The Long Road To Vail (she said)
by Heather 27 Nov 2010In the morning …
The vast US Prairie
For the past few days, we have developed a routine. The alarm rings at 5:15am, we breakfast at 6am (Super8 waffles), and then pack the car and are driving by 7am. This is our third and final day of driving … and we are still on the enormous American prairies. I can feel the ground fall away in each direction and have the sensation that we are slowly crawling across the surface of the earth.
Sunsets and sunrises provide great entertainment. These long affairs cover every inch of the endless sky. The clear skies transition from the delicate nightshades to the fiery. Heading west, the morning light hits the yellowed grasses of the prairie, making glowing mounds of grass, stubble and hay bales against the deep blue grey of the sky.
Prairie Sunset
The prairies are not endless, we are now clearly heading toward the mountains. We should reach the snow by lunchtime. Our friend Susan just called to let us know Vail has well over 3,000 acres open right now, including the back bowls. They’ve had 91” of snow. This time last year, Vail had 78 acres open and I think less than 30” of snow had fallen. I feel butterflies in my stomach thinking this might be an “epic powder winter!”
In the afternoon …
The socializing begins before we even arrive in Avon. So far, so good! We reach Loveland ski area at noon and immediately find our long-time family friends, the Snows, in the cafeteria. Their son, Scott, happens to be the youngest member of the US Ski Team and is here competing in a NOR-AM race (a series of ski races one level down from World Cup). Bonnie and Joy have to head out almost immediately, but we are so grateful that they stuck around long enough to see us – however briefly. Scott disqualified during the first run, so he takes the lift back up the hill to watch the second run. Three of us (Kent, Heather and Shep) hike the hill and watch from the finish line. The feel of the snow under my feet, the smell of pine, and sound of skiing bring reality home. I will be spending the next five months working on the snow. I am soooo excited!
With Scott Snow, Member US Ski Team
Vail, Colorado!
Avon is less than an hour away.
We report to the hill for the Birds of Prey course prep at 7 am tomorrow. I can’t wait.
