Richmond Ridge Powder tour

1st gondola up courtesy of Aspen Powder tours- and this after a foot of new snow overnight.

Ridge of Bell - normally knee high bumps

The cats waiting for us . 12 per cat . 3 of them

About a mile along Richmond Ridge.  Am used to skinning this with Chip.  What a nice change.

Disgorging from the cat. Acres of foot high pristine powder awaits.

Bottom of first run of the day.  Doesn't get any better than this.

And Mary thinks so too.

View westwards to Aspen Highlands and Highland Bowl

How good was that !

Waiting to take us back up. We had 10 runs in total each of about 1000 feet of vertical

In our cat , we had 9 skiers and 2 boarders. Here, the boarders are bringing up the rear.

Each run was in an untracked part of the mountain .  Never did the same run twice.

M sets off on last run before lunch - following the guide

still going well !

Lunch provided & brought up here to this remote little cabin high up on Richmond Ridge by snowmobile earlier in morning. Wonderful spread - hot and cold - and roaring wood burning stove in the middle of the cabin

All the afternoon runs were down the east side of Richmond Ridge. Less sun affected during the day and therefore better pm skiing.

Homeward bound

Stopped to dig out and tow this snowmobiler in a spot of trouble

A deserted Copper Connector on our descent into Aspen long after all lifts closed

Memorable day !

Family February visit

Jane and Johannes arr first and share a musical evening with Heidi.  John Carlin's guitar

Cot and other baby gear installed at MR in preparation for the big visit.

 No problem settling right in .

Duncan and Johannes at top of Loge chair. at Highlands. A boys' morning on Hyde Park and Mushroom

Time for the girls to hit the slopes at Highlands. Granny Moon and Grandad left i/c

Next generation ( skipping one of course ! ) TOSV bus driver

Important passengers

What's the problem ?

Do you really want to ride with us ?

Oli in Ski Co nursery. Time to play.

Top of Elk Camp - but Katy was there and skied Burnt Mtn with us all

G, Jane & Johannes on top of Highland Bowl

Start of the Mother of all Ascentions - Mardi Gras event

Getting an appetite for breakfast at Main St Bakery before boarding plane home

Last "chill"

Normal service resumed - Tuesday's Highland Bowl ascent with Peter - remarkably recovered from stem cell treatment. An amazing effort.

Beaver Creek

With complimentary day lift tickets for both of us at Vail/Beaver Creek ( thank you M's employers Ski co ! ), we drove over to Avon after M's day at work and spent a comfortable night in the Sheraton ( good value despite last minute booking and in middle of World Championships ).  Had one great day skiing in the only powder day Vail has had in last 6 weeks. Both events  -  Men's Super G and Ladies downhill training - in World Championships cancelled due to wind and poor visibility.

Jane and Johannes , and Duncan, Katy and Oliver arriving in  a few days.

This taken at Bonnies,  after the traditional Tues morning skin,  before we left for BC. Jimmy and Lee ( in town for a day )

And a few runs with them both on Ajax

M at Beaver Creek at bottom of Birds of Prey downhill course

Taken about the time they announced cancellation of both events

Top of Birds of Prey and start of an epic day in the powder

This what they're now training the pro racers on with a ' virtual ' race course on the screen. M mastering the technique in the Exhibition tent at Beaver Creek.  Remarkable.

Normal weather service for 2015 resumed the next day - Boarding at West Buttermilk back in Aspen

Christmas & New Year

It's been "all go " since getting back from Oregon.  Mary started her new concierge job at Aspen Ski Co Guest Services desk underneath the gondola in downtown Aspen. She's over the moon about it. A hugely coveted position. And only 3 consecutive days a week. Dealing with huge number of " guest issues " ranging from advising on all aspects of skiing, eating, drinking etc in Aspen to coping with lost / broken equipment, smart phones , cameras etc and spots of oil on smart ski gear allegedly from ski lifts !
For me it's the usual routine and this year two shifts on the Snowmass Club run and two down to the Rodeo Lot. 3 days off a week and two of them coinciding with Mary's. With the significant snowfalls we've had, it's been busy.  Numbers way up on previous years. Long days but the prospect of "pow days" at the end more than compensates. Still skinning up to Gwyns each Tuesday when M works and yesterday a memorable moment when old pal Peter green joined me. He, as a Vietnam vet and almost certainly 'agent orange ' victim has made a remarkable recovery from stem cell transplant and continuing chemo treatment. Great to have him back as my ski buddy. Bring on the Highland Bowl in 2 weeks time! Go Peter.

Working !

This was taken to illustrate the transformation of this  precise site from its summer Music festival concert which Barbara and Ros enjoyed a few months ago at top of Aspen Mtn

M shredding the broken powder on her snowboard on Christmas day

Later the same day. Graeme, Anna , Max and Mia arrive

Couldn't leave Max out of this record of a happy visit. And a good powder day with G & A the following day.

Peter on the traverse to Upper Green cabin

Gaby takes air in "The Park"

Thanksgiving in Corvallis

We had a week to spare before starting work, so took the advantage of United air miles and flew back to Oregon for a very successful week.   Thanksgiving week coincided with Oliver's first birthday , so a double whammy of celebrations.

Where else but Portland airport for this enlightened sign

At the trough

The birthday boy

Dressing up and playing the card. Seems happy about it too.

An expedition up Mary's Peak. A Scottish day if ever there was one.

Close to the top after 2,500 feet of climbing. Melt down seconds away. He'd had enough.

Dad happier than son at this stage.  Both were stars though.

M and I had a day at the Pacific coast freed of grandparent duties. Impressive surf......

and some seal watching - only yards away

Thjnaksgiving dinner. Young love ! Olivia's the lady of the moment.

And back to work at 6am one day later 1500 miles away.  Waiting for skier passengers at the Rodeo Lot.