Monkey See, Monkey Do

When discussing the philosophical points of teaching skiing, we often spout out the mantra, "monkey see, monkey do," meaning if I model a perfect parallel turn time after time for some kid from Arkansas, they will inherently pick up on it and learn the same perfect turns. Take this philosophy to a different level of skiing - for instance, Tyler and I sitting on the couch watching pro skiers huck themselves off 80 foot cliffs in the most bad-ass TGR films - and you get end of the season pictures like this one. Granted, this hit is nowhere close to 80 feet, but for us it was an incredible culmination to a season spent pushing ourselves and our skiing on the slopes of Snowmass. Tyler got to be the model because I was the only one who could find a camera, but also cause he was styling his new jacket. This is his best hit of the season, one we estimated was at least 25 feet, and which he stomped in perfect style.

Four days before closing - there was plenty of fresh powder and almost nobody around to track it up. We warmed up the day with a couple laps on Gowdy's, supposedly the steepest run in the Aspen resorts. I remember the first time we skied this run a few months ago, inching over the lip at the top and carefully checking our speed with every turn. Today we took turns launching the lip and then ripping GS turns to the bottom, where ten seconds later we would stop and watch as our buddies dropped in 400 feet above us. To me this was amazing proof of what a 100 day season and the will to improve can yield.

This is one of our favorite hits, located at the bottom of the run Baby Ruth. A couple months ago we were scared to death to temp fate by scraping over this one, which we called an 18 footer, but on this day Tyler hit it with speed and took off from way above the rocks. Like every hit all day we both stomped the landing and ripped away to the laughing, whooping, screaming good powder in the trees below. I just gotta thank Tyler for being such a rad skiing partner cause the season wouldn't have been the same without him, and don't worry Mom and Dad, we always wear our helmets.

"Baldy One" Couloir - GS Turns in the Mist

Dakota and Kristo were in town for the past two days to finish off the ski season, which we did at Highlands on Sunday, despite the rain. On Monday we went back country skiing just outside of the Snowmass ski resort, using the lifts to gain about 3,500 free verts. Joining us were my friends from ski school, Jemma and Lee. Jemma is a fun-loving Kiwi who works here in the winters, and Lee is an American turned New Zealand resident who also teaches skiing year round. The weather was quite variable throughout the day, but it began with us freezing in low dense clouds on the lifts. Eventually we reached the top of the resort and began climbing up a ridge through a second, higher, cloud layer which oddly enough was sweltering hot and had us all down to our tee shirts. After no more than half an hour we found ourselves on top of a sub-peak of Mt. Baldy at around 13,000ft. The couloirs which dropped off the ridge from beyond this point looked a little less filled in, so we decided we would ski to the west down a huge broad gully coated with about six inches of fresh powder. Here is Lee and Jemma joining us on the top.

After putting on our skis the clouds rolled in thick and we were forced to wait for a quick break to begin our descent. Dakota won a quick game of rock, paper, scissors, and took the first turns with Jemma looking on. The snow was fresh and heavy and the turns were great. Unfortunately we were continually plagued by the mist.

The bottom half of the run turned into a huge gully between cliff bands. It was not too steep, and the thick fresh snow was super supportive for big, fast, GS turns. I had the luck of getting the freshies through here, and ripped it for all I was worth, giggling and whooping the whole way. I stopped to take photos and Lee passed on by, charging down with Kristo and Dakota watching. Moments later he suffered a spectacular wipe-out, and I took the chance to lead through some fun little airs out the bottom of the chute. Our adventure was only beginning, as we now had to ski about three miles down the valley. The rain that began falling contributed to the super weak snow pack, and at times we were sinking to our knees with our skis on! Eventually we reached the melt-out zone, which around here has already risen to about 10,000ft and had to do a bit of walking. From here we were able to curve around and get back on to the trails of Snowmass, where we wasted no time making our way to the bar at the base. A super great day skiing with good friends, both new and old.

Powder Skiing with Tyler Barret

Yesterday was without doubt the best day of powder skiing I have had all season, and at least part of that is due to the fact I was skiing with Tyler. I met Tyler at the beginning of the season when we auditioned for the ski school at Snowmass, and he has been my best skiing partner of the season.

Tyler is from Jersey via New Hampshire, and is simultaneously trying to become a professional musician and skier. He's pretty damn good at both. He will always tell you what's on his mind, most often loudly and rudely, tells really long stories, has to be dragged out of bed in the morning to ski(or work), rarely shaves, and is really fun to ski with. We have had some amazing powder days together, shared knowing looks while trying to teach unruly classes, and hucked some decent airs. If only he would get a hold of an AT setup.

Today was everything that the weathermen predicted - deep. Certainly the most snow that has fallen in a day all season, and the full parking lot at Highlands confirmed our fears that everyone else was taking a powder day also. It was so deep that I really couldn't be bothered to stop and take pictures, oh well. We never managed the Bowl like planned, but skied epic laps on the Temerity lift all morning waiting for the bombing to end. Eventually we decided to head to the lower mountain, where we found chute after chute of almost completely untracked powder. And ski it we did, until I literally couldn't stand on my feet. Man, I love skiing.

Epic Powder on Highland Bowl

Yesterday might have been my best powder day of the year. Tuesday when I went to bed I told myself I would do three laps in Highland Bowl the next day. I woke up yesterday morning and checked the Internet to find that it had snowed overnight. Yes, this was gonna be a good day!

Highland Bowl is certainly the jewel of Aspen Highlands ski resort. It rises to 12,392 feet, 750 feet above the summit of Loge Peak, the top of the highest lift. Then it drops for around 1,450 feet, meaning you get twice as much downhill verts as you have to earn hiking uphill. It's also blessed with a Northeast aspect, meaning with the prevailing winds it can get nice and wind loaded, making for some deep powder some days. Like yesterday.

I arrived at around nine, with plenty of time to take a warm-up run in the Steeplechase area before the bowl opened. My friend Tyler called, and I told him to meet me hiking the bowl, but I never ended up seeing him. No friends on a powder day I guess. I caught the first cat ride up, which takes you about a third of the way up if you catch it, and started skinning up the ridge in a white-out. The hike went quick, and I had first tracks down G-8, one of the longest runs straight off the summit. Man was it good. So good.

One lap finished, I headed back up the ridge, but from the bottom this time because that cat wasn't running. The sun was poking through a bit by now, and the dream of a nice blue-bird powder day was on its way. Thirty five minutes later I was ready to drop off the left side of the summit down Ozone, which in a super thigh burning push I took all the way to the lift. Needed some rest after that one.

After resting for a few minutes I got back on the cat with my friend Amy from ski school, intending to bail early on this lap and jump in well before the top. But as my luck would have it, right as we stepped off the cat a patroller strolled by, saying he was opening the North Woods as soon as he got there. My thighs muscled up for one last push, and I almost ran myself into the ground trying to keep up with the patroller. From the top we skied down the East Ridge to the North Woods Gate. The North Woods cover an amazing flank of the bowl with perfect glades, steep open pitches, and today - epic powder. About seven of us rushed hooping into the woods for fresh tracks all the way down. No more bowl left in me after that run.

What a day - and they're calling for more than a foot again tomorrow!