November 2006 Archive
Nov 29, 2006 · 11:16 AM
This morning we woke up to eight inches of fresh powder on the ground and as I took the dog for her morning walk, surrounded by nothing but the snow-muffled sounds and the blue light, I started to wonder: what is it about fresh snow that still makes my heart pound?
For me, a big part of skiing is simply enjoying the snow. There is no more magical experience than resting in a snowy glade with nothing but the hush of falling snow.
Last season, I was skiing the trees below Steep and Deep at Vail when I caught an edge and went tumbling into a tree well. I was alone and had an instant of panic as I realized where I was and how close I was to being stuck. But I had landed on my back with my feet toward the trunk and still had one of my poles, so I knew I could get out. I lay there catching my breath and letting the adrenalin ebb and as I focused my eyes, I could see big, fat, perfectly-formed snow flakes floating down and landing all around me. It was a surreal experience to watch the individual flakes falling toward me through the canopy of conifers and I probably spent 10 minutes laying there before I struggled out of the well.
This morning, with the dog bounding in the snow like a puppy and my own excitement rising, I saw clearly that skiing is about being childish. I love to catch air just as much as I did when I was ten; I still think it’s hilarious to shake snow down from branches onto the people following behind me; and when I go ass-over-teakettle into a tree well, I dig myself out, laugh it off, and I still let out a ridiculous cry as I attack the slope.
It’s been snowing in Colorado since Monday night. Aspen (pictured at top) has received 24 inches in the past 48 hours, Vail has had 17, and Steamboat has had 21. I’m one of the lucky people who gets to make his own schedule and tomorrow is a powder day. Yeeee-Haw!
Photo courtesy of Aspen-Snowmass
Nov 28, 2006 · 08:27 AM
If anyone’s a snow hugger, it’s children. Our kids watched with glee every snow flake that fell yesterday (a lot of them for Seattle) and bugged me so much about the possibility of a snow closure, I showed them how to read the newspaper online and check SchoolReport.org. I’m sure, they’ve hit that about 2 million times. Last night, my daughter did a snow dance for a minute and placed a spoon under her pillow. That worked and today, there’s no school.
Nov 26, 2006 · 02:34 PM
I saw an ad for the Hotel Omnia in a magazine and thought that it’s the ski equivalent of the Hotel Moli de Mig, a modernist hotel designed specifically for cyclists and reviewed on Bike Hugger during our trip to Spain. In Zermatt, Switzerland, the hotel is decorated all in white oak, aluminum gray granite, and every room is a suite and dreamy.
Nov 26, 2006 · 02:26 PM
For the past couple of weeks, the snow here in Colorado has been less-than-inspiring. For anyone who likes skiing hard pack and groomed runs under the sun, things are just fine, but I like my runs deep and I’m not above admitting: I’m getting a little desperate. What’s a fella to do?
Fortunately, the internet affords many ways to vicariously enjoy the snow elsewhere and simulateously keep one’s finger on the pulse of the slopes. I am of course referring to the miracle of online snow reports.
Nov 24, 2006 · 11:34 AM
More fun than Letterman’s original Late Night Monkey Cam, is the ATC2K Waterproof ActionCamera from Oregon Scientific. Promising thousands of hours of YouTube fun, you can video yourself skiing right into the trees.
Hat tip Gizmodo and cross posted to Bike Hugger for attachment on your handlebars!
Nov 22, 2006 · 12:00 PM
When deciding where to ski, I have to admit that wireless availability has become an important factor. I can’t enjoy a vacation unless I know I can get online and work, and if wireless is readily available, then I needn’t be tied down—I can get access wherever happens to be convenient.
So ski geeks everywhere should rejoice: Vail announces free wireless access covering 95% of it village. That fact that I already ski there a lot makes it even sweeter.
How about wireless coverage at other mountains? Anyone know who else has good coverage? Any others with free coverage?
Nov 22, 2006 · 07:51 AM
Noting that “The town offers little in the way of Aspen-style amenities,” the NYTimes reviews Silverton, Colorado, a DIY backcountry ski resort that’s built for the skiing purest.
Nov 22, 2006 · 07:33 AM
Courtesy of our friends at FeedBurner, we’ve added a new subscribe by email feature. You can now keep up with Snow Hugger by email. Just click, enter your email, verify you’re not a spam spawning spammer, and boom!
The next time we post it will arrive in your inbox.
Nov 21, 2006 · 10:18 AM
If you’re in the interactive industry, like to ski or snowboard, and don’t mind Canada, check out Web Directions North. Beginning with an optional day of workshops from some of the web’s best educators, and rounded off with two optional days of skiing and boarding at Whistler, Web Directions North sounds like a web design and development event not to be missed.
And, as a bonus, Digital Web is running a contest in which you can win a ticket to Web Directions north just by designing a bitchin’ snowboard.
Nov 21, 2006 · 09:43 AM
A couple years ago, Colorado Ski Country USA launched a Colorado Ski Blog Club Colorado with the idea of giving skiers an insider’s view of Colorado skiing. The tagline is “Ski and Ride Colorado Like a Local.”
Today First Tracks Online calls to our attention the launch of Ski Utah’s Blog with Kent Hyden and there idea is to follow Kent as he skis all of Utah’s mountain.
It will be interesting to see how they use this medium to attract skiers to their state.
Nov 21, 2006 · 08:45 AM
The NYTimes reports on resorts targeting generation Y after last season that set a record on the slopes and the average age of the skiers retreated to 35. The article continues with an expectation of lots of improvements and a nod to the tubing at Smugglers Notch
Nov 16, 2006 · 12:44 PM
Parachutes aren’t just for skiing up the mountain, they’re good for hauling ass down, too.
Ben Saunders points out new videos from Acro Base actors François Bon and Antoine Montant descending the north face of the Eiger. On skis. With parachutes. They call it speed-riding.
Hope they wore their rock skis.
Nov 12, 2006 · 12:41 PM
At the end of last month I posted on the value of Ski Resort demo days. Yesterday, my friend Ryan visted the Loveland/Christy Sports demo day and he puts it succintly:
Having just re-picked up skiing last year, I have no idea what I’m looking for in a ski, and frankly I don’t know that I’d notice or benefit from a higher end ski. To help me solve these mysteries Christine and I went out to Loveland Ski Resort for their Demo Day yesterday.
Read his complete post on Ryan’s Livejournal page.
Nov 11, 2006 · 01:45 PM
The Seattle PI is reporting that the non-stop rainy, windy weather pattern is bringing lots of snow to the Washington resorts and they’re planning on opening next week.
Nov 10, 2006 · 08:13 AM
Jason joked that I’d cover the tubing beat for Snow Hugger, and waddya know!, I did a quick search and found that Snow Creek and Paoli Peaks are offering new tubing runs this season.
You can see the tubing construction at both resorts in their galleries: Snow Creek tube runs and Paoli’s tubing construction.
(My professional tubing dream is a step closer)
Nov 07, 2006 · 01:19 AM
Want to ski untracked back country powder but can’t stand all that tiresome uphill trudging? Up Ski might be just the thing for you, combining the danger of jumping from an airplane with the excitement of unpredictable Alpine winds. What more could the lazy adrenalin junky ask for?
Can this be a good idea? Let’s hope not—it looks fun as hell, and fun almost never is.
Nov 05, 2006 · 08:20 AM
Nothing sucks worse than cold, damp boots in the morning, but consumer boot dryers are either A) noisy and innefficient or B) expensive. And, besides, any self-respecting Snow Hugger must has an independent streak a mile wide.
Here’s a quick-and-dirty project from Instrucables on building your own boot dryer. Now, someone just needs to modify the design with a heating element and a timer—and run the whole thing on 12V for warm boots when you reach the slopes.
Nov 04, 2006 · 07:53 AM
Winter is here and Christmas is nearly upon us, but what to get for that special Snow Hugger on your list? Here’s a tip: nothing says “I love you” like gear. Think goggles, gloves, helmets, and even spankys. And, of course, if you REALLY care, every Snow Hugger loves a new set of boots or a new board.
Over at Christmas Blog, they have just the thing: How to buy snowboarding equipment as a gift.
Just remember, Snow Huggers are particular—exchanges are de rigeur. So provide the receipt and don’t be hurt if those $150 Spy goggles you pored over get exchanged for some Carreras.
Nov 04, 2006 · 12:18 AM
After five days in Augsberg, the “Snow in the City” ski show culminates today with the “Rail Battle.”
What?!? You’ve never heard of a Rail Battle? Allow me to explain:
A Rail Battle is what happens when you put an enormous heap of shaved ice in the middle of a medieval German city, install some terrain park features, and set a bunch of jibbers loose.
The coolest thing is to run into jibbers from Crested Butte and Breckrenridge.
