12/28/08

Day 15

Conditions: Packed Powder
Location: Breckenridge, CO

For the second day in a row, we went all-in with the hope that Breckenridge would open the T-Bar and Imperial Lift – two great areas that have not been open since the storm. When we took our first chair ride up, the wind was blowing hard. So hard that we put down the bar and each clenched it with both hands as we swayed uncontrollably. At times, it felt like our snowboards would become sails and take us right off the lift.

After cheating death, we took one run and found that the wind-blown conditions had blanketed much of the mountain with snow, and that the runs were terrific. Unfortunately, when we got to the bottom both of the main lifts on Peak 8 were closed due to wind. We waited 45 minutes for a slow, double chair to take everyone in the area to a different area. The day looked like a wash.

We made our way to E-Chair, fully expecting it to be packed. However, the chair was empty. We rode E-Chair for most of the day. It services only expert terrain, and some of the stuff was pretty steep. It wasn’t epic, but it was a good, challenging day.

By 2:30, the crowds were unbearable, the elusive T-Bar still hadn’t opened, and we had hit our share of rocks and lumber in the woods. It was time to go. On the gondola ride down, Dirk vowed to come back the next day, determined to hit the T-bar the day it opens. Whenever that may be.


Dirk finds some nice snow in The Doors at Breckenridge



Dropping into some sketchy terrain off E-chair


Highlights:

- Finding some soft snow
- Practicing hop turns in the steeps – it’s a great workout.

Lowlights:

- Fearing death on the windy chairlifts
- Once again, the very reasons we came to Breckenridge were all closed today.

Après Ski:

More food, more football. The Lions lost, becoming the first 0-16 team in the history of the National Football League. Next year literally can’t get any worse.

Days to go: 35