Nate cruising by, on my first day at Beaver Creek!
Here comes Emily, Nate's girlfriend. [Beav]
Hi Em! [Beav]
Em was even linking turns :) [Beav]
Staff were struggling to get the cornices on the roof to drop, throwing ropes up to cut the snow, which was 2+ ft thick up there. [Beav]
Luxury homes on the slopes in Arrowhead, the westernmost part of Beaver Creek. [Beav]
Heavy snow! [Beav]
Vail! This is mid Vail, one of the chairlift hubs that leads to the summit of Vail mountain.
Greg, Adam and I at Mountaintop Patrol Headquarters, Vail, overlooking the Sun Up Bowl.
Greg & I hitting the Sun Up Bowl in deep fluffy snow. [Vail]
Greg attempted a couple of action shots for me. [Vail]
This was my first black diamond run. [Vail]
All crashes were the same; puff of snow, no injuries, and lots of laughter. [Vail]
Moments before face plant, thanks to a mogul. [Vail]
Sun Up Bowl, one of the enormous back bowls of Vail.
Greg shot this great view further along the edge of Sun Up from where we were. [Vail]
Back to Beaver Creek, as the sign says, only choice of runs are double black diamond. Guess I'll be trying my first double black then!
Blair and Tim. [Beav]
On a groomed black diamond. [Beav]
Blair and I enjoying Beaver Creek afternoon sunshine. [Beav]
A Lego Volvo! [Beav]
Real wheels. [Beav]
Beaver Ice Sculptures. [Beav]
An enormous Xmas tree at Vail Village. The Xmas decorations last all winter.
Vail village by night.
Adventure Ridge, Vail.
Australia Day at Vail! Looking out from Adventure Ridge.
Mad beanie hair.
A fleet of grooming machines parked up on Adventure Ridge. [Vail]
Accidentally snapped Nate while trying to set the timer. [Vail]
Stuffed the timer up once again, I look like I'm pointing at him. [Vail]
Lets go this way, down the Morning Side Ridge black diamond on the Sun Down Bowl. [Vail]
Nate shredding through knee deep powder at the Sun Down Bowl. [Vail]
Still carving. [Vail]
Snoooow [Vail]
The panty tree on the High Noon Lift. [Vail]
The spectacular Gore Range. [Vail]
The China Bowl from the Oriental Express Lift, Vail.
The Gore Range again. [Vail]
The Gore Range as seen from Vail.
In Vail Village on Australia Day.
Nate, with his new Never Summer board. [Vail]
Snow covered the bridge over the river. [Vail]
The river flowing through Vail.
Saw this nice shot while waiting at the bus stop for the free shuttle back to our car park. [Vail]
Copper Mountain Village, Colorado.
The Resolution Bowl, Copper Mountain.
Sara at the top of Andy's Encore, Copper Mountain.
Sara and AJ [Copper]
Me at the top of Andy's Encore, Copper Mountain.
A run with my brother's name! Lucky him. [Copper]
Torn parka, a tree branch came out and bit me. [Copper]
Copper Station, Copper Mountain.
The Continental Divide at Copper Mountain.
Above the Resolution Chair, Copper Mountain.
Frozen mountains. [Copper]
Didn't quite nail it, so went for another one, look in the background again. I didn't have any idea till I loaded the photos on the laptop! [Copper]
Better view of the Copper spire.
Afternoon sunhine turns snowy hillsides to gold.
Snow clouds lit by the afternoon sun.
Snow covered equipment at Mary Jane, Winter Park Colorado.
The 2008 Winter X Games at Aspen Snowmass, Snowcross Freestyle backflip.
The rider comes over to work the crowd.
Freestyle Snowmobile eliminations.
Superman.
Ramping off the steep jump and landing on a mound of snow.
There's something for the kids too! A mini terrain park had a bunch of kids trying tricks on snow skates.
Official Winter X Games snowmobile staff.
Men's Ski Freestyle finals, a successful 720.
The 2008 Winter X Games at Aspen Snowmass (bought a new hoodie coz it was freaking cold).
The crowd gathers for the freestyle events, the main event being the men's snowboard superpipe finals.
Two competitors busting air on warmups.
The camera pans across the crowd as everyone is blasted with blowing snow and freezing wind.
A competitor catches huge air.
Shaun White cruising to a dominating victory in the Men's Snowboard Superpipe Freestyle finals.
At the top of the aptly named Panoramic Express, Mary Jane, Winter Park.
John and Sarah at the top of Mary Jane, Winter Park Colorado.
Snow Superheroes. [Mary Jane / Winter Park]
Me at Mary Jane, Winter Park Colorado.
Sara waves on the side of a pretty crazy natural pipe at Mary Jane.
A fun black diamond. [Mary Jane / Winter Park]
The top of the Challenger run in the afternoon. [Mary Jane, Winter Park]
Did whatshisname get back to you today? Who? Deez nuts! [Winter Park]
Sara and I at Hernandos in Winter Park.
AJ, me and John at Hernandos. [Winter Park]
James chillin at the entrance to the terrain park while I teach Todd how to take photos. [Beav]
Hmm, what's that? [Beav]
Got something for ya Todd...hehehe [Beav]
James and I. [Beav]
The crew infront of the Beaver Creek Chophouse in the main village.
Todd & I at Beaver Creek.
Nate & I at Beaver Creek.
Todd made a fork hang from his knife somehow! [Beav]
Good morning fellas.
The stream at Keystone.
In line at Keystone making for the South Bowl.
Todd & I on the hike to the South Bowl, Keystone.
A timer shot of our favourite black diamond glade run. [Keystone]
It's snowing. [Keystone]
The Okla boys. [Keystone]
Monty. [Keystone]
Nate again. [Keystone]
At the top of our glade runs, Black Forest, Timberwolf and Bushwacker. [Keystone]
Todd + powder = a smile. [Keystone]
Making the most of the sunshine. [Keystone]
Me, at Keystone.
Nate threw a snowball at my head! [Keystone]
I picked up a bunch of snow and threw it back :) [Keystone]
Todd & Nate catching a breather. [Keystone]
Italian dinner at Keystone.
Dusk at Keystone, and the Okla crew.
Todd, Monty & I. [Keystone]
Keystone night shot, after I got snow on the lens.
Todd catching air the next day again at Keystone on our favourite runs.
Nate rolling down the windows. [Keystone]
Nate on a snowy last day at Vail.
Monty jumping off chair 4. [Vail]
Snowy trees. [Vail]
Todd & I at Sun Up Bowl. [Vail]
Todd blazing powder on Shangri-la, China Bowl. [Vail]
Todd in the Shangri-la forest. [Vail]
Cool backdrop. [Vail]
Snow covered branches in the forest of Shangri-la, China Bowl, Vail.
Lot of snow for a small tree. [Vail]
Monty's receiving some camera training. [Vail]
It didn't do much good; this cloud of powder was supposed to be Todd's jump. [Vail]
Another test shot... [Vail]
And snapped too early :) [Vail]
Pretty much sums it up for me. [Vail]
Todd, a pregnant Nate, and me. [Vail]
Nate needs to pee again.
Downtown Frisco in the grip of a snow storm.
Driving to Breckenridge to return the boy's ski gear.
My driving wasn't that bad.
An injured, but relaxed post-pee Nate.
An approaching snow storm in Frisco. Waiting in traffic because of a 12 car pileup on westbound I-70.
Met up with Tony (center) who would drive the guys back to Denver, and they'd fly out the next morning.
Atrocious conditions on the way home, stuck in traffic left over from the 12 car pileup at Frisco.
The RTP crew at the ridge of the China Bowl, Vail.
The summit of Blue Sky Basin, Vail.
RTP Ski Day! [Vail]
Lunch at Gilligans. [Vail]
Kids play on mini snowcats. [Vail]
Arapahoe Basin, Colorado.
The Continental Divide. [A-Basin]
My favourite peak at A-Basin, a bunch of craggy spires.
A-Basin, overlooking the Montezuma Bowl with Breckenridge in the distance.
The Montezuma Bowl, Keystone and Breckenridge are visible into the distance. [A-Basin]
Amusing signs...the left one reads RESCUE from this area is difficult and time consuming. PLEASE SKI RESPONSIBLY. [A-Basin]
Trademark Colorado blue sky, amazing contrast with the white snow. [A-Basin]
Mike and his friends at the East Wall, A-Basin.
Traversing the East Wall under deep blue sky, A-Basin.
Snow boulders of an avalanche on the East Wall at A-Basin. Like snowboarding across bricks.
Spring skiing just aint spring skiing without a beverage. [A-Basin]
Cheers Mike! [A-Basin]
The Aussie flag flies at A-Basin.
A-Basin's a smaller ski resort but with different terrain and high elevation.
The Frisco Lake.
The town of Dillon.
Beaver Creek Village from Strawberry Park. [Beav]
Sarah with Mark and Gail. [Vail]
A random snow bunny ;) [Vail]
Sarah at the Sun Up Bowl. [Vail]
Overlooking Beaver Creek village.
Enormous mansions in the exclusive residential area of McCoy, Beaver Creek.
This enormous house was covered in snow and icycles. [Beav]
Sarah & I at the Ritz Carlton in Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek.
Pre-work powder session at Larkspur Bowl, Beaver Creek.
Ice Skating in Beaver Creek Village.
Andy grabs an action shot of me!
Powder falls on the final weekend of the season. Vail.
The last day of the season is home to the pond skimming competition! Skiiers and snowboarders line up in costumes to go down the long jump and try to skim the water. I think this guy is a Viking.
The Pizza delivery boy.
Snow is everywhere on this cold final day of the season, here I'm with my neighbours, Blair and Megan and one of Megan's friends.
It's the first weekend of spring, and I got invited to a treasure hunt! Put on every year by my friends Craig and Amber, invite only, it's a time to soak up the spring sun in whatever costume you got.
Hunting for treasure...nah clues actually. We figured one was somewhere in this kid's cubby house.
Found it! Looks like a symbol out of Heroes the TV show. Took a photo of it coz we didn't have pen & paper.
The problem sheet was cryptic and the clues were at various spots on the mountain if you could decipher the problem.
Haha, the good ol Pirates bag and eye patches. Little did we know, that this clue was actually part of SOMEONE ELSE's hunt, our clue was on the actual Straight Shot run. We still got points though!
There was a clue here somewhere, but we couldn't find it :) Turned out to be above us at a spot that you had to hike to! Way too hard.
Another clue in the back bowls.
Thom from work, aka Jesus, caught up to us, after having a good stack & tumble on the chunky sun baked snow up above.
Drinking some seriously strong margaritas at Blue Sky Basin after the hunt.
Craig and Amber (Santa's helper) announce the winners.
The entire group of nutters.
Mike and Ryan (aka chewie)
Chewie and the Gorilla wrestle as the guy in pink tries to jump in front of the camera.
The Designator (left) and The Fang (right), the two largest ice waterfalls in Vail.
The Fang, at 50m high and over 8m wide at the base.
Size comparison.
The Fang Ice Waterfall, East Vail, Colorado
Looking up the rear face of The Fang.
From under a broken ice column next to the cliff.
A second stalagtite of ice is only just joined to the east side of the pillar.
Spectacular gully.
Close up of icicles on The Designator fall.
The Fang, in early spring.
The view out from the gully.
Hiking in the Aspen forests of East Vail.
The view from Aspen village on a warm spring morning.
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It's snowed outside.
My bike is hanging outside from hooks.
Wet snow from the evening sticks to the trees.
The bedroom.
Nate, Mike and I at the Larkspur Bowl before work.
Powder day.
Another beautiful sculpture in Beaver Creek village.
Snow dusts the outdoor furniture and sculptures, while gas fires warm those who want to stop by.
Snow all but obscures the creek.
A leaky drain pipe creates a miniature ice fall in the car park at Beaver Creek.
Nate and I in the heaviest white out conditions of our season. The trees on the edge of the run, barely 30 yards away, are nearly invisible. Insane powder.
Nate tries a little air on the Stickline run, after a squad of adolescent girl skiiers came flying down the double black diamond run busting jumps and dodging trees making us feel very outmatched.
Nate, Andrew and I on my first out-of-bounds backcountry skiing (technically).
Skiing in deep soggy snow down the ridge east of the Larkspur Bowl.
Out of bounds at Beaver Creek.
Sarah, Andrew and I having lunch at the Beaver Creek chophouse on a perfect day ending the season.
Last day of the season at Breckenridge.
Approaching Breckenridge on it's last day of the season.
Soon before arrival after 10 mins on the Gondola.
Enjoying beers and deck chairs in the snow, both of us are injured after all.
Sarah and her friend Kim who is also a nurse at VVMC.
Costumes were everywhere, like the guy behind me in the weird suit, hat and bugs eye goggles.
Me, Sarah, Kim and Kim's boyfriend.
Some dudes in skirts and drag.
Everyone hanging out in the warm sun on chairs, with beer and BBQ. Doesn't get much better than this.
Wind swirls around the peaks and blows snow hundreds of feet into the air.
Scenic Breckenridge from the village. The peaks of the continental divide glisten in the afternoon sun above the runs.
An enormous cornice runs for about a mile along this ridge.
The awesome mountains of Breckenridge, harsh, windswept and steep.
The lake at Dillon, still frozen over solid at the end of the ski season.
May 1st late-season snow storm.
Coming down thick at work.
My new CO plates.
Despite melting, there was about a foot of snowfall.
In the afternoon, setting sun rays caught the trees and made everything turn red.
Pines laden with snow.
The U-Haul trailer after the trip behind Sarah's Dad's truck. Coated in ice road spray.
The U-Haul dude scrapes the ice off in huge blocks with a shovel.
A luxury home in Eagle Vail.
Mike Gehard models the clear goggles and headlamp.
MikeG, me and Rich, though I forgot to cover my headlamp and it's snowing.
Rich shows where he tore off the base of the ski blade on his left foot after edging hard to avoid running over Josh.
Ski Biking is insane fun.
Craig and Nate acting up in the Gondola.
Laura
Getting around is a combination of pushing and sliding like ice skating.
MikeG fired up!
Craig brought extra cranial protection, coz he knew who he was ski biking with.
Ready to ski bike!
This guy spent the evening completely out of control.
All smiles after the first run!
Crazy stuff.
I'm showing the guys photos.
Karaoke afterwards at Garfinkels
