Red Lady

Took the new ski setup out on Red Lady today with Mark Selto. It was my first backcountry experience here in Crested Butte other than on my snowmobile. It took us about 2 hours to climb up from the car to the summit of Red Lady. The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky - it was gorgeous.

Mark is a hard-core backcountry skier and beat me to the top by 15 minutes or so... but I can't complain - I did well for it being my first time out - there are some muscle groups on my legs that I didn't even know existed!!

The view from on top was incredible - hard to believe we live in such a small town - Red Lady overlooks the entire town and ski area - great views to be sure.

Sad thing about Red Lady is that it happens to hold one of the world's largest Molybdenum deposits - Phelps Dodge and US Energy Corps have abused an old 1800s mining law that allows them to buy mining claims from the US Govt for $5 an acre... obviously a fraction of what land costs in the vally (a .20 acre lot sells for $240k - you do the math). Regardless, they're trying to turn this gorgeous mountain and backcountry haven into a mine... if you care more info can be found here: http://www.hccaonline.org/page.cfm?pageid=2080

Hope you all are well. A number of freak deaths here in this small valley have put a weirdness in the air. An extreme skier, a snowcat driver, and an old lady (the last of which Liz was on the ambulance call for - she took my shift for me... I felt bad she had to deal with that.)

Ok enough out of me - I'm off to take a nap - hiking up a mountain on skis is tiring work!!

Yay pictures

Madeleine shading her eyes from the surprise!! It's going to be a great gift for Greg and Annemarie!










Maddy out feeding the horses. She got sooo good at calling them in for dinner. "COME ON BOYS!" in her little Maddy voice - adorable. She even taught Aunt Liz how to feed them. Her moose boots were perfect for trodding through the mud.
















Playing with Aunt Liz and drawing on her new easel courtesy of Nana and Poppy. Wearing her new pink Crested Butte Sweatsuit - soooo stylish.

Christmas at the 'rents

Got back from PA the other day - we had a nice relaxing time with the folks and Maddie. It was great to get to know my little niece - she's so smart - only cried twice the entire week we were there - pretty unheard of for a two year old. It's fun to watch her learn new things. Uncle Mark was the king of push-unders on the swing - SO HIGH!! Hopefully she'll remember! Mom - send me some photos - I didn't take any on our camera.

Got to see Jake and Kerri - which was awesome to catch up with some good friends. Too bad we live so far away from everyone... but someone's got to live the dream....

Patrolled a few days after we got back - the extremes are opening on the mountain - so that has made it more fun. The terrain here is unrivaled...

Went on a hut trip yesterday and this morning - it was a blast - gorgeous little cabin out in the middle of nowhere. Everyone skinned in on their skis - except for me - I brought up the supplies on the snowmobile.

Liz and I both work patrol this weekend. Phoenix/Spellbound Bowls open on Saturday - so that should be fun!

dick in a box

For those of you that didn't see this Saturday Night Live skit... watch:

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year everyone!

Liz and I had a great New Year - Steve's visit was a blast. I threw together a short video of a sampling of his visit.... it can be found here:

The Visit of Steve.

The import was a bit choppy - (I need a new puter)... but the effect kind of works.