Although winter got off to a relatively late start, the snow gods were determined to make up for lost time. Early January brought another winter storm to the mountains, so Dana's friend, Reed, suggested that we take advantage. We drove up early to Arapahoe Basin ("A-Basin") after a 16-inch dumping of fresh powder--on top of a 45-inch base.
Having been raised as an East Coast skier, you could say that I was out of my element. My first impression of powder ("pow pow") skiing was how soft and quiet it was; much unlike the icy conditions you often encounter back East. It was certainly a game changer for me, but I rented a pair of skis that were equipped to handle the powder, which worked in my favor. I still could not keep up with the CO natives that I was with, but that allowed me to take my time and focus on form and technique. I knew for sure that my legs would be sore the next day. With more practice, however, I bet that I could really enjoy this new realm of skiing.
Despite the mounds of fresh snow that arrived overnight, it continued to snow all day without end in sight. Skiing in a blizzard was both challenging and fun--or "gnarley" according to the ski bums that I was with. The temperature on the mountain was also chilly, so I stopped several times to warm up.
The main chair lift from the base area connects to another lift that takes you to the top of the mountain. I felt content sticking to this central part of the mountain, ultimately lacking the confidence to journey to the back side or bowls.
I appreciated that the resort is nestled within the mountain range, offering a feeling of near enclosure by mountains (perhaps also due in part to the poor visibility that day).
Dana, Reed, and I were spent by the time the lifts closed at 3:30 pm. Instead of driving back to Denver, however, we spent the night in Breckenridge. Dinner, board games, and the jacuzzi were on the agenda before calling it an early night.
The next morning, Reed took a few "turns" at Breck, while Dana and I went for a walk downtown. Although still cold, the clouds and snow had finally given way to blue, sunny skies.
Crepes for breakfast was a last-minute decision before making the drive back to Denver... first ski trip of the season officially in the books!
