tseeb
Well-known member
We arrived about 9 am after checking out of Vail and stopping at Safeway for breakfast and lunch sandwiches and other supplies. It had been snowing since 6 am and was snowing heavily although wet at 7,500 foot parking. We took Centennial up and ski Red Tail to Birds of Prey Chair. There was about 2 inches which made for much better conditions than previous two hard days at Vail. We skied the untracked down Centennial to base and then took two chairs to top. I took my wife down Goshawk which she could easily do if smooth, but over 1,500 vertical feet of small to medium bumps covered with a little new snow had her cursing me by the bottom. She went in to recover and I took two runs on Grouse Mountain, once down Bald Eagle and once on Screech Owl, both of which had some untracked snow and many, big steep bumps.
My wife came back out and I went up Larkspur chair with her. I came down Loco which had untracked snow, but the east-facing Larkspur run my wife skied was quickly softening from the sun that came out by 10 am. I moved to Golden Eagle which was smoother than Goshawk as it had been groomed a day earlier, but had some icy spots, especially the entrance from Birds of Prey Chair. The entrance from the top was better and gives you over 2,500 vertical feet of sustained, steep fall-line. We had our Safeway sandwich at the lodge with sold Starbucks coffee for triple the usual price. It was our first day that it was warm enough to sit outside.
After lunch, I talked my wife into trying Grouse Mountain which gives you over 1,800 vertical feet in 5.5 minutes. She liked the groomers there and I was able to stay close and find some powder without too many bumps. We did that three times, including once when I skied over rope into Black Bear Glades. I wanted her to try Rose Bowl lift before she quit. We went down Sheephorn which was bumpy on right and groomed on left, then down Stone Creek Meadows which was too soft. We went up slow Rose chair and she headed down on Centennial while I skied Cataract which was much better as it’s steeper, faces north and did not have much traffic so it was still packed powder. In many places at Beaver Creek, I was able to sink more pole 18 inches as snow from storm a week ago had not been packed down.
I took Cinch lift to top and a snow shower started even though temperature was way above freezing. I took one more run down Golden Eagle from top, rode up Birds of Prey and came down Centennial and Buckboard to base. I just missed the chocolate chip cookies and stood there for a minute watching everyone eating theirs. My wife waved me down and I rode the first escalator down and passed the lady who was riding escalator up with tray of cookies so I was able to get one. Then I found my wife had been waiting for me where warm cookies where coming out so I got a couple more before going down next two escalators to catch bus to free parking.
19 runs (really counting lifts) for third day in a row. 32K vertical. Vertical may even be 2K higher as my Avocet was turned off for one 2.5K run from top of Golden Eagle and maybe for one more Golden Eagle run on 2,040 vertical Birds of Prey chair. Picture will be added soon.
My wife came back out and I went up Larkspur chair with her. I came down Loco which had untracked snow, but the east-facing Larkspur run my wife skied was quickly softening from the sun that came out by 10 am. I moved to Golden Eagle which was smoother than Goshawk as it had been groomed a day earlier, but had some icy spots, especially the entrance from Birds of Prey Chair. The entrance from the top was better and gives you over 2,500 vertical feet of sustained, steep fall-line. We had our Safeway sandwich at the lodge with sold Starbucks coffee for triple the usual price. It was our first day that it was warm enough to sit outside.
After lunch, I talked my wife into trying Grouse Mountain which gives you over 1,800 vertical feet in 5.5 minutes. She liked the groomers there and I was able to stay close and find some powder without too many bumps. We did that three times, including once when I skied over rope into Black Bear Glades. I wanted her to try Rose Bowl lift before she quit. We went down Sheephorn which was bumpy on right and groomed on left, then down Stone Creek Meadows which was too soft. We went up slow Rose chair and she headed down on Centennial while I skied Cataract which was much better as it’s steeper, faces north and did not have much traffic so it was still packed powder. In many places at Beaver Creek, I was able to sink more pole 18 inches as snow from storm a week ago had not been packed down.
I took Cinch lift to top and a snow shower started even though temperature was way above freezing. I took one more run down Golden Eagle from top, rode up Birds of Prey and came down Centennial and Buckboard to base. I just missed the chocolate chip cookies and stood there for a minute watching everyone eating theirs. My wife waved me down and I rode the first escalator down and passed the lady who was riding escalator up with tray of cookies so I was able to get one. Then I found my wife had been waiting for me where warm cookies where coming out so I got a couple more before going down next two escalators to catch bus to free parking.
19 runs (really counting lifts) for third day in a row. 32K vertical. Vertical may even be 2K higher as my Avocet was turned off for one 2.5K run from top of Golden Eagle and maybe for one more Golden Eagle run on 2,040 vertical Birds of Prey chair. Picture will be added soon.
