Every single powder day this season has come on a working day for me. Rats !
Has meant though that I've taken full advantage of the fine, but sans poudre, conditions on my days off with skinning up on Snowmass and Ajax always trying to find a new way up each time. Last week on the 3 days off, I did the beautiful early morning skin to Bonnies on Ajax with Mary ( day before she cracked her knee cap - more later ), Up4Pizza at top of Big Burn and Gwyns respectively. Some random pics.
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| On way up to Gwyns looking back to the Roaring fork valley in the distance |
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| Couldn't resist a quick run down before a Gwyns' breakfast just as the Alpine Springs lift opened at 9. Only 3 inches or so of fresh snow and so technically not ' a powder day' . Pretty nice nevertheless. |
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| M approaching the junction of Copper and Spar Gulch on Ajax soon after 7 |
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| Bonnies in sight 1hr 45 mins later. Pancakes beckon - again! |
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| Made it with 3 mins to spare. Ski patrol chase hikers / skinners off the hill at 9.... |
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| but hardly necessary given the empty slopes in background |
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| The descent into downtown Aspen |
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Had a most enjoyable day at Snowmass with Jimmy Stone whose mother is in Deerfield, Asheville with Betty. Jimmy a v long standing Aspen ski bum with a huge knowledge of every hidden powder stash on all 4 mountains days after snow has fallen. Here below in the wilds of Hanging Valley Glades - taking a break
Meanwhile poor Mary was not just working, but finishing her day in the on mountain health clinic with stitches in a head wound and a cracked bone on front of her knee cap. A work injury having tripped on one of the ski transfer trolleys in the crowded base Village corral. No op required fortunately and no ligament or meniscus damage. Just a brace for 6 weeks . Here with crutches at 270 and defenceless against a snowball throwing Gaby.
We had a 3 day visit from James ( Cooper ) Black an old friend of my former bus driving colleague and bowl buddy Peter who is bravely recovering from endless treatments in Grand Junction. Cooper from Arizona at aged 76 was competing in the NASTAR races at Snowmass and most impressively won his 75 to 80 class ( course setter - Olympic gold medalist at Sochi Ted Liggety ). Well done Cooper! Peter & Linda we look forward to seeing you next week and catching up
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