Fit-Pic: Wishing I Was Here

Thursday, Feb. 23 at Arapahoe Basin Credit: Arapahoe Basin/Kimberly Trembearth

If I created a Fit-Pic for every time I saw powder skiing that I couldn't partake in, I think I'd rack up more posts on Fit-Ink in the winter months, especially when other works gets in the way and I abandon this site more often than I'd like. But then again, if you're not a skier, you hate snow and you despise cold weather, it's a good thing that I don't.

Fit-Pic: Winter's Happy Place

I'd be lying if I said it wasn't snowing buckets outside my window right now. In fact, the weather has only grown worse as the day has worn on. Now snow might be a welcome sight for some places, namely ski country, but around these parts it just wreaks havoc. You can't drive, you don't want to leave the house, and you can't work out outside--at least not easily.

Ah, but you can work out in the elements--and have fun doing it. I might have to take a good, long look at this picture to remind myself of that. But the minute I spy snow and skiing--whether it's of Arapahoe Basin, such as the above shot from Jan. 19, or any other spot in Colorado, Utah or the like--I think of my "happy place." Adam Sandler's version may have had a land full of greenery, a gleeful grandma, a little person riding a tricycle, and a two-handed Chubbs playing the piano, but mine is just as much about the simple pleasures. Give me snow, my skis and steeps and I'll be grinning, even when it's overcast and frigid (well, to a degree). Who's with me?                     

Props to anyone who can guess where at Arapahoe Basin this picture was snapped. My bets are on Montezuma Bowl though that's based solely on how I remember Zuma's chairlift.

Photo courtesy of Arapahoe Basin.      

Wolf Creek edges Arapahoe Basin in a Snow Battle

Arapahoe Basin's guns signal winter skiing full-steam ahead.

Some people are running marathons this weekend, sweating it out in cities--namely Chicago--that are finally seeing their Indian Summer. Others are racing at the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, where it's always summer. But somewhere, somewhere, it's not 80 degrees and sunny--and for once, it's in just the right spot: ski country. Because while triathletes and runners compete in their A races, skiers can hit the slopes, or start to think winter at some of them.

It's all thanks to a western storm that dropped fluffy white snow instead of rain, and whose path basically ran through ski country. Snowboard Magazine showcases who's seen a dusting--or more since you can't really call 12 inches at Sierra-at-Tahoe a smattering of snow (well maybe you can in Tahoe)--in the last few days. But what its preview of La Niña round two doesn't tell you is something that could easily be surmised from the shots: that the ski season is beyond belief close to starting. Here's why:

Arapahoe Basin turns on its snowmaking machines.

• Wolf Creek Ski Area in Colorado. They've seen so much snow that they're opening their terrain on Saturday, October 8, for a weekend of skiing (and at $33 a lift ticket). Oh yes, time to start waxing.
• You know that battle between Loveland and Arapahoe Basin to be the first ski resort in Colorado and North America to open for the season? They're not the only two in the snow-making game. A-Basin turned on their snowguns at 4 p.m. October 6, but can they beat Wolf Creek? From the sound of The Basin 411, A-Basin will be making snow through the weekend before opening. 
• What about Maine's Sunday River, also rumored to be gunning for an early start? Their guns were blazing amid the fall colors, hear them roar.

Only the next 24 hours will tell. Wolf Creek can taste victory dance, but can A-Basin open overnight? Anything's possible in snow wars, right? You can't help but ask if you're yearning for turning.

Photo credit Kimberly Trembearth.

Sharpen the Skis for Memorial Day Weekend

I think Squaw has more snow now than it did in January.

Snow or sun? Ski or surf? Can't this girl make up her mind? I know, I know. Yesterday I'm writing about summer and I'm back to the skiing. And it's May. And you packed your skis in the closet (that's what I did over the weekend...finally!) and hung up your ski pass until next season. And you're thinking riding, running, hiking, golfing, tramming--all the activities you can do in ski country once the snow melts.

But one thing is for sure, this season is far from over at some places in the states. Not only do you still have places to ski because they've had plenty of snow to stay open at near-full capacity, but some of these spots are re-opening because they have too much snow not to. I guess you could say that's one of the sure-fire signs of a good snow season. Get your skis out of storage if you've already stashed them and plan to head to one of these spots to get your snow on:

• The Ski Channel was all over this awesome news: Aspen Mountain is re-opening for Memorial Day Weekend. Most of the terrain will be served by the Ajax chairlift, but that still means 71 inches of snow and 25 runs. And if the weather holds out, the mountain has plans to stay open additional weekends in June.
• Squaw Valley USA has one final weekend left of its momentous season--guess that's what happens when you get a 7-foot snowfall, roughly, in a short period, and then the clouds continued to open and leave snow dumps. Squaw is open May 27-30 and conditions will hopefully allow skiing from KT-22, Headwall and High Camp. Plus the Tour of California has cleared out of the area so you really don't have an excuse not to go. And if the rest of the fam or group doesn't want to ski, book lodging through the Resort at Squaw Creek and they'll have plenty of activities to keep them busy (or three hot tubs to soak in) while you're on the slopes.
• Plenty of folks who live in the L.A. area who ski are likely planning Memorial Day weekends in Mammoth--the rain that's been falling along the California coast can only signal snow for Mammoth Mountain, adding even more to the already huge snow total for the year.
• I've seen people skiing in the Tetons on July 1, but that required arising early and hiking to the top of the trail with skis in tow. Forget the hike and the one run and make it a day on the mountain at Alpine Meadows, which is reopening specially for the Fourth of July weekend. Buy lift tickets in advance and you can save $10 off the ticket window price--and score entrance to skiing plus plenty of parties, base activities and Independence Day fun.
• Arapahoe Basin is showing no signs of slowing down for the season. They have a 105-inch base, snow in the forecast and nearly two feet of snow in the last few days. And what's better than The Beach when it's almost summer?
• Snowbird's still been seeing snow, too. In fact, they had so much snow the other day that they actually couldn't open the mountain because the snow coupled with warm temperatures made it dangerous for skiers and snowboarders. The 'Bird is closed thru Thursday, May 26, but they'll reopen for Memorial Day Weekend on Friday, weather dependent. Not too bad considering other Utah resorts nearby are closed, some for more than a month.
• If you thought Vancouver was beautiful this time of year, Blackcomb's open terrain is another reason to head to British Columbia. Operations at Blackcomb usually stay open later than its connected neighbor Whistler but this year they extended the season longer to max out the ski conditions. But you'll have to ski before you hike and bike in Stanley Park--Blackcomb closes on May 30. 
• I guess it helps when a ski resort is planted near Mt. Rainier--Crystal Mountain is open on weekends until the snow melts (their words, not mine). That might take a while too--the mountain weather is still in the 30s and 40s and the snow base totals are at 92 inches at the base and 140 inches at the summit.
• Ah, Oregon, why do you always have ski operations that continue through the summer? What does a dormant volcano that other ski spots don't have? I'll take it though because it means Mt. Bachelor and Timberline are still open for taking turns. Bachelor closes on May 29, but Timberline closes full-time operations on May 30 and then has its summer ski season May 31 through Labor Day. Can I just say that's where I'd want to be a camper, forget canoeing and swimming.

See? There really is reason to keep with the skiing. That is if you're not battered and bruised like I am--likely worsened by my last ski trip to Vail on its closing weekend, but a weekend I wouldn't trade for a second.

Snow Wars: Loveland Beats Arapahoe To Open First

Let the 2009-2010 ski season beging...almost. Loveland Ski Area in Colorado is set to open for the season October 7. It's Loveland's earliest opening in 40 years. So for all those who want to get in those first runs, the time has arrived to beat the morning mountain traffic, sharpen the skis and dust the boots in the closet.

Credit has to be given to Chris Anthony--skier, adventurer, Vail-er, Warren Miller movie film star (at least in my book as I flipped out when Anthony sat down next to my husband and I at Two Elk Lodge in Vail a few years back)--for this news that totally brightens the gloom that looms outside my window. October in Chicago can be nice in some people's books with the leaves changing, the cooler but not frigid temps, and sunlight that hasn't disappeared into winter hibernation yet--but not mine. So when skiing news flies across my eyes, I'm all for it, and admittedly always look forward to that October announcement of which Colorado resort, Loveland or Arapahoe Basin, will win the battle of the resorts.

Colorado has seen snow falling from the sky, in the mountains at least, since September, and reportedly was even dumping a bit on October 1. Even The Huffington Post was reporting the Loveland and A-Basin were already cranking up the snow-making machines just after the turn to fall. But Loveland won the battle with folks set to line up at 9 a.m., October 7; and A-Basin isn't quite ready to open up shop. And to make the news even better, other Colorado resort openings are just around the corner. Keystone is next to open for the season on November 6, with Breckenridge on its tails on November 12.

I'm probably missing some openings so if you know of any early openings, please add them to the comments. Photo grabbed from AtomicLlama at flickr. Posted by Kate