Skiing's Open Season: Where to Ski This Weekend

If there's one thing that makes cold weather and snow tolerable, it's skiing. You won't find me layered head to toe running on the Lakefront Path very often (I'm a mostly treadmill girl once it dips below 30), but I will bundle up--handwarmers, four shirts and all--to carve turns on the snow. The ski season may have started off slow with Keystone and Breckenridge having to postpone their opening dates, but it's certainly getting into full swing now.

Skiers were treated to epic conditions at Breckenridge, Winter Park and Wolf Creek (we heard Sunshine Village in Banff, Alberta, Canada, was pretty good too). You can thank the storm that blanketed ski country with much-needed snow in time for last weekend's resort openings. But lucky for you (and me since I think I'm hitting up one of Colorado's finest on Sunday), the colder weather that stuck around is making this weekend's openings equally as amazing.

Here's where you'll want to make some tracks before the family comes to town for Thanksgiving.

Fit-Pic: Winter is Coming!

Snow on the peaks of Crested Butte? Sure, it's only October (barely), but three inches of fresh snow this time of year is not an un-welcome sight in Colorado. When the rest of the country curses the snow, Colorado, its Rocky Mountain towns especially, embrace it.

And why? Because it means that winter--and skiing all that snow--is coming. Fall colors might be lovely to look at (this coming from the girl who wasn't even a fan of the rich yellow, orange and red hues until a weekend in Aspen changed that), but bare trees and snow piled as high as the rooftops signal a season that's more fun to play in. And knowing that Crested Butte Mountain Resort, and other Colorado resorts who shared pictures on social media, got some snow makes the cooler weather and switch from shorts to pants more tolerable for this girl. I might savor every last bit of summer, but skiing keeps me sane in winter.

Who else is ready to hit the slopes? Fifty-four days and counting if you're waiting for Crested Butte's free skiing when it opens on November 26, the day before Thanksgiving.

Photo looking at Paradise Divide shot by Chris Segal and provided by Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

Fit-Pic: Olympic Marathoner On Course

How'd you like to end your run by spotting this speed demon in front of you? She's none other than Shalane Flanagan, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in the 10,000m and marathoner extraordinaire. I'd recognize her compression socks and blonde hair anywhere--of course it helped that I knew she was in town. As if chasing Kara Goucher wasn't enough to start off yesterday's run, but now her training partner is running toward me at the end of the run. Two elite runners in one day--and probably two more, the guys flanking Shalane, whom I didn't recognize? I'm just lucky the camera's flash didn't go off (hence the iffy lighting). That would have been embarrassing.

Fit-Pic: Take a Hike

What do you do when it's 60-plus degrees and sunny in December? The obvious answer: Get outside and take advantage of it. Even if that means hiking alone because your partner-in-fitness-crime has to work.

I wasn't the only one hiking today. With vistas like the above, can you blame me? The gym parking lot wasn't nearly as packed as it had been a week ago, but the open spaces' lots were nearly full. I think we all wanted to hike, bike, mountain bike, climb, bask in the sunlight, you name it. Hey, it beats burning calories indoors on the elliptical, unless there's a really good round holiday movies playing. But really, how many times can you watch Christmas Vacation, Elf and Home Alone? I'd still take my frozen fingers, the thoughts I had on the Contemplative Trail (still trying to remember them though), and the outdoor exploration.

How were you active today?

The Hardest 5K I've Ever Run

I've been running 5Ks since I was 14. Sure, it was only one a year up until I turned 20, when running became fun and not swim team dryland torture. After running my first 3.1-miler ever, the distance got easier as I ran longer and trained harder.

But at the turkey trot I ran this year, you may as well have turned the clocks back to 1994 and put me right back on the course of my first Birmingham Lions Club Run for the Blind 5K. Yes, that's how tough it was--and it was only a 5K (which I'll get to explaining).

When I learned that the Chicago turkey trot I ran last year had been shortened from an 8K to a 5K, I scoffed, knowing I'd barely burn off my holiday dessert at that distance. When I knew I'd be running a 5K in Colorado Springs where the elevation is roughly 6,800 feet above sea level, I was thankful that the city's largest, and only, turkey trot wasn't any longer. A 5K at altitude is an entirely different animal.

When you run a 5K at altitude--and you're not even close to adjusted to the added elevation--it hurts. A lot. Every step of it. You can't wait to cross the finish line because it means you can stop running and the burning sensation in your lungs can finally subside. That lingering idea of a 5K not being far enough to run on Thanksgiving Day to make up for the food frenzy? The thought of doing a second workout to put more calories burned in the bank sounds preposterous. And the workout itself? Abandoned.

Seen on the Run: What's Up With That?

I've been to Colorado plenty of times, but I've never traveled south of Denver. Until my most recent trip. And instead of going to the usual haunts--ahem, Vail and Boulder (OK that was only once but I fell in love)--I headed south to the state's second largest city, Colorado Springs. Home of the Air Force Academy, the United States Olympic Training Center, the U.S. Olympic Committee and several other sports organizations from swimming to triathlon. And as I learned while I was there, the doctor who developed ART, active release technique (which saved me from a summer of not running), is based in the Springs.

So the secret's out. If you saw the Fit-Pic in the previous post, it's from Colorado Springs (as if I didn't already give it away at the start). When you're in the fittest state in the nation, you can't help but want to explore, especially when that exploration includes a run.

Fit-Pic: Ouch That Hurt!

The Manitou Incline. I'd heard about it. I had seen pictures that had been texted to me. I learned that Apolo Ohno climbed it several times while residing at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, and that it was the proving ground for locals. But this stair climb, which looks completely wimpy in this picture shot at the Incline's base, beats any skyscraper stair climb I've ever done or could do in the Windy City.

You see, this is the easiest part of the climb. And then it goes up. And up. And up as you scale a mountain at some crazy degree that I'm too scared to look up for fear that I'll never want to ascend these stairs again. Your legs burn. Your lungs can't get enough air. You're chugging water desperately hoping that might make it a little easier. Your back starts to ache. You're breathing as hard, maybe even harder, than your fastest sprint around the track. Yeah, there's a reason that sign warns that it's an extreme trail.

But I'm ready to climb it again, even if I'm still too scared to descend using any other trail but the long winding one that everyone ran down except me (one slip on the gravel and I was walking). And do it faster than that first-time climb.

When the Pro Cyclists Ride Colorado...

Who hasn't had dreams or aspirations of being a professional athlete? Certainly not me, and I'm dating myself back to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics where I wished I could be like Summer Sanders or Janet Evans. I know, however, that I'll never be even remotely good enough to be at their caliber among the swimming set or the next Lindsey Vonn or Chrissie Wellington (do any of us stand a chance at that?). But that's never to say that I can't train like them...or try.

Riding along that theme comes my latest training mission: surviving the cycling routes of the pros. Well, not exactly. I'm certifiably scared of the Tour de France's cobblestones, descents and gut-wrenching climbs--and that's from watching it on TV. I'll second guess myself on pretty much any terrain involving me and a bike--oh and I'll do the worst thing possible and ride the brake. But yet, I'm still fascinated by the major events among world class cycling that are cropping up on American soil.

First it was the Amgen Tour of California, thanks in part to Vision Quest promoting its camp with a ride on the course and a time trial that you could race from the trainers in Chicago. And now it's the resurrection of an old Colorado mainstay that's being taken to a new level with the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Call it my love and familiarity of Colorado, or blame it on summer when I try to spend significantly more time on my bike, but I'm literally drooling over this event which runs from August 22 to 28 and covers roughly 600 miles of Colorado terrain. It also doesn't help that the top three finishers at last month's Tour de France, Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck and Frank Schleck, recently joined the field. Makes it a little more exciting, don't you think?

But here's my favorite part. Just like plenty of other professional races, you can sample the race stages before the big dogs come to town. Need suggestions for how to do it? That's exactly what I took a look at for buzz.snow.com when I hunted down some recommended road rides that would burn plenty of calories, get you riding portions that the pros will cover, and offer challenges that will even get chills running up some pros' backs. Maybe not Lance Armstrong since he rides Colorado all the time, but he's retired so he doesn't count. As for me, check out stage 5 and then Rabbit Ears Pass or stage 3's time trial at Vail Pass. Shivering yet?


Photo grabbed from inspiratoblogs.com.

Next Stop, Ski Country

Put me on the next plane to Denver, Salt Lake City or Reno. Please! I have the powder flu--that itching, burning feeling where you yearn to blow off work, make a beeline for the roads taking you straight into the mountains, click into those ski bindings, and hit the slopes for what sounds like knee-deep powder.  But there's no remedy for this ailment when you're living in the flatlands of Illinois and the Midwest's temperatures have skyrocketed to near record-setting levels--even a trip to Wisconsin on the ski bus is out of the question, at least for this ski snob.

I'm dying here in Chicago, quite literally. It's snowing, nay, dumping, in the mountains, and I'm stuck in the land of wild temperature swings, melting snow, and gale-force winds. Sure, I like swapping out my heavy layers and commuting by bike instead of by foot, but that snow is calling my name. First Lake Tahoe. Then Utah. Then Colorado. I've seen the pictures on Facebook to prove it. And the storms aren't done yet. Take a look at these snow stats:

Lake Tahoe
By Thursday morning, Northstar-at-Tahoe reported 32 inches. On the south side of the lake, Heavenly counted 21 inches. Back to the north side and Squaw Valley USA was also sporting about a three-foot snowfall. I had been taught last winter that a good Lake Tahoe storm meant at least a foot, but I still can't fathom skiing, or seeing, nearly three feet of snow falling in a 24-hour period. And for a place that had been quiet about reporting snowfalls, which tends to mean they're not coming at the levels snow-seekers are used to, this was needed.

Utah
If you don't want to be tempted by the "greatest snow on Earth," don't follow the Ski Utah Yeti. This friendly snow creature only makes the powder flu worse from far away when he tells you it's monster dumping in the mountains or warns of an impending snowfall. This time around resrots from Alta to Brighton to The Canyons sported at least 8 inches of snow with more on the way.

Colorado
Every time there's a snowfall this season, Colorado resorts post pictures, especially Snow.com (here and here). For this girl, who would trade digs in a second with anyone living in this state, those pictures make it even tougher to be stuck in Chicago. I may be heading out west to ski next week but Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Vail are already calling my name. Their storms are only starting but how in the world does it snow three inches an hour at Beaver Creek? If I-70 is open Friday morning, I'm willing to put money on the numbers ditching work for a three-day--or four-day if Monday is already scheduled off--weekend.

Jealous yet? I am. I wish I had a Presidents' Day Weekend out of town--it'd be a good one with all the snow and even better to practice those powder skills. Instead, I'll be waxing and sharpening my skis and doing my snow dance for next weekend.

Who's out there skiing?

Photo of Beaver Creek's three inches an hour grabbed from Snow.com's Facebook page.

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

Spring Back to Ski

Yes, I love skiing and it's been great swapping ski stories with Liz this winter. Yes, I get carried away with the sport at times (sorry, readers!). Yes, I was thrilled when I learned yesterday that Aspen Highlands was staying open longer this year. But I didn't finish. I hoped that maybe I'd learn that other Colorado resorts planned to extend their seasons and have even more news to share. While that doesn't seem to be the case, at least in the resources I checked out, there are so other cool events worth highlighting.

Whether it's the recession or spring savings, Vail is having a crazy $199 deal before the resort closes on April 19. Talk about a celebration: You can score seven days of skiing for $199 from April 12-19 plus free festivities and concerts. With all of the snow Colorado's been blessed with in the last month, the ski conditions are still great and these savings slash the regular season daily price that creeps toward $100. Plus free concerts by Chris Isaak and O.A.R. after a ski day and watching the Pond Skimming Championships, where competitors try to glide across the water without falling in, how can you go wrong?

And once again, I'm wishing I lived closer to the mountains to take advantage of this deal. Keystone closes on Sunday (sob), but they're maxing out the customer benefits in its last few days of the season. Starting April 1, skiers could score a three-day lift ticket for $99--that's three days for a little more than the price of one day during the regular season. And they still have plenty of great skiing with a base higher now than when I was there at the beginning of March. Oh wait, there's more. If you're visiting, you can score a room on Keystone property for $99 a night, or if you're just skiing for one day, Keystone will buy your lunch. April 9 might be a day to play hooky and head to the mountains--it's customer appreciation day where lift tickets cost $33 and there's a spring celebration at LaBonte's Cabin, one of the places to grab lunch on the mountain that has an awesome sun deck.

Is anyone spending Easter in the mountains? Any chance of taking this skier as a stowaway? Photo grabbed from aahoffmann at flickr. Posted by Kate

Stretching the Ski Season

I am so jealous right now! Yes, this is another gripe about the weather, but it's with good reason. While we're suffering through the never-ending end to winter (I swear even the groundhog couldn't want snow outside the mountains in April), Colorado seems to just be getting theirs. Those storms that keep pushing this way are coming from the mountains--and this time instead of missing them, as Coloradoans proclaimed in February and early March, they're hitting them. I shouldn't even be getting excited over a sport that is wrapping it up until November, after all I had to store my skis and gear a month ago today after returning from a trip to the Rockies.

But now I almost want to get them back out and spend my last weekend in April at Aspen. Why? Because all of those storms actually produced good news in Colorado. With more than 100 inches in Highland Bowl--its largest base this season--Aspen Highlands plans to extend its ski season through April 26. It closed on Sunday but it will reopen for the last two weekends of the month, April 18-19 and April 25-26. The cool part, at least for this tourist, is that lift tickets only cost $39 each day. Sweet! Keep in mind though that Snowmass and Aspen Mountain will close as planned on April 12, and Buttermilk closed for the season on April 5. But hey, the opportunity to still ski, that's one where I don't mind the cold. Photo grabbed from www.odysseyexpeditions.org at flickr. Posted by Kate

My Own Private Colorado

The people: you, some guides and 11 of your friends or total strangers bundled up with ski gear. The place: a secluded bowl that only the crazies on the mountain would want to hike to. The scene: freshies in the snow even when a snowfall hasn't hit in more than three days, plus steeps and cornices some drool over. And you hit it all day.

I might be getting a little extreme, but if you're even slightly into skiing--especially if you're a powder hound--the KAT tour at Keystone Resort in Colorado is one experience you won't want to miss. Snowcat skiing in the controlled backcountry at Keystone Resort in Colorado takes you skiing and dials the adventure factor far past normal. Even I would swap ice and groomers--stuff I could cruise all day because I'm in my comfort zone and think I look good--for knee-deep swallows, trailblazing bowls and fresh tracks. My form goes out the window, I'm on foreign skis to keep me afloat in the powder, and negotiating with conditions I once only read about in magazines or watched in Warren Miller movies. But if you want to feel like king or queen of the mountain, hit runs that are only skied a handful of times between snowfalls and be a part of exploratory territory (one of our guides said a lift might be built on our private spot someday and we're helping pave the way), this is one experience not to miss. At $200 a pop and not needing to purchase a mountain lift ticket for the day since you're with the cat, it's downright affordable for what you get in return.

The morning starts off meeting up at the base to check in and sign the waiver. It might seem like you're signing your life away, but really it's the same release you'd see if you looked at the fine print for skiing at Keystone and obtaining a lift ticket. Then it's up the mountain to the KAT yurt for orientation, learning how to use the beacon, losing some layers or gear in the cubby the guides labeled especially for you, and trading your daily skis for some super-fat powder hounds. We're all trading up to the Salomon Czar skis--and with names like Neon Nights and McCrazy to identify ours in the pack--to give us that extra leverage and floating prowess in the powder we'll be searching for all day, and we're slinging beacons over our shoulders under our jackets so we can be found in case of emergency. Luckily we're not being full-flung into backcountry prep and avalanche training, otherwise I might second guess my decision to head out--too many avalanches my eyes spot on the ski blotter. But we get a few quick instructions and guidelines and then it's off to board the snowcat and head out to the backcountry and get our ski on. Whoo-hoo!

Talk about feeling like we're kings and queens of the mountain. The cat only seats 12 skiers and it's so beastly, any skier that even tries to get in its path darts away when it comes chugging along. And that's just the ride along the track to get into the bowls we'll be hitting all day. Once we trek into the desolate bowls, the snow is ours for the taking. Duke and Brewer, our guides for the day, scout out our starting point, the cat stops and we unload out the back ready to start our first adventure. Our guides are handing us our skis and then we're off to follow Duke to the path he suggests we take to meet the cat--one he's selected based on the temps and time of day knowing that he has to break some of us in (OK, me, really) gently and that this snow is going to be nice now and get heavy later. We take off one by one to create S-curves side by side. Well, that's with the exception of me who couldn't quite get a handle on her demo skis and spent most of the time in the powder that everyone else was enjoying struggling to steer or just flopping over. Let's just say, you can easily get out of your element in the backcountry and even the easiest of turns can just throw you for a loop. But making fresh tracks and finding powder so unexpectedly deep that your pole sinks in far further than you imagined is always a welcome sight. Then it's to the group gathering point, either midway down the trail or at the bottom where the cat is waiting for us to load up. I'm not digging being covered in snow so early in the morning and am hoping the rest of the day pans out better than my first run.

Duke and Brewer scout of some of the best spots in the backcountry for us to ski. With the lack of fresh snow and tours going out regularly, they're pretty selective but manage to find several spots where we're tearing up fresh tracks--and finding it hard to believe that we're leaving any untouched snow for those who'll follow. We have the mountain to ourselves as we continue to ski down one by one. And with the pressure of those to follow us, you have to keep skiing even though your quads are screaming in pain (mine liked to yell break time and when I ignored their requests I'd flop over or go pizza-style down the terrain) and we had the added bonus of looking for rocks and rough spots thanks to the wind-blown snow cover. Not to mention the constantly shifting snow conditions. While lucking out with a no-clouds-in-the-sky sunny day--and warm at that--the snow got so heavy in spots we started refering to it as mashed potatoes. And heavy isn't fun to ski, so at least I knew my inability to navigate wasn't 100 percent operator error--the snow made me do it!

Before heading in for lunch, Duke and Brewer led us to Two If By Sea (pictured in the distance), one of the backcountry runs that any instructor will point out when talking about terrain on the mountain. It's one of the longest runs and they'll say you just keep turning and turning and turning. And it's true--pristine skiing even when the wind attacks it and one run where you almost want to turn an empty slate into a slalom run, taking as many turns to keep going, going, going. I stopped twice to regroup, as did some others, but it was more to keep my form intact and enjoy the run than anything else. That and I was desperate for refueling so lunch in the yurt couldn't come soon enough.

Yep, lunch is included in this backcountry adventure--it's even snowmobiled in daily and set up gourmet-style in a mid-mountain yurt--and a welcome break for the legs. We're treated to warm bowls of black bean soup, Caesar salad and make-your-own sandwiches, and we're warned to save room for dessert. Why? Because it's a cheesecake prepared by some of the finest chefs at the resort--all of the food comes from Alpenglow Stube which posts gourmet prix fixe dining at 11,000 feet--and its Turtle style laden with caramel and nuts. Yum, it's hard to resist having a second slice but I know I'll go into food coma if I do. Not a good mix for hitting the mountain in the afternoon, and having to push through snow that's starting to turn thick and heavy like mashed potatoes.

We get our lunch break and then it's back to the cat for more exploration. While we're deposited in roughly the same location each trip up, we find a different way to go down every time. And even if with the sun moving closer to the horizon, we still have a good three to four runs left before quitting time--which can be good or bad depending on the Jello feeling in your legs. I'm still struggling as we go down, having a few good turns and then pushing through soreness but failing miserably. Part of the fun is falling in the snow, but I feel kind of dumb doing it in front of a bunch of top skiers, and looking bad doing it. Like finding thin cover with a rock hiding underneath or flying over a tree--that happened to others but I just caught myself in the heaviness. The only problem is now the runs start going by in a blur, up and down, up and down.

Near the end of the day, it's decided we have time for one more run, a bonus for pushing it earlier and flying down each run faster than some tours go. We end up returning to the spot where the day first started, but this time we don't have to comb the trail one set of tracks next to the other. It's a free-for-all to make it to the cat: ski the trees, head down a gully that's a natural halfpipe, stay above the gully for more controlled skiing. We know it has to be a good run since it's the last trip in the backcountry. It ends on a good note for me when I survive traversing the valley that tripped me up in the morning--and finally feel like I can turn on my skis.

Then it's back onto the cat to load out of the bowls, down the cat track and to the yurt where we stored our skis at the start of the day. As you bumble along, you can't help but want to nod off. It's been an exhausting day. You could say it gets worse too--skiing down the front side of the mountain to end the day. You've been pushing through powder for six hours and now you're hitting the skied-out groomers while acclimating to shorter and skinnier skis again. And in my case, those that desperately need to be sharpened to hold an edge on the icier sections. Back at the bottom both apres and the hot tub are calling my name. I'm needing some much needed relief on my legs. But it was well worth it. Too bad my next run will have to wait 'til next year, but this will hopefully hold me over until then. Posted by Kate

Snow Day!

If you're east of the Mississippi you've probably gotten pummeled by rain in the past few days, checking those basements for leaks, carrying an umbrella and rain gear every time you leave the house, and hoping that there's warmth and sunshine at the end of this rain cloud. But if you're living in the mountains, especially ski country, or perusing the resort snow reports as I now find myself doing daily (trying to give myself an excuse to hop a plane to the Wasatch or Rockies even though I just returned), then you're leaping for joy over a snow day.

I was crushed to see the snow we had prayed for last week to blanket the bare mountains fell now that I left. And not only did Colorado get hit, but Utah too. This season's snow isn't just reserved for Tahoe where a four-foot drop fell last week and completely blanked the Rockies. Alta's report at Ski Utah listed 22 new inches and Brighton listed 25. Sheesh. Now while those in Colorado will be quick to say that the snowfall is a light load this year, at least they got some white stuff to play in. Not epic proportions but enough to patch the holes that were starting to show by Friday afternoon. I'm just wishing I could play in it--check out the glades at Beaver Creek that were closed or hit the snowcat skiing area again and make some fresh tracks in what I'm hoping isn't mashed potatoes like I encountered. Yep, apparently mashed potatoes is a term for heavy powder--heavy, hard-to-ski-in powder that had me cursing my powder skis that were supposed to love the stuff and our guides flopping over on turns just like the guests (namely me).

Back to the snowfall...Beaver Creek is boasting 10 inches of powder today. I'm jealous! That also means that the glade skiing that I missed out on last week due to undesirable snow conditions--or the conclusion that myself, my husband and the head of the kids ski school decided upon--was most likely open. One way to find out: Check for the flag flying at the top of the Centennial lift, chair 6, that's black and flashing BC/EX. I'd sport a picture but I'm having some difficulties copying the link. The other way...for the Royal Elk Glade, head to the top of the Grouse Mountain lift and look right past the hut at the top. The sign and roping will be posted if it's closed (a familiar site for me) or be open for travelers. I can only imagine the pockets hiding in the glades...after a wind swept top crust, even I'd go skiing in the trees. As for getting to the Stone Creek Chutes, an area that used to be out of bounds but was recently rezoned to become a part of the resort's terrain, I followed Cindy our guide to get there and have no clue how we zig-zagged across the mountain to get there. It involves riding the Birds of Prey lift and traversing skier's left to more trees. Sounds sweet--and flickr pictures can prove it...I'm wallowing in others' glories captured on film in years past. But hey, keep the snow coming, Colorado can use it. Especially Blue Ox, my fave double black at Vail that was like a skating rink transplanted into a wind tunnel last Thursday. Photo grabbed from ctirpak at flickr. Posted by Kate

Two More Reasons to Love Colorado

I know I should stop dreaming about Colorado now that I'm back home and into reality, but snow reports and events from the Rockies are keeping my eyes wandering. That and after I posted a few reasons to stay in the Rockies, I realized I had a few more.

• Snowshoeing. Beaver Creek held a snowshoeing event on Sunday that brings families and individuals to the mountain armed to walk the snow. It's a ton of fun for both competitive athletes and leisurely strollers. While this past weekend marked the last of the adventure series' races, the Snowshoe Shuffle completes the season April 5. Held at McCoy Park, the nordic center facility nestled midway up the mountain, the shuffle offers event distances for all, a post-race party and proceeds to benefit the Shaw Regional Cancer Center.
• If you're not active, there's something wrong with you. OK, that might not necessarily be true but it sure seems like everyone is active in one way or another. At least everyone I met, that is. They all ski or board in the winter, then hike, mountain bike or road ride in the summer. But that's not all, some people cram more into their day in terms of active endeavors. Take the ski instructor who led us through the Talons Challenge at Beaver Creek: not only did he ski the 13 toughest runs at BC with us (and with bumps on most of them) but he had worked out before hitting the slopes that morning, lifting and running. Another ski instructor talked about doing trail marathons. And a friend had spent a weekend skate skiing, then hit the snowcat backcountry trails with us on telemark skis on Monday. And those lunges did not look fun in the heavy powder we encountered in the backcountry.

Eek, I'm making myself wanting to hop another plane out there as soon as I can. I still haven't unpacked so it's almost too tempting to head back. Any Coloradans have a floor or couch I can crash on? Posted by Kate

Sweet Home Ch...Colorado?

I've had the luck of checking out some of the skiing in Colorado all week. My plan was to actually blog about it while out here, but I never expected to be as tired as I was at the end of the day. So while you'll hear more about my trip next week once I'm back, I'm having a hard time leaving the Rocky Mountain state. We've all heard the Sweet Home Chicago line, but I'm thinking the exact opposite--even with talk of warm weather upon arriving home. I've got a Rocky Mountain high that I'm not ready to part with. Here are some of the reasons I don't want to leave:

1. The skiing. OK, the skiing is the exact reason for why I came out here. Colorado has some of my favorite ski resorts in the country, both old favorites I grew up skiing--like Vail--and new ones I've just started exploring in the last year--like Keystone and Beaver Creek. And even with the skiing labeled as spring conditions, I'm still having a good time. Knowing I'm going to have to pack my skis away til next year isn't sounding good right now.
   
2. The views. I'm sitting in my condo not quite ready to pack it in for the night and can't stop staring at the window. In each spot I've stayed this week I've had the luck of looking right out onto the mountains. First at the River Run units in Keystone where I could see the gondola, then at the newly renovated Osprey Hotel at Beaver Creek (talk about prime real estate at the Beav), and now at the Pines in West Keystone. Between mountain landscapes and starry nights--and seeing constellations I've only checked out at the Planetarium--I'm hooked.
3. The food. I grew up at the ski garbage dump near my house eating fried donuts and microwaveable pizza for lunch. Now I'm dining on five-star meals for lunch and dinner--I'm just hoping I've burned off these treats when I hit the mountain. And I'm missing the remainder of the Keystone Culinary Festival. It kicked off tonight with a red wine tasting at the cozy Ski Tip Lodge and continues through the weekend with delectable treats, more tastings and chef demonstrations. I heard there's a chocolate class that's a must to check out--anyone who can build a gondola out of chocolate and have the gondie filled with truffles sounds pretty talented in my book.
4. The deals. Note to self: Don't go to Sports Authority in the mountains. I made the mistake of shopping in Avon the other night and stayed until closing time staring at the ski deals. If I could have found a pair in my size either there or at the location in Dillon, I'd be cramming yet another pair of skis into my ski bag to take home with me. At $200 or less for a complete set, I have to scrounge around for that at home, or hope I can make a trade at the ski show. And I'm not even touching on the demos on the mountain. I had to avoid the clothing section at Sports Authority for fear of what I might find. A woman in my Bettyfest group last weekend said she found her coat marked down to $60. Whoa!
5. Sticking it out through the weekend. In addition to wanting to be here for more culinary activities, there's another reason to stay that involves a quick drive into Denver. Denver's version of the Cycle for ALS kicks off Saturday at the flagship REI downtown from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. I'm still wanting to ski but cycling for a cause--and for 3 hours which I love--isn't a bad deal either. Check a Rocky Mountain Sports magazine for more details.

So I'm about to conk out in front of the computer, hence a photo and more links will come later. Tonight's dinner at the Ski Tip did me in--delicious but food coma central. And I have to rest up for my last quickie day on the slopes. How many runs can I get in before I have to beat traffic back to Denver? Photo grabbed from nozomiyume at flickr. Posted by Kate

Food, Fun and Fitness...with a Rocky Mountain Slant

There was no Hootie Hoo celebration Wednesday night after the celebration of Top Chef (sob). While Liz's wishes for Carla to be named the Season 5 winner of Bravo's Top Chef didn't come true, Hosea Rosenberg's win made me have Boulder on my mind. I'm addicted to food as much as I'm addicted to fitness so I was trying to devise a way to tie them together--and create an excuse for a vacation at the same time. So here's the idea: Have your fun with fitness, and eat it too by planning an active Colorado adventure.

I'm heading out to Colorado next week for a ski trip and am currently plotting a way to make it to the restaurant Hosea works at in Boulder, Jax Fish House. Boulder embodies the endurance lifestyle as many of us probably know, and many of us in the Chicago flatlands probably wish that we could visit--or even better move--there for both key training and catching glimpses of our favorite endurance athletes (I know I wouldn't be opposed to having Cam Widoff or the Reeds leave me in the dust at a Stroke n Stride). And with flights readily available from Chicago to Denver--and at falling prices--now's as good a time as any to head to the Rockies. Well with the exception of Hosea's new-found fame possibly affecting the crowds at his stomping grounds, Jax.

Here's a list of fitness options, with an endurance athlete focus at hear, in the Rockies, plus a dining spot to refuel afterward:

• Backcountry skiing. Want a taste of the backcountry experience without needing the avalance knowledge and equipment to actually venture out? Reserve a spot at Keystone's KAT Skiing adventure where you can take secluded runs all day in a snowcat transporting you up the Independence Bowl. Talk about fresh powder and quad burn. Best part is the refueling is built into the package: You lunch at a yurt in the bowl. Soup and sandwiches elevated to gourmet style plus enough dessert (cheesecake when I was there last year) to stop any stomach growls.
• Snowshoeing. Prepare for the running season ahead by tackling a snowy field on snowshoes. Not only are you exploring trails but you're elevating the heart rate. And if you can time it right to be within driving distance of the Keystone Nordic Center during a full moon, you can sign up for the Full Moon Snowshoe where you take an evening tour of the trails (without missing a ski day) then head back to the lodge for a filling soup dinner. Help yourself to endless bowls of homemade soups, plenty of bread and top it off with homemade cookies and ice cream. If Top Chef was solely a soup competition, these guys would be the victors.
• Kayaking. If you have even a few hours to spare in Denver, beeline to the REI flagship store downtown and rent a kayak. You can put-in from the store and take a paddle down Cherry Creek and back. Who said a metropolis couldn't have an assortment of active pursuits? To refuel, I'm going to divert to a list of Denver hot spots Rachael Ray shared on Tasty Travels. I can't locate a buffalo tourist trap I went to years ago and my brother-in-law jokingly recommends a Mexican themed sideshow Casa Bonita, neither of which would be deemed Top Chef worthy.
• Mountain biking. Take to the trails in and around Boulder for this activity that will keep many a Coloradoan pedaling unless there's a massive snowfall. Not to mention, Boulder is a bike-friendly city so you won't feel like you're doing something wrong by choosing two wheels over four. After a day-long battle with the singletrack, head to Jax Fish House to check out Top Chef winner Hosea's culinary expertise. If you got to dine at Season 4 winner Stephanie Izard's place Scylla (in Wicker Park/Bucktown) before it closed, then you know you'll be pleasing your tastebuds and your tummy. And if it's too crowded at Jax, check out other Season 5 contestant Melissa Harrison at her Boulder locale: Centro Latin Kitchen and Refreshment Palace.
• Hiking. I don't know if it's the best, but Rocky Mountain National Park certainly has some of my favorite hikes west of the Mississippi. And with the elevation creeping up to 13,000 feet on some of the peaks, it kicks your metabolism into high gear while adding super strength to your legs. Totally worth the drive into the Boulder area, refuel with fine dining at the Flagstaff House. It's received acclaim from Road Tasted on the Food Network and in Bon Appetit magazine.
• Skiing. It's still winter and the ski season is in full swing so why not head to Vail, the largest ski area in Colorado, topping 5,000 skiable acres. You can ski miles to give your legs a full workout and burn more than 2,000 calories a day. And being in the Vail Valley, you have fine dining and an array of cuisines at your fingertips. I'm a fan of seafood spot Montauk in Lionshead, Bully Ranch tucked away in the Sonnenalp and Blu's along Gore Creek. But there's so much to choose from--including fine dining spots like Sweet Basil and Left Bank--you can splurge or go cheap and feed that hunger either way.

Well, I've made myself hungry and yearning for a workout after writing this list. Not to mention, I'm really yearning to ski right about now. Too many hours on a spin bike and the elliptical due to cold, snow and a lack of motivation to go running have had me living in a gym since December. I'm ready to log some endurance miles somewhere else. Photo grabbed from jacob1207.wordpress.com. Posted by Kate