Powder day

Always a day to treasure. If we're lucky we get 2 or 3 of these per month. And if we're even luckier they come on one or more of our days off. To constitute what is generally known as a powder day, there really has to be in excess of 4 inches of new snow. Some of the smaller Colorado resorts have an unwritten rule that there's a public holiday on every powder day. Business's just close down! Snowmass too big for that, but it's extraordinary how so many locals seem to manage to line up for the first lift at 8.30 on these spectacular skiing days.

Our neighbour and friend Beige setting off from his house across the road from us, at 8am to his office in Aspen Business Center 8 miles away. Note the cape . This ( identical one given to me by Beige ) saved my life on the last 2 days of End to End en route to John O'Groats. Beige does this every day of the year irrespective of conditions

After Beige left I started to dig the car out, but gave up quickly in haste to get the unbroken powder on the mountain

Far better option . Our house at the top of these steps on right of pic. This is the route I have all day tomorrow starting at 6.20. Should be interesting.

Today was a gem. Mary working sadly , but a day off for me ( we each have 3 days off per week two of them coinciding ). We had about 10 inches outside the house and on the mountain about 14. Got first tracks down Powerline Glades. Epic skiing morning. Back for lunch with Mary, and Rec Center in PM. Turning very cold tonight and more snow forecast for tomorrow, and indeed for rest of week. Apparently about record snowpack for this time of year. Phenomenal amount on the mountain.

Our lodger downstairs Hamilton works for IT dept of Ski Co and has recently been setting up cameras on top of all 4 mountains. They're programmed to take roving panoramic pics every 10 minutes for marketing on Ski Co's website.  Worth checking out.

http://www.aspensnowmass.com/THE-POWER-OF-FOUR/Roundshot

Most important news of all .  New member of the Russell family - Oliver Reid Russell -  born on Nov 21 to  Duncan & Katy in Columbus, Ohio.  Mary and I head off to Columbus for 5 days next week to see our 3rd grandchild. Can't wait to introduce him to the powder!