End of a Winter.

As i sit here and write the winter is not really over. 3 Days ago we got 5in of snow and right now it's snowing outside.

It is the end of ski patrol for this winter.

It was a good year. I had lot's of fun and some great times. I think the best times were when i was teaching avalanche classes. I love knowing that when these students leave me they have a healthy respect for the mountains in winter.

I won't be coming back to patrol full time next year but i will be back part time. We'll see how many day's they want me to work. I wish patrols paid more but they don't so i can't do it full time any longer. They say the pay is low because everyone wants to patrol. This is true but what they get are people who only do it for a short time and are not dedicated to the profession. At Keystone the pay is so low that our turnover is very high. We need a livable wage seeing as we're the ones keeping our guest alive. That's too bad but that's the way it is. I too can no longer be dedicated to patrol.

So, I'm moving to Boulder (I almost moved back to Aspen). I found a great little house with little yard to grow a vegi garden. I'll still guide for Aspen Alpine Guides and work for Neptune Mountaineering. On my time off I'll climb Eldo Canyon, do alpine routes in Rocky Mountain Nat. Park, run trails, ride my bikes and be with my friends.

So, this blog is shut down for the summer, it is called Ski Patrol Chronicles. Next winter I'll start it back up. It'll only be "Part Time Ski Patrol Chronicles" but it'll be filled with fun adventures of the winter.

See you next winter.

Back from guiding a hut trip.

Patrol is over and i was fortunate to be brought on to guide a hut trip for the Aspen High School Ex Ed program. The kids were great and we all had a great time. The trip was 5 days and went from Eagle to Aspen.

Here are all the kids skis piled up outside the Estin Hut.

We broke the kids up into teams and gave each team 2 hrs to build a snow cave and a fire and they had to boil water. Only one team didn't get a fire going.

The high point of the trip was on the way from the Margy's Hut down Spruce Ck. The principal, Charlie, came down the trail too fast. There was a river crossing that he didn't see. He hit a snow covered log which launched him 12ft in the air landing in the river filled with water and rocks.

After i jumped in the river to pull him out i found he was OK. We dried him and warmed him and made our way to the McNamara hut.

Patrol is being a little relaxed on the shaving policy.

Josh Thompson sporting the cool new look.

Going for a little tour of the summit house.

Josh is always scoring with the ladies.

Is this January or April????

The crew heading out to do some early morning bowl work. Gotta make those bowls safe for the 5 guest that'll hike to ski them.

Holy she-ite!!!

Yesterday we had 6in of snow and winds in the 40's and temps in the single digits.

Man, i want some spring and sunshine.

Oh well, only 2 days left on patrol. It going out with a powder bang.

A good weekend in the heat.

This was a weekend that i needed. It's been a cooooold winter here in Summit County. 2 friends and I went to Grand Junction/Fruita for the weekend. We did well with the weather and the sun was warm and wonderful.

We left the Mtn Bikes at home and just road biked. We got in about 130 miles. On one ride i saw a bouldering area and left the buds to get my car so I could climb a bit. Felt good!!

We drank lots of beer and even played golf on Saturday. For all of us it had been awhile for the golf thing, but it was fun and it gave us an excuse to drink more beer.

I love the Barracudas.

Feeling good after one of the rides. Yes....that's sunshine you see.

The roadies!!

The BEER!!!!

The ride.

Just hang'n in the desert.

I ran over Bills ball. I think you're suppose to play the ball where it lays. We were doing one beer per hole and betting $1 per hole.

A little practice.

Well, this is the last week of patrol. Looking forward to it being over but i know I'll be missing it.

Slow boat from North Peak.

I wasn't in much of a hurry to get back to the front side after opening Erickson Bowl so i took the super slow Outpost Gondola. Kicked my feet up and made some phone calls.

The wackiness continues.....

Josh thinking he can load the Ruby chairlift with the Doo. What, you can't??

Man, you can tell it's close to the end of the season. It's all about goofing off and having fun.

Wacky day at North Peak....

Somewhere in the middle of the day Alyson decided to toss my ski on the roof of North Peak PHQ. Not to worry, i got her back.

Alyson making the toss.

Hey...is that my ski???

Hey.....is that Alyson's backpack???

Days like this are fun on patrol.

Rottefella does right.

A month ago i broke the 2nd of two pairs of Cobra R8 bindings. I sent them back thinking i wouldn't get anywhere with Alpina. Well, they sent me two new pairs. I'll sell them and get Bombers or Hammerheads.

By the way, next year BCA will distribute Rottefella.