IMG_3486 (1)Riding the chairlift, the sun warmed my face as I gazed out at the azure blue sky.  With temperatures topping out in the 40s, I didn’t even need to wear my parks, instead wearing a lighter jacket over a long-sleeve T-shirt.  Getting off at the top, at a lofty 12,000 feet, the views never seemed better, with snow-capped mountain peaks as far as the eye could see.  What made it even better was with the warm temperatures and light winds, I could actually take the time to enjoy the views.

During the wintertime (or even in March/April), riding the Panoramic lift can make you regret even going skiing for the day.  More often than not, the winds are howling above timberline, making the unload area feel like Ice Station Zebra.  There’s no dallying at the top for pictures, but more likely, making sure balaclava is pulled up and getting off the top as quickly as possible to avoid the wind chill.

This is why spring skiing can be so great in Colorado.  With Denver basking in 70s, most people have packed away their ski gear for the season.  But with my employee pass still good, I took advantage of it by getting in one more ski day this past week.

I admit I had a hard time, pulling myself out of bed and pulling on ski pants and getting boots and skis together.  But another advantage of skiing in May, is there’s no need to get there when the lifts open.  For one, it’s actually better to wait a little later, to allow the sun to warm up the frozen snow to provide that optimal “corn” surface.  Corn snow is a kind of granular surface that looks like little corn kernels, and is that sweet spot between refrozen snow that is crusty and slush.

Parking is no problem skiing in May because of above-mentioned lack of interest.  In fact, the parking lot has now become something that looks the parking of the Broncos, with tailgate parties sprouting up everywhere and among a variety of different skiers and boarders.  Some twentysomething, hippy types are sitting on top of an old VW van, while an older gray-haired couple is sipping Merlot from their beach chairs.IMG_3491

One of my favorite things about skiing in May, especially on a week day is the lack of crowds.  Cruising down the trails, or ripping through the bumps, with no other skiers to be seen, I felt like I was skiing at my own personal resort, just for me.  I realized where all the people when I stopped at the mid-mountain lodge for a bathroom break.  Sunbathing was in full swing, Rocky Mountain style, as numerous people were sitting in what looked like beach chairs, drinking beer and sitting in T-shirts as the sun beamed down on them.

IMG_3494I felt a burst of pride when the lift operators informed me I’d racked up a staggering 55 days of skiing this season, in large part, because my job required skiing on the snow.  There’s a certain amount of bragging that goes on among diehard skiers about how many days you got in.  That’s the most for me since the first year I worked in the ski industry more than 20 years ago.

As I finished my day with one more run down the creamy, soft snow, I felt satisfied with ending my ski season on a great day.  Life is good.

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