Well it’s that time of year folks….get out your boards and tune them up because the snow is flying and most ski areas are up, running and nearly 100% open. And don’t forget conditioning. It’s my guess that if you haven’t already started your ski exercise program you’re going to be toast so better get your sorry self off the couch and get going!!!
Here’s the scoop on areas that you can day ski to from the ranch:
Wolf Creek: 100% open and 66 inch base!!!!
Monarch: Open terrain: 100 % Easy & More Difficult and 83 % Most Difficult. Great early season conditions! 39 inch base
Angel Fire: Opens December 10th, reporting a 24 inch base
Taos: 50% open sporting a 33 inch base
MJ’s pick of the week: MONARCH
We picked Monarch for our first day of skiing this season because the drive is comparable to that of Wolf Creek (~3 ˝ hrs depending on stops in Whiz-consin or PEE- oria) and because they were offering early seasons rates at $27. While I love Wolf, I couldn’t see spending $43 a ticket especially when Monarch had 33 inches in the previous 4 days.
Below find some shots of newcomers Steve & Sheryl Smith skiing with Mike and I at Monarch on December 1. This is the best early season skiing I have seen since moving to Colorado. The Smiths, originally from Arizona, have never skied anywhere but Arizona and were pleased with the slopes and quality of the snow. Steve commented that he had never heard snow squeak when skiing. Weird. Do they really have skiing in the desert? I guess it’s kind of like skiing in Iowa. Find a lump that can hold snow and call it a ski area.
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| Check out the corduroy and crowds……definite advantage to weekday skiing. It was a beautiful, sunny day but brrry. From left to right: Steve, Mike and Sheryl |
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| Sheryl and Steve haven’t skied for 3 years and Sheryl was concerned about getting on and off the lift |
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| Look at the terror on Sheryl’s face…… looks like Steve has the right idea…veer right!!! |
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| The Smiths on top of the Continental Divide with ME! Look at all that snow! |
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| Mike demonstrating to Steve how much snow can be displaced when performing a hockey stop correctly. I have a feeling that Steve has not seen the end of these lessons. |
Stay tuned for more amazing but true ski stories.
Remember to always finish your turns and keep the flat side down…………
MJ
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