It was one of those days on the t-bar…crazy cold, hammering
sideways snow pelleting your face, limited visibility, no one up there. The kind of day the skiing is amazing, you
have the mountain to yourself & you feel like a warrior.
People give me weird looks when I tell them how much I love
to ski Breckenridge. “Brecken-fridge”
“Breckenwind” they say. It was
one of those days on the t-bar today…hammering snow, sideways wind &
minimal visibility. The kind of day when
(even on a Saturday) you could ski right on the lift. The snow pelleted my
face, I had to focus on my fingers and toes and keep wiggling them to keep them
from becoming frostbitten and numb. I glided off at the top and skied past the
patrol hut. Tho I could barely see the terrain, I knew it well. I knew where to
turn to avoid the rocks that were hidden under the fresh snow and how to get in
to the bowl through the maze of trees and inconsistent rolls and fall-line.
Down Stampede and over to Queen. My ipod chirped ridiculously upbeat tunes and
kept me company and kept me energized. I did not see a soul. My legs felt loose
and in-tune with the terrain that was forgiving with the new 4-5 inches of
powder. My turns felt effortless as my skis snaked down the steep pitch. Every
run felt better….more electric, more confident. I skied down to town and walked
down Main Street to my shop with my skis on my shoulder and my goggles still
on. I was coated in snow. This morning was a perfect example of why I love to ski and
why I love Breckenridge…my backyard for 20 some years.
