Stick It To The Little Man 2

Last year I got invited to a long ski weekend at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. A trip that just a few days before it was set to take place was threatened to be canceled. Elliot, our host, was hit with severe back problems, but with acute and spine deep medical help he stuck it to the little guy; the little guy in his back who was trying to ruin our weekend. That weekend last year became the start of “Stick it to the Little Man”.

The view of the East Vail chutes from Mark’s condo

This year the gathering point was Vail, Colorado. Expectations were high with the Jackson trip still in the back of our minds. But Mark, this year’s host, had great plans up his sleeves. With the recipe from last year in terms of mixing things up with both resort and back country skiing, and with Elliot bringing the weather, we were set for yet another awesome long ski weekend.

Ron enjoying the morning corduroy

We spent the first day at Vail resort getting ski legs under all of us. It was a blue bird day and with no crowds it was a joy carving up the corduroy in the morning. Blue Sky Basin was the place to be and where we spent the most of the day. Blue Sky had been closed the entire previous day due to a lift malfunctioning so there was lots of fresh stuff to be found. The run down through Champagne Glade was awesome, but most memorable was the run out the gate from the top of Pete’s Express.

Out of bounds skiing at Vail

For our second day, Mark had set us up with Vail Powder Guides. As we were driving to our meeting spot at the Vail Pass rest area we knew we were in for an awesome day. There were several inches of snow on the car from snowfall over night, and it was still coming down hard as we were driving east on I-70. We met up with our crew for the day and only two other guests which provided for a small group, therefore quick transitions between runs and ultimately lots of runs for the day.

Mark getting a taste of the powder

Our first run was fantastic. Never before had I skied in this much powder. The sensation of the skis sliding on what I best can describe as a super forgiving spongy silent invisible path beneath the surface of the snow was incredible. I was hooked, and the constant smile on my face yielded some sore cheeks by the end of the day!

Jenna from Vail Powder Guides

After a long day in the back country it was time to get back to resort skiing. Beaver Creek was the destination for our 3rd day. It was yet another blue bird day and Pete, who joined us for Saturday’s skiing, showed us around at Beaver Creek which happens to be his home turf. Pete found us super groomers, tree skiing, and some steep stuff as well.

Tim in the aspens at Beaver Creek

While Stick It To The Little Man 2 was going in and around Vail, the Winter X Games were being hosted down in Aspen. Something that hadn’t gone unnoticed by Elliot who through-out the entire weekend had been getting increasingly more air and riding switch.

Elliot practicing for the Winter X Games

For our last day we were back at Vail. It was yet another beautiful bluebird day. If it isn’t snowing, it might as well be sunny! In the morning we went on some fast groomed runs in the Game Creek Bowl and were simply having some plain old fun. We were in no rush, this being our fourth day of skiing. This was our “play day”.

Game Creek Bowl at Vail

The highlight from the last day was the hike out Ptarmigan ridge. The view from here was amazing, and apparently this is also the starting point for the “Minturn Mile” which is an out of bounds run all the way down to the Saloon in Minturn. I most likely will be checking this Minturn Mile out before too long. I like the idea of ending a ski day with a back country run and then at a Mexican Restaurant no less.

The view from Ptarmigan Ridge at Vail

All in all – an epic weekend with lots of skiing and a great time hanging our with new and old friends!