Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog
I have always known that if you want to, you really can pack a whole lot into just one short day. I do it regularly. But, I put the theory really to the test last Monday.
It began with dropping my folks off at the bus stop, to catch a bus to the airport. We waited outside in the scorching 7 degree temperatures. We waited. And we waited some more. Buses came and went, but the right bus didn’t come. Finally, I said, “Okay, put your things back in the car. I’m driving you to the airport.” Just as we were driving through the parking lot, their bus arrived, over half an hour late. So, the unpacking of the car commences. Skis, a big suitcase, and 2 little ones… all out, but not quick enough. The bus came and went. It didn’t even stop actually. It blasted right on through the bus stop when it didn’t see anyone there with bags.
So, the re-packing of the car occurs again for the third time in an hour. We rush. “The trunk isn’t closed all the way!” “That’s okay, don’t worry about it. We’re going to try to catch that bus at the next stop.” I drive fast, or at least I try. But there’s four buses on the highway, all blocking traffic… and the one we want is in the front. Finally the bus gets off a the exit and as we stop at a traffic light I have a vague flashback in my memory of this particular bus stop. I would need to go through two other lights to get to the parking lot, but the bus goes through it’s own lane with no stoplights. If I go through those stop lights, then we will once again catch the bus. Screw it, I decide, I’m following that bus. So, I did. I drove right through the bus stop lane. Yep. But, hey, we caught the bus!
All this had happened and it wasn’t even yet 8am. There was still so much more to happen in the day. I drove frantically to meet Sydney, Rob, Pete, and Zach in Golden. Mission number 1 was Berthoud Pass.
When we first arrived at Berthoud the sky was still sunny and happy, but that quickly changed with the oncoming front. Nevertheless, we found some good turns there.
Sydney
Rob
Pete
Rob and Zach even hit Gaffney’s on the first run. Kudos boys! You can see their lines here:
After three runs we were kinda hungry, and the weather kept getting colder and windier. We decided to head to Loveland, but not without stopping at the Sweet Shop in Empire first for a bit of lunch.
Rob and Pete
Zach and Me
Loveland was skiing well. We got a solid hour and 15 minutes of skiing in before they closed the lifts. But, we had a plan even then. We had stashed our packs near the hut on the top of Chair One. From there we would go out the access gate to ski Mine Dumps back down to the road. Nothing like ending a great ski day with some backcountry pow.
The hike was a tad windy….
Zach emerging from the blizzard
Sydney and Me
Rob, Pete, Zach
The best turns of the day were on this run. Unfortunately, we only have a couple of pics to show.
From the bus stop, to Berthoud, to Loveland, to Mine Dumps… and it wasn’t even dark yet. How much can you pack in a day? 
It was a great day!
