2/18/09

Day 32

Conditions: 14 inches overnight; 3 feet in the past 36 hours
Location: Kirkwood, CA

We never dreamed we would have 2 epic powder days in a row.

When we woke up this morning, a guy from Kirkwood Resort on the television saying the following: “I want all you hardcore skiers and riders to get out a pen and paper. On it, write February 18, 2009. In a decade or so, when someone asks you what your best day of riding was, you can pull out that piece of paper and tell them about this day.” We got goose bumps.

The drive to Kirkwood was an hour long, and the mountain delivered all it promised. We weren’t getting local seconds today; we were out there waiting for first chair and following the pack from front to back as different sections opened.


In line in time to see the first chair go up.

Every run was filled with waist-deep pillows of the softest powder I have every felt splash in my face. Things were so great, we didn’t stop for lunch – we just ate a few protein bars and kept riding.


Yummy turns.

Near the end of the day, we decided to hike Thimble peak, where we found some steep and deep turns. We made it a long day, and we didn’t take one turn that wasn’t full of fresh powder the entire time.


The hike to Thimble Peak

Highlights:

- We were part of a chaotic, dodgem race when parole pulled the rope for the back side of the mountain. Everyone was racing to get to the chair that would take us to the really crazy stuff. As soon as parole opened the area, fifty of us raced down, boarder-cross style. It was dangerous, and almost like war (as Dirk described it). The mood was truly every man for himself in search of powder. We saw a guy moaning in a rock crag that he accidently raced into, and his buddy was saying “This guy needs help!” We didn’t stop. No friends, or hurt strangers, on a powder day. It was scary and surreal, but it was something to remember.


The pack lines up and waits for patrole to pull the rope. We watched from the chair, then had to join them.

Lowlights:

- On our hike to Thimble Peak, we set up the money shot of the season. I went down and gave Dirk detailed instructions of where to come down to get the perfect shot. He came down looking great. When I went to hit record to stop the shot, I realized that I never hit record in the first place. I missed the whole shot. And, this was a 25 minute hike, so it wasn’t like we could just go up and do it again. It is possibly the biggest regret of my life.

Après Ski:

Since we didn’t eat lunch, we got a few appetizers at Kirkwood before driving home. Then, we ate dinner again at Freshies and watched American Idol.

Days to go: 18