Best Ski Days EVER!

I made it up to Kirkwood for my first days of skiing in the Sierras last weekend. Well, I tell you what, it was incredible. They had a major storm come through and dump up to 10 feet, that's right FEET, of snow in a few days. I got there just after they opened the road and got two days of fresh tracks through thigh-deep powder. I've never been so exhausted from skiing in all my days.
I had been a little nervous about the quality of the hill. I've never been so happy to be wrong before! The runs are short (in comparison to Louise, which isn't really fair) but there is great terrain off each lift. Yay!

Winter wonderland. Just outside Placerville where I had to buy chains for my car. The power was out so we did all the business by flashlight.

Rolly with his chains on

Coming down highway 50 towards South Lake Tahoe

Entering the resort area
So much snow!

The view from my room

View from my favorite run


They had just opened this area
All the fresh lines to be had on a bluebird day!

Hot Pants

Katie, Matthew, Tim, Will and I reluctantly went to Sunshine last weekend to get some spring skiing in. We were again pleasantly surprised by mid-season type conditions. Check out the pictures on BOS.

Still Alive

Sorry, I haven't been posting much lately. I guess all my creative computer time has recently been dedicated to facebook. I thought about getting rid of my blog since I don't pay enough attention to it lately, but then thought better of it. When I move away this will be the best way for people to stay up to date with what I'm doing (other than calling or visiting of course!) So until then I'll renew a conscious effort to post here.

For now I've got some fun pics from skiing last weekend. I only got a few videos last week so I'm going to save them for the end of the year video. Check the pictures out at the BOS site.

Third-Worst Crash Ever!

I had a great wipeout at Louise yesterday. After a quick poll of people who have seen two of my three bad crashes, this one ranks at third, but has the distinction of being the only one caught on film! Check it out on the BOS site. (And don't worry, I'm okay)

The Horse

Katie, Matthew and I went to Kicking Horse last weekend for the most amazing skiing any of us have ever had. Check it out on the BOS site.

Skiing!

I finally got out for my second day of skiing this year. Katie and I hit the slopes at Lake Louise for one of my top 10 days ever. Lots of powder, fresh tracks, not so huge crowds and great company made for a wonderful day on the slopes. Check out the BOS (Bitches on Skis) site for the full write-up, pictures and video!

Fursther exciting news related to skiing is that I have booked my next trip to California! I'm heading there for the Family Day long weekend in February. We're going to do a couple of days at Kirkwood in Lake Tahoe skiing/snowboarding and then back to Davis for a couple of days. Yay!

Skiing

I finally got out skiing for the first time this year. The hills opened last weekend but thanks to a lot of snow this past week, conditions were still wonderful. There were few rocks to be hit and lots of powder to be had. Dave and I went to Sunshine, which is my typical early-season hill, but I've heard Lake Louise is just as good right now. Perhaps I'll get there next time.

Much to my chagrin, Sunshine has followed Lake Louise's lead and is charging a $10 activation fee for the Direct-to-Lift access this year. It is the biggest rip-off in the world and there seems to be nothing you can do about it. The resorts know that it really pisses people off but they know they can get away with it because people don't want to wait in line. I don't know what burns my ass more, the fact that I am saving them money by having the option yet they still charge more for it, or that it's some of their most loyal customers that use the option and that's who they are screwing over. Either way, it's ridiculous.

Louise seems to always be one step ahead though. This year they are still charging the fee, but calling it a Louise Card "Plus" this time. The "plus" option gives you Direct-to-Lift but it also gives you the right to "first tracks" on the last Sunday of every month and 20% off in-resort food orders. Apparently this is their answer to last year's letters of complaint. I'll give it to them that they have done something, but it's not much.

I wrote a letter of complaint last year to Louise and will be doing the same for Sunshine this year. I recomend everyone else do the same. Here are the details for the Sunshine Card and their comment page if you feel like following suit.