Lewis & Clark...take on the "Friends and Family Plan"

On ski day 4, in the Rockies, we were glad to depart the high altitudes of Breckenridge - and drop 1600 base feet to ski & be reunited with family & friends at Vail .

While we wait for the snow squalls to pass and the winds to subside in the early morning, let me introduce our new ski team for the day:

Chuck (aka "Bro"): never misses a ski season, ski's like a silky-smooth-pro, ain't no mountain high enough...ain't no valley low enuf (oh yeah - that's a song) - but it describes this skier perfectly. With an engineering background, knows precisely what trails to take on, strategizes how many runs to get in before the lifts close, and makes sure that no skier is left behind (we're gonna challenge him on this one before the day is over!)

Jill (aka "Sis"): Don't let the Vail Barbie "look" confuse you. Prefers bowls, deep moguls and exorcised clothing. This gal is an energizer bunny who gets to the bottom of the trail before you've finished adjusting your goggles off the chairlift. Rumor on the mountain, is that she is Bodi Miller's cousin. Shh.

Carol: The deck is loaded with this Bronze and Silver medalist...who has skid all over the world, and is known to jump off one or 2 ridge lines while skiing in the Alps. Ok, maybe it wasn't the Alps, and maybe she didn't jump off the ridge line - but there was this big snow squall, which caused a whiteout, and Carol could no longer see...so she skiied to the bottom with her eyes shut.
Dean: Works very hard as Carol's Ski Coach during the Slalom course - and thus I believe he is a Bronze and Silver Medalist Coach - thanks to Carol's winnings. He is also an undiscovered "synchronized skier", as he can sync up a groove with any skier on the mountain.

Paddy (Jean Claude) and I had our work cut out for us to keep up with this ski crowd. But, deep down, we knew we couldn't keep up. They were the pros...and we were...well...not. It was time to think outside the box. It was time to give this ski team a challenge they haven't yet been exposed to:

• we tried to lose them by taking the gondola over and over...but they found us anyway
• we ordered the biggest pizza for lunch and made sure the ski team was fully weighted down by eating 5000 carb calories apiece
• I left my cell phone behind so the only way to contact us if we got lost on the slopes - was to use Paddy's phone number
• Paddy never answers his phone in time
• Paddy rarely charges his phone
• Paddy's phone is basically useless

No matter how hard we tried to avoid being the "ski anchors", the ski team just never let us out of their sight. They were our caretakers, they wanted to show us the best of Vail, and they took this job very seriously. The skiing was beyond phenomenal - the best we've experienced all week - and the endorphins were running high. This was ski heaven!

But, it was time to test the expert ski team with their own "no skier left behind" strategy. Vail ski resort has multiple BASES...to it's multiple MOUNTAINS. As Paddy (Jean Claude) demoed a brief yard sale....it caused enough delay - that suddenly our ski team (who was ahead of us) was no longer in sight. Where do you think they went? I asked Paddy. "Down" he astutely replied. So, DOWN we went...we kept going down....down...down.... And suddenly, we were at the BASE of some other MOUNTAIN (Cascade), with no way to get back to our Expert Ski Team located at a different base called Lionshead. hmmmm....

With the aid of a lady from Michigan who knew the local bus schedules...a few very brief calls to Chuck on a barely operating phone battery, and the patience of our expert ski team...we eventually were reunited. Apres Ski consisted of Barbie's FIVE-OHMY birthday celebration, a skip-it demo, a hoola hoop demo, Rocky Mountain sushi, eating Dean's M&M's for desert, a pajama party...and finally zzzzzzz's.

Addendum: Apparently our gifted ski team was busy making the news, shortly after we departed Vail. From playing card tricks with the magician, to Dean & Carol's very own version of Abbott and Costello - you'll be sure to enjoy these YouTube clips.

Lewis & Clark...get an Oxygen fix

There are some pretty expert skiers out here - many who take skiing to the extreme limit. The "bowls", the "extreme terrain", getting lost in the "back country", outlasting an avalanche or 2, or sking backwards down the double blacks. These were some impressive feats to admire...and the apres ski was all about bragging rights. But, for all of these extreme teens...and twenty-something DUDE-to-the-max skiers...I had to ask. Can you hoola hoop on skis? Nobody appeared to be bragging on this one...so on Day 3...I would make my mark. Yes, the poles had to go. The ski jacket had to go too. It was cold, windy and snowing hard - so I needed to make this both quick and impressive. Today - was HOOLA day at The Breck. Paparazzi Paddy captured the moment...and there is no disputing THIS CHIC can HOOP on skis. Take that -- extreme ski-Rocky-Mountain-Dudes!

Jean Claude had acclimated nicely, but, I can no longer breathe. By day 3 the thin air had become a bit much. At 10,000' elevation in the Rockies - weird stuff happens. It was snowing mega amounts, and visibility was nil. We froze just riding up the chairlift. A good day to knock off early, and try to re-oxygenate. What better place than the OXYGEN LOUNGE on Main Street. When I first noticed this lounge - I thought it was a bar...but no. You pay a fee to get pumped up with 90% oxygen mixed with an aromatherapy of your choice for 15, 30 or 45 minutes. Aaaaahhh...Paddy and I enjoyed a most delightful O2 Fix.

Lewis & Clark...ski in thin air

After a few hours of computer work, it was time to get the day started on the Peaks at Breckenridge. We sachet'd our way to the bottom of the parking lot - and waited for the free shuttle bus to take us to a ski lift. "Where are you headed?" the bus driver asked. "Anywhere you are going", I responded. We still have no clue where these buses are headed. Our mystery bus tour dropped us off at the Gondola lift - in the heart of downtown Breckenridge. OK - this works!

The skiing was fabulous, with lots of sunshine - and I was working hard on my mountain tan. It doesn't take long to bronze-up - as you are a LOT closer to the sun here. Within the first few runs, Paddy got his version of a "yard sale" down, and I decided to ski behind him to help pick up the pieces. It turned out to be just some AM leg wobbles, and Paddy was soon back to Jean Claude styling by noon. Despite the screaming noises coming from our quad muscles, we continued on....3 peaks in all.

Apres ski consisted of:

• a brief hoola hoop workout
• a leisurely stroll through town (note: they sell little bottles of Oxygen in the shops),
• a french crepe in front of an open pit outdoor fireplace for dinner...
• and eventual collapse back at the cabin.

Bodies are still operating on Eastern time zone...and I was wondering what oxygen might taste like again.

Lewis & Clark...go skiing at the BRECK

I'm thinking that an emergency oxygen mask should be designed into ski head wear -- for anyone skiing in altitudes above 9000'. Wait a minute! Hear me out on this. It would work just like in the airlines. As soon as the oxygen level gets too low...the mask would drop outta your hat -- and voila -- you could breathe easy again.

It might even be useful in places like Denver too. Let me digress...I watched Denver headline news on TV. A roving band of 3 coyotes seek out women walking their dogs. Local politicians want a law placing a curfew on roving coyotes. Convenience store robbers were caught on tape wearing thongs over their heads. Sigh...I wish I was making this up.

With 8 new inches of snow, we were excited to start skiing - our first day at THE BRECK. We had maps, and lots of information...but it was all too confusing. Maybe we'll just follow some fellow skiers out of our building to see where they go? First, we pile about 50 pounds of clothing on, and another 20 pounds of extras - including phone, camera, shuttle bus maps, ski maps, water, snacks - and anything else we thought we couldn't live without for the next 6 hours. Add to that skis, poles and trying to maneuver walking in very stiff boots, we looked like the Michelin man with unbend able legs. We followed our ski comrades down an icy hill...and sure enough, the shuttle bus was just pulling up. Without any oxygen here, we ran, slipped and acted like a couple of city-folks not wanting to miss their bus. The Breckenridge bus drivers are very patient...and waited for us to board. We sat on the bus trying to look like we were "in the know", having no clue where the bus was going.
Suddenly, everyone got off the bus. This must be our stop too! We followed the ski crowd - to the Snowflake Chairlift. Who needs a map? We got on the chairlift like everyone else, and kept our fingers crossed that there would be a BLUE trail at the top. Not ready to start the first run of the day on a double-black. Spent the next 6 hours skiing carefree -- from trail to trail, peak to peak - up over 11,000 feet in elevation, ambivalent to how little oxygen was getting to our brains. Took the 4 O'Clock trail, with the intent to SKI back to our cabin. We skied right past the cutoff to our cabin. Oops. Time to climb a zillion steps, walk an extra 1/4 mile and lug equipment that felt HEAVIER than when we started.

Despite the lack of O2...it was a glorious day skiing in the Rockies -- one that we intend to repeat tomorrow!

Lewis & Clark...Climbing the Rocky Mountains

The weather was calling for 60 degree temperatures in Denver CO...and temps in the upper 30's up into the mountains. We would soon find out, that there is really no telling what the weather will do in the mountains.

The "climb" from the valley of Denver...to the lower mountains was downright jaw dropping...only to be surpassed by the climb into the upper elevations. Words cannot do justice to this amazing scenery. You need to make sure you have a full tank of gas when you get started, and have a lot of faith that not only YOUR car...but all of the other cars and trucks around you have been carefully tuned for good working brakes...for the steep descents. At our highest point just before Loveland Pass, we reached 10,000 feet elevation....and then descended to steep, snow blown roadways. The weather went from sunny and warm in Denver...to blizzard like conditions in the peaks. (below is footage from the beginning of the climb out of Denver - to Breckenridge)

Soon, we found our exit for Breckenridge - and had our choice of 2 primary roads....Main Street or Park Ave. Most of the skiiers were already on the slopes for the day - so we had the town of Breckenridge to ourselves. Paddy taste tested the coffee in various coffee shops up in the high altitudes...and concluded that it was "pretty good". We checked into our cabin at Park Meadows - which is located 2 blocks from - Park Ave...and 2 more blocks to the gondola lift. At the end of our ski day, we could ski straight from the 4 mile run slope...directly to our cabin. How cool is that??

Took care of remaining details, got fitted for skis and boots, and made a trip to the grocery store. Our biggest athletic activity was getting winded climbing 2 flights of stairs. We're at 9600' eleveation here. Where the heck did all the oxygen go??

Old school skiers....meets Holy Sweet Molasses!

Stuck on land for 2 months, and away from Cat Maudy during a cold Maryland winter, we were itching for an adventure. It was close to 10 years since we last hopped onto our ski's, so when we decided Tuesday morning that it was "time" to revisit skiing - we grabbed all of our OLD SCHOOL equipment and headed for the nearest slopes at WhiteTail Mountain. We had a few equipment shortcomings, so there was room for improvising. I couldn't find my ski goggles -- so, maybe swim goggles would work instead? No wool socks for Paddy -- so I donated a pair of mine. Paddy would leave behind his ski's - to rent those new-fangled itsy bitsy curvy ones, and I remained steadfastly attached to my long, wide straight boards and 30 year old boots my feet could swim in. We were ready.

We arrived at WhiteTail Mountain by noon, to a relatively empty ski resort. The economy was taking it's toll - and we were about to stimulate it. I had forgotten how much work it was to drag bags of equipment, boots and my ski's around with endless layers of clothing...and we hadn't even begun to ski. While waiting for Paddy to rent his ski's, I chatted with the nice man working the boot rental desk. "You know, I've seen 5 pair of boots this year, just break on folks -- that were as old as your boots" he said to me. Suddenly, I felt like an old-timer. "Thanks for the input - I've had these for 30 years, so far so good" I replied, and he grinned at me as if to say "you'll be back".

After working up a sweat putting on all of the clothing and equipment...we were ready to tackle the bunny slope. Would we even remember how to ski after a 10 year ski sabbatical?

You betcha! After 2 quick runs on the bunny babe slopes...we were ready to move up to the blue. As we raced downhill to the ski lift...I suddenly felt a blast of cold air in my ski boot. Maybe it came unbuckled? I looked down, and sure enough...the plastic had cracked...and my boot fell apart all over my ski's. Just like that. By the time I ski skated over to the rental center - the other boot broke apart as well. OK OK...time to let go of my old school equipment.

I got fitted for boots, and short (150's) curvaceous ski's. They sure seemed pretty tiny. I'm used to ski's that are longer than my extended reach. Time to find out what all of the buzz was about....and we headed back to the slopes labeled with blue squares.

Jean Claude (aka Paddy) was in his element and racing to the bottom of the mountain...while I struggled with maneuvering on these tiny ski's with curves - as I kept crossing my tips and having to recover. The rental center insisted I would like these -- but I longed for my old boards. My experiment with swim goggles (substituting for ski goggles) failed by the way. They are meant for swimming...not skiing. Let's just skip the goggles today.

After a few more runs in the blues -- Jean Claude suggested that perhaps I had too much weight on my uphill ski. Hmmmm....ski technique. I had forgotten all about that. Oh yeah, weight on the downhill ski. Imagine that. From that point on, there was no more TIP-crossing...my confidence had returned...and I was ready for hot-doggin. Thanks Jean Claude!

After a quick lunch break, we watched the plastic on Jean Claude's goggles snap in 2. Again, just like that. We're really downsizing equipment today. Now, neither of us has any goggles. Oh well.

Time to see what the black diamond and double-blacks had to offer. We had the mountain to ourselves, and the conditions were fantastic. With our poles ready the moment we unloaded from the chair lift -- we raced down the first black diamond. It was pretty tame...so we decided to try out the double-black. I'm not quite sure how they rate these trails -- but I kept thinking "where is the steep part?". Yes, skiing was like riding a bicycle...and we were having TOO much fun.

After 20 runs in 4 hours...we decided to save some juice...and return the next day for MORE.

DAY 2: WHITETAIL

Didn't even bother with lugging my old world ski's this time...I'm all about new school now. Decided to stimulate the economy MORE...and purchased 2 pair of goggles. Our eyes would be very happy.

Jean Claude & I both rented the shorty little ski's...and I rented boots. We've got equipment now! Not sure how it was possible, but we banged out 20 runs in no-time - and ignored all of the screaming ski muscles that had atrophied for the past 10 years. The conditions were ultra-supreme, hard packed with a few inch dusting on top. We're feeling good...and talkin' big stuff now. Maybe a car adventure to Denver next week for some Colorado skiing. Just drop everything and go. How cool would that be. Life is short...live it up. Stay tuned!

DAY 3: WHITETAIL

For some reason, we couldn't get enough skiing. After 10 years of missing ski season after ski season, we were making up for lost time. The DC area weather was about to warm up - and this might be our last opportunity for local skiing.

By DAY 3, we had the routine down to ultra efficiency. We only lugged around our ski bags, which were now carefully packed for goggles, scarves, hats and wool socks - along with fruity snacks and sandwiches for lunch. No need to spend money on overpriced food at the ski resort. We made a beeline for the rental center, and got fitted for boots and skiis. Within 10 minutes, of rental activity - we were on the chairlift heading uphill for our first run.

Being a Friday, the resort was far more busy than our debut earlier in the week, on Tuesday. Busloads of humans had arrived, and kids on snowboards were everywhere. Despite the larger crowds, the slopes were not overly busy, and we only had to wait a few minutes at the chairlifts. The temperatures were clearly warming, and folks we spoke to on the chairlift rides - shared thoughts about heading out west to Colorado or Utah - to extend the ski season. Maybe we'll do the same. Time to research options.