What an adventure we had last night.
Lately every Thursday night we've been hiking up Vail Mtn. and riding down. I snowshoe up carrying my board and snowboard down. Dave skins up on his telemarks and skis down. There are usually about 8 people who join. It has become my favorite thing to do after work. You work hard to get up and then after hanging out you bundle up again for the surreal ride down. When the moon is big (like last week) we ride the snow awash in blue moonlight. At 9pm we are the only ones out there and it feels like you can touch the stars. It is nothing short of exhilarating. I can literally feel the endorphins pouring in.
Our friend Greg asked if we wanted to go up a different mountain, Sunlight near Glenwood Springs, with a group of friends that go every full moon. We didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. After almost a 2 hour drive we resigned ourselves to a later Wednesday night than expected. When we finally got to the parking lot it was too cloudy to see the full moon but the temperature was nice and the mountain looked exciting.
We started up the slope and then hit a pretty steep pitch. Not as far and high as Vail Mtn., which is about 2200 vertical ft. and 1.9 miles up, Sunlight is 1800 vertical ft. and 1.5 miles up. But believe me when I say it’s steep. With the board on my back I did my fair share of, um, heavy breathing. It's strange to get to the point where you’re working for every step (we go as fast as we can) counting 1-10 again and again (I don't know HOW people climb Everest) and at the very same time you're loving every minute of it. What is that?
We got to the warming hut and hung out for about an hour then started to head out. We knew it was snowing but upon opening the door we found at least 2" of powder and huge flakes falling along with intermittent gusts of wind. We soon realized the headlamps were not much help because skiing down a mountain with a light in wind and heavy snowfall is the equivalent of driving with your headlights on during a snowstorm - all you see are flakes darting straight at you, you can't see a thing in front of you. Basically you'll know it when you hit it. So Dave turned his headlamp around, I followed his light and turned mine off and we took 11pm powder turns with much whooping and hollering. I'd look up behind us and watch white lights (many kept theirs turned on) gently swirling down the mountain.
I felt as if I were floating while riding a board in the dark in powder. So present in the moment and living in a dream at the same time.
(Click the photo for a few more)
Lately every Thursday night we've been hiking up Vail Mtn. and riding down. I snowshoe up carrying my board and snowboard down. Dave skins up on his telemarks and skis down. There are usually about 8 people who join. It has become my favorite thing to do after work. You work hard to get up and then after hanging out you bundle up again for the surreal ride down. When the moon is big (like last week) we ride the snow awash in blue moonlight. At 9pm we are the only ones out there and it feels like you can touch the stars. It is nothing short of exhilarating. I can literally feel the endorphins pouring in.
Our friend Greg asked if we wanted to go up a different mountain, Sunlight near Glenwood Springs, with a group of friends that go every full moon. We didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. After almost a 2 hour drive we resigned ourselves to a later Wednesday night than expected. When we finally got to the parking lot it was too cloudy to see the full moon but the temperature was nice and the mountain looked exciting.
We started up the slope and then hit a pretty steep pitch. Not as far and high as Vail Mtn., which is about 2200 vertical ft. and 1.9 miles up, Sunlight is 1800 vertical ft. and 1.5 miles up. But believe me when I say it’s steep. With the board on my back I did my fair share of, um, heavy breathing. It's strange to get to the point where you’re working for every step (we go as fast as we can) counting 1-10 again and again (I don't know HOW people climb Everest) and at the very same time you're loving every minute of it. What is that?
We got to the warming hut and hung out for about an hour then started to head out. We knew it was snowing but upon opening the door we found at least 2" of powder and huge flakes falling along with intermittent gusts of wind. We soon realized the headlamps were not much help because skiing down a mountain with a light in wind and heavy snowfall is the equivalent of driving with your headlights on during a snowstorm - all you see are flakes darting straight at you, you can't see a thing in front of you. Basically you'll know it when you hit it. So Dave turned his headlamp around, I followed his light and turned mine off and we took 11pm powder turns with much whooping and hollering. I'd look up behind us and watch white lights (many kept theirs turned on) gently swirling down the mountain.
I felt as if I were floating while riding a board in the dark in powder. So present in the moment and living in a dream at the same time.
(Click the photo for a few more)