eaf

Oh hey, there is Aspen airport in the distance...

The lifts aren't spinning, but I hear groomers somewhere. Maybe they open for a weekend?

Yeah right, I almost died with just water and snowshoes in the backpack. To carry monsters so high up would be a suicide.

What I'm concerned about are the bears. Perhaps I should just go back.

Why? I've got snow right here, lol.

There is some life over here... Engine sound not too far below. I wonder if I can get my ass kicked if they run into me. I'm way off the trail by now. Can't believe it, made a mistake, ended up too low and now have to climb a stupid diamond.

Getting cloooooser. I wonder, what color this is.

Aspen from Ute rock half way up Aspen mountain. I'm already above some snow, but the goal is to get to the real one before turning back.

Yeah, and speaking of Highlands... Really biked all the way here only because of the view from this bridge.

I'm super envious of kids that get to go to schools like this...

Back to spring

So Jeff says it was open around Memorial day last year? IDK...

It was 6:30

This is the view from top of the Smuggler Mountain trail across the city valley. Between those peaks there is a (currently closed) road to Maroon Bells, beautiful mountain lake. I need to find some time to bike up there.

Aspen in the wee hours

Wow you won't believe how burnt I got over yesterday. Everything that wasn't covered by goggles and helmet is now glowing in the dark, while ears, half of the nose, forehead and areas around eyes are completely white. People keep on suggesting vodka as a remedy, and I keep on wondering what they mean exactly: use it on burnt areas to cool them off, or just take it in to turn red all around...

82F in Glenwood Springs.

Yes, right now it's not extreme at all. I loved the width of it, just go anywhere!

With the main parking lot still packed and even overflows busy I can't find strength to leave... Oh well, one more ride on soon to be decommissioned lift 1...

I sense some hesitation here... Is that because of the sign??

I apologise for misinformation btw. If one sticks to the area served by lift 9, in other words the highest area out here, then except for some small section down it's still fast yet soft. Interestingly all signs of groomers are gone at this point and it's just one vast snow covered terrain.

Actually I almost scored an Outback. They somehow double-booked it, and the other dude got to it first. So, all this time I keep on wondering how Outback would be different. Adds bitterness into equation.

Why? Then you wouldn't know that Toyotas is the way to go.

Yeah, two and a half hour drive, they say... I guess, I have another hour. But the snow turned into sticky mess already. Going down reminds me of that Forester with spontaneous and irregular downhill braking.

Mmmm, some generous degustation of local craft beer... Tommyknocker, please welcome with a round of applause... Now, I'm also supposed to be somewhere around 6 today... Screw it, perhaps?