Did a bit of winter mountain biking today – since the littlest one could be here any moment, skiing is kind of out right now.  Paul and I rode Picture Rock Trail just outside of Lyons, and it was fantastic.  It was about 20 degrees when we left and there was about 3 inches of fresh snow on the ground.  I rode the El Mariachi (man i love that bike) and it did well – although the WTB Weirwolf tires didn’t have the best hookup – maybe a deeper lug if you’re an idiot like me and enjoy riding in the winter.

Oskar Blues tasted wonderful when we were done.

for a few months now i’ve wanted to ski or snow shoe back into the Auresta or Ginn Mountain hut located about 4.5 miles east of the Eldora cross country trails.  with kelly in town, it seemed like the perfect excuse.  the avalanche danger wasn’t quite as low as i’d like but we figured below treeline we should be ok.  the hike in was pretty mellow, although in typical fashion, Kelly and i waited to leave the parking lot until 3:45 in the afternoon so we hiked the last bit in the dark which made finding the hut a little bit more of an adventure.  much to our surprise when we got there we were the only ones – it made for a fun evening of just hanging out.  i would definitely recommend this trip to anyone who likes winter camping (although the stove in the hut keeps it a fairly nice temperature)

Some things I learned:

1. If you’re going to a hut bring a small lantern or more candles (nice to leave some behind)
2. 1 beer packed in is not enough – even if it is a wonderful Ten Fiddy
3. Having the place to yourself RULES
4. Warmed Pro Bars make an excellent breakfast

I got GPS coordinates that i will post – just need to retrieve them.

photos below:

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This weekend while taking a clinic at Loveland, I ran across a smokin deal on a new pair of K2 Work Stinx – I’ve been wanting a wider ski (although K2 considers the Work Stinx an all mountain ski) and with a 91mm waist, these guys really seemed to fit the bill.  They are all mounted up with a pair of Targa G3 bindings (although i think i may change this to a set of BD 02 Bindings) and since this post sat in the draft folder so long, i’ve actually had a chance to ski them.  it was not really the softest of conditions at A-Basin, but the skis performed wonderfully.  Turns were snappy and fun – i can’t wait to ski them in some real pow.  now if it will just snow sometime this winter…  what is the deal?

Mary got me some Tele lessons for my birthday and I am super stoked.  I’ve been teleing for a few years now and feel like i am fairly adept at making it down the mountain, but also feel that over the past few seasons, my skills have plateaued.  I am hoping that some professional help will get me bumped up to that next level or at least get me headed that way.  So with fresh snow on the ground, I get to head up to Loveland tomorrow and hopefully be shown how much I don’t know.  Expect a full report in the evening.

it’s finally starting to snow around here again.  the forecast calls for snow in the mountains tonight, all day tomorrow and even a little on sunday.  i am taking a tele lesson at loveland on sunday – so i am a happy camper.

today was one of those great days we get around here sometimes.  Holden and I went skiing, got a few runs in, then did our customary picnic in the back of the truck (the type where holden eats so much i am amazed (1 PB&J, 1 Yogurt tube, 1 string cheese, part of my banana, part of my apple, some trail mix, chocolate milk, apple juice, goldfish, animal crackers, and a cookie to top it all off)).  We made our way home and had good discussions about Rocket Boots (holden’s going to make rocket boots for a job – even rocket boots for dogs and cats, cause “they can’t fly without them”) and how hot it was.  We changed into shorts when we got home, I went for a short bike ride, we had friends over for dinner…

skiing, shorts, and a bike ride (not to mention rocket boots) all in the same day?  only in CO.

this kid is an amazing skiier – half a binding or not…

and some more

I am crazy interested in avalanches right now. Not in the, let’s go into the woods and try to set one off kind of way, more along the lines of how to know if certain terrain is prone to sluffing or not. I really want to take an avalance I class this winter, and may try to make that happen. In browsing the interwebs tonight and searching for avalanches, i ran across this…might need to track the actual video down.

The Fine Line

Eldora opens up tomorrow – I am sure the snow sucks, but at least snow riding is getting closer.

Chad took this photo of me a few weekends ago when we were out for a DR adventure.