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JimK - DCSki Columnist

February 19, 2015 (edited February 19, 2015)

Member since 01/14/2004 🔗

2,997 posts

2015 Geezer Ski Bum Tour - DCSki #2

By Jim Kenney

Colorado Recap, Feb 18, 2015

Here is an update on my ski travels. I skied 13 out of 17 days since arriving in Minturn, CO on Feb 2. That also includes one day at Park City Mountain Resort, which is where I relocated to on Feb 17.

I had a great time in Colorado, skiing five days at Beaver Creek including spectating at several Alpine World Championship races. I skied four days at Vail and got a good taste of the back bowls, Blue Sky Basin, and the wacky Minturn Mile. I skied three days at Breckenridge including a one foot powder day on Feb 16.

My best breakfast was the Mega Boo Breakfast Burrito at the Turntable Restaurant in Minturn. It was mega enough that the leftovers fed me lunch too. My best dinner besides the numerous microwaved cans of soup and chili in my motel room was a bison burger at The Canteen Tavern/Restaurant in Breckenridge.

I am now staying in Chateau Apres Lodge circa 1964, one of the earliest ski lodges in Park City and only about two blocks from base of PCMR and Payday chairlift. I am trying to earn my ski bum cred by staying in the lodge’s dorm room at $40 per night including a decent continental breakfast. Tomorrow I am scheduled to ski with the legendary Crush of DCSki Forum fame and his keeper, the beautiful Mary. It should be a real trip!

Here are some photos that represent some of my recent activities. All photos by Jim Kenney

One day I came home from skiing and found a Skijouring competition beside my motel in Minturn. It was very cool and had a frenetic, almost circus-like energy.

Tina Maze from Slovenia was a big winner at the Alpine World Championships that took place while I was skiing in the Vail/Beaver Creek area. Here she is in center after taking the gold medal in the Women's Alpine Combined.

Many nights during the World Championships the town of Vail featured a free concert, this is the Barenaked Ladies.

I connected with a friend from Ohio at Breckenridge and we made a memorable run down one of the Lake Chutes. Here he is in action.

The area we skied is one of the rocky chutes (Zoot Chute) left of me.

One day I successfully figured out how to take public transportation from my motel in Minturn for the five miles to Vail. It cost $1 for a senior/geezer and involved two different buses. Then I took the crazy Minturn Mile backcountry route to my motel at the end of the day with three college kids who traveled at breakneck speed until this creek crossing finally slowed them down.

On Feb 14 I was sitting on a big rock in Vail’s Blue Sky Basin calling my wife to wish her Happy Valentine's Day when these kids popped up on the rock next to me. By the way, the name of the run was appropriate I guess, Lover’s Leap.

I enjoyed one foot of fresh snow at Breckenridge on 2/16, here following a friend I met from England.

One Feb 17 in the middle of nowhere, halfway between Breckenridge and Park City I came across a rugged and frozen body of water in northwest Colorado. That was a cool drive, ~300 miles on a two lane road in high ranch country. At one point the car radio was only receiving one FM station.

Taken 2/18/15. This is at about 10k feet on Jupiter Peak at Park City Mountain Resort. I ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich while sitting on a rock next to the dead tree on right. Utah has much less snow than Colorado, but you wouldn't know it from this photo.