The Gondola

Sunday, December 30, 2018
Winter Park

The crew informed me that we were going to WP again on Saturday. That sounded ok, as long as I could figure out a way to not pay $179 for a pass.  I texted Dan and he came through. 

We had to ride over to ski patrol/emergency room at the WP base to pick up the voucher.  The US Mogul team is practicing at WP this week.

Dan and I in front of the patrol shack at Sunspot. Dan is part of the old ski crew back from the late 70s.  We spent a lot of time at WP in those years.  Dan carried the torch and got on pro patrol in the 80s and never looked back. Sounds like an interesting job--one that I would be challenged to do since I'm a bit soft when it comes to dealing with broken people.

The crew at Sunspot (Catherine, Elizabeth, Heather and Garth)

Garth at the top of Hughes

 The ladies at the top of Hughes

A little closer, please

 

















Things not to do on The Gondola.  Dan said they started working on The Gondola back in April.  It was closed a few days back when we first skied WP.  It officially opened on Thursday.  

Back at the top

Garth and Catherine on Perry's Peek

The crew

Beach hounds in the parking lot. 


















 Dylan is gassed on the ride home
























We left by 1:30 to avoid the I-70 traffic.  We got enough skiing in for me.  All in all, it was a pretty fab day and a good week in Colorado.  Four days of skiing for $200 is reasonable in my book given that full retail would be $716.  It's nice to ski the big mountains once in a while, although I still have a preference for our little backwater area and the Oregon snow (when it happens).

Welcome to this cold, cold part of the world

December 27, 2018
Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Temperature: -2


It was a bit brisk this morning.  Said -2 at the house.  We had to jump Dylan's car -- the battery said no.  We got the sweet parking space again and then got our passes.  It was -3 at the gondola.  Dylan wanted to ride Christy and Thunderhead; I wanted to ride inside on the gondola.  I won.



















We skied the lower mountain on the first run hoping it would be warm.  It wasn't, plus Ted's run was in the shade.  We headed over to Sunshine where the sun was shining with the theory that it would be warmer there.  It wasn't.  We were in the lodge by 10 drinking beer. 

The view from Rendezvous.
























There were some moose hanging out under the Thunderhead - a cow and two calves.  You don't see that every day.  It was hard getting photos because it was so cold and the lift wasn't stopping.

We headed out around 1 to grab lunch with Kayla before we left.  We got at least 20,000 vert and had had enough of the cold.  Left town around 2:30 and were at Cameron Pass just after 3.

 The Nokhu Crags

So far a good few days of skiing in Colorado.  It's been snowing a little at Willy; maybe I'll get a few Oregon powder days in this season.  It's definitely time to get after it--I'm not getting any younger.

Steamboat...again

December 27, 2018
Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Got up at 6:30 today--a much more civilized hour than 3:30 (December 24) or 5:00 (December 26). It was pretty cold, but we got out early (a little after 8).  Dylan drove to the area.

The necessities of life at a ski area...googles and coffee

 It was a little grey heading down Highway 40 to the base.


















Kayla hooked us up with parking spot at The Lodge.  One of her side hustles is as a dispatcher.  We went inside and met her friend Mary and put our boots on.  Very civilized.  We then hopped the shuttle which took us directly to Gondola Square.

 Hopping the shuttle.

 Dylan up to his typical shenanigans.

It was pretty cold so we went into the Four Points lodge around 10:30. Kayla had a cheese bagel with butter. Dylan and I had a cheese bagel with jalapeno cream cheese spread and a beer.

The view from Four Points lodge.  Frosty.

The classic pose under the gondola at the top of Heavenly Daze.

We took another break and met up with long-time ski buddy Paul.  Kayla is amazed.

 Isn't that nice?

Paul hits it on 3 O'clock.

We went over and had dinner and drinks with Scott and Colleen.  Always fun to hang with the Whiteman's,  Kayla is buds with Mazzie.  Mazzie is a rescue dog from Mountain Pet Rescue.  Kayla found a video of Mazzie's pups.  Mazzie was quite concerned about them and instantly recognized their cries.

Another early night. This skiing is tiring!

Kicking off the 2018-19 Season

Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Winter Park, Colorado

Flew out to Colorado for a holiday surprise visit.  It was Diane's idea.  Christmas at the Parker's.  Had both our kiddies there.

Headed out for Winter Park at 5:30am on the 26th. One year ago today.  Spencer's Butte with Dylan and the girls.


















We arrived around 7:45 - plenty of time to get ready and purchase a ticket.  Conditions were early season, cold and cloudy. The lot at Challenger.

Beer me!
























The crew hits Mary Jane.

 Dylan floats on.

 The crew stops for cheezy fries.   From left: Quinn, Parker, Brooke, and Cathrine.

The crew left around 1; Dylan and I kept at it.  We met Dan Hedrick who showed us around a bit after he staked a "Slow" sign at the entrance to Dilly Dally Alley.  We cut over from Vasquez to Eagle Wind and did a run over there. Fun terrain, but the snow was thin.  We ventured beyond the rope for a bit, at least until I hit a big buried rock that flipped me.  We called it about 2:30 and headed for Steamboat.

Scott Whiteman had some $25 lift vouchers for us--a lifesaver since tickets at Steamboat retail for $179 a day this week.  Insane.  Scott and Colleen got a new pup named Mazzie.  She's a little sweetheart.

We then went home where Kayla cooked us pasta primavera which was very tasty.