Jesper PERL

Vail Weekend

Jesper — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:23:11 +0000

It is hard to believe that it is still early ski season. Jen and I spent the most awesome weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, skiing the back bowls of Vail. Saturday happened to be this season’s grand opening day of Blue Sky Basin; our favourite area at Vail. Not only that, they opened it early, and we were there early, going up on one of the first chairs on the Skyline Express Lift. The first runs of the season in Pete’s Bowl did not suck!

Skiing all day long in powder is fun, but also hard work! At one point, we both just sat down in custom fitted pow chairs and rested. Wow! What a day!

We polished Saturday off with a tall glass of Paulaner Oktoberfest. Yes, still in stock on draft at select places.

Sunday was as spectacular as Saturday, with 12 inches of fresh new snow overnight, but it was wicked cold. Too cold to take any pictures. We took a longer route to Blue Sky Basin, with a couple of runs in Sun Down and Sun Up bowls, and by the time we got to the Skyline Express, they had closed down all of Blue Sky Basin because of a big slide in Pete’s Bowl; 3 feet deep, down to the ground. Nobody was hurt, but it was a good reminder that Jen and I should start carrying our avy gear, even within resort boundaries, and especially on big powder days.

More Skiing

Jesper — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:59:08 +0000

We were back at Copper Mountain again today where Jonathan and Ann - after being stuck on a lift for 45 minutes! - joined us for the afternoon. Yet another awesome day. Skiing is SO MUCH FUN!

Jen shredding the gnar

Ann ripping it up (Sorry I got you from your backside!)

Jonathan showing us how its done!

First ski day 2008/09 season

Jesper — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:05:38 +0000

Wow - if today’s great day at Copper is any indication of the upcoming ski season, it is not looking too bad. Copper Mountain had just opened up several runs with natural snow and most of them to our delight were not groomed. It almost felt like a [small] powder day!

I am happy to report that both Jen and I right off the first chair were ripping tele turns with as much confidence as end of last season; Jenifer even on new skis. The legs, however, didn’t quite have the stamina or strength as end of season last year, but we will be working on that … and enjoying every bit of it!

First Snow

Jesper — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:08:45 +0000

After a long wonderful drawn out Indian Summer and Fall, Winter has finally found Boulder. This morning we woke up to about 2 inch of fresh white snowflakes neatly stacked on top of each other; a pretty morning for sure — and a forced break from work on the hot tub…

Bean FeSSt 2008

Jesper — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:07:14 +0000

Bean FeSSt was one of the first group rides that Jen and I took part in when we first moved to Colorado. Riding with like minded single speed riders in rain and snow made us feel right at home! This year’s incarnation of Bean FeSSt is now in the books, and it was yet again a raging success; this year with sunshine and blue skies! A rare treat for sure. The Aspens even still holding on to their leaves!

Meeting Mister Winter

Jesper — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:13:54 +0000

This weekend we decided to leave rainy Boulder in exchange for more solid precipitation and to give Jen a fresh fix of the mountains before she heads off to Florida. Mister Winter was definitely knocking on the door up there…

On our way up there was still some blue sky

No blue sky by Yankee Doodle Lake

Strelka checking out Yankee Doodle Lake

The west bank of Yankee Doodle Lake

Despite being in the gray clouds there was still some colour to be found

This red “carpet” also caught my eye back in 2005

As we started our ascent it was clear that we wouldn’t have many views

But no views doesn’t mean you can’t have fun

These weather shelters were nicely decorated with seating and tables!

Heading up towards the Continental Divide

“Are you sure this is the way?” asks Strelka

“Before you answer let me check out this smell here…”

“I don’t know, dude, this seems to lead to nowhere…”

A Continental Divide Trail marker shows we are on track

“OK, you were right, but check out my spiffy coat”

“This is how it looks from the side”

“I am pretty darn cute, am I not?”

The only kind of views we got between snow clouds drifting through

As we were heading down we finally got a glimpse of the surrounding mountains

More views of the surrounding mountains

Yet again the “Black and White” world of winter…

Fall Colours

Jesper — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:15:27 +0000

Its that time of year again. The aspen leaves are turning golden yellow; almost fluorescent. Earlier this year in Spring we noticed how plenty full the aspens were around the 4th of July road, so we made it a goal to come back and check them out in Fall. It was no disappointment! The last several miles of the drive up was through a tunnel of golden aspens.

More pictures here.

American Lakes

Jesper — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:20:33 +0000

Colorado amazes me. The number of “destinations” is abundant. Everywhere you look there are mountains to climb, trails to hike, and trails to bike. There is no end to it.

The destination for this past Saturday was American Lakes which is located within the not so creatively named State Park called “State Forest“. State Forest is just north of Rocky Mountain National Park and just west of Fort Collins but we had yet to visit that whole general area, so Saturday morning we got up early, put the bikes on the Durango and headed north and then west along the Poudre river. The drive up through the canyon was incredibly scenic and the views only got better the further up the canyon we went. This trend stayed with us as we got on the bikes and started climbing up towards the American Lakes and Thunder Pass. When we got to and above tree limit, the breathtaking views were all around.

Colorado!

More pictures here.

More Night Riding

Jesper — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:12:45 +0000

The days are getting shorter. For sure. Yesterday, the Redstone Cyclery tuesday night ride group spent the daylight hours doing trail maintenance working on a couple of spots on the Nelson loop at Hall Ranch.

After putting in some good work, we turned the lights on and rode out in the dark of the night. Good times!

Flash is needed to view this video.

Night Ride

Jesper — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:52:47 +0000

Yesterday was the first real night ride of the season, and what a joy it was. There is just simply something magical about picking your way around and between the trees in the dark of the night with nothing but the trail and a headlamp guiding you. Thanks for orchestrating, Dave!