As it appears the weather pattern may be finally starting to change here in CO, its time to throw up some stoke from the first third of the season.
It definitely hasn't started out as deep as last year, but, as always, its good to reconnect with old friends, get back on the skis, and enjoy the beauty of the mountains.
Early in November I got out for my first backcountry day of the year. One of my best friends from college came, Erik, came down from Jackson to join me. Knowing the snowpack was thin we started out with a day of fun creamy snow on top of last season's snow. Erik:
We went back out the next week. Down low it felt like fall,
but up high we still found good snow. Can't complain about pow on November 11th!
In the middle of November I headed down to Crested Butte, the mountains are beautiful down there too:
CB was also in need of snow, but it was great to get out into the alpine. Adrienne:
The next day we woke up to an inch in town. It was a whole different story in the BC. Brittany:
Frank:
Then it was back to more beautiful bluebird days:
Before long some of the favored backcountry zones were refreshed with a foot of new snow. This little pillow line was more than worth the few scratches it cost my skis:
The next day we chased the setting moon as we skinned:
Then we chased Adam back down:
Then it was back to the waiting game, a perfect time to explore new areas; and, as it turns out, breaking trail through facets is a great workout! And while exploring we found fun recycled pow! Josh:
Then early this month we decided to check out the San Juans, and started out the trip with a killer sunset from 12,000 feet.
It hadn't snowed in three and a half weeks down there, but the skiing was still great. Josh taking advantage of the four foot base:
I almost forgot what getting airborne feels like!
Nothing like sharing the experience of seeing a beautiful area for the first with good friends; Jordan stoked:
Back in CB it hasn't snowed in days, and even with strong winds there's still good snow to be found in the trees. Grete:
This season has been an adjustment from last year: its a reminder that getting to spend any day in the mountains is a gift. I've seen new zones, and had a great time laughing at stupid jokes with friends old and new. Every day we go out I'm not expecting blower pow, even three week old creamy binding-deep snow produces squeals of joy like I'm skiing waist deep; and when waist deep happens next I'll be damn stoked.
