Keystone got 4 inches of fresh last night, and opened at 9 am today with three lifts (Summit quad, the gondola, and Montezuma) and two trails (actually one way to the bottom): Spring Dipper, and River Run. 2300 feet of vert is the most in Colorado at the moment.

People started showing up at 4 am to try to get season's first chair. Not me; I showed up at 9:15, and  started skiing at 9:30 after the mass of people at the base of the gondola were already on the mountain. The first run was ungodly crowded, and I spent as much time looking uphill as I did downhill. Then a funny thing happened - every subsequent run was a little less crowded. I had expected it to get more crowded as the day progressed. I guess people were out to do one or two runs and notch opening day.

It was very wintery. It snowed lightly all day. The temp pretty much stayed at 20. There was also a stiff wind of maybe 20-25 mph, so I guess the wind chill was in the low single digits. Overall, it turned out to be a pleasant day. It is my first opening day since 1993. 

Now I have to decide whether or not to do the same thing next week when Breckenridge opens. I probably won't, but I am tempted.

http://www.alpinereplay.com/stats?id=75511&vId=470088