Tochi's Hut

Skiing in Colorado this winter proved to be quite the adventure.

Eldora

One of the smaller resorts in Colorado, 30 minutes away from Boulder.   Visited this park as a training step for the bigger resorts.  Nearly half the slopes on the north side were closed, including their "bowl".  On the lift up, we saw that they were preparing a slope with machine powder .... >_<.  The only open black diamond trail was Corona, which was really really icy.  The green slopes chairlift lines for quite long too.  We didn't really come to Colorado for this "East coast" style skiing.

Vail

The epitome of Colorado skiing.  Drive in on I-70 was not too pleasant.  Blowing winds and drifting snow.  Having been warned about the exuberant parking, we found out it was $20 for 5+ hours... yeah.   At least it was covered parking on a snowy day, so we got some luxury in return. 

Took lift up to Mid-Vail village and then onward on MountainTop Express to Patrol Headquarters.  Visibility was rather dismal, so we did not get to enjoy the famed panoramic views of Vail. 

However, powder was what we were truly here for, and the snow was absolutely beautiful.  Blueberry and I decided to attack the famous bowls first and then hit up on the glades by Blue Sky Basin.  Even at Patrol HQ, the snow was up past the ankles.  Cruising over to the top of the bowl felt like we were gliding across a calm sea of white.

Our first bowl was Sun Up Bowl.  A bowl is just really a wide expanse of pristine skiing slope down the side of a mountain.   You essentially make your own trail down.   This is my first time skiing in true powder down a bowl.  Vail was as good a place to do this as any. 

The powder was halfway up to my knees now and it feels so weird not being able to see your skis.  People had warned me about this beforehand.  I didn't have too much problems about not being able to see my skis.  However, I had some issues about not being able to see the hidden terrain changes underneath the powder.  Hidden snow banks and crevices totally caught me off guard during the first run.  Just not being to anticipate the upcoming terrain and having to absorb any sudden changes with my knees led to a couple early spills.  After a few tumbles, I soon got the hang of staying on my feet, but the effort was really taxing.  No wonder people say it's more tiring to ski in deep powder - I had originally assumed it was the resistance of the snow.

Sun Up Bowl was really fun and we continued to the Teacup Bowl to Blue Sky for some glades.  The blizzard had picked up now and we could barely see more than 20m ahead.  Came up to this ridge with a slope that would be double black on any East coast facility.  I gulped and headed down.  Maybe 50 ft down the slope, during a turn, my left ski caught something unexpected and popped off.  I completed my turn a few feet further down.   Turned around I looked up towards the site of my "crash" and, to my horror, I did not see my ski.  It was hidden somewhere in the snow!  SL had warned me about the difficulties of finding skis in powder.  All the horrors of her stories came crashing back.

I used every technique in the book.  The most useful being something I read in Ski Canada magazine on how to travel up a steep slope with just poles.  I searched, dug, searched and dug a lot.  People yelled advice down to me from the ski lift giving tips on how and where to search.  Blueberry and another skier came by to help.  After 1.5 hours, I decided to call the search off.   It was pointless digging around in the middle of a blizzard.  Little wonder why I hate winter caching so much.  Since I read someone else's calculations, I did some mental math in my head.  $92 for lift ticket, just slightly over 1 run in the day.  $92 per run.   :(

Called ski patrol to take me down the mountain.  Todd the patrol arrived and asked what was going on. 

me> Lost my ski somewhere here.

Todd> Use your pole handles and punch the snow like this.

me> I've been searching for the past 1.5 hrs. :(

Todd> Oh man... in this weather?!?  We just closed all the bowls.  

me> Really!??!

Todd> Yeah, strong winds, low visibility.  Too dangerous.  I just finished roping off the top of the bowl.   Ahhh... here's your ski!!

me> OMG.  You're serious!?!

Todd yanks my missing ski out from the snow... 2-3 feet downhill from where we were searching.  I had gone through all the scenarios of what to do about my missing ski.  Wait till the summer thaw and have Vail send it back to me? Can I replace one ski?  What am I going to do about my Blue Mountain season pass?  I did not consider the scenario that my ski would be found!!!  [After some Google searches, I found guides on how to search for lost skis and even patents for devices to locate lost skis... hardcore!]

I still had to make my way down the rest of the bowl.  My body has never been this sore.  I was sapped of energy and my confidence was totally shot.  Todd essentially took me down slowly by making several passes traversing the entire face of the bowl.  Absolutely the most strenuous skiing in my life. 

Got to the Cloud 9 trail and Blue Sky Basin.  It was so beautiful down here, with nice coniferous trees, gorgeous creeks and trails and bridges to pass over.  Unfortunately, I didn't have the time, energy or opportunity to explore.

Back at the top of Teacup Express, I still had to make my way to Mid Vail Lodge, where the gang was waiting.  Black Diamond trails were the only routes back.  In the freaking blizzard, my fingers were numb from the bitter cold.  I was seriously afraid of getting frostbite, so I took the catwalk (strenuous) over to Two Elk Lodge for some healing and rest.

Took a green trail down to Northwood Express afterwards and waited 30 minutes to get on the chairlift.  Essentially, everyone who was skiing on the bowls were pushed to this lift.  Took Swingsville to Mid-Vail.  30-40 mph gusts were blowing straight up the slope.  The winds were so strong that at one point, it pushed me into the hill.  I really didn't want to lose any appendages, so I willed my way down to Mid-Vail as fast as possible, despite the searing complaints from my body.  That furnace hand warmer thing outside of the lodge was a LIFE saver.   It was so good to see the rest of the gang in the lodge.   Took the chairlift down to the village to end my first Vail experience. 

Vail.... I'll be back (on a nicer day).

Adventures didn't end here.  The storm and high winds shut down I-70 eastbound from "mile marker 205 to Eisenhower tunnel" and beyond.  Got stranded in Frisco (a mythical town until now) and spent the night in a Red Cross shelter.  Not all was lost though, as because of the storm, we were able to see the spectacular landscape of the plains of Colorado along US 24 and the "rocks" near Colorado Springs.

I should mention, we found a lone pinnacle of civilization known as a Pizza Hut in the middle of nowhere.  The sun had come out, food was almost at hand.  I inexplicitly felt this gush of "happiness".   It was almost to the point of giddiness, like that of a happy "ballerina drunk".   Part of it must have been the wash of tiredness and the definitive escape from the blizzard that had ensnared us earlier.   Freedom and escape.  I never felt a sensation quite like this before.

Winter Park

Best day for skiing.  Only -19F.  Blueberry led me to this blue/black diamond with moguls.   First section was alright, but the second half had these huge moguls.  I did not heed my own advice - I was "scared" to fall.  Took me like 10 minutes to get down.  Next went to the glades by Sunset Express.  First time skiing through trees.  I made it through the first part okay.  Later on, there were some mogul like features and I had some trouble making the sharp turns required.  At one point, I almost pulled a Teacup repeat, but I managed to catch on and hug a tree for balance.  That would have been quite a sight if someone saw.

Blueberry took me to a terrain park.  Did my first ever jump and I supposedly landed on the lip of the landing zone.  Impact was harder than I expected and I lost control and wiped out.  I need to invest in a helmet.

Meet up with Catnipped and Cucumber for lunch and did some green trails as a group afterwards.  Was quite a fun experience all around.  Definitely enjoyed the skiing a lot more today.

Summary

Colorado was super fun.  One of the most adventurous trips ever.  I got to truly experience "deep powder" like no one else.  Loved the longer trails, the mountains and the snow.  An experience to remember for a lifetime.