Pre-Christmas in Keystone

First of all I will give you the accommodations:
Two Nights One and a half Days in Dillon with a beautiful mountain view, just 3 miles from Keystone, and three meals for 77 dollars. Add in two days of snowboarding and 8 great people you could not ask for a better gift for Christmas gift.

And that is just what it was, a beautiful relaxing break before what would turn into a crazy couple weeks going into the new year. (YES I am writing this quite a bit late, but I was out my beautiful Mac Book Pro.)

It was a time for me to sit and reflect on the things that went on over the last year, while free riding the empty slopes.


It was a time for me to share with my friends the slopes, a great house, and smiles!!!!


Thank you friends for being there, staying here, and pushing through hell on earth.
I love you guys!!!

The Big Freeze: Winter Camping

For those of you who dont know I have been in a backpacking class for the last six months. This past weekend I was required to pack up the gear and head to the coldest area in Colorado for one final trip, a winter camping weekend that involved staying in my tent, building snow huts, some roping skills, and avalanche first aid scenarios. All in all the weekend went well, we had 5 degree cold at night, no wind, and a great group to work with. I returned with 10 fingers, 10 toes, both ears and the tip of my nose. Sunday morning was a little hard as about 5 am my toes began to hurt, and towards 8 were still in pain. Having good leaders in my group they got my toes warmed up and I was off to the races. Going to bed at 8pm on Saturday was interesting though I woke up less than 4 hrs later even with some meds to help me doze..... To answer all your questions:

Yes I would do it again, hoping I can figure out my circulation issue.

No you probably would not like, but if you go prepared it can be very comforatable, even got in a few snow huts that felt nicer than my tent.

Yes it was cold, but a lot of fun can be had.

No I did not die.......

Enjoy the Pics.

The Intro Quote.

Some have commented on the quote that I have up and I wanted you to know where it came from. Jeff Jensen writes for Entertainment Weekly and covers some of my favorite shows. Give him a read especially after LOST returns, he brings up some brilliant ideas....

For those who never read the quote here it is.... To read more click on the title above to jump.

"Most of the time, we live our lives within invisible systems, blissfully unaware of the artificial life, the intensely designed infrastructures that support them. Accidents, disasters, crises — [when] systems fail we become temporarily conscious of the extraordinary force and power of design, and the effects that it generates. Every accident provides a brief moment of awareness of real life, what is actually happening, and our dependence on the underlying systems of design. Every plane crash is a rupture, a shock to the system, precisely because our experience of flight is so carefully designed away from the reality of the event. As we sip champagne, read the morning paper, and settle in before takeoff, we choose not to experience the torque, the thrust, the speed, the altitude, the temperature, the thousands of pounds of explosive jet fuels cradled beneath us, the infinite complexity of onboard systems, and the very real risks and dangers of takeoff and landing.'' - Jeff Jensen

What's In A Ticket?

As I sat there I became overwhelmed with emotion.. My head filled with the words, "This Place was supposed to be my ticket! My Ticket!". I never knew to where, but my heart, my head felt like I was owed something. I was sad to be there in that place, a place that once meant so much, played such a role in my life. I sat and I felt worthless... I felt like over the years my time had just been wasted! But why? Why are these my feelings? Why do I feel owed for all the time that I put in? This time was not wasted but I guess I sort of see it as invested. Invested in this ticket to somewhere, something. I guess in all this I am asking where is my return on this investment? And in a moment all I could find myself saying was..... "SORRY"

Ok ! Now it is for real !

I know I keep saying I am going to do this blog and I keep falling short and losing my creative energy. So now is the time and I want to write. I actaually have a real post that was a few weeks back but it's a start......