February 14
Today was a happy day for Snowmass skiers. An early morning snowstorm left three inches of light powder on the trails. We skied to the Gondola and ascended to the top of Elk Camp, where we ran trails through the woods for much of the morning. As the slopes became more congested, we dropped into the Two Creeks area to ski the West Fork Trail.
West Fork is a tour trail through the Aspen trees. Few people take the trail because it is hard to find and has limited vertical. But it is peaceful and scenic. Ultimately, the trail explodes into sharp downhill terrain requiring quick maneuvering.
After West Fork, we hydrated and ran the always fun Cascade Trail with fabulous untracked powder. And then it was into lunch. We ate with San Diego residents Cassie and Ben, whom we met a few days ago. Cassie has been an OR nurse at Scripps Memorial and has worked closely with Craig Swenson, who replaced both my hips. Ben is a product and creative manager with a start-up company.
I realized today that I am a noisy skier. I curse at bombing snowboarders, compliment people on their technique, and make the usual senior grunts and groans. I often make dry comments about what is happening around me on the slopes. Today, I was standing behind a tree feeling tired, and a woman skier asked if I was OK. I wasn’t sure if she was referring to my psychiatric or physiological condition, but I told her I was okay.
Tomorrow is our last day, and we will pack the car after skiing in the morning. Friday, we head out to Grand Junction and beyond to our destination of Cedar City on I-15.
For Mike Fetters
I'm going to be sorry to see this trip and its related stories come to an end....
Next year!