Trans am - east to west - bike trip beginning April 16, 2015

Our forthcoming trans am bike trip. The link at very top of this blog takes you to our 2011 trip which you don't want to see ! Instead enter the following web address :-
 http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/15816
We'll try to update it every few days or so. But we promise nothing!

More skinning - end of the winter

Season drawing to a close with 1 week more only of the Snowmass season and 2 weeks at Ajax. Four more driving days only to go. Must stay on special alert !

A number of very special days in last month, mostly involving skinning and usually breakfasts !

To much talking I'd say!

..... but they made it and here the rewards at Gwyns High Alpine

The following week and after skinning up Ajax - here meeting up with Dick at the Sundeck

skinning up Coffee Pot

and here the early bird catches the worms - fresh tracks down Lodgepole before the lifts opened

back to the house via Long Shot - all totally untracked . As good as it gets.

 Following day , this time with Mary and to Bonnies on Ajax in a blizzard. Could have been Scotland.

... but this is what was waiting for us after breakfast

.. and right back to the car in downtown Aspen and home by 1 for lunch. Another epic morning.

Next post will be on the https://www.crazyguyonabike.com site as we start the 1st stage of our trans am bike trip from Yorktown , VA in 10 days time , flying to Norfolk , VA on April 15. See the link at the very top of this blogsite --  easiest way to get in is just to click on that - George and Mary Trans Am Trip. That is the crazyguyonabike.com site. Go to Journals and then click under " new' or 'latest" and you'll find ref to our new journal " Trans am - East to West - 2015". We'll try to update it every few days or so.

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