Colorado High Country

Some kick ass pics of Colorado from 30,000'.

The Dating Game

I frequent a website called Telemarktips and lurk around reading tele 'experts' rant about everything. For the most part, i keep to myself until someone posts a subject about my area, beer or drugs. Even though i spent many years working in a mountaineering store, i mainly sit back and laugh at the so called experts.
One day, i happen to read about a young lady and her friend embarking on a one month Rocky Mountain ski tour. A stop along the way happens to include my home mountain. Why not finally get out and meet someone from the msg board after loitering for 5 years.
Anyways, Sunday is the first time i will ever meet someone after arranging it through an internet connection.
Full report coming Monday...

PS - Mullets can ski too!

Jones Pass, CO

Colorado skiing up 8.1 percent - '04-'05

How ya like dem apples?? I guess it's good for the industry?
I'd like to give a shout-out to Vail Resorts for putting out a cheap-ass 5 mountain pass that every joepub in the flatlands can afford.
This doesn't surprise me after some of the lift lines i've run into this season. Thank god my back-country season is right around the corner.

Going up?

It's very interesting to hear what total strangers have to say during the 7-10 minutes we share together while on a ski lift. Here's a quick break-down of Sunday's favorites:
-Wyoming Joe: Nice guy. Joe's a late 50's civil engineer from Laramie who is a self-employed well digger.
Since he was in town for the holiday weekend visiting his daughter in Ft Collins, he decided to head up to the mountains for some turns. We talked mainly about northern Wyoming and how freaking cool it is. Then, we both agreed that Jackson Hole ski area has turned into one large 'who-can-one-up-the-next-guy' theme. In other words, Jackson is turning into a Vail/Apsen kinda gig. Don't get me started on 2nd and 3rd vacation houses in the high 950's.
Anyways, i said goodbye to Monty and sent him on his way over to a blue cruiser towards the center of the resort. Monty gave me a strange look wondering how in the world i knew his name???? Dumass tourists need to write their names on their rental skiis with a sharpie to tell them apart once parked in a rack... Kinda like when your in a mall parking lot and all you see are Esuvees or soccer mom minivans. They look all same exept for that 'my kids a nerd and gets all A's' bumper sticker that sets each car apart.
-Joe St. Louis:
-Chicago Fred: Fred was all excited to be up on the lift on a fine Sunday morning.
As usual, Fred and I got talking about where i was from a la most of lift rides. I told him where and of course he had a story for me.
Fred said that he was driving trough Pgh on his was to Md and decided to pull in for some lunch. Since Fred picked the opportune time of July 4th weekend to check out Pgh's best, he totally forgot to follow the law. Fred drove down a street that had some spots open to park his ride. What Fred didn't know was that July 4th weekend is prob the craziest weekend of the year for Pgh. We're talking about a million people gathered down at the river for some good ole fashion firework activities. Anyways, his car was towed because he parked it illegally. Given, the city shuts down and most city streets become pedestrian walkways instead of metered parking. Don't hate the player Fred...
One more:
-Josephsky from Russia: Josephsky was a quiet guy for most of the ride. However, he sure was proud of the new skiis he just bought! He told us all about em and how great of deal he got.
More later...

Champagne

She likes to Tele, fly fish, camp, hike, raft, party, travel - she does it all while drinking High-Life with me after a great day of skiing.

Brazilian Nordic Skiier?

35-year-old Brazilian saw snow for the first time 2 years ago -- places second out of 122 for a 15k freestyle nordic race!

Photoshop 'Art'

Slackerific and Crested Butte

Sorry folks, i seemed to have misplaced my motivation. I haven't had any creative bursts to conjure up my hugely anticipated Crested Butte report. Lately, i've been sitting around watching red-neck Orange County hooligans build motorcycles.
Anyways, where was I? CB...

Our classic 70's condo was da bomb -- for one, we woke up to this /\ Lets just say that the 5 hour drive to CB is well worth it because the 'never evers' never go to the butte. Never Evers are just that. People never ever ski CB, except people with free lift tickets like joepub.
What else? The skiing was terrific! The steeps are noting like i ever skied here in Colorado. Pucker factor = way high over on the Phoenix bowl and the Teocalli bowl area.
Here's a shot looking back down the valley towards our condo:

What did we do for fun? We of course we had to hit the Secret Stash for a few rounds of Po Boys! 23 rounds of Po Boys to be exact. PB = 1 bottle of PBR + a shot of Tequila. They go down easier than a dead fish in a toilet.
Needless to say, skiing Sunday was not the easiest thing to do. Good thing all the Texans decided not to come out and play.

Here's Ryan and I on Sunday morning standing around at the base.
And one last pic showing proof that i actually ski:

Aight folks, off to Winter Park this weekend to fight the crowds.... President's Day weekend. Yuk. Thanks uncle sam for giving everyone Monday off. I really like it when i have to fight traffic with 100k other people on I-70.
Werd to the herd.

Head Dressings

More essential Joey Goober gear. Check out these beauties:
0) 1) 2)

Hey, it's all about looking good right?!