Balls Deep: March 2010

Monday, March 22, 2010

Spring Outing

Been meaning to do a short synopsis from the trip to Colorado but since TK covered most of the bases so i may skip that one.

Got out yesterday for some turns on the first day of spring. March has been unusually warm so far with temps topping the 70 mark twice now and we haven't had a single day not reaching at least 40 here. Check out high temps here for Dorset for the month...we've been warmer than Denver for the month:
http://www.accuweather.com/us/vt/dorset/05251/forecast-month.asp?view=table

Last time I saw snow on the ground at my house besides plow piles was prior to leaving for CO first weekend of March, but luckily for me snow depths were probably at an all time high at elevation in the mountains around me. So despite all the warmth I decided to take an exploratory hike up a mountain across the valley from my house, a mtn that has thrown me a bunch of curveballs trying to get to the top...but each time a learn a little more about its secrets. Also as an extra hitch, we haven't seen more that a valley frost for almost a week so that I knew could also pose a problem. Either way decided to go for it.
Parked my car at 1400' and expected a decent boot-in before finding enough snow so I could don the skis. Was pleasantly surprised to see that by the first creek crossing about 100 yds from my car, snow coverage & depth quickly jumped. Was able to skin the rest of the way up the mtn. By the time I reached the northern & mostly shaded areas not only were the creek beds still completely covered over, but I couldn't take off my skis because I would sink into the unconsolidated snow base up past my waist (made that mistake once will eating lunch). My dog Trixie was hating me for it...she was wallowing in it.
Anyway, so finally made it to the ridgeline just below the summit and found that skiing through the woods was almost impossible, because I would sink 3-6" into the mank snow at each turn. So carefully made my way back to a logging road I crossed along the way not far below the ridge. On the logging road I could get enough speed to keep me afloat in the mank, got re-aquainted with my old alpine turn and had a blast cruising the moderately steep logging road back down towards the valley...was able to ski right up to the point where the logging road cut above my car.
Awesome to see all the snow in the mountains around here...hoping that it lasts well into April when my schedule calms down and I can enjoy another day out there.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Margy's Hut Trip 2010 - Aspen, CO

Hey yall,
Well, luckily we got some heavy dumps before the east coasters showed up in Colorado, because things were looking pretty bleak 3 weeks prior to their arrival. The weekend kicked off with Steve Kirk and Katy Kirk flying in late on Wed. night. They rested on Thursday and Jake Carvitto from Washington arrived that evening. We all decided to kick off the weekend at Midnite, a kick ass roots reggae band from St. Croix, BVI. It was a great show, but we got home late, so we didn't get an early start to ski on friday. That's alright, because the skiing was horrible at Beaver Creek, the warm temps and sun had melted everything then refroze it over night......coral reef baby! We cut our losses early, grabbed a burrito and headed for the hot tub in Glenwood Springs, Co. Everyone convened at the hotel on Friday night and people were pumped up for the Hut trip. Saturday brought Sunny skies and warm temps, perfect for the 6.3 mile, 3000ft skin with large packs full of whiskey, beer & wine. Team Nordic combined (Jakey and I) set the pace as the Hut crew hammered out the mileage. A small handful of us arrived at the hut in around 3 hours, approximately 6 hours shorter then the group J-show from last year. Thus, there was no reason to work people up about the "long approach". Beverages were immediately opened upon arrival: Dales Pale Ale, Gordons' ale, whiskey & wine. Deck chillin' in the sun seemed to be the activity of choice for the afternoon.

Sunday was another beautiful bluebird day, and luckily we found some high elevation North facing terrain to session. Boot-top cream cheese was delightful after the Coral Reef we skied the day before. After some exploring, and bailing on the steeper "more extreme" terrain, we all met up on a mellow 500 vertical foot pitch at about 35 degrees. After we set a skin track, it became the full on Peanut Gallery. Everyone would wait and the bottom and watch each other huck off of rocks, take face plants, and rip turns! Effortless turns was the name of the game on Sunday. We returned to the hut for amazing Fajitas courtesy of Ben & Jen-ai.

Monday morning, the east coast crew (Kirk & Greeny) & I took one dawn patrol lap before Greeny headed out early to get to his plane. Unfortunately there was an enormous rock fall in Glenwood Canyon and we had to detour around I-70, all the way up to Steamboat and back to Denver. 7 hours later we were back home. Greeny missed his flight!

Katy and Steve continued down to Taos Ski Valley on Tuesday and were the biggest winners of the trip where they enjoyed blower over head powder shots after a 40" storm at Taos!! They returned with shit-eating grins, packed up, and headed back to Boston satiated!

Pics:
Gettin' the Cima Dog Ready!