Colorado or Bust; a travelogue by Jim and Vince Kenney
April 12-19, 2009

We're trying something new for us this trip - hoping to post nightly reports on our spring ski trip to Colorado. This is our kick-off post. We depart early, early tomorrow morning.

Trip goals:
1. Find some great late season skiing in Colorado
2. Enjoy a week of father and son quality time together
3. See the country on a mega road trip and return in one piece

It hasn't been an especially huge snow year in the Rockies. The third week of April is the latest date I've ever scheduled a ski trip to Colorado or anywhere else. Will there still be great skiing out there? Only one way to find out.

My son Vince will be graduating from high school one month after our return. There are life changes ahead. I'm still able to share most of a ski day without slowing him down too much. He's still willing to hang out with pops. Who knows how long this window of mutual ski compatibility will
last? Get it while you can.

We both have more time than money. We're driving 1800 miles each way in a 12 year old car. I like the open road, Vince would rather fly the friendly skies. Will we make it back before old Bessie blows a gasket? Stay tuned.

Over the next week here on DCSki.com we'll try to post daily comments and images of our adventures in Colorado Ski Country USA.

Jim Kenney
Happy Trails!

Good luck you 2!! I hope your trip is filled with lots of good father/son time, save travels, and PLENTY of POW POW!!!

so who is running this show, Jim or Vince ? i'd say Vince.

that sounds really superb. webcams at a-basin look great lately. walker and i drove home from saddleback last year and had a great time - especially with a 3 CD set of grateful dead tunes. safe travels to you Jim and Vince, and good times.

Flashing marquees out on main street
Chicago, New York, DC and its all the same street
Your typical city involved in a typical daydream
Hang it up and see what tomorrow brings

Truckin' out to Colorado
Been thinkin' gotta mellow slow
Takes time to pick a place to go
Get back truckin' on

Keystone gotta soft machine
Copper too close to Breckenridge
Loveland's got the ways and means
A-Basin keeps truckin' on.

Have a great trip. Most of CO mountains got tons of snow last week. Should be great. Wish I was with you, or at least having you meet me at the airport in Denver!
Happy Easter
The Colonel

Godspeed!

Vince and Jim,

Wow...I'm envious. Looking forward to hearing about your trip. I've never skied out West...what are you doing to deal with the altitude?

Hope you enjoy the snow, and the "guy trip" thing, too!

Travel safely,
Woody

Jim & Vince, check you Private Messages.

Awesome. I did this way back in 1989 over Easter Break. We loaded up a Chevy conversion van with my folks, myself, two of my buddies and drove to Breckenridge.

We stopped in Salinas Kansas on the way out. Drove straight through on the way back. I still remember it being pitch black as I drove through Kansas and listened to Michigan beat Seton Hall.

The first couple of days was warm spring skiing (t-shirts). The next few days we received around three-feet of snow.

I still have plenty of good memories from that trip. I'm sure you'll have the same.

Just returned from CO. Husband and I drove straight through(25hrs.). Spent two days in Co Springs with our 4th son. Then he picked up 2nd and 3rd sons at airport and we met at condo in Silverthorne. Skied Keystone, Copper, and Loveland. Sun and blue skies every day with great snow conditions. Probably the best ski trip we've had. Left Friday morning, drove straight through again arriving at home in VA Saturday morning around 11:30. Hope you have a safe trip and enjoy the skiing as much as we did.