POW, What a Weekend..........

That's right kids, all those who have been patiently waiting, hoping and praying for a measurable snowfall in the mountains finally got their wishes and prayers answered... and then some this weekend. Most Front Range resorts were reporting 30+ inches of the white gold, once everything was said and done. All it took was a little patients, and the jet stream to position itself correctly and blam-o a big fluffy snow turd fell right in our laps. It appears that things working out well for everyone that washed their cars, did a snow dance, or sacrificed an article of summer clothing to the snow gods, and apparently the good mojo is continuing with additional accumulation today, and a favorable forecast for later this week. I personally was a bit nervous last Thursday, being that I had purchased snow tires for my car. Most often a move like that would alter the moods of the snow gods and their gifts would be granted else where. This time we were lucky and with a purchase of multiple car washes, plans for an outdoor bike ride on Sunday, and a diminishing windshield washer fluid reserve, the purchase of the snow tires seemed to have been canceled out.

Being that I was absent from work on Friday to go through some routine vehicle maintenance, I will neither confirm nor deny that there was in fact 9" of new snow on top of 7" of accumulation from Thursday at A-Basin, or that there were powder stashes well in excess of 2 feet scattered through out the new terrain that the ski patrol could barely open fast enough from all the said snow accumulation. However, I can confirm that there was an additional 9" of snow on Saturday morning at A-Basin, and that the first runs of the year off the west wall, in fresh un-tracked pow was possibly some of the best skiing I have been privy to in years.

I addition to all my fun in the fluff, I was witness to Cyn's loss of Colorado Powder Virginity. Having lost my pow virginity some 10 years ago, I forgot what it was like to come from a part of the planet where snow is hard as rock (quite possibly bullet proof even), and a powder day would be considered merely a trace of snow by Colorado standards. It was indeed entertaining at times watching Cyn navigate the vast seas of fluffy white stuff linking her first turns, but the ear to ear smile once she began to get the hang of the turning technique was priceless. I have a feeling she will catch on quite fast, and will be blasting the drifts and dropping the chutes with me in no time. In fact her first drop into the cliff faces at A-Basin was quite impressive navigating knee to waist deep snow on a 45-50+ degree pitch is never easy, and this little rocket made it look effortless.

Finally, remember kids, if you fall try not to land with your feet above your head (up hill), you will quickly find out what it is like to be a turtle on its back, your legs will make 3' post holes in 3.5' of snow (if you are of midget stature like myself), and losing a ski in 2+ feet of powder can be permanent(at least till summer).

ciao.......