Hookey

5 January 2015
Monday, first day of classes
Winter term, UO

We're still in Steamboat. Day 9 of skiing. This is probably the longest run Dylan and I have had in terms of days in a row of riding.  We didn't get much time with Kayla since her days off are Monday and Tuesday...so we took another day.

Moose warnings...

They're actually serious about this moose business.



Billy Kidd cowboy's up in Gondola Square.

























We felt right at home today--it was raining at the base and icing up top. Kayla shows off her crystal coating.

I got one too.

Dylan prepares to drop in as Kayla looks on.

 Dylan goes through the park.

 GoPro view.

When in Steamboat, y'all gotta cowboy up.  This is the week to Get Real for the Big Ski Trip...hit the slopes and listen to some country music.

We stopped for lunch at the Gondola Pub & Grill. 

Paul stopped by and we went into the fog. It was a little gnarly up top so we spend the rest of the day down on the lower mountain.

That's all for this trip. I'm ready to go home and see my wife.  I'm less ready to go home and get back to work.  We'll leave for Oregon at 4am tomorrow morning. See ya when it snows in the Great Northwest.

Pony Express

4 January 2015
Sunday, Day 8

Weather was a little better today, but the snow storm predicted for today didn't really materialize. We only got a couple of inches. That doesn't slow Dylan down.

Paul Carter was a gracious host and showed us some of the powder stashes off the Sunnyside lift (aka WallyWorld). We got several nice runs in with the crew.

We skied with the family in the morning, then went in for lunch around 12:30 to say goodbye. The Parker crew was clearing out and heading back to the Fort. Craig stuck around and skied with me this afternoon while Dylan did park laps. 

The view from the bottom of Pony Express.

Craig looks down Longhorn.

Thunderhead lodge from the top of Pony Express.

Me.

We went and visited Scotty again. Kayla bonded with Bella. Greta is on the right.

Kayla and Dylan in front of the Iron Horse.

Craig left around 5. The Ski Inn is pretty chill now. I had a great time skiing with Craig--we haven't had a chance to catch up for a while. We traded stories about concerts back in the day. I was reminiscing about the time that Craig took me to a Plimsouls show in LA back in the day. Feels like a Million Miles Away today!

Ski Inn

3 January 2015
Saturday

Day four at the Ski Inn, Steamboat Springs.

The accommodations are pretty ok, even if we did displace Kayla for five days. She struggled with handing over her space to a crew of 10 a bit. Completely understandable in my view. We certainly appreciate the hospitality,

The view from the gondola.  The Ski Inn lives up to its name--you can ski in, but you have to walk out to the run. A small price to pay for such convenience.



















Mom is still getting after it at 79. Craig says Ruthanne doesn't wait or stop for anyone. She tells you where you're going, gets off the lift and goes. There's more than a grain of truth to that--she lost us yesterday by burning down the run ahead of us, assuming the whole time that we were ahead of her.  This is a fast crew...you have to move to keep up.

We went over to see the mogul competition on Voodoo today. Josh Hedrick, Dan's son was competing. He won the Junior Nationals last year.  An unidentified skier hucks a full back off the lower jump.

Here's a brief video of Josh. It's really hard to video and watch at the same time.  Dan said he got judged harsh today and placed 9th.

 

Flaps down all you speedy birds.

We went over to Scott Whiteman's place for Happy Hour. Scott is always a congenial host and all around good guy. Plus, he and Colleen have two very cute German Shepards: Greta and Belle.

Scott nurses his scotch.

Belle, Catherine and Elizabeth,

Belle and Catherine.

Quinn, Elizabeth, Catherine and Craig.

A very nice visit with Scott. I love coming to Steamboat because I have old friends that I can ski with and visit with. Scott, Paul, and Dan were all part of the Meadow Ridge crew back in the 70s and 80s. We had a lot of good times skiing Winter Park and staying at my parents condo in Meadow Ridge. Scott landed in Steamboat, and Paul has a condo here.

I leave you with the Shrine of Oakley--Kayla's collection.

Just Another Day at the Boat

2 January 2015
Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Day 6 and everything still hurts. But, we're at it again.  We decided to try the gondola today. Gondola square is full of gapers with trailers.

Herds and herds and herds of people heading toward the mountain. It's a compromise we have to make--without the herds the mountain couldn't operate which means we would have to climb.

Quinn and Beth on the gondola.

A bronze statue of Buddy Warner on the top of Mount Warner.  Buddy is the namesake of the main mountain Steamboat is on. He looks happy in his statue. Why not? I would be happy if I skied Steamboat for a lifetime.

Mom and Craig.

My new camera has a pano feature so we tried it out on the top of Outlaw. Works pretty well.

From the deck at the Thunderhead Lodge.

Looking up at Storm Peak from Thunderhead Lodge.

We met up with Paul Carter after lunch. Paul was a card-carrying member of the ski posse back in the day. It's great getting to ski with old friends.

Craig and Paul tear it up.

II.

Paul is slow turning.

We went up to Strawberry Hot Springs for a soak after skiing. It was wonderful--nearly a full moon.  It was 9 degrees when we got there and a little rough getting undressed and into the water. Getting out was much easier.

Speaking of slow turning...

All is Quiet on New Year's Day

1 January 2014
Steamboat Springs

It was cold and sunny today. Bonus: woke up without a hangover and went skiing.  Today was a bit of a photo-ganza. We got the big crew together (11 of us). The logistics of getting all of us in one place at the same time is like herding cats.

Quinn hits the bumps.  Note the photogenic trees.

Craig shows that he is ski-ready.

The Cousins on Vagabond. Or the Vagabond's that call themselves cousins. From top: Craig Jones, Heather Anderson, Beth Parker, me, Catherine Parker.

Kayla and boyfriend Eric are all smiles.

Dylan photobombs.

Craig and Ruthanne.

We picked a nice spot in front of Steamboat's photogenic trees. This is over in morningside bowl. Quinn, Parker, and Catherine.

The Parkers.

Dylan, Parker, Kayla and Quinn...

A little bit closer now.

Setting up for the big pic. Eric got elected team photographer by virtue of blood. He played along well.

The crew. Beth, Craig, Catherine, Parker, Kayla, Quinn, Dylan (kneeling), Craig, Heather, and me.

Kayla and Quinn show off their smiles.

Dylan shows off period.

Kayla and Eric.

Setting up to leave.

 Eric fishes for birds. He says the Gray Jays (aka camp robbers) will land on your hand because they think you have food. His record was two at once.

Kayla shows off her style on Buddies Run.

Other than that, all is quiet on New Year's Day.  Hard to believe another year passed. Happy 2015!