3-28-10 Steamboat Mountain

Watch out world--we've advanced from beginner green slopes to intermediate blue slopes and now we're really cocky. Another beautiful day on the slopes--I think we must be like fair-weather golfers because we have been spoiled so much with gorgeous conditions. No more skiing in downpours or sleet or blizzards for us. Plus, we really like the Gondola--less chance of getting whacked in the head by the chair (which didn't happen all day either--see why we're cocky).

We came down from the top of the gondola to the base of the mountain, about a 2500 foot vertical drop--without incident--no going over the edge of the track, no running over the skis of other people, although Laura did yell at a snowboarder for almost running us over and interrupting our smooth wide curves. One of the runs reminded me of the mogul course that they used at the Olympics--apparently in warm weather they get carved up in the afternoon-and we even made it down that one--eventually. Don't we even sound more advanced.

Afterward we sat on the sun deck swilling a little Fat Tire and listening to the band butcher "Cheeseburgers in Paradise". Laura and I tried to outsing them, but the guys threatened to leave. Being the end of the season here we were able to score some great Steamboat logo attire for 50% off. We are going to be a walking ad for the chamber of commerce in our beanie hats and polar fleece jackets--no, they are not matching--we have not yet gone over to the dark side.

Last night we went for a wonderful dinner at a nice restaurant downtown Steamboat, Bistro CV--great food. We did have to almost physically restrain Mr. Mellow Tristan from clobbering the pretentious twits at a nearby table when they made comments like "Oh, I am so over alpine skiing, telemarking is the only way to go", and "snowboarders just don't know how to treat the snow". At one point one of the guys got down on the floor (in a white tablecloth restaurant) to demonstrate the appropriate foot and knee placement for telemark skiing. Geez!

3-27-10 Snowmobiling Rabbit Ears Pass

Looking for something a little less energetic than skiing and snowshoeing we signed ourselves up for 4 hours of snowmobiling--plus lunch. Let's just say that snowmobiling is not entirely a passive sport. We had 2 snow mobiles and were in a guided group with 3 others, plus the guide-Josh, who was a professional snowboarder who switched to motorcycle racing after he nearly broke his back on the half-pipe tricks he was doing in his Olympic training. Needless to say our tour was hardly suitable for wimps. We were in the National Forest and went on some groomed trails and then he let us loose in a "meadow". What fun, zipping up and down and round in circles, racing with Tristan & Laura and getting covered in powder as we churned up the new snow. Note--fancy new snow pants, while warm, are not waterproof! Our machines did have heated handles which was nice, but not heated seats. Luckily it only snowed hard for about the last half hour.

The most fun was a long run that we did through the woods, single-tracking, where the trees are touching on both sides. It was especially fun when you popped out of the woods and were suddenly going straight down the mountain. Fritz says that I almost dumped us, but he is imagining it as we barely went up on one side.

Coming back to the lodge for lunch I was more than ready for the out house after 3 1/2 hours of bouncing along. It was like one of those extreme sports events (the outhouse experience). Here's an exercise:

Put on at least 6 layers of clothes, including long underwear and 2 pairs of gloves. Stand in a meat locker for about 15 minutes at below freezing temperatures until you're really cold and your fingers don't bend. Put a chair into a dark closet and go in and close the door so that your knees are touching the door. Be sure to have your motorcycle helmet and dark goggles on too. Then undress, including your two jackets, suspenders, long underwear and both pairs of gloves and don't put anything on the floor or drop it on the chair. Added degree of difficulty points if you do it while hopping up and down on one foot. Now you can appreciate my experience.

3-26-10 Uranium Mine Snowshoeing Adventure, Steamboat Springs

Day 2-Snowshoeing.

The story from Tristan and Laura.---It's a short hike up to the mine, only a couple of miles, and it's mostly flat.

The reality--They are 26 and live at over a mile high and are training for a marathon. For "real people" it was up hill, both ways, up the side of a mountain and you're wearing the equivalent of tennis rackets on your feet while slogging through the snow. After the first hill both my heart and lungs were requesting a transplant to someone sitting on a couch at sea level.

Once we did hit a flat-ish spot you could really appreciate the beauty of the area. The skies were overcast, but the Aspens have that lovely silvery glow and the evergreens covered in snow looked as if elves should be popping out offering up Christmas presents. It was very quiet with the snow falling lightly and the sun peaking through on occasion. There were only a few other intrepid souls out hiking to the mine, but they had dogs who were having the most fun of all---racing ahead and then circling back kicking up the new snow.

Needless to say Fritz and I felt that we had earned our Margaritas once we were done.

3-25-10 Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Well, it took us an extra day to get here, but we finally arrived in Steamboat Springs to beautiful sunshine and nice warm weather. Our flight on Tuesday was canceled as we were boarding due to some technical issue like the plane wouldn't pressurize. We went back to Oceanside had a nice walk on the beach and tried again on Wednesday. Just as well it turns out as Denver had over a foot of snow on Tuesday and people who got into Denver didn't get out. They had over 5,000 people sleeping in the airport on pads with blankets--I'll take my king sized bed over gate 58 any day.

First day--on the mountain with Tristan (Laura had to work). Tristan informed us that we were no longer gapers (clueless tourists) as we had our new equipment and gear. My new Burton snowboard pants with the brown and orange zebra striped suspenders and light aqua Bonfire jacket with 27 pockets are, obviously, a step up from Molly's middle school ski jacket and borrowed pants that I wore last year. I must admit that I did feel slightly less a gaper as I almost skied over the edge of the platform as we waited for the chair--you can do anything if you do it in style.

The skiing was great--we still are sticking to green runs--and the breakage report only includes 3 fingernails (2 on boot buckles and 1 loading the skis into the bin on the side of the bus). Oh yes, and 1 small branch that Fritz skied into. He, also, no longer looks like a gaper as he managed to rough up his new equipment by putting his helmet under the chair as it went by--unfortunately his head was in the helmet, but those chair operators are really quick at shutting things down when helmets get in the wrong places.

We finished our day on the slopes in our shirt sleeves having some libations on the outside deck at the base area. I must admit that apart from the shin splints from new boots, you could really get used to this snow bunny lifestyle.