Barb

Aspen passes went on sale this morning. I went online to buy one and when I went to check out noticed they were almost $800 more than last year. I realized I had a 24/25 pass in my cart and did not click the “spring sale” button. 😂. It’s been so warm here! 50’s and sunny daily. Snow is a slushy mess.

So many awesome things about this. Love skinning in a t shirt. 6 miles is a far skin, must have been very gradual to have that elevation gain. I need to find an uphill like that! Well done and very cool.

These reports were great! The bakery counter pics too, chef’s kiss. Looks like a fantastic trip.

Whoops, didn’t notice it was the wrong year.

Wasn’t really sure where to put this. Our rescue team was called out on this avalanche on Saturday. I was first on scene at the firehouse. Once one of my team members arrived we were trying to assess what was the best way to access the victims. We discussed skinning up to them but that would take time. The terrain was sketchy and they were not in a great place. Then it was decided careflight would be called in. They would shuttle us one at a time to a landing zone above where they were. I was pretty nervous, both about the helicopter ride and the terrain. I said I would snowshoe instead of ski (brought both) as I didn’t feel comfortable on a 40+ degree slope. At what felt like the last minute, two other strong team members arrived who were good skiers. I was off the hook. I was happy to just help from the command base. Communications are bad here, with cell and radio signals. I helped coordinate info from the county sheriff to our team members on site and on their way. Mountain Rescue Aspen also sent 3 of their guys to help if needed. 6 of us (West Elk Mountain Rescue), 3 Marble fire personnel, 3 MRA guys in all plus the careflight team. Once a paramedic and 2 team members were shuttled to the landing zone and worked their way down to the victim, it was apparent he was not doing well. Head injury, kept losing consciousness, badly broken arm (arm was wrapped backwards around a tree) and leg injury. Chopper was low on fuel so last minute desist on was made for pilot to land in a sketchy gully and take patient. His friend was uninjured and did a great job holding it together, digging him out and getting him out of the debris field to a safer location. By this time it was dark and friend and my 2 team members had to ski out. They said it was survival skiing, breakable crust through a thick aspen grove and shrubs. Glad I stayed on the ground. We got a debrief from the friend back at the firehouse. He was very emotional at first, understandably so. He gave us a detailed account of how it went down. Luckily the friend was only buried to his chest. He was able to dig him out and somehow guide him down without any of his gear. It was very intense and it reminds you how unforgiving the mountains can be. This volunteer gig so far is very satisfying and I am learning so much valuable outdoor info. https://avalanche.state.co.us/report/98249357-2906-4534-b287-61e125e28a58

This winter has definitely been a weird one as far as storms and temps. Had some good snow Thursday but when I went skiing yesterday by the afternoon all the ungroomed runs turned to cream cheese slop. Attempted to Xc ski McClure pass this morning. Got there by 9 but already all the parking was full with snowmobile trailers. Went back into town and just did a lap around the park. Snow was not good for skiing but the weather is beautiful sunny and warm.

Amazing! Have the best time! Looking forward to reports and pictures. I thought it was such a cool town and would definitely love to return sometime.

Looks like now the base pass includes 5 days at almost all resorts that base pass plus did with black out dates. Exceptions are Aspen and JH. Originally, I do not believe just the base pass had this option. My friends and I have been chatting about it, since they need Aspen when they come visit me.

Sometimes I see tele lessons for never Evers like me and am intrigued. Maybe next winter I will try it. I have watched plenty of YouTube but just don’t feel like I could do any downhill without some instruction. When stuff gets steep-ish on my XC skis I just resort to snowplow or a sloppy snowplow kind of turn. I watch Jared Mannenin on YouTube and his outings look so fun! Also Tom M who I am sure you have seen.

How do you even start telemarking? Did you take a lesson?

Great TR! Glad you are hitting so many resorts.

Eldora and the whole Indian Peaks Wilderness area always gets super windy. It’s a running locals joke to not even say the word wind while you are there. Glad you got to check it out. It’s a fun little mountain that is super close to Boulder. Those casinos are nothing like AC. Tired little places, went once and never felt the need to return.

Never mind

Great weekend at Snowmass. Had a friend come visit. Bluebird and warm both days. Light crowds surprisingly. New boots are $$. That bootfitter at Highlands knows his shit. Natalie in Powerline Glades skied Longshot for the first time. I think it just opened last weekend. It is indeed long. 3 miles and 3275’ of vert. The first 2 miles are bumps and trees then it’s just ungroomed crud. Our legs were pretty toasted by the end. hiking up views at the top signs tell you when you are 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 of the way down. definitely a run that’s more fun with a friend then solo.

Just picked these up. Can’t wait to try them out.

Little break in the storms today. 2 more on the way this week! Took my fat XC skis to the air strip near my house. Went down to the river and was able to cross a narrow tributary. Then I got to a wider crossing and decided not to press my luck. Kinda sunny, warm temps. Skis were glopping up and had to add some wax mid way.

Yes there is a winch. Wasn’t needed @C1erArt do you drive that fast in 4L? I thought you were not supposed to exceed 7mph

I put it in 4H when I get into my neighborhood. Up my unplowed hill I should have put it in 4L. Tried that but was already too dug in at that point. Was probably 10” by the time I got home.

I knew between my husband and I, we could get my Jeep out. First I walked up my hill and got my maxtraks. That didn’t work, so my husband had to come down to me with the snowblower. Between that and shoveling out all the tires we finally got it done. But people around here are so community oriented, I could have called several people if I really needed extra help. No Amazon trucks. Our neighborhood mailboxes are 1/2 mile from my house near the county road. Nothing gets delivered to my house.

That snow looks great!

Winter is back! Finally. Snowed about 6” overnight. By the time I left the house it was 8+. Roads were awful so I just went into town the XC ski the park with the local ladies. Took my fatter skis and broke trail, good workout. got my jeep stuck coming home. Our plow guy seems to do our road last. Took about an hour to get it unstuck. puking snow now. Supposed to get another 4-8 today

Doug turned me onto this guy and he is touring Colorado. Good overview of Snowmass. Looks like he was here last week or so before things got freshened up.

Stellar day at Snowmass! It has been so dry here. I uphilled at Buttermilk earlier in the week and it was an icy luge coming down. Woke up to some surprise snow! Snowmass reported 2” but by the time I got there it was definitely 4”. I booked a lesson just to get a refresher on some things and my girl took me to a lift I only was on once with atomic Jeff when he visited. Everything was untracked and skied amazing. Talked to a ski patroller who said at their morning meeting yesterday, management told them the snow was so dangerous they should “ski as little as possible”. He said they had a lot of on mountain injuries. This week looks to be a little snow every other day. No major storms but will take what we can get.

He said he is going indoor rock climbing with his daughter