Did I tell you how much I hate you two right now? I'm mowing the lawn and other yard work and you two are still chasing winter. Well, at least the Pens won last night and the Caps lost. I guess I have that.

Awesome TR guys. I really enjoy the pics and videos. I never skied Loveland and it's been, oh god, about 20+ years since I skied A-basin. When did I get old????

Keep them reports coming.

Looks like lots of snow in Denver tonight/tomorrow and the Front Range...hope some of it falls as powder on you all.
Have Fun,
The Colonel

Thursday April 16 - Arapahoe Basin
Our second day at Abasin was a fun, stark contrast from our first. The area received approximately six inches of new spring snow overnight and about another four inches fell throughout the day. It didn’t get much more than 40 degs today and visibility in the open bowls was tough. It was not a great picture taking day, but the sun did come out for about 60-90 minutes in the afternoon and conveniently melted the snow off Hwy 6, at least for a while.
In the morning we followed closely beside snow fences to help with depth perception and sought out glades like Eureka and Torrey on the west and east sides of the Zuma lift respectively. There was also good powder tree skiing in the front side glades such as Scudder near Norway lift and Cabin glades under the Lenawee Mtn lift.
It was a wet snow and we went in to dry off and grab some lunch around 1230pm. No sooner had we stepped into the new mid-mtn Black Mtn Lodge than the sun broke through. We gobbled some snacks and quickly headed back out to take advantage of the visibility. By this time there was conservatively a good 10 inches of new and somewhat heavy snow on the trails. Big gobs of chop everywhere.
After riding the Pali chair for a while Vince talked me into skiing the run under it during the brief window of sunshine. Part way down my old legs were fried so I bailed onto nearby Standard. Vince continued on Turbo, but it was exhausting for both of us. He really had to power his way through deep clumps of snow, not to mention giant bumps. I think he grew some hair on his chest today.
We continued to ski the front side of Abasin, but visibility worsened again and we called it a day about 30 mins before closing time (forgive us). We wanted to make sure old bald-tired Bessie could get us to Frisco, CO. I’m typing this in the living room of the Frisco Lodge in the historic part of town. Friday and Saturday we ski Copper Mtn. We can use the free Summit Stage bus to get there from here and give Bessie a break. We’re hearing reports of a foot or more of snow falling on and off between now and Saturday, temps are supposed to drop. Yowsa! Hopefully it will have a little lower water content.
Jim Kenney
Happy Trails.

First pic: Jim in Cabin glades
Video: Vince with snow falling on a groomer called Columbine in Montezuma Bowl
Second pic: Vince under the Pali lift
Third pic: Jim on Dragon below the East Wall

Jim, Vince

Up til now i've been happy that you've got to do this trip and i'm really enjoying the trip report, BUT this morning i saw the weather forecast for Denver/boulder front range and now I hate you also, j/k but JIM, dewd what's with those tires????? Didn't learn anything at teh Knob??

Have fun
Your friend (jealous) Jimmy

Wow, looks like your best day yet. I am astonished at this 'spring' in the mountain west. Alta got another 25" 2 days ago. Just a bit of regret about coming home before catching it all. But I have no complaints.

Make some turns for me.

Easy there mate. Keep that up and I may have to challenge you to some T-Line skiercross...

Vince, JimK, excellent trip. Thanks for the updates!

You'll be glad to know we're keeping the local economy afloat back east while you're whooping it up.

You still haven't got new tires? I'm amazed you two are still alive and made it out to the Rockies.

To the Rockies?? I'm surprised they made it home from Blue Knob!!

April 17 – Copper Mountain
POWDER DAY!
Yesterday was just a warm-up. Today was the real deal, approximately 10-18” of fresh and fairly light snow depending on what part of the mountain you skied. We skied ourselves to exhaustion riding Copper’s fleet of long HSQs. Copper was a great venue to host the best powder day of young Vincent’s life, one of my best too. Even some of the locals were calling it one of the top days of the season.
We skied the center front face of the mtn and the west front where the wicked slow Alpine double chair made us feel like we were back home at Blue Knob or Timberline. We found the best snow up high in the single black tree lined runs around the Excelerator chair and the wide open Union Bowl area off the Sierra lift. Despite heavy snow, the visibility was better than the day before.
After an epic morning we grabbed a bite at a mid-mtn restaurant called Solitude Station and hit some easy blues on the east side of the mtn to rest a bit. Then a friendly local offered to lead us down three runs in the black diamond Union Bowl where the snow was deep, but vis a little tricky for first timers to Copper. Vince called these runs the highlight of the day – 18 inches deep and pretty light stuff. He finally understands the hypnotic magic of deep pow.
They expect another foot tonight. Tomorrow at Copper Mtn holds much promise for our final day in Colorado Ski Country USA. Deeper snow and the Sunsation end of the season party, including free music by many acts like Bob Marley’s original band The Wailers. Only one thing, maybe the need to change the name of the event to Snowsation.
PS: The Summit Stage free bus was the unsung hero of the day. Got us to and from the mtn from the Frisco Lodge without incident. Meanwhile I70 is closed this evening in both directions due to the snow and numerous accidents.
PPS: I compromised after BK and got two new rear tires, only the front are bald :-)
Jim Kenney
Happy Trails

First pic: not Vince’s best form, but illustrative of the deep snow
Second pic: the powder hounds were out in force, but no lift lines. It’s April in paradise.
Third pic: a boarder catches a little air in one of many terrain parks at Copper. Great talent out here on the hills. We saw a boarder do a 15” huck off a rock at Abasin. My camera went into standby just as he took wing.
Video: Vince and I are receiving on the job training in powder skiing. It’s not how good you are, it’s how much fun you’re having.

Jim, looks awesome out there. I have to say, reading reports that are full of contagious enthusiasm like this, well, it's almost as good as being there. Glad you guys are having such an epic trip. I am sure this will rank as one of your best ski days ever.

BTW, I like hearing the old-guy grunts at the end of the video -- it's a nice contrast to the young ripper action at the beginning .