Mags
02-09-2009, 01:22
Now that I am unemployed slacker bum, I have been able to finally regain a social life. The simple pleasures in life are again being enjoyed.
I watched a friend's slide show on her Everest journey (http://monty-val-everest.blogspot.com/) (and saw many friends I had not seen in a while), celebrated a good friend's birthday one evening, and was able to spend two days in row reconnecting with people in the place where I met many of them in the first place: In the mountains. Enjoying nature. And simply love being outside.
On Feb 7th, I was finally able to hook up with the Zapins and go on a much postponed snowshoe trip. I only snowshoe once or twice a year now. And it is with them. :) (I refuse to do snowshoe dates now! :D).
As always, it was a pleasure taking a simple stroll along the creek, enjoying them mountain scenery and again being astounded at the infectious delight a two year old can bring to any situation. When I briefly post-holed in the snow, it was cause for laughter. The brook was something to look at and wonder. The pace of a two year old is slow. But is also a pace of discovery, laughter and exploring. We should all act like a two years old at some point when we enjoy the outdoors.
http://www.pmags.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19425&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=158f6a108699d777501af01d86cff832
After this outing, we had (at least in my case!) a little too much food at the AYCE Nepalse buffett. Mmmm...
On Feb 8th, I organized another explatory ski tour.
Part of me is torn about leaving in February to go hiking. I have grown to love Nordic backcountry touring. (http://home.comcast.net/%7Epinnah/DirtbagPinner/dirtbag.html) It is perhaps my favorite way to explore the mountains in winter. Simply gliding along the snow. Being deep in the woods. Realizing that winter is not a time to be inside, but to see a different facet of the mountains I love.
The chosen loop this time was the Spruce Creek Trail. Just outside of Breckenridge, CO, this loop would be about 8 miles in length and would offer awesome single track through wooded terrain and a quick descent down a narrow jeep road. Little did we know how quick the descent would prove to be. :o
http://www.pmags.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19460&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=158f6a108699d777501af01d86cff832
The trail indeed started off on rolling single track. Classic backcountry terrain! Lightly falling snow, fairly warm and views of the cloud covered mountains. What could be better?
Just before a longish descent, there was a flat spot perfect for a break. And a perfect time to pull out the cake and candles I packed in. It was d-low's 33rd birthday!
http://www.pmags.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19472&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=158f6a108699d777501af01d86cff832
The label says 22 oz for you oz counting weenies... :)
After noshing on some cake, we had a fun descent down the old jeep track.
We climbed up again after the descent, ran in an area that looked a tad sketchy (looked avalanche prone!) and made our way across one a time.
After this obstacle was crossed, we made our way to Francies Cabin to perhaps warm up.
http://www.pmags.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19492&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=158f6a108699d777501af01d86cff832
At the cabin, the guests were very friendly. We stayed for perhaps twenty minutes (so as to not overstay our welcome), had a light lunch and drank our ever handy thermoses of hot beverages. As a small thank you, I left the leftover cake with the newly arrived guests.
http://www.pmags.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19494&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=158f6a108699d777501af01d86cff832
After this welcome break, we started our descent. The snow was coming down a little harder. The temperatures dropped. The beauty was perhaps even better.
http://www.pmags.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19501&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=158f6a108699d777501af01d86cff832
We all then came to a junction. The crux of the day: A descent down Crystal Creek Rd.
http://www.pmags.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19503&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=158f6a108699d777501af01d86cff832
Though the topo lines looked steep, we figured it would not tax our abilities. Little did we realize how packed down this narrow jeep road was currently. A deceiving thin layer of powder over hard packed trail. There was much aggressive snow plowing, butt plants and resorting to my Catholic roots for choice epithets. We all had similar experiences.
At the end of the descent, I waited for some of my other friends and looked at my map. Perhaps backtracking and taking a more gradual road may have been better in these snow conditions. Doh! :o
After this survival skiing, we all had that most wonderful of post ski traditions: BEER!
Another great day in the winter backcountry.
...and a few more days I will be exploring a different set of mountains. Time to return to the Appalachians. Time to again get back to my first, true, outdoor love: Long walks.
ALL THE SPRUCE CREEK PHOTOS (http://www.pmags.com/joomla/index.php/component/option,com_gallery2/Itemid,36/?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=19446&g2_page=1)
I watched a friend's slide show on her Everest journey (http://monty-val-everest.blogspot.com/) (and saw many friends I had not seen in a while), celebrated a good friend's birthday one evening, and was able to spend two days in row reconnecting with people in the place where I met many of them in the first place: In the mountains. Enjoying nature. And simply love being outside.
On Feb 7th, I was finally able to hook up with the Zapins and go on a much postponed snowshoe trip. I only snowshoe once or twice a year now. And it is with them. :) (I refuse to do snowshoe dates now! :D).
As always, it was a pleasure taking a simple stroll along the creek, enjoying them mountain scenery and again being astounded at the infectious delight a two year old can bring to any situation. When I briefly post-holed in the snow, it was cause for laughter. The brook was something to look at and wonder. The pace of a two year old is slow. But is also a pace of discovery, laughter and exploring. We should all act like a two years old at some point when we enjoy the outdoors.
http://www.pmags.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19425&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=158f6a108699d777501af01d86cff832
After this outing, we had (at least in my case!) a little too much food at the AYCE Nepalse buffett. Mmmm...
On Feb 8th, I organized another explatory ski tour.
Part of me is torn about leaving in February to go hiking. I have grown to love Nordic backcountry touring. (http://home.comcast.net/%7Epinnah/DirtbagPinner/dirtbag.html) It is perhaps my favorite way to explore the mountains in winter. Simply gliding along the snow. Being deep in the woods. Realizing that winter is not a time to be inside, but to see a different facet of the mountains I love.
The chosen loop this time was the Spruce Creek Trail. Just outside of Breckenridge, CO, this loop would be about 8 miles in length and would offer awesome single track through wooded terrain and a quick descent down a narrow jeep road. Little did we know how quick the descent would prove to be. :o
http://www.pmags.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19460&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=158f6a108699d777501af01d86cff832
The trail indeed started off on rolling single track. Classic backcountry terrain! Lightly falling snow, fairly warm and views of the cloud covered mountains. What could be better?
Just before a longish descent, there was a flat spot perfect for a break. And a perfect time to pull out the cake and candles I packed in. It was d-low's 33rd birthday!
http://www.pmags.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19472&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=158f6a108699d777501af01d86cff832
The label says 22 oz for you oz counting weenies... :)
After noshing on some cake, we had a fun descent down the old jeep track.
We climbed up again after the descent, ran in an area that looked a tad sketchy (looked avalanche prone!) and made our way across one a time.
After this obstacle was crossed, we made our way to Francies Cabin to perhaps warm up.
http://www.pmags.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19492&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=158f6a108699d777501af01d86cff832
At the cabin, the guests were very friendly. We stayed for perhaps twenty minutes (so as to not overstay our welcome), had a light lunch and drank our ever handy thermoses of hot beverages. As a small thank you, I left the leftover cake with the newly arrived guests.
http://www.pmags.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19494&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=158f6a108699d777501af01d86cff832
After this welcome break, we started our descent. The snow was coming down a little harder. The temperatures dropped. The beauty was perhaps even better.
http://www.pmags.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19501&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=158f6a108699d777501af01d86cff832
We all then came to a junction. The crux of the day: A descent down Crystal Creek Rd.
http://www.pmags.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19503&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=158f6a108699d777501af01d86cff832
Though the topo lines looked steep, we figured it would not tax our abilities. Little did we realize how packed down this narrow jeep road was currently. A deceiving thin layer of powder over hard packed trail. There was much aggressive snow plowing, butt plants and resorting to my Catholic roots for choice epithets. We all had similar experiences.
At the end of the descent, I waited for some of my other friends and looked at my map. Perhaps backtracking and taking a more gradual road may have been better in these snow conditions. Doh! :o
After this survival skiing, we all had that most wonderful of post ski traditions: BEER!
Another great day in the winter backcountry.
...and a few more days I will be exploring a different set of mountains. Time to return to the Appalachians. Time to again get back to my first, true, outdoor love: Long walks.
ALL THE SPRUCE CREEK PHOTOS (http://www.pmags.com/joomla/index.php/component/option,com_gallery2/Itemid,36/?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=19446&g2_page=1)