April 17, Back Bowls and woods

Sarah and Todd poaching some lines in Blue Sky Basin (click for full size)

5 inches of new snow in many places, but only 3 inches in others. It was an o.k. day but a bit of a disappointment. There was a layer of crust underneath the powder which made the sledding a bit rough and a difficult ride. For sure, the last ride of the season. Plenty of snow mind you, but we are tired and ready for beach and biking. Adam Baker at one point flipped (rode) his sled on top of Todd Moyer's sled. Ouch. The Back Bowls of Vail were not in very good condition. Everything set-up underneath. We found better riding over by Vail Pass. But then we got into many thick trees. Perhaps the Back Bowls will be better next year.

Sarah kisses a tree

Sarah gets the saw out to give the tree a hair cut in order to free her sled

Well, that is ONE way to stop a sled


Baker in the powder

Baker Landing

Another jump

Ratz in the trees (bad)

Snow up at the top of Vail Pass

End of Season Party April 13th

Good party on top of the mountain this season. Huge numbers of people and finally a day where the weather was warm and sunny.

Picnic time

Costumes
Too much to drink

Celebration

Crowds everywhere

On the way down the hill

April 11 More snow

An Early Friday morning ride. Snowing hard the whole day. Vail reported 13 inches of new snow and 24 inches in the last 4 days. Vail has received 457 inches this ski season. Base is 81 inches at mid-mountain as of April 12th. Sarah had to work on Friday, so I took out Eric for his first snowmobile ride of the season. He did awesome. On the way up we ran into 3 cross country skiers who got lost and spent the night out in a snow cave. They were trying to get to the Eisman hutt. They were dehydrated and needed some water. They looked in pretty rough shape but they were almost down anyhow. After we left them, we hit the powder fields. Here are a couple of pics. Eric got some good ones including a movie I hope to post later. Click on any pics for full size.

We found some deep snow (click it)

Eric learning how to Carve

Video of the powder

"I can't see!"

Eric posing

Not bad for April 11th