of with perfect snow almost alone and the steeps absolutely kick your ass. Sitting up top Kachina, behind you massive faces and ramps absolutely sparkling packed full of snow, looking out you can see as far as CO and it's like your on the top of the world. I could have sat there forever, I was fucking Ghandi on Valium.

Yes sir. Mid day peanut butter whiskey break. Still snowing, fresh lines and no lift lines all day baby. GH010039_1712240103532.MP4

Today is going to be a good day. 22 runs on hard pack to start, sleet that changed over to snow around 2pm yesterday. Today 8"+ being reported from the lower elevations and more up high. 13 miles away from Stratton and on my way. This might get Ikonic 😇

And we had over a foot of powder in places! I’ve only ever skied true powder once in my life. Definitely a learning curve. Lucky my son was there to haul my ass up!

We got 6 runs in when everything but the beginner lift went on wind hold☹️. But it was ok because the higher lifts were getting a little scary. Only lift open was a surface lift that laps the one area, but you had to be up there already. We lapped the baby lift a bit, then got off it and hiked up and over to get some untouched. Totally worth it. I may have a new hobby

View from condo when I woke up this morning

Part of the ski trip experience is getting to eat local foods in the place you're visiting.

I don't understand the thing with eating by yourself especially on a ski trip where it's likely you'll never see any of those people again nor will they remember you. Humans must eat, you sell food, I have money that's really as far as the transaction goes but to each their own. I always have snacks in my pockets at legit hills, gummy bears at very least but pocket meat and pocket bread are the best.

Hello trip report slacker here. Drove up to The Loaf Sunday, made it here in 10 hours- not bad. Spent Monday am lapping the new expansion - West Mountain. Sweet wide Blue Groomers with some woop-de-doos. Made me think of J law, you could get some nice air. Back over lapped the Superquad a bit and Timberline lift a bit. Then over to Kingpine. Today pretty much the same, just skipped West Mountain. Probably craziest trail we did was Ripsaw. Rocks, grass, frozen bumps. I’ll post the video- doesn’t do it justice. Calling for Nor’easter tomorrow, bring it on. IMG_0311.mov

Today I got to see what the cool kids in Marble do when they go backcountry skiing. I met a local the other day mid 70’s. We agreed to meet today at the winter closure gate at Lead King Basin. Our objective was to ski Sheep Mountain elevation 11,575’. I thought we were hiking up with skis on packs until we hit snow, then skinning. Nope. He picked me up in his side by side. We rode up about a mile to where he had his snowmobile parked. Then we switched vehicles. I sat in front and away we went. I actually have never been on a snowmobile before and it took a minute to get used to it. The snow was rutted and spring conditions and there were so many little roller coaster like up and downs. I was really trying my best not to smack his chin with my helmet from all the jerky stop and go motions. We came to a creek crossing and he got stuck on the uphill. So he instructed me to throttle it while standing next to it and he would pull from the front. That worked after a few tries. We exited the main jeep road and got into Sheep mountain road which is very tight and rough. He said there were 19 switchbacks. At switchback 13 he warmed me it would start to get rough. I was thinking “tougher than it’s been already” as we were skirting steep drop offs and almost riding sideways. He wasn’t wrong. We ran into another guy whose machine died. We helped him move it onto what little space there was without rolling down the hillside so we could get by. When we reached the top there were views from every direction. He gave me a very thorough explanation of what peaks were, ski lines, avalanche paths etc. The pictures don’t do it justice. It was so warm today. I asked him if we could go down the gentlest way possible and he said “I won’t do that but come this way.” I knew I was in trouble. The first headwall was really steep for me. Here is a picture from the bottom and my pathetic tracks of side slipping hoping not to fall Yeah, I can hear you all laughing but it was steep for me. We ended up not doing the whole 2000’ vertical and traversed to the snowmobile track and skinned back up. Ha wanted to hang out a bit since it was such a beautiful day. We snacked and chatted for a good hour in the sunshine. he left his snowmobile above the creek and after a sketchy crossing on slippery rocks with ski boots, carrying our skis, we skied the rest of the road to the side by side. Even though I didn’t ski the whole mountain, it was a stellar day!

Time to head back home, still snowing here and theyre claiming total 14" so far. Today was another one for the books, this Ikon pass has paid for itself already with these 2 spring access late season ikonic powder trips.

I like to have a lot of food in my room, in my pockets, and also go out to eat a lot. I have quite the large appetite.

Great report…you sure you don’t miss jersey?

And I’m not a big dinner person. Breakfast is my favorite meal.

We bring pocket sandwiches. Most places have an area you can have a bag lunch. I just can’t justify buying a huge lunch that you can’t finish. I like to stop and have a drink and appetizer mid day sometimes.

Back before iPhone days, when I solo dined, I’d read auto trader magazine and real estate magazines or sit at the bar and so weird wild stuff to the barmaids.

Wow, Barb sounds like a great trip. You meet so many interesting people.

I don’t think you’ve ever missed Supper on a JH trip. I could eat that cheap Mexican every night and I’d be a happy man..350 pounds but happy.

Bring our own food. Pre prepare stuff, everyone brings a meal. Works out great, get back from skiing, make a drink, throw food in the microwave. It works out great

I was thinking that as I was pacing back and forth in the hotel house stoned out of my mind…honestly it’s not a bad idea.

Rumor is the Peak to Peak gondi is coming in 2025.

They should have a shuttle bus that goes between camelback and blue. Id ride that just ti checkout comebacks apres ski scene

How do you eat then?

Picked up my Peak to Peak, Grayson's child pass and Walter's student pass the other night. Have to contact Canelback to see when I can go up and pay for their child passes up there