we celebrated with a mexican dinner big enough for 4 :)

After staying at Eagle which was a bit less insanely overpriced than closer to the ski slopes (which was over $500/night), Arturo suggested spending the first day at Vail (friday) to avoid the crowds. It worked out well:

[html:h2}Day4: Vail[html:/h2}

Unfortunately I managed to slip on the ice and fall on my flow finding, which shattered it. It was broken beyond repair, but I was able to use my snowboard leach to fasten the backplate to my boot and the front part of the binding, which miraculously allowed me to board all day in difficult conditions. The only downside was that I had to stay strapped on to the board all day, which I sure did. Normally it's no big deal, but the wind chill was so cold that it was tough:

anyway, we went for work (oh yeah, the gopros didn't work, way too cold)

we eventually got to the back bowls, they opened late

thanks to Arturo for finding snow that wasn't icy

It took more snow and finding the right back bowls to get bottomless powder eventually. Arturo did a good job finding that, although the conditions were rough, low vis and really cold winds. After a while, the back bowls started closing and it was time to get back. Getting back to the front side at the end of the day, requires long lines:

We had some good tree runs though:

After that, we found a ski patrol sign to get out via a less congested route:

[html:h2}Day5: Beaver Creek[html:/h2}

Next day was Beaver Creek, not really any new snow, but great leftovers:

wonderful corderoy :)

After doing the corderoy, Arturo and I found heaps of wonderful trees with fresh pow:

Doing the trees was a *lot* of work, so we had a good lunch:

Pretty homerun:

We then relocated from Eagle to Karl and Suwei's condo at Keystone:

night skiing :)

[html:h2}Day6: BreckenRidge[html:/h2}

The next morning, we went to Breckenridge with Karl and Suwei. It was a bit icy by then unfortunately:

longer line to the t-chair

we got some more fresh snow

dinner

[html:h2}Day7: Keystone[html:/h2}

The 7th and last day, I went to Keystone. By then unfortunately most of the snow was poor quality outside of groomers, where I don't spend much time, but I went around to see the resort again:

happy dog

I went to the outback, which I forgot is actually kind of small. You can hike quite a while, but the way down is actaully not that long. Still, it's fun:

I did a few runs and eventually decided to head back:

I tried the trees down Santiago and some of the snow was actually pretty bad

By then, at the bottom of the chair, a liftie thought I somehow crossed a rope and went poaching what was really terrible snow. After he realized that there must have been some ropes missing and let it be. I was leaving by then anyway. Given the so-so snow I tried to leave earlier to catch an earlier flight home, but that didn't work:

The last 2 days were not the best snow, especially the last one, but overall this was a really good trip. Thanks to Arturo for having me.

[html:h2}Day1: Aspen/Ajax[html:/h2}

The next morning, we went to Aspen so that I could remind to Arturo that Aspen Mountain actually sucks and we should only go to Highlands or Snowmass. Still, since we were there, we snowboarded it to confirm it really wasn't a snowboarder mountain :)

if you miss one or 2 lifts kind of high up, you are stuck with going back to the bottom and taking the gondola back up

don't ask :)

nice view of the airport

We then went back to a restaurent we had been to years ago in Aspen. It wasn't quite the same level, but still good:

[html:h2}Day2: Aspen Snowmass[html:/h2}

The next morning we had a good amount of fresh snow, so we went to snowmass:

it's a bit of a bus ride

we started with campground

plenty of pow

Then, a "yellow jacket" appeared and messed things up. long story, had to go back to the bottom and wasted an hour and money, but that just allowed for more snow to fall and the powder to become bottomless:

KT Gully from the Cirque tow rope

[html:h2}Day3: Aspen Snowmass[html:/h2} Third day was a bluebird, we went back to Snowmass since we knew there was plenty of powder left:

found this guy up top

We then went up high alpine and did a couple of hanging valley runs before the side country gate closed:

worth the hike

instagram queen in action :)

nice valley down

back to alpine springs for another run

seems that my car is still barely able to make it to kirkwood without charging despite the 10% loss since I bought it

I did charge in jackson and picked up another 30% to have a good margin

Carson Spur looked nice

The next morning, we didn't get the 18" we were hoping for, but still got a good 8" which wasn't bad (plus 9" during the day)

lines weren't terrible for a sunday

Chair 6 opened 30mn behind, not too bad

nice storm nonetheless

The wall opened just before 11:00, which was nice

Lots of pow

The next night didn't have more snow, but was able to catch up with TODOs

Kirkwood really sucks now, only a single charger left with 2 ports (used to be 10)

Monday was a bluebird:

Went in line for chair 2 and backside for when it was going to open at 11:00

first time doing the backside this season

fawn ridge delivered as always

Vista was unfortunately closed

After 2 good days, it was a reasonably easy drive home, although 88 was icy for quite a while and there were multiple accidents:

got home by using 56%, not bad