Ruth and I have just return from a spectacular week+ in Summit County, Colorado. We got in six days of boarding at three mountains: Breckenridge, Keystone, and Copper Mountain. The town of Breckenridge is so cool that this trip has become an annual affair for us, something to look forward to for an entire year. Given that Big Bear is our nearest "resort", we decided long ago to explore the wider world of ski towns and the search just sort of stopped in
Breck. Other ski mountains in the immediate area include Vail, Beaver Creek, and Arapaho Basin. We've found that Vail is too pretentious and the runs are not boarder friendly. Beaver Creek is a bit far from
Breck, and Arapaho Basin is a locals delight, though only to be experienced when one is feeling plucky, as the "runs" are hair-raising (see "
Palovachini"
couloir, which I have boarded once and never again, thanks for the heads-up Ray). But the mountains we boarded last week are all stellar terrain.
As for the lovely town of Breckenridge, it is a charming, old west mining town gone skiing. Even in the finest restaurants one can tromp in wearing
uggs and an old fleece. The shops lining Main street are diverse and eclectic and the service is great wherever one turns. We have become, over the years, something of the seasonal local. By that I mean that we have businesses we patronize annually, restaurants we revisit, favorite stops, and when it comes to the mountain, we know our way around without a map. These types of people are valued in ski towns because we spend money and aren't bumbling tourists, which makes our experience even better. We know where to go to get what we want and we know how to enjoy the town without being a nuisance.
Below: Breckenridge's Peak 8 (center right) from town, and Main St. from our condo.
Ruth's longest,
bestest friend Michelle and boyfriend Chris came out from Columbus OH for a 4day weekend to join us at the beginning of the week. We boarded two days with them and watching Ruth try to teach newbie Michelle the ropes was both painful and amusing. Eventually I took Chris on a tour of the mountain. Michelle fell about every way one can, frequently, as if she liked being face-down in snow but by day two she was holding her own. It was amazing to watch, the combination of determination, masochism, Advil and alcohol which contributed mightily to Michelle's progression. Got to give her props for being a
tuffy. After a great three days with them I was ready for Ruth and I to do
Breck the way we do
Breck. They went home and we went to Keystone.
The rest of our week went something like this: wake up at 06:45, start coffee, slug coffee and scarf Advil, dress, grab gear, drive to the mountain, be on the first few lifts and board our little hearts out until noon, thaw, eat, and resume process. It was a very effective routine. Most days we got in 15-20 long runs (the runs on Colorado mountains can be 3 miles long and descend 4,000 feet). We got early tracks on two powder days and made fist cuts on lots of courderoy (groomed terrain). Last Tuesday was the best day of the week, with 6 inches of overnight powder, empty runs, and broken skies. We charged that all day. In all, we had two bluebird days, two powder days, two gray days, and one really cold and windy day. In other words, a typical week in the Colorado high country.
This was the first time we tried Copper Mountain, which is just 20 minutes from Breck. We always knew we'd get there but the way we've purchased discount passes didn't work for Copper. This time we just sucked it up and went. Impressions: huge mountain with fun terrain, certainly the best views of any Rocky Mountain resort I've visited, friendly staff and great facilities, and
really stupid skiers. I'm not sure what it was but the skiers there were either rude or oblivious of other people's space on runs. With a wide open run, why would you need to cut in front of people? I got pretty protective of Ruth, figuring I would get in an old-fashioned hockey fight with somebody before lunch. As it turned out, the idiots had either gone home or went to the hospital by about that time leaving us with another great day, and a good impression of Copper. We'll be back. To be fair, the ski patrol, according to locals, was finding that it had to crack down and take a more disciplinary role in the past three weeks. Below are some pics from Copper.
So, yeah. I'm bummed to be back. I don't want to be on call the next two days. In fact, I'd be okay if I never worked another day in my life. With the right amount of money I figure I'd get really good at traveling. See, this is what tropical vacations and ski vacations do for you. They quickly become your day to day reality and then...
poof! It's back to the real world. Crap.
Below are some of the other photos from our days on the runs. By the way, I was boarding really well, hitting runs and jumps that I used to be afraid of. Oh, yeah...I decided it was time to get a helmet too, something about not mountain biking or dirtbike riding without a helmet. Let's see, hard snow, rocks, trees, cliffs, at 40 miles per hour, plus head injury equals...screw it, I'll take the helmet, and give me the one with headphones in the ears.
Below, me, landing a drop in that used to terrify me.
What should I do with myself on the first somewhat clear day of a three day weekend? Does it matter that the Super Bowl is on? To the former, I'll treat myself to a full tank of gas and no reservations. To the latter, no, the game doesn't matter to me. I'd rather take advantage of a day to myself. This day started early, getting turned around at Wheeler Gorge by the CHP due to a rock slide. I did not tell the officer that the CalTrans road conditions said that the 33 was open to 4wheel drive vehicles. I just turned around, drove through upper Ojai to Santa Paula and wound up in Frazier Park. The I-5 was catching hell, high winds and snow/sleet. I was having fun already.
Through Frazier into Lockwood Valley the weather remained unpredictable and the road was icy in the shade. I really love this nowhere valley of horse ranches and hunting lodges. After the Grade Valley cut-off the road descends into an area of badlands which were all the more spectacular for the dusting of snow on the caprock. The valley was very quiet, with only the wind blowing scattered flakes for company. Nobody was out today, only the horses of the Bar-Seven ranch. They were eager for a little company and I soon had several of them crowding the fence for a bit of rub. I got the sense that despite their winter coats, these guys would have liked a day in the barn. Anyway, they're tough.
As I left Lockwood Valley for Pine Mountain Pass on Hwy33, the weather got less pleasant, however it cleared quickly descending the pass to Pine Mountain Inn. Also, I had driven around a road closure which was unmanned. Hey, if CalTrans said it was open, then it was open. It didn't take long for me to realize that I had the whole Ojai back-country to myself. Stopping in the middle of the road to snap photos is easier than pulling over.
I pulled into Rose Valley for a look around. I wasn't feeling all that athletic but a quick run up to Rose Valley Falls seemed to fit my mood. These are a pair of stacked horse-tail falls that only run winter through spring. I felt pretty good about having them to myself for the morning. The falls are hard to photograph due to their height and angle, but I had some success today.
After visiting the falls, I drove to the end of Rose Valley Road. The whole valley was vacant, devoid of people. Even the Ojai Valley Gun Club was silent. Down at the end of the road, I took a shot at hiking into the Piedra Blanca (the white rocks in photos below), but the Sespe River was really a river today, and nobody knew where I was, so I just hung out for a while. Just a short way away the upper portion of Reyes peak was still in the weather while I sat in the sun. A beautiful day up there. Good day for just looking.
I also have a spot up in the area that I visit when I want to pop off a few rounds. Today I was test-firing a rifle I just built and, oh brother, that thing is fun to shoot! I'm not really going to get into what it is, or was before I made some dramatic changes to the original rifle. I think I just wanted to see if I could do it.
All in all, I have to admit that I'm pretty pleased with my day. Good pics, good space, and completely comfortable with being my own entertainment. The shot below is of Santa Cruz Island from the Hwy 33 crest. Oh yeah, I did watch the game. I was a bit disappointed with Manning in the fourth, but I didn't have a dog in the fight so it was good to see the Saints win. They were the better team anyway. Although Adai did have a great game. Okay, yeah, I'm done with this one.
