Astronaut photograph ISS018-E-5353 was acquired on October 24, 2008, with a Nikon D2Xs digital camera fitted with an 800 mm lens, and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations experiment and the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by the Expedition 18 crew.
If you stare intensely at your monitor you can see what looks like some gapers from Texas drinking Lone Star beer on I-70, and a group of Summit County locals smoking weed in the Loaf N’ Jug parking lot.
Patrol checks out Montezuma Bowl. You know you want some. (Courtesy Arapahoe Basin)
Arapahoe Basin announced today that Montezuma Bowl will open at 11 am on Tuesday, December 30, 2008. About 180 acres will open, which is less than half of the terrain in Montezuma, but it’s still 180 acres of mostly untracked snow. Besides, your Colorado Pass is restricted at Vail and Beaver Creek through Wednesday.
While you’re waiting for the rope to drop, be sure to grab breakfast at A-Basin’s excellent The Legends Café. The Skiers Breakfast and Boarders Breakfast both rock for $5. You can’t go wrong with eggs, tater tots, biscuits and gravy to power you through the day.
Here’s the press release:
ARAPAHOE BASIN MONTEZUMA BOWL TO OPEN TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2008
Montezuma Bowl Opens for its Second Season
Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – December 28, 2008 – Arapahoe Basin’s Montezuma Bowl will open to the public at 11am, Tuesday, December 30. Great early season snowfall allowed for staff to groom and open the terrain two weeks earlier than expected. The Zuma chair lift will give skiers and riders access to 18 intermediate, advanced and expert runs; approximately 180 acres of Montezuma Bowl.
Montezuma Bowl opened for its inaugural season in January of 2008. The expansion increased the ski area’s terrain by 80 percent. The 400-acre Montezuma Bowl, located on the backside of Arapahoe Basin, was the nation’s largest terrain expansion for the 2007-2008 ski season.
Arapahoe Basin continues to grow and this year a $1.2 million parking expansion was added. With 300 new parking spaces served by new shuttle buses and pedestrian tunnel under US Highway 6, getting to the slopes has never been easier.
Arapahoe Basin has also added value for season pass holders. Along with unlimited skiing and riding, A-Basin pass holders now receive 10% off food and beverage purchases at Black Mountain Lodge and A-Frame Cafeteria, 10% off retail at Black Mountain Sports and Arapahoe Sports, as well as a free class lesson from the Snowsports School. Arapahoe Basin 2008-2009 season passes are still available and can be purchased at www.arapahoebasin.com or through Guest Services 1-888-ARAPAHOE (272-7246).
For more information on Arapahoe Basin or Montezuma Bowl please call 1-888-ARAPAHOE or log on towww.arapahoebasin.com.
Not to be outdone, Chadd and Amy Westoff, of Virginia, bought 11 Epic Passes for six adults and five children. The Westoff group totals 18, and they stay with Amy’s parents for two weeks of the winter vacation.
“We just love the flexibility of (the Epic Pass),” Amy Westoff said. “We have young kids and young skiing kids and it helps to be able to get on and off the mountain anytime.”
Like this morning, when Amy and Chadd decided to pass of their early shift of watching the kids, promising to be back at 10:30.
“This is one of the best days in a few years,” Chadd Westoff said. “We’ve been really lucky.”
Amy said that the family is planning on coming back two more times this year, something they couldn’t have done without the Epic Pass.
“The Epic Pass changed our lives,” she said. “Whatever we have to do to bring it back next year, we will do it.”
Also, the continuing lineup of storm swells keeps rolling, so it looks like it’s going to be the Best Christmas Ever for one of these young whippersnappers:
"Do not put the object on the handrail" by Beto™ on Flickr.
Ashley Dickson (reporter babe alert) of the Summit Daily News reports that snowboarders riding unauthorized rails and stuff on private or guvment property are getting their snowboards and videocameras confiscated. Whoa, that’s, um, crazy.
Getting a ticket for destruction of public property? Check.
Convicted and sentenced to community service for destruction of said property? Check.
Ordered to pay restitution for destruction of said property? Check.
But confiscating video gear? Sounds like the police have determined it’s a good tactic for deterrence, but wow:
“The equipment is being taken because it is evidence used in a crime,” (Dillon Police Chief Joe) Wray said. “If we have a video camera that shows footage of snowboarders riding rails on public property, then we can use that in court.”
I guess Summit County officials and property managers haven’t fully implemented these yet.
And here’s an old J.P. Walker interview that explores the lure of rails and touches on security guards, night vision goggles and crazy photographers.
So it’s been snowing like crazy in the Colorado mountains for the past couple of weeks. That’s great news.
And, as the economy slows and resort bookings lag, many ski areas are launching all sorts of news sites and promotions. That’s good news for those without a season pass, or season pass holders who want to get some at another area.
So here’s a few new Colorado resort deals for your low-cost enjoyment, in order of importance to Front Range riffraff:
PowPowPlatter.com: Intrawest throws down a trifecta of tickets to Copper Mountain, Winter Park and Steamboat for $99. No blackout dates, either. Nice. But, 48 hour advance purchase required, and non-transferable. Available while supplies last or until January 31st. You know you wanna road trip to Steamboat.
KeystoneTonight.com: Keystone launched this new site to sell last minute deals on lodging, activities, dining and more. It offers hotel rooms or studios for $99 a night throughout the season, and Sunday night stays at the Inn at Keystone (rooftop hot tub, whoot) for $79. Deals vary depending on the week.
VailAllTheLove.com: Vail deals on lodging, on-mountain food and activities, Vail Snowsports School, town dining/drinking, shopping and rentals, spa visits and other activities. Sample deal: 1 free Happy Hour Beer at Westside Cafe from 4 pm-7 pm. (If you’re a current or former Vail Resorts season pass holder you probably got a Vail All The Love discount card mailed to you.)
Good news for those who enjoy the uncrowded terrain in Earl’s Bowl at Vail. The Vail Daily has reported that Vail Resorts has given up on plans to build a groomed catwalk to Earl’s Bowl. Meaning that users will still have to work a little to access the sidecountry west of Blue Sky Basin. Meaning that more people will not be venturing out the gate and into your stash. Meaning more fresh snow for those that don’t mind a small hike, like these powder junkies:
Heading west on the trail to Earl's Bowl during opening day of Blue Sky Basin at Vail on Saturday, December 13, 2008.
Meaning more untouched runs like this:
Blue Sky Basin at Vail as viewed from atop Earl's Bowl on Saturday, December 13, 2008.
Also, it’s been snowing like gangbusters this December. A small avalanche slid down Lover’s Leap in Blue Sky Basin on Sunday. Be safe out there you powder freaks.
A packed high school parking lot at the early-morning hour tipped police off to something suspicious, (police spokeswoman Sarah Huntley) said. While talking to the men, she said, officers smelled an odor of marijuana. They asked who had the pot, she said.
“And Tanner Hall stepped up and said he had it,” Huntley said.
Hall was cited, and his crew was asked to disperse.
According to Hall’s mother Darla:
“He has a lifestyle that’s not everyone’s lifestyle, but I back Tanner 199 percent,” Darla Hall said. “He’s not the only athlete out there that smokes marijuana. … They all do it.”
One could imagine that a member of the posse would be expected to take the rap for having the pot. Apparently not so with Tanner Hall. Keeping it real. Endorsement deals – smorshment deals. Image – smidadge.
Kudos for Hall and his moms for being open and upfront about smoking a little ganja. I can’t imagine many other elite-level pro athletes doing the same.
Coincidentally, on the same day ESPN announced the first wave of X’rs invited to Winter X Games 13. Hall, the defending Winter X skiing superpipe champion, made the cut. Let’s hope he goes big again this January.
Enjoy this replay of his gold medal run last January while I go to Taco Bell for some delicious tacos. For some strange reason I really want some Taco Bell tacos. Mmmmn, tacos.
