Skiing in 2010
Colorado
Sunday, February 28, 2010: Oakland to Denver to Keystone, Colorado
Andy (my friend from Australia), Julia, and I flew out of Oakland today for Denver, Colorado, and then on to Keystone.
We arrived through a thick layer of clouds, greeted by icy cold weather. A storm front was moving in, promising fresh snow.
However, as my American friends like to remind me, there is no free lunch. This was true of our drive from the airport to
Keystone. Normally, the drive takes two hours via elevated mountain passes. Due to the heavy snow from the powerful storm,
our journey stretched to over four hours. We, along with every other vehicle on the icy roads, frequently stopped as
ill-equipped travelers' cars slipped off the road or spun around. Thankfully, we had rented a four-wheel-drive Jeep and avoided
the chaos. Eventually, we arrived at our accommodation, relieved to leave the treacherous roads behind and settle into our beds.
Monday, March 1, 2010: Keystone, Colorado
It snowed all night long and continued through the day.
Our first day of skiing in Colorado was cold, snowy, and overcast. None of us had skied at Keystone Resort before, and the
poor visibility limited our exploration. However, we spent the day navigating slopes blanketed with fresh powder. Despite the
challenging visibility, the fresh snow made for an enjoyable day of skiing.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010: Breckenridge, Colorado
Our accommodation near Keystone Village offered spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains and the frozen Dillon Reservoir.
More importantly, it was only a 30-minute drive to Breckenridge Ski Resort, where we skied today. Overnight snowfall and
sunny skies made for perfect conditions. We explored the mountain's peaks, numbered 7 through 10. Peak 8, at just under
13,000 feet (3,962 meters), boasts the highest ski lift in North America. Andy and I were tempted to scale its heights,
but Julia opted out, as the only way down consisted of double black diamond runs. We decided to save Peak 8 for another day.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010: Breckenridge, Colorado
Another sunny, blue-sky day greeted us.
We were so impressed with Breckenridge that we returned. Andy and I could no longer resist the call of Peak 8, so we ascended.
Three chairlift rides later, we reached the summit. The views were stunning on such a clear day, with Mount Quandary towering
nearby at over 14,000 feet. However, the only way down was via double black diamond runs. Carefully, we chose a route and
navigated the steep, bumpy descent. It was exhilarating, and we both made it down without mishap.
Thursday, March 4, 2010: Beaver Creek, Colorado
Beaver Creek Ski Resort is about an hour's drive from Keystone Village.
Curious about its reputation for luxury, we decided to visit. With another sunny day, the drive was smooth, offering
stunning mountain views. After a slight GPS misguidance, we arrived. Beaver Creek lives up to its motto, "Not exactly roughing it."
From upscale shops and accommodations to exclusive on-mountain restaurants, it epitomizes luxury. The ski runs were
long and enjoyable, providing a memorable experience.
Friday, March 5, 2010: Breckenridge, Colorado
For our final day, we returned to Breckenridge, the best resort of our trip. Its high-altitude runs, many above 10,000 feet,
offer consistently good snow conditions. Fortunately, it snowed heavily throughout the day, providing us with excellent powder
skiing. It was the perfect end to a fantastic ski trip.
Skiing 2010 Video Part 3