This past weekend my Dad and I went to Aspen/Snowmass! We have some family friends who live there, so we got to spend quality time with them. For the most part we would get up at the crack of dawn, grab some delicious pastries, then hit the slopes. We skied Ajax (Aspen Mountain), Highlands, and Snowmass. At Ajax you get on the gondola at the base and are treated to an amazing view of the town and surrounding mountains:
Absolutely gorgeous!! Here is what you see looking up the mountain:
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| Hi Dad! |
When you ride the Gondola you are treated to fun facts... such as "The Ski Bum"
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| "In the 1960's a new breed of skier infiltrated Aspen. These ski bums had long hair, listened to rock music and subscribed to cold war fatalism. LIFE magazine sent a writer/photographer team to report on 'Aspen's Awful Surfer Problem: Vagabonds from the beaches congregate at a famed ski resort.' "Drinking and pretty girls" ran one caption, "Rank ahead of good snow to the surfers-turned-skiers in Aspen" ' |
Unfortunately we didn't see any ski bums this trip, even though it was really hot! It was super sunny and warm the whole trip. By the end of the day I was sweating and peeling layers!
Then we got brave and decided we'd go off into a bowl. (no, not that kind of bowl!) These are slopes that dip into the steeps and trees, and usually are blacks and double blacks (as hard as you can get without going backcountry!) We did fairly well, but it was hard work! Here is Dad on the edge of "why not"
The picture really doesn't do it justice! But we our hard work was rewarded by this amazing view:
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| Pyramid Peak and the Maroon Bells |
You may recognize Pyramid Peak - it is the mountain that is used for Paramount Pictures!
We took this road ^ to get out of the bowl. Dad is terribly afraid of heights so he is clinging as close to the mountain as possible!! There is actually a mesh net there to protect you from diving over the side of the cliff (green in the picture)
It was so sunny this weekend, we actually spent several meals outside on the patio! This is at the base of Aspen Highlands. There was hardly anyone on the mountain all day!
Dad and I are planning to do Summit for Life next year. Our friend does this fundraiser every year to raise money for organ donor awareness. It's a race to the top of Ajax... and you hike. in the winter. in the snow. So we decided to see what we are getting ourselves into. We borrowed stabilizers from our friend, (these really cool things that strap to your shoes - they are chains for your feet so you can hike up snow/ice!) and hiked up Buttermilk mountain one morning. Besides getting terribly lost (we ended up going the super steep, long, and difficult way) I think we did very well!!! I'm really excited about the race next year. "eet's a race!"
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| View from the top |
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| "download" riding DOWN a lift was a new experience! |
All in all it was a wonderful weekend full of sunshine, snow, wind in your face, snow at your feet, good friends and good food! I can't wait to hit the slopes again this weekend. This time, Arapahoe Basin with Trisha (a PT friend from one of my rotations during school). I can't wait!!!
