Defiantly colder this morning compared to yesterday.  The wind was blowing heavy at the top of the moutian.   It was snowing most of the day – Heavy at times making the visibility poor – The light was very flat – in the morning the top of the mountain was very (VERY) icy. Even the groomed runs up top there was a lot of ice.  Stayed bottom have of the mountain most of the morning.

Gun Shot still had some good powder on it (cause it was a little work to get to it) – The powder was heavy and a lot of work – But I’m not 100% if it was because it was thick – or because I is opening weekend for me and I haven’t gotten my ski legs yet.

In the afternoon the flakes got bigger and bigger – I was covered in snow riding up on the lift.  Lightning struck while I was on the lift.  They closed the lift down for 20 minutes – that was enough for me to call it “quits” for the day.   

Not the best day of skiing (better than yesterday and the day before) –still much better than not skiing today at all.

No new snow since yesterday, more lifts open B – got up a little earlier – woke up and it was 19 degrees. So it took some motivation to get going. Conditions – 18” base Lifts open – 1/9 – Chair 2,3,4,5, and 6. 

Took the giant steps lift only to see a lot of bare spots on the mountain – a good handful of closed runs too. Took a couple of warm up runs down – Hunters Run (groomed Blue Square). The first run down Giant Steps – looked like power but was crusted over. I was break it up a little – until it got too thick and popped off my ski – Had the wrong ski on today (Blizzard Titan Eight – 169 – powder ski). Looking from the Roulette chair – it was very crusty. Stayed on groomed runs Double Night and Bear Paw. 

Gun Shot actually had some powder on it.

Not the best day of skiing (better than yesterday) – but still better then not skiing today at all.

Thanksgiving Day - First Ski Day of the year form me.  Woke up and it was 19 degrees.  So it took some motivation to get going.  It eventually got up to the mid-40s.

Conditions – 18” base

Lifts open – 1/9 – the small Chair #3 (that didn’t help the motivation).

With only the black foot lift open it was took a few run down the Heavenly Daze (Blue Square).

Did a few crossing over to Alpine way and down the bottom portion of Giants Step – un touched but thick and heavy.

Not the best day of skiing – but still better than not skiing today at all.

About time, eh?

According to info from the ‘loaf, the mountain last night received eight inches at the base and more than a foot at the top of the SuperQuad. That’s enough to allow the mountain to open tomorrow to experts for skiing and riding on Tote Road via the SuperQuad.

Here’s the fine print: Snow coverage will be variable and unmarked hazards may exist. Some walking may be required. Lift ticket prices will be $25 for all ages on Sunday.

TR By: http://landerbackcountry.blogspot.com/

Thursday, November 26, 2009

French Spy Bowl

Breccia Mountain/ French Spy Bowl Tour
Absaroka Range, Togwotee Pass Area
November 25th, 2009

6000 Vertical November Feet (click here for video: http://landerbackcountry.blogspot.com/)

Gotta chance to hook up with Matt yesterday for an awesome marathon tour of Breccia Mountain and French Spy Bowl… marathon for November anyway- for me. Ha! The weather was fantastic, the snow was variable. We eventually found some great power on the sunny side in the bowl. Everywhere else was really variable- powder pockets, punchy soft slabs, and totally wind scoured areas and areas with pretty minimal coverage. Sometimes all of the conditions existed on the same slope/ aspect in the same spot. It was tricky skiing in some places. Although it’s pretty stable now, add another two or three feet to this base and wowee, it could get pretty unpredictable. It was great to get out though and finally summit Breccia and tour around in French Spy Bowl.

Matt paves the road up towards Breccia Mountain

Making our way up a ridgeline toward the top of Breccia.

Pausing for a breather near the top.

The snow looked so good going up, we couldn’t resist a warm-up run down the ridge.
(click to enlarge and see lines)

Matt scoots across the top of Breccia Mt. towards French Spy Bowl.

French Spy Bowl
(We dropped into it from the couloir on the far, far looker’s left- left of the U-shaped gap.)

Looking back up our tracks going down Breccia Couloir.

Matt makes his way up toward the aprons on the sunny side of the bowl. The snow proved to be the best over here- finally, some good pow-pow!

Earning our turns.

Worth the work! The snow was great on this aspect.

My assessment of the conditions.

Matt readies for another run.

Looking down at Matt’s tracks.

A look back up at a couple of nifty runs (click to enlarge).

Making my way out of French Spy Bowl, up to the peak of Breccia Mountain.

Matt on top of Breccia Mt.

Shad on the summit of Breccia, the Tetons in the background.

I drop into the last little coolie of the day. Sublette Mt and the Togwotee Pass Highway in the background.

Kind of scralpy up top.

It got a little better though- still tricky.

Matt blows in.

Carvin’ it up- just in time for Turkey day!

Gooobble, gobble, gobble, gobble!

A look back.

Looking back up at Breccia and some of the lines we skiied as the sun sets.

When the day was done, Matt’s altimeter said we conquered 6000 vertical feet plus. That’s a pretty awesome day for me, in November. This was only the third time I’d been out this year. It’s shaping up to be a pretty good start on the ol’ ski season for me this year though. It sure made the Turkey taste fantastic today. Mmmm, yummy. Time for some pie!

Whistler is one of the North America’s most sought after vacation spot, situated between the two coastal mountains such as the Whistler and the Blackcomb. Located just two hours drive from Vancouver in British Columbia and Seattle in Washington.

Whistler is an unparalleled vacation spot, bestowed with an impressive landscape comprising unbeatable mountain peaks, crystal-like lakes, soothing surroundings, lush emerald forested areas, beautiful waterfalls, and picturesque valleys. Whistler is more popular as a four-season resort, proving great options to enjoy an array of activities including both summer and winter.

In winter, Whistler becomes an incredible destination filled with snow, and provides base for a number of activities. Skiing is one of the most popular winter activities that can be enjoyed in Whistler. With more than 200 marked trails and about 7500 acres of skiable terrains, Whistler and Blackcomb mountains provide great options for skiing.

No matter you want to any type of skiing such as alpine skiing, cross country skiing, glacier skiing, or freestyle skiing, the destination has superb options. For instance, the Lost Lake, just a minutes drive from the pedestrained Whistler Village, is a great venue for enjoying cross country skiing.

Likewise, the Blackcomb’s glacier skiing is an excellent choice for glacier skiing. For those interested in backcountry skiing, nothing would be better than destinations such as Callaghan Country. Above all, a great number of ski schools and other facilities operate here to cater to every level of skier, from novice to experienced hands. Perhaps for these reasons, Whistler has been continuously ranked number one skiing resort in Whistler by many leading ski magazines.

However, skiing is not the only winter activity that can be enjoyed here. Visitors touring Whistler during winter can also engage in a number of other activities such as dog sledding, sleigh riding, cat skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, helicopter sightseeing tours, bald eagle viewing, heli skiing and snowboarding, and much more.

When comes to summer activities, Whistler provides limitless options. During summer, Whistler becomes a golfer’s paradise, with a continuum of golf courses designed by such legendary golf architects as Robert Trent Jones Jr, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Robert Muir Graves. A specialty is that all of them are set in the backdrop of scenic vistas, which allows you to play golf while enjoying the breathtaking vistas of the place.

Another popular summer activity is hiking in Garibaldi Provincial Park, which is named after Giuseppe Garibaldi – a renowned Italian soldier, and sprawling over an area of about 194,650 hectares.

Whistler is also a perfect base for enjoying activities like mountain biking, with a great number of summer trails catering to every level of rider from beginners and intermediates to expert hands. For example, if you are a beginner, then take a mountain biking ride through the Magic Park, consisting of trouble-free rolling train and fun obstacles.

For those who want to enjoy an exhilarating summer activity in Whistler, then one of the best options would be to go for rafting in some of the best rivers in the place, such as, the Green River, the Squamish River, the Elaho-Squamish River, and the Cheakamus River, each of which abounds in natural beauty.

Similarly, for those who want to engage in some activities that are unique while your stay at Whistler, then jet boating on the serene upper Lillooet Lake would be a great experience. Popular summer activities that can be enjoyed in the area also include fishing, flightseeing, eco tours, bungee jumping, zipline trekking, and more.

Apart from these activities, Whistler renders excellent options for sightseeing with a great number of attractions such as Green Lake Park, Brandywine Falls Provincial Park, Narin Falls Provincial Park, Whistler Museum and Archives, Whistler Farmers’ Market, and Marketplace Play structure.

Additionally, since the streets of Whistler are packed with an array of boutiques, shops, and art galleries, the destination is considered a haven for shopping. Above all, worth mentioning is the exciting nightlife of Whistler.

In short, things to see and do in Whistler are of such a great amount that a whole year is not enough to enjoy and explore them all. Hence, it is no wonder why people from across the world flock here. In order to provide visitors with ultimate holiday experience, Whistler provides great accommodation choices ranging from ski-in and ski-out chalets and condos to hotels, resorts, and villas complete with high-end comforts.

Another day is done and dusted. It was another relaxing day which is exactly what I feel like I need leading into the ski season. Today we spent the morning at the beach snorkeling, had lunch at the waterfront cafe and spent the afternoon watching kitesurfing at the beach across from our hotel.

I really like snorkeling. It’s super relaxing and it feels as though you go into another world. Only problem with the snorkeling today was that the water was a bit cold. I could only last a maximum 2o minutes in the water because I started to get a chill. Non the less the time I did spend in the water, with my back facing the sun, lead to me getting a super burnt back which hurts a lot.

Lunch was awesome. The waterfront cafe is located in the main street of Merimbula and is right on the water, hence the name. The window’s of the cafe are opened which gives a nice sea breeze. Once again it was super relaxing. For some reason when ever I am near the coast I feel like seafood. So far I have had it everyday since I have been in Merimbula. 

Kitesurfing seems like the the most frustrating sport to do. Not because of how hard it is but because of how much preparation goes into getting their gear ready. They have to unpack the stuff out of the car, carry it all to the water which usually takes two trips, set it up on the beach which involves blowing the kite up and then they have to get the kite in the air. Seems like way more effort that skiing and I alway’s thought skier’s had it hard because of the amount of gear they have to carry. 

It’s now 6pm and I am contemplating what I should have for dinner again. I am leaning towards Seafood because I know it will be fresh and delicious. Then I’m going to hire a movie and watch it with laura. 

So I’m off.

Russ

So far, the latest estimates say this current storm has dropped over 70 inches of snow on us.  I went skiing near Summit Lake today with the UAA crowd.  The drive there was treacherous with the car bottoming out in the snow along the highway, but Graham did well too keep Jeff’s Jetta out of the inlet and we made it.  When we arrived we found another car and a freshly cut skin track through light waist deep snow.

I was naively dreaming of face shots, but it wasn’t long before a couple huge whumph noises of collapsing snow banished those thoughts.  We caught up to the two guys from the other car  (we didn’t know them) who’d set the skin trail, and by that point they had decided to turn around after hearing a couple large collapses.  With a flat approach, and thick trees to anchor the snow we pushed a ways higher.  But near the top a numerous additional of massive whumph noises while on flat slopes, and the sounds of distant rumbles deterred us from skiing anything interesting and retreating back down our skin track in fear.  Along the way the clouds parted and we were able to get a glimpse of the valley, and notice that every aspect was riddled with large natural slides.  We played around down low in the alders for a bit, but it was too deep to make turns on anything gentle enough to be safe.  Still great fun, and another pleasant day in the hills.  Anyway, here is a little of Hunter from yesterday on Tin Can.

Recently, I have become really attracted to brands that have green product lines. I was searching the Burton site http://www.burton.com/ for a new ski hat for the season, and I noticed they have a Green Mountain Project. According to the website, the Green Mountain Project is “where each decision is considered with an eco-influence. some changes are big, some are small, but all are steps in the right decision.” Burton has boards, bindings, jackets, pants, boots, and even luggage… all designed and made with the environment in mind. They use earth-friendly materials and manufacturing processes whenever possible with all of the products for this line. My fav GMP women’s jacket Burton has right now is the GMP Bliss Down Jacket.

Working at an eco-friendly florist, I have really become aware of eco-friendly efforts put forth by other businesses. I would much rather give business to a company, store, or brand if they make efforts to help the environment. So, after seeing this about Burton, it led me to wonder what other ski and snowboard brands have product lines like this…

Liberty Skis

http://libertyskis.com/

So, Liberty Skis is cool for 3 BIG reasons. 1) they are made right here in Colorado 2) they make their skis from laminated bamboo and 3) the company runs on 100% wind power!

Arbor

http://www.arborcollective.com/

Arbor, like Liberty Skis, uses bamboo for its snowboards’ cores. The bases are made with left over poly-ethylene that would have gone to a landfill to sit for all eternity. Arbor apparel is also made with 100% organic or bamboo blends.

Nau

http://www.nau.com/

Nau is an “urban+outdoor” clothing company based in Portland, Oregon. They make sustainable apparel with sleek designs for the modern mobile life, all the while keeping the environment and ethics in mind. One element of their production levels is they decide to make many of their clothes in Asia because most of their fabrics are from there, and they want to “reduce the environmental risk of shipping” as much as possible. There are way to many cool things to type about this clothing company, so go check them out for yourselves!

I got this list from MrGreen.Biz blog. http://mrgreenbiz.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/eco-friendly-ski-and-snowboard-gear/. These are other ski and snowboard companies that are taking green steps on this posting. It is “an organization dedicated to the truth about our environment.” They post really interesting articles about a variety of topics that involve the world’s environment. Check them out too!

So, the next time all of you skiing enthusiasts like myself want to buy some new gear for your season, think twice about who you buy from. We mountain-lovers chose to live in them; let’s do everything we can to protect their beauty and ecosystems. Buying from these types of eco-friendly companies is a step in the right direction.

your fellow mountain-obsessed friend,
Sarah

Earlier this week, I was lucky to go ski touring and it ended up being one of my most memorable days in the backcountry. The sun came up shortly after we arrived, sending long shadows of trees on the untouched snow. We were the only ones there after a generous heap of snow the night before. We crossed over to an open area and did a few runs from there, enjoying smooth turns and great views.

Photo by Paul Zizka - www.zizka.ca

Bow Summit can be accessed via the Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93) in Banff National Park. Park at the lower Peyto Lake parking lot (there are washrooms here), where you can also have room to test beacons and run a mock avalanche rescue. Make your way up the Peyto Lake Road, a turn your way into the woods from there. If you aren’t the first ones for awhile, you will see a number of track sets heading up the slope and to the left.

Aim for the fireroad (a more open trail that cuts sideways across the mountain) and take that to the left until you reach the slopes of the bowl just beneath Bow Summit. To the far right, looking down the slope, there are some nice open areas. These are avalanche prone, so do a good test of the snow and make the necessary preparations. To get down, make your way back to the fireroad and take it down and left towards the Peyto Lake Road. Once you reach the upper parking lot it is worth checking out Peyto Lake before bootpacking back up and heading down towards the lower parking lot.

Reaching the bowl beneath Bow Summit

This is one of the most accessible touring areas in Banff National Park. Try to head out on a weekday as weekends can get a bit busy with other people touring. Avalanche courses usually do their field days out here as well.

Looking for an avi course? I did mine with Yamnuska Adventures, which offers both AST 1 and 2.

© Meghan J. Ward, 2009.

If there’s one thing guaranteed to boost holiday sales, it’s the weather. And in Britain’s case they not only had a summer of floods but a cold windy winter too, and it’s being reflected in a bumper time for holiday companies taking early summer bookings and winter sunshine holidays too.

Airports across the UK are reporting record numbers of passengers, and East Midlands Airport, a fast growing regional airport serving Nottinghamshire, Rutland and Leicestershire, is no exception.

Passengers numbers were up by over an impressive twelve per cent between Christmas Eve and January 2 compared to the same tme a year ago, with not just holiday makres jetting off to the sun but with cheap airlines offering good deals increasing numbers of families visiting loved ones for the festive period.

Included in the destinations travelled to are the Caribbean, with some holiday makers flying to take a cruise, the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca on the Spanish mainland, and the Canary island of Tenerife which has weather hovering around the 70 degree farenheit level at Christmas and New Year.

One new route proving popular from the East Midlands is Innsbruck in Austria, for ski holidays.

Skiing is to Innsbruck as tennis is to Wimbledon and it’s because of this that British ski enthusiasts seek regular flights there. Economical flights are even better and ski fans are getting their choice as more flights run to and from this natural wonder in western Austria, with the East Midlands being the latest addition.

Starting in December 2007 there will be budget flights six days a week from London Gatwick Airport to Innsbruck. This weekly schedule will accommodate Britons who want inexpensive travel to a locale that lives and breathes skiing.

Innsbruck is located in the federal state of Tyrol. Located in the Inn Valley between high mountains, it is ideally suited to winter activities and skiing in particular. The name Innsbruck means “the bridge over the Inn”.

Innsbruck has hosted the Winter Olympics twice: in 1964 and 1976. It has also hosted the Winter Paralympics: in 1984 and 1988. It is a testament to its challenging world-class courses that it has had the honour of hosting these events. Of course, there’s also the breathtaking panorama of this beautiful city and its surrounding slopes.

Innsbruck offers what skiers love and want in abundance: an average of 321 inches of snow falls there annually. It also offers scenic accommodations and European charm. A trip to Innsbruck in the winter can provide the exhilaration of sport combined with the tranquility of nature.

Innsbruck has a population of over 117,000 in an area of roughly 105 square kilometers. It’s an area rich in winter sports activities other than skiing, with snow boarding and snowshoeing viable activities. Even winter hiking along its scenic trails is an option. Ski wise, aside from its more difficult runs, it is also popular for its courses that cater to the novice and intermediate skier. Ski-jumping facilities are also present for those training in this daring sport or hoping to venture into this type of activity.

It also has numerous trails for cross-country skiing. Trails lead from the city to the outlying villages and countryside. A popular run for Nordic enthusiasts is the Buchen Loop that runs below the mountains and leads to a plateau that overlooks the Inn Valley.

For those East Midlanders prefering a relaxing holiday in the sun, their choice of holiday destination seems to be Tenerife this winter.

Winter holiday makers returning from Tenerife will tell you it’s not just the climate that draws them – often in the 70’s farenheit while back home it’s around freezing point – but the first class resorts and hotels which make a winre holiday a perfect break. The island’s tourism is made up of nearly 50 per cent British visitors, of whom a third will return to Tenerife again.

Just a quick update for all you snow enthusiasts…It’s snowing at Alpine Meadows. NOAA is calling for several inches at the 7000′ level. keep doing your snow dance and let’s home for some feet!! Enjoy the turns.

These pics were taken at Kalavrita Ski Resort, in Greece and are part of my fotos posted on www.flickr.com …go the link :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/diasostis/sets/72157601593039807/

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday. We did, mostly. I say mostly because my husband had to go out 3 times the night before to fix furnaces so we were pretty tired.

Anyway, other than being tired we had a good Thanksgiving. My husband went to the all hours gym for an hour of exercise while I made French Toast for breakfast with the kids. We watched part of the big parade on TV but were disappointed. They hardly showed any of the parade. Instead it was mostly talk about the latest tv shows, Broadway musicals, singing (not part of the parade) and of course ads. We were expecting to see the parade, not a morning talk show which is what it wound up seeming like. You could catch glimpses of the parade behind them while they were talking. Ugh. I don’t think we will bother next year.

Some of the things they said during the parade really didn’t make sense to us. Things like it not being Thanksgiving without football or the parade. I’m sorry, but they have that definitely wrong. Thanksgiving was around long before football or parades. Sure, our popular American culture likes to do those on Thanksgiving, but many people don’t enjoy them and still enjoy Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is about being thankful to God for family, health, and the things around you first. What you chose to do to show it varies.

We went and had lunch with my mother in law. Then did a little work in the afternoon. When we got back home, my husband put some videos on for Karen and he took a nap. Richard wanted to go skiing.

Richard and I went up to the University ski trails. It was dark when we parked.  There are lighted trails up on north campus, but we  were down near Ballaine Lake where the trails are unlit. It was a beautiful night; the half moon shining bright gave enough light to cast tree shadows across the trail. The temperature was a relatively warm 10F.

This was his first time skiing on groomed trails. Previously he’d only been in our driveway and once on an ungroomed trail. Needless to say, he fall down a lot. We went up one trail until we came to a steep (but fairly short) downhill with a corner at the bottom and turned around. I don’t want him tackling a hill like that on his first real time out, plus I’m pretty unsteady on hills still too. Then we went back the other way until he wanted to turn around.

We had a great time. I saw a moose on our way back just off the trail. Richard did better and better.  We were out about an hour on the trails. I can’t wait to go again. I’m not sure if we’ll go to the same place or try the lit trails.

Of all the times I’ve gone skiing, I’ve only skied during the day twice. All other times was at night and usually on unlit trails. I don’t like headlamps. Sure, they give a bright circle around you but ruin your night vision for seeing things outside the circle. I don’t think I would have seen the moose if I had a headlamp. I find you can actually see better without the lamp if the moon is out. Granted, you don’t get a lot of detail, but do you really need it once your skis are on unless you have a problem?

Plus, they shine in the face of others. This was made plain tonight. Someone was entering the trail while we were leaving. He had a headlamp on. It kept getting in our eyes, temporarily blinding us. Did the person even acknowledge us? No. Did the person duck their head to get the light away from us? Again, no. I don’t think this person was being deliberately rude, I just don’t think he realized the problem his bright light was for us being accustomed to the moonlight.

American Lindsay Vonn leads the list of the best women’s skiers in the world descending on Aspen this weekend for two World Cup races. Here’s your chance to see the skiers who will be competing for the gold at the Vancouver Winter Olympics during February. The giant slalom will be contested on Saturday, the slalom on Sunday. First run is at 10 a.m. both days, second run at 1 p.m. But it’s not all competition: there’s a free 7 p.m. concert on Saturday by the John Popper Project. Get more details here.

Enter (and tell others) about Swany’s Outdoor Adventures Video Contest, win a helmet cam.

Guest blogger: Court Allen, Steamboat visitor, avid skier & family man

Family time, mountain time, and ski time… as the years have gone by, Thanksgiving week has ushered in the holiday season for our family. Having traveled the country and world as a military family, the mountains and skiing on Thanksgiving have not always been an option, but have certainly been the objective.

Having passed through Steamboat Springs in fall ’76 on a quest to the West and subsequently a number of times in the summer, amazingly this week is my first time skiing Steamboat . After canvassing the mountain for Ski Time Square we soon realized it had succumbed to the base area renovations. So much for dinner at the old Mexican restaurant but cheers to looking forward to the future.

Withstanding the 35 years of skiing, stepping into my skis for the first run of the season, has always been met with some anxiety…why didn’t I train more, should I have tuned my skis, is my trick knee going to last another year, can I still “turn and burn” like days gone by? I was excited to board the “six pack’ and take in the mountain air. After hitting the mountain “top”, of course we are talking the top of Christie, taking in the view, and buckling in, I felt the familiar sensation as I made those first turns down Sitz and See Me.

Fittingly as my son and I clicked out of our skis there was the iconic Billy Kidd posing for a picture as he helps a young potential Olympian with his first steps on his skis. It was a great start to another ski season…can’t wait for many more days of the famous Steamboat powder.

Last winter saw some good conditions for ski resorts. Europe found itself with more snow than it knew what to do with on occasions last year and America shared similar dumps. Canada missed out on a lot of the snow last year though, but it was about time really. Most ski slope owners felt like they dodged a bullet as the failing economy threatened to potentially keep the snow-goers away. But the mere comprehension that they could be facing financial difficulties led many to ponder the possibilities of further monetising the summer months.

A bill was introduced to Congress in America recently that would allow ski resorts to make much better use of their facilities in summer. Not to be left behind, European resorts are looking into doing the same. The summer period usually counts for about 15% of a ski resort’s total income for the year. This percentage could be vastly increased if the resorts where used for a much wider and diverse range of sports and events. mountain biking is the activity that has captured most peoples imagination and it has had the most support

There are often mountain bike trails at the base of ski mountains already and shops selling mountain bikes dotted around the areas. This would make the sport one that both locals and visitors can take part in as the gear can just be rented as you would a pair of skis or snowboards. The proposed idea however is for mountain biking a little more on the extreme side of things, utilising the ski lifts that are already in place to host downhill mountain biking events and competitions on the steep runs.

Roger Joules who runs one of Lake Tahoe’s ski resorts says “mountain bikers have been looking for some steep and challenging runs and our slopes are perfect for that in the summer. If we charge a small amount for the use of our lifts then it’s a situation where both parties win”. Roger has also said that they are looking into the possibility of building a wave machine on a section of the lake so that people can pitch up with their surfboards and ride some breaks in the summer months. This is still a long way off he points out.

Enjoy some early season snow and sun with special lodging offers from Copper Colorado Condos.

Work off those Turkey Day calories and help fund local environmental projects by joining in the fun of Copper’s sixth annual Gobbler Chase 5K snowshoe race Saturday.

Racers will meet at 11 a.m. in the Burning Stones Plaza for registration before heading out along the loop up toward Union Creek and then along the Colorado Trail through gorgeous High Country forest scenery.

Register for the race ($25) between 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. in the race tent at Burning Stones Plaza. All proceeds go toward the Copper Environmental Foundation, funded by voluntary employee donations. The funds are distributed through grants once a year, helping local youth environmental and education projects.

Later in the day, Copper’s first En Fuego celebration of the season includes bonfires throughout the base village and a street party with a BMX stunt show and a torchlight parade down the front side of Copper Mountain.

Finally, Santa and some elves will skydive into the village to light Copper’s holiday tree.

Get information on other local arts and entertainment events with the Summit Daily News calendar.

In local news, Summit County is revamping its building and development codes to encourage installation of solar systems and other renewable energy features. Read the story here.

In Frisco, the Jewish community is opening a new resource center.

Read about a Breckenridge woman’s mountain bike adventures in Afghanistan.

EARLY SEASON DEALS
Come back for more early season fun and book now to take advantage of special rates with Copper Colorado Condos.

Book 3 or more nights in our condos in Copper Junction, Tucker Mountain, or Summit House, and take 20% of the rental rate. We’ll  bake  some fresh cookies for your arrival.

Book 3 or more nights between Friday, November 27th and Friday, December 4th in our Cirque, condo, and take 15% off the rental rate.

Contact us anytime, even on Thanksgiving, to lock-in your post-Thanksgiving Copper Mountain vacation.

CONTACT INFO
Copper Colorado Condos
PO Box 226
Frisco, CO 80443
970-485-1046
coppercondos@hotmail.com
Click here to follow us on Twitter
Click here to visit our Facebook page

More snow has been forecast over the Alps which will top up the base that is already there ready for the main opening days coming soon! Check out the snow reports on We Love 2 Ski 

Ski Europe Online has some fantastic deals to welcome you to the Winter.

• 12th Dec from £199pp
• Christmas Chalets Half Price
• New Year Discounts
• Ski Austria in for Christmas from £299pp – half board
• Bulgaria from £199pp in January
• All Inclusive Chalets
• Half Price Lift Passes
• Gift Voucher for £20 to spend in Ellis Brigham
• FREE Ski bag or boot bag!

Some fantastic offers for you to book with us! Just check out the Ski Deals section and Peak Dates section of our website on www.skieuropeonline.co.uk

Have a good weekend!

Started the day of pretty slowly today. Cruised around town and did some retail therapy. I manage to buy two new tops but had trouble finding some new board shorts. After the retail splurge, Laura and I headed down to the ocean for a well deserved, refreshing swim.

The Beach

After cooling down we pretty much spent the day going from the beach to town. We did go on a pretty big walk and on the way saw some cool and funny things. We found this huge ballon/jumping castle thing in a caravan park which was super fun to do flips and stuff like that on. I also went for a quick skate but didn’t really achive anything but frustration from that. First I’ll show you guy’s the cool things:

Now comes the funny stuff……

The kangaroo above had some how manage to sit like a dog, in a position that it was able to suck it’s own dick. Pretty funny to see because it was in the middle of a caravan park with kid’s and people all around. 

Anyway I’m off now. Taking laura out for dinner. Yum Yum.

Russ

Instead of eating turkey and watching the lions lose Hunter and I headed for Turnagain this morning to enjoy some of the 4 feet we’ve recieved in the last couple days.   While there we (along with 15 or so others) took advantage of a large and long lasting sucker hole.  It was windy up top, and a couple small windcrusts were cracking in poping all over the place, but that didn’t really trouble us on the way down, although we had to wait a couple of times for Walter (Hunter’s dog) who was finding it too deep.  I should have some of Hunter’s helmut camera footage later, but no promises on when, I’m too exicted about skiing the next 3-4 days to get much done.  In the meantime enjoy what might be the worlds oldest ski video, from Norway with plenty of big flakes and some sweet jump footage near the end.  Impressive for 1906.

Heading to Revelstoke this weekend!