Day 79

Keystone, Riding with Taylor again. Got a late start and just headed up for a couple of hours. Just cruised the mountain a bit, nothing to great, just hanging on the mountain. Suppost to get some snow at Vail tonight, so Im heading over their tomorrow.

Day 78

Vail, went over with Taylor. Just killed it from the word Go. Its so fun to board with someone that is better than you. Taylor pushed me all day long and I'm a better boarder for it. No new snow, but plenty of leftovers, and the sun came out and made the snow oh so soft. Did all of Vail, the front, back bowls and blue sky. Finally broke down and bought a belles bar, best $3.75 I've spent in quite a while. Heading over to keystone tomorrow, hopefully the snow will remain good.

Day 77

A-basin, They opened Montazumas Bowl at A-basin this Wed., so I had to go check it out. They got 3" of snow ovenight. I was one of the first 10 folks into the Bowl, but it was a bit sketchy, still need a couple of big storms to make it real nice. After a couple of runs in the back I headed for the front and just cruised the mountain for a couple of hours. Headed hope to watch the Olympic Hockey.

Day 76 Chad the Mountain Guide

Vail, got 3" over night. On my first lift up the mountain, I meet 2 Doctors from New York. They were asking about good runs and where they should go, so I took pity on them and acted as their guide for the day. They were intermediate skiiers, so I stuck to black and blue groomers. They were pretty cool, they hooked me up with lunch and a few beers after the day was done. It was really cool to be able to have the knowledge of Vail to be able to tailor the day to others abilities. So yeah I worked today, first time in 4 months.

Day 75

Breckenridge, 3/4ths of the way to my goal. Headed over to Breck this moning, only ode for a couple of hours, all groomers. I don't know why I continue to go to Breck, I dont particularly like it. I don't know what it is. They opened Montazumas Bowl at A-Basin yesterday, so I will have to hit that up in the next week or so. Vail is suppost to get snow the next 4 days, so I will be heading ove there for that. Hopefully my roomates will be getting back into town the next few days, Im getting tired of riding alone, that is unless there is powder then I dont mind.

Day 74

Vail, stayed on the frontside all day long. Started off making laps on the North woods. 8" of new powder on the mountain made the day perfect. Moved over to lift 3 mid morning , and eventually down to Lions head for lunch. After lunch made a couple of laps straight down the Gondola lift line, found some great trees to duck in and out of. Ended the day heading back over to the North woods, and Lift 10. One of the best days of the year, despite cruising alone.

Day 73

Vail, went to blue sky basin in the morning, hit up the trees, then spent the rest of the day cruising the groomers on the front side. Got 4" of snow. Snow every day this week, made for a great week on the mountain. Hopefully this will keep u and the end of the season will be great.

Day 72

Beaver Creek, Just half a day on the mountain. Made some turns in the trees all morning.Still learning the mountain, so Its fun to exsplore and find new powder stashes. Headed up to the folks cabin. Helped move some stair rails around, and played with the dogs. More snow is in the forcast for tonight and tomorrow, should make for a couple more great days on the mountain.

Day 71

Vail, went up with Boles today. Spent most of the days in the back bowls and blue sky basin. Attempted some small cliff drops today. Didn't land any, but It was fun anyway. I continue to get better, especially when I am pushed by my friends. Great day, suppost to get quite a bit of snow in the next 2-3 days. Can't wait, more Powder.

Day 70

Vail, just half a day. headed to the back bowls and blue sky basin, then just cruised the front side for awhile. Heading out with the roomates tomorrow, so I called it a day and went home to rest a bit.

Day 69, Swimming

Vail, got 5" overnight. Headed for the back bowls and blue sky basin again. Got some video of a few runs today, but I have to edit it before I post it. Starting to get alot of confidence hitting jumps and cruising down mogul runs, as long as there is powder. Exsplored some more runs on the back bowl and ended up a little bit over my head. I found some really deep powder and made the mistake of falling where the trail started to go uphill a bit, ended up having to swim out. Took about 30-45 minutes of crawling on my hands and knees, So i'm a bit tired this evening. Hope everyones Fat Tuesday was as good as mine.

Day 68

Vail, went for about 5 hours this morning. I just caught the leftovers from the powder dump this weekend. Still, some pretty good snow especially in the back bowls and Blue Sky Basin. Hit alot of jumps today. Had some pretty good crashes, but if you ain't crashing you ain't riding hard enough.

Looking at Blue Sky Basin from Tea Cup Bowl.

Looking off of Tea Cup Bowl.

Looking at Tea Cup Bowl from Blue Sky Basin.

Leftovers in Blue Sky Basin.

Windmill at the top of Blue Sky Basin.

Day 67 POWDER!!!!!!

Vail, was only suppost to get 2-4 inches, but the weathermen got it wrong. 9 clorious inches of Powder dumped on Vail last night. I headed up to try and get first chair, but I guess I was about 25 people back in line. Headed straight for the back bowls and blue sky basin. It continued to snow hard until about noon. I would guess another 3-4" came down once I got on the hill. Quite possible the best day of the season. After lunch I headsed back to blue sky, it had cleared up a little, but no blue skys until I got off the hill at 3:00. Here are some pics. As Lance would say it was magical.

Dumping

Plenty of untracked Powder.

The Sun trying to peek thru.

Heading for the trees.

Heading home with blue skys.

Day 66

Breckenridge, Headed up this morning, got up there and made about 5-6 runs then called it. Wind was whipping pretty good. Breck lies about their snow totals as well. They said they had a 2" and, yeah not so much. Headed home to take care of some stuff around the house, now watching the Olympic opening ceremonies.

Day 65

Vail, Caught one of the first chairs again today. Vail got 2" overnight, so I cruised the front side all morning. It was a really a good time, but it got tracked out pretty quick. I broke a cardnial rule by eating lunch on the mountain, but It was very good. Ended the day after lunch with a few more groomers, then headed to the house. I stopped by the Colorado Ski Museum on the way to my car. It was totally cool. I learned so much about the history of Colorado Skiing. It seems that the large majority of the skiing relates directely to the 10th mountain division mountain troops in WWII. So the next time you are just crushing it on the slopes in Colorado remember to thank your local service men for their contrubutions. Also, how many of you folks know that Denver is the only town to ever not accept the winter olympics after they were asked to hold it. Yep happened in 1976. Way to go Denver.

Day 64

Beaver Creek, spent the morning riding groomers. gGot there for first chair. Good to get back on the mountain after resting for three days. Rode until about 12:30, then headed over to the Park Hyatt at Beaver Creek to hang out by the fire, have some Irish Coffee and read a book. Spent a couple of hours lounging, then to the house. A good day on by all accounts.

Day 62 and 63

Vail, then Beaver Creek.

Rode with lots of folks: Jeff, Lance, Dave, Jerrod, Tommy, Jonathan, Michael, Misty, Heather, Shana, and Joy. Had a great time hanging out with old friends, and new. Seems like everyone had a great time. Got a little snow, so it was pretty good on the slopes. Had some folks over for the Super Bowl today. Thats all for now.

Day 61

Vail, rode with Lance, Dave, Jerrod, and Misty today. Spend the morning on green groomers as Misty is a beginner. Then after lunch Dave and I took off to exspore the rest of the mountain hiting up alot of blues. Had a great time and got my legs back under me. Heading back to Vail tomorrow to ride. Can't wait should ba a blast.

Day 60

Beaver Creek, with Lance, Jeff and Dave. In and out of the tree runs all day. The snow is getting pretty sketchy, lots of ice spots and the left over powder in the trees is getting crusty. Suppost to get some new snow tomorrow and Friday. We all had fun and no major injuries. Im pretty beat up right now. Lots of sore muscles and I think i'm hitting some sort of a wall right now. Think I am going to tuff it out the best I can until next Tuesday when all of my friends head back to Georgia then take 2-3 days off just to rest and get away from the mountains. Riding is starting to feel a little to much like a job right now.

Day 59

Breck with Jeff and Lance. Just stayed on the groomers most of the day. Lance got some great pics of the locals crushing the jumps in the terrain park. Got Dave from the airport tonight.

Lance on Monday at Blue Sky Basin.

A Local hitting a jump.

Another Local.

Day 58

Cruised half a day with Jeff and Lance, went to Blue Sky Basin for the majority of the day. Pretty fun day, good to get on the mountain with the Georgia boys. Hitting Breck tomorrow then off to get Dave tomorrow night.

Vail pics.

14 for Lance

Jeff, Killin it.

Me just landing a small jump.