February 13, 2008
It's Up There...We Just Can't Get to It
Between this sad reality - and the fact that it's stormed in the mountains nearly every week this winter - I've only gotten to go skiing a handful of times. One of which times resulted in me and Rick nearly being blown off of I-70 and then *losing the driver's side windshield wiper* in the middle of...oh...the biggest blizzard of this century or any before it.
And, of course, this is all happening in the year with the most snowpack and best conditions eeeever. The only thing saving this bunk-ass situation? The only bright light piercing my bright light goggles? I'm heading up to Steamboat on Sunday for a wee family vacay with the mother, the brother, the brother's lady, and the nephew. Of course, Steamboat's not covered on my pass - and I may actually have to go to a work meeting while I'm there - but I think somehow I'll manage to grin and bare-ass it.
Posted by Bree at 08:03 AM | Comments (0)
November 02, 2007
Speaking of Skiing
I dropped off the Volkls yesterday for a free tune-up curtsy the new boy's uncle and the fireplace insert I traded him for his services (and possible free lift tickets in Jackson Hole, challah!), and lo and behold: the kids were all rusted on the edge.
Rusted?!
Rusted.
Apparently, my Ph.duh in Scientific Science did not teach me to dry off my metal things before storing them for the winter. A-hem. It's no bigs; they're getting scraped and sharpened and returned to me this evening looking - and riding - good as newish, but dang kids. Learn from my mistakes and towel off your valuables.
In other news of note, I've eaten roughly a gallon of hummus in the past 24 hours.
Posted by Bree at 02:31 PM | Comments (0)
November 01, 2007
Ski Area Opening Dates
Arapahoe Basin - NOW OPEN
Keystone - November 2
Breckenridge - November 9
Vail - November 16
Beaver Creek - November 21
Posted by Bree at 08:27 AM | Comments (0)
October 23, 2007
Are These for Skiing???
'cause if so, howly crap I want them. (In black, Dad! xoxox!)
Militant design with 8-base lens curvature for vast peripheral view, durable PLUTONITE® lens material with 100% UV protection, Black IRIDIUM® lens coating for precisely tuned light transmission, stitch detailing, and rivets for attachment to leather skullcap (sold separately). For those who pursue defiance without restraint.
Er...wait...leather skullcap? Er...ABORT! ABORT!
Posted by Bree at 12:39 PM | Comments (0)
October 01, 2007
Looking Forward...
Ahhhh! Me DOMINATING the back bowls at Vail!
I bought my Colorado Pass yesterday. Unlimited at Breckenridge, Keystone and A-Basin; 10 days at Vail/Beaver Creek (with date restrictions). The famdam is looking to come out in February, perhaps, to coincide with Dania's school vacation. Ahhhhhhh! !!!! I'm also hoping to get down to Telluride and/or out to Utah this year for a lil more of that freshy pow-pow. Join me. I'll buy you a Tuaca.
Posted by Bree at 10:34 AM | Comments (0)
January 19, 2007
Snow Reports for Marie
[Everyone else: please ignore this. Marie won't remember to check her e-mail in the morning, but this is her homepage so this is how we agreed to communicate. We are geeks, but at least we have each other.]
COPPER MOUNTAIN
Partly cloudy and cool with increasing clouds to mostly cloudy by noon or sooner, high of 24. 50% chance for snow showers - snowfall potential; 2 to 3 inches of accumulation. Wind variable at 4 - 12mph, increasing to NW at 10 - 20 gusts to 30mph during the day.
BRECKENRIDGE
A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25. Wind chill values between -2 and 8. Light wind becoming northwest between 12 and 15 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
The snow sculptures won't really be on display until next weekend, so let's go to Copper. Put the passes in your bag - and do me a favor and bring those low-light goggles too. I have luna bars, fruit and string cheese. We'll get coffee on the way out because I need gas. Thanks, love.
Posted by Bree at 08:15 PM | Comments (0)
November 24, 2006
As-slalom Alaikum
Don't know about you all, but I'll be enjoying my "Super" Friday high on the mountaintop, face first in a pile of powder. Not exactly the first time I've typed that, Bree thought smugly, but today - oh, today - everything will be on the up-and-up, legalwise.
Up-and-up, bodywise? Now that's another story.
Posted by Bree at 07:35 AM | Comments (0)
November 14, 2006
Thanksgiving Skiing Is Gonna Kick! It!
Today's weather:
The central mountains around Vail and Aspen should receive 10-15 inches of snow. Telluride down to Durango should receive 5-8 inches of snow.Mountain driving will be treacherous, with blizzard conditions from heavy snowfall and high winds.
All major highways except U.S. 6 over Loveland Pass are open this morning but mountain roads are icy and snowpacked. Loveland Pass has been closed for 24 hours while avalanche crews bring down dangerous accumulations of snow.
Posted by Bree at 08:09 AM | Comments (0)
November 13, 2006
Note to Self
No matter how cool they look, you shouldn't wear your polarized goggles in white-out conditions at the top of a 13,000 foot mountain. Also, you should maybe try to figure out something with a touch more subtlety or nuance to yell down the slope other than, "I fucking feel like Ray Charles over here."
P.S. Nice one on not eating it. Um, yeah, Eric...right. Wish I could say the same, bro.
P.P.S. Try to remember your long johns, scarf, hood, burkha and portable flame thrower next time. Negative 80 with gusting, blizzardy winds gets a bit nippy on the lift.
Posted by Bree at 05:56 PM | Comments (0)
SkiSA
Posted by Bree at 07:21 AM | Comments (0)
November 10, 2006
Monday?
Monday's cancelled.
I just got an invite to go up to A-basin (the "A" is for "Aptly initialed," FYI) for the first ski day of the season and I fear I must respondez in the oui. This means that the likelihood of my presence during the last day of design class is rating somewhere on the "iffy" to "hmm" side of the scale. Especially as my, erk, final is due.
The final that I, erk, have done...um...no work on.
I = doomed.
Posted by Bree at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)
October 26, 2006
Pssst...Kid! Wanna Survive an Avalanche?
Have another Twinkie.
Larger objects - chunks of snow, snowmobiles, even people - tend to rise to the surface of a moving stream of avalanche debris, Atkins said, terming it the "Brazil-nut effect" after the phenomenon that larger nuts tend to wind up on top of a bowl of mixed nuts when it is shaken."Snowmobiles are twice more likely to stay on top than their riders. Cars almost never are buried if allowed to go with the flow," he said.
Other useful tips re: hor'dourves and snowfall not really found here.
Posted by Bree at 10:30 AM | Comments (0)
October 17, 2006
Weather Update
IT'S SNOWING!
Posted by Bree at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)
October 01, 2006
Couple Things Re: Upcoming Ski Season
'cause I'm just too durned lazy to write separate e-mails:
1. Rather than Winter Parking it up this year, I bought a 10-day 5-mountain (Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly) pass. Matty G. is living in Vail all winter, and Marie's wedding week will be in the Breckenridge area, so We're. On. It.
2. Marie's wedding - Mom, Dad, Matt - plan on coming to D-town for my birthday (on a Thursday), and then staying the WHOLE week of March 15 up in Beaver Creek. We'll stay in Fairplay for the ceremony the night of the 16th and then the party/reception will be Denver-ed on the 17th.
3. Any of you who come out to visit get discounted tickets because of my pass.
4. Did I mention we also have places to stay in Breckenridge?
5. There's tons of snow here already!
Posted by Bree at 01:11 PM | Comments (0)
February 26, 2006
Dangerous in Dungarees
Now right there, that's what you call triple black diamond fashion.
Posted by Bree at 05:04 PM | Comments (0)
February 24, 2006
Bodefied in Breckenridge
Just a quick Williamstown homeslice update for those of you keeping track. Ryan Ackley does, indeed, live and play in Breckenridge. It's not a myth. To my endless amusement, I got to hang with the boy, and his fabulous lady Nealy, on Wednesday night - resulting in hours of hungover skiing yesterday that would've impressed even the Bode Millers in the bunch. Perhaps it was the absolutely beautiful day, perhaps it was the wicked altitude, perhaps it was my lone wolf skiing stizz, but I attempted - and totally dominated - my first blue/black runs of the season. Hell, of the millenium.
So that was nice.
Also nice? The four-bedroom condo we stayed at. WIth a jacuzzi. And seemingly unlimited moose-based decor. At the base of peak 10. Yep. Pretty stellar stuff, Liz Wall...pretty...stellar...stuff...
Speaking of stellar stuff, I met a slalom coach on the chairlift who not only totally shot down my "moguls are secretly made out of haybales" theory, but offered a wise and circumspect take on the Olympic men's ski team's performance. He was all, "America is too focused on the team-sport mentality. Look - if you know Bode, you know this is a guy who - as an individual - has to get out there and give the gutsiest, strongest performance each and every time he..."
Words kept coming out of his mouth, but I was totally ga-ga over the "...if you know Bode..." bit. Mmm, Bode. He's my full-on dreamweaver. No wonder he blew it at the Olympics.
Posted by Bree at 05:15 PM | Comments (1)
February 22, 2006
Breckenridge or Bust
My beloved brothers and sisters: posting will be light over the next couple of days as I will be heading off to Breckenridge (the town that does skiing and doughnuts with equal aplomb), this afternoon with the infamous Liz Wall of the Aurora Walls. My return will be just in time to rock out with my glock out at the Bon Jovi concert Thursday evening. Sweet and Bitter dot com will have to take a back seat to this madness. Apologies in advance.
Oh and yes! In a prelude to the joy that will be tomorrow's Jovihovah Witness revival, I am going to get in a little hang-time tonight with my first ex-boyfriend. (Well, the first ex-boyfriend officially on the books. Steve-O Sprague? You're nothing to me.) Straight out of Williamstown, crazy motherfucker named Ackley - moved to Breckenridge; got a job as a land surveyor; fell in love with a girl named Nealy. You know the drill. Though time has faded the reason for our disunion, Ryan does remain the first and only boy who ever gave me one of those big red chocolate-filled hearts for Valentine's Day...ah!! The romance! The scandal! The orgies!
Fifth grade was a blast.
Speaking of ex-boyfriends, I've already got two lined up to help me move on March 26. Any other takers?
Chavo?
Posted by Bree at 09:38 AM | Comments (0)
February 14, 2006
Wicky Wicky Wack
That title is in reference to those east coast mogul humpers (not you Ellen Barkin) who have not yet made plans to come out here and get down to brass tacks with some of the best times ever spent outdoors. These past few days of skiing, drinking, and skiing some more in Winter Park with my brother - the Lounging Tomato - were some of the greatest of me short life.
Aside from the bizarro hotel we stayed at, which will be parsed at great length once Matt sends me his pictures, the best part was a two-hour lesson I finagled with Nigel of Australia, the jefe of all of the ski instructors who never teaches private lessons anymore. Skor! In ten minutes, he explained to me how to ski on parabolics and, um, basically unleashed all the 7th-grade skillz that had been hiding...somewhere...in the lodge. In their skidz and scrunchies.
As if reupping my ability to barrel down the mountain at giggle-inducing, slighly uncontrolled speeds wasn't enough, Nigel also introduced me to another ski instructor, Rudy, who runs a bar start-up consultantcy.
Nigel? You are my favorite person ever.
Fate? You are one ridickydonkulous mother.
Matt? Well, as for Matt, the boy had several insane back-country experiences, including ski-walking a mile-long catwalk to some crazy steep ungroomed bowl, dodging unexploded artilery shells, and hitting the slopes with Marie on Saturday when it was NEGATIVE FORTY outside.
NEGATIVE FORTY, people. Apparently, temperature is fast joining fate in rearing the ridickydonkulous family.
I'll leave more tales of his lunacy to the Blogmeister Jr. upon his return to NYC. If, in fact, his hands aren't too frozen to type after shoveling his car out at JFK.
Posted by Bree at 08:17 AM | Comments (0)
February 10, 2006
Winter Park Weather Update: February 10
Scattered snow showers. Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 1. Wind chill values between -17 and -22. Blustery, with a north northwest wind between 14 and 24 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.
Hmmm.
Thanks but no.
Must say, I enjoy each and every one of my extremities. They're good extremities, and have done nothing to warrant me leaving them - black and shriveled - on the side of some mountain.
Looks like Matt and I will be hitting up Big Momma's House 2...again.
But I know sommmmmebody who's excited we'll be sticking around town today -
UPDATE: Just heard from the living room - "Ohhh Stella nooooooo! Ahhhh! Noooo!"
When pressed for further details, Matt confessed he was simply using the dog as a pillow when she relieved herself of her gas-based intestinal turmoil on his shoulder. She is truly shameless. Truly.
They deserve each other.
Posted by Bree at 08:14 AM | Comments (0)
January 30, 2006
Hard to Beat (even for the Beat Officers)
These past few days have been utterly fantastic, in about 300 different ways.
Not least of which was seeing one of my best friends cage dance...but I get ahead of myself.
On Thursday, I met with a counselor from the Denver Small Business Development Center, which is run in conjunction with the Small Business Administration. His name? Abram Sloss. His game? Listening to my plan and lending some stone-cold excellent advice. An hour and a half after meeting him, and having a totally candid and funny conversation, I walked out of the office buoyed with hope and ambition. He dug my ideas, dug me, and said I could call him or come meet with him any time.
Duuuude. I think I just really lucked out with this one. He's started up businesses in Denver before and is just doing this counseling thing to keep him kind of occupied while he hunts around for his next gig. I assured him that I would keep him occupied...for years to come. He also seems like a bit of a rulebreaker, which suits me...just...right.
So, hot off the heels of my time with Abram Sloss-some, I swung by the aforementioned Bounce/Lounge to introduce myself to the owner - and her mother. Literally, these women couldn't have been sweeter if they'd been coated in Splenda, sauteed in butterscotch and served on a bed of cotton candy. Between the two of them, they called me, "Honey" about 15 times. The owner, whose business card - incidentally - lists her occupation as, "The Shit," said she'd love to get a beer and give me the full scoop about running a bar in Denver when she returns to town in a few weeks.
That should be illuminating, in every sense of the word. I'm sure her perspective will be invaluable.
I also like beer. Win win.
THEN - things just got better and better. With Allison, Marie and I enjoying a Reunite on Ice, events took a turn for the familiar: skiing, dranking, fighting with bartenders, getting free rounds, dancing...you know. The basics.
Click through for pictures...
Hellllloooo Winter Park! I busted out my killer new skis and boots on this trip and must say, bypassing the plague of "numb foot dented shin" I've been experiencing with rentals made my day. I was popping flips, skiing backwards, jumping off the chairlift into 10 feet of powder, hauling down back-country hills to avoid being shot by avalanche guns...oh man...you should've seen it.
While Allison determined that nothing would suit the Colorado slopes better than an incredibly fetching and stylish chapeau offset by a hot pink neck wrap, I chose to accent my outfit with a dash of "crazy face."
My little Darth Vader.
Back in Denver, we decided to start the night with some wine. Then some margaritas. Then some vodka drinks. Then some beer. Then some clubs. Then some more drinks. Then some fighting off a 20-year old muscle-head named Fred. Then some burritos. Then some taxis.
And then? Then some broooootal hangovers.
Though nothing could beat a night spent watching a 6th grade teacher cage dance...
A couple of drunk girls consider playing Twister...
Go through with it...
And then wisely forego additonal Twister to enjoy some hearty servings of dance floor man meat...
But nothing - nothing - could be a better topper to our day than this: MY FAVORITE PICTURE EVER.
Behold the beauty:
My work here is through.
Posted by Bree at 08:12 AM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2006
The Best Intentions
UPDATE: MARIE AND ANDREA DID INDEED GO SKIING.
THEY SKIED DAY AND NIGHT AND NIGHT AND DAY.
THEY'RE STILL SKIING.
SKI, SKI, SKI.
THAT'S ALL I HEAR OUT OF THOSE GIRLS.
Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the Mary Jane ski resort. (You know, feel free to weigh in, but I'm really beginning to suspect there's some sort of entendre situation going on with that name.) Feeling that it would be a great chance to go to the mountains, Marie, Andrea and I hatched a grand plan - get some runs in in the morning, hit an afternoon appointment with a crazed French ski boot expert at "Le Feet Shop," and round out the experience with some beers and lassitude.
With excitement and anticipation, we happily piled into what's got to be the world's largest pick-up and headed west.
Apparently, about 200,000 people had the same idea.
Something about a football game today?
Beats me.
Click below for pictures of our (rather tame) debauchery...
Though our intentions couldn't have been better (or healthier) from the start...
...we were totally stymied at every turn...
...and after many long hours in the car...
...we were forced to abandon our plans and salvage the day the best way we knew how...
Why, beers and pinball.
Of course.
Though I showed up to the boot appointment with both my pride and sobriety compromised, I did manage to fake it enough to come home with some absolutely stellar Dalbellos. Whoooeeey, these boots is sweet! AND I met a guy who broke his back in a MINING accident and is now on the Canadian para-Olympic cycling team. I also had some really awesome french onion soup at a cool tavern, rather than a string cheese and a V-8 freezing tail mid-slope.
So the day was far from being a total wash.
We have plans to go back up on Friday, once this kid gets here. Oh the mountains are never gonna know what hit 'em...
And for all of you skiers reading this, my season pass gets 20% or more off day tickets...just saying!
Posted by Bree at 10:41 AM | Comments (3)
January 16, 2006
Slope a Dope
As the day dawned cloudy and freezing over Denver, Marie and I loaded up the Jeep and headed to Winter Park for my *first* skiing adventure of the season.
And yes, I did fall.
I fell before I even entered the resort.
I fell in the parking lot.
On my butt.
Hard.
Very, very hard.
Yikes.
I'm guessing my back doctor will not be pleased by this, the latest entry in the "Patient N*ely: A Decade of Slipped Disk Mismanagement" folder. In lieu of tongue-lashing #35 from the good man, I have turned to my brothers over at www.coccyx.org for their take on the situation:
People are often too embarrassed to use the tricks for avoiding pain, like standing when others are sitting, or carrying a coccyx cushion with you. You imagine that everyone is watching you. You have to ignore this feeling, and do what is best for yourself. The first time is the hardest. But if you take it as something natural, everyone else will as well.
So don't be hatin' on my coccyx cushion, you hear?
Lesson learned: my sweet, stylin' black and gold Asics aren't really "snow shoes." Whatevs, I'm simply going to have to afix crampons to all my kicks...and I'm cool with that. Besides, if I take it as something natural, everyone else will as well.
In other news, the snow was great, the trails were deserted (due perhaps to the subzero temperature and gale-force winds) and, aside from the parking lot triple black diamond of course, I actually stayed vertical. Success!
Now try to imagine that view through the haze of a gusting blizzard, and it's almost like you were right there with us!
Posted by Bree at 05:31 PM | Comments (1)