Early winter season up to end of 2023

M approaching Bonnie's for breakfast on Aspen Mtn

The bottom of the new lift on Ajax

The top - far too difficult for us nowadays, but god to look

This big guy strolling total unconcerned a few meters from our house at Meadow Ranch

M back on a board and lost none of it.

Skinning up under the Coney Glade lift ( to be replaced in 2024 )

Out of order this one - biking up McLean Flats before start of season

From RFTA bus pulling out of Aspen

Ajax - looking up to the Aztec downhill course

Cliffhouse Buttermilk

 Well and truly back into ski season mode. Very good snowfalls in Oct and Nov and precious little since. 

Huge numbers though flocking  into the village on a daily basis and all things considered conditions are pretty good helped by a mass of snow making in very cold temps.  Minus 9%F at rodeo lot the other morning . 

M and I both back in to routine of walking a mile uphill to work each morning . I leave at 5.40 and M at 7. Both plugged in to audiobooks. I finish at 3ish and try to go straight to Rec center (gym) , and M back home by 5.30. Always in bed , both of us , by 9. 

Weekends resuming the usual pattern. Up early and skinning 2,000 odd feet up to Cliffhouse, Buttermilk on Fridays and same vertical up to Bonnie’s on Aspen Mtn on Saturdays. For the latter we have to start earlier each year to make it there by 9. All ‘uphillers’ have to be off skins by that time when lifts open . Breakfasts still to die for. We sit and chew the cud , talk about what we’ve listened to on the way up ,  till 11ish , ski back to car and back home in time for lunch. Absolutely brilliant. Primes us for the working week ahead. The $6 cooked breakfasts for all uphillers sponsored by the City of Aspen starts Jan 12 becomes a social event as well for like minded folk for many of whom it is the start of their working day.

As the year closes we try to focus on what a remarkable life we have here and reflect on 12 months of more extraordinary daily experiences often with new and interesting people. How incredibly fortunate we are and not a day goes by that we don’t express our gratitude for it publicly and privately. 

Top 3 pics taken at the brand new Hero’s lift on Ajax (Aspen Mtn) this morning Dec 30, 2023 ( after skinning to Bonnie’s and the usual oatmeal pancakes and eggs)  which has opened up huge amount of additional high altitude double diamond skiing off Richmond Ridge.  Good on powder days for us , but not otherwise . Too old and knees not up to it . Nor technique!

Pic of bear - a big boy - taken in late November 30 yards from our front door. High time he was asleep in a snow cave somewhere ! 

Others pretty much in reverse order chronologically!