One of my Goals for 2009: Ski all the Blacks, Double Blacks, Expert Runs at Telluride

One of my goals for 2009 is to ski all the great expert terrain at Telluride.

Over the last couple of seasons Telluride has open a LOT of new expert hike tos. The most spectacular is Palmyra Peak (check out TelSki CEO Blog post on it here).

If I don't kill myself on these runs, at least I am going to get in shape just doing all the hike tos. Also, none of these hike tos are open quite yet, snow pack as been very dangerous this year, and TelSki is having a hard time opening even the non-hike to terrain.

So as the geek I am, I have a online checklist using Evernote. I love Evernote (see my post and review here), however, Evernote on the Mac is doing some funky things with the formating, so I am still tweaking it so it looks good. So if things are funny colors or the words are different sizes, it is in progress. :)

Click below



For those that are curious and want to check back on my status, I added this widget to my sidebar on the right.


Ok, hopefully, I can check one of these off today. Looks like a blue-bird day!

ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income

Just got down reading. ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income



Might be a while before, I make six figures off of THIS blog, but I have ideas for 2009, that I will use some of the thoughts and ideas in this book.

I recommended this book to anyone, that is thinking (or thought)

Hmmm, I wonder if can I make money off of this blog thing.

I hope prosperity to all in 2009!!!!

Berner Puppies Story

If you like puppies you got to check out this extra cute story.

Click the link below
http://alpenschatz.blogspot.com/2008/12/alpen-schatz-yodelling-marmot-yodels.html

Beers and Prices at the Hop Garden

I promise this will be one of the last post on Hop Garden. But for the curious here are are the beers and prices of what is flowing:





Prost!!!

Ice In Urinals

This will probably fall under the category of TOO MUCH INFORMATION.

However, I have always wonder why some establishments but ice in the Urinals. I took this photo the other day at Hop Garden. No one else was in the room.



Well wikipedia came to the rescue with the following answer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urinals

Some establishments, often bars, pubs, or nightclubs, fill their urinals with ice cubes during peak hours. As the ice melts, it serves to slowly flush the urinal, and also cools the urine to prevent smells from rising during use.

So there you go.

Interesting Facts of Colorado

My friend Shanna sent this to me, not sure the original source, but I thought I would pass these on.

Here are some curious things you might not know about Colorado.

Highest Climb. The highest vertical climb is not on a mountain but up the north side of the Black Canyon. Rising 1,700 feet, this sheer rock face is even higher than the famous Diamond on Longs Peakand was not conquered until 1969.

Deepest Snow. In 1899 Crested Butte recorded 254 inches of snow near the top of Kebler Pass. That year, snow buried a train near Leadville and left only stove pipes showing above cabins at many mountain towns. Usually, Wolf Creek Pass near Pagosa Springs gets the most snow in Colorado.

Oldest Hotel. The Peck House in thelittle town of Empire, near Berthoud Pass, is Colorado 's oldest hotel. It was built in 1859 by James Peck. Early guests included President Ulysses S. Grant and other famous people.

Highest Town. Leadvilleis the highest (10,200 feet) incorporated town in Colorado and the entire U.S. It has also had the highest rate of premature babies in the U.S. Researchers concluded that the altitude causes smaller babies.

Largest Nuggets. The biggest gold nuggetin Colorado weighed 135 ounces and was found near Breckenridge in 1887 by miner Tom Broves. The biggest silver nugget weighed 1,840 pounds and was found at an Aspen mine in 1894.

Largest Elk Antlers. Measuring 52 inches at the widest point, the antlers of an elk killed in 1899 near Crested Butte are still on display at that town's visitor center. In 1961,Boone and Crockett researchers declared it to be the largest elk rack in history.

Toughest Climate. No crops are grown around the town ofSilverton, north of Durango. At 9,318 feet elevation, Silverton's growing season between frosts is only two weeks. San Juan County here is reportedly the only county in the U.S. without a single acre of agricultural land.

Worst Drought. About every 40 years, Colorado experiences a drought, according to tree-ring researchers. The worst was in the 1200's. It lasted 25 years and may have driven the Indians from Mesa Verde. During the Dust Bowl on the eastern plains, one cloud of dust on April 4, 1935, gathered itself to 1,000 feet high and 200 miles wide. It traveled at60 miles an hour, suffocated hundreds of animals and damaged many people's health.

Driest Town. Delta, south of Grand Junction, gets less rain per year than Tucson, Arizona.

Musical Dunes. Winds blowing around the Great Sand Dunes near Alamosa create sounds resembling music. That's how Music Pass above the dunes got its name.

Women's Rights. Colorado was the second state in the U.S. to give women the right to vote. Wyoming was the first. You would think the eastern states would have been more progressive, but it took the frontier adventure to make men realize how strong and intelligent women were.

Cold and Powder Skiing and Snow Work

After a little snow work at the homestead I went out and got fresh lines on Chair 9. Did three laps on 9, but with this many people waiting at the bottom, it got track out fairly quickly.



However, my run down the Plunge was GREAT! (smiling now as I write this), but it was a bit COLD. Anyone that as rode Chair 9, knows it is a long and cold lift.

So after 3 laps on 9, I went over to Chair 6 and did a few runs over there. The fog was damp and cold, but provided some funky lighting on Zulu Queen.


I got home, took a nap and finished off my snow work. More snow is coming, so I wanted to get a good start on it. Below is our driveway down to the road.

$2 Fat Tire and Signed Poster by US Ski Team

Had a few $2 Fat Tire Grand Opening Special at Hop Garden last night.

Fat Tire is up there in my top 5 favorite beers. New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins Colorado is a great environment and social conscience company.

Also at the Grand Opening the US Ski team was signing posters of Revelation Bowl. Already put it up in my study.


One thing for sure, is I felt old around this young amazing athletes.

Alpen Schatz is Hiring!

Alpen Schatz in Telluride Colorado is hiring for the Winter Season.

Please Contact Mary Dawn at
Email: boutique@alpenschatz.com
Phone: 970-728-4433
Web: www.alpenschatz.com




Warm Alpine Regards,
Michael and Mary Dawn

Revelation Bowl

[updated: Photos at bottom of post]
So I (and a hundred of my close friends) where waiting at the top of Gold Hill lift for the Security to drop the rope so we can ski down into the brand new terrain at Telluride Ski Resort called Revelation Bowl.

Skiers and Riders love powder (and today there was lots of un-tracked). They let some of the Very Important People go first. The snow was deep, and was easy to trip you up. A couple of these VIPs (in front of a jealous crowd) took some good tumbles, which made the wait a little easier at the top watching.

So when they dropped the rope, it was NUTS! This huge crowd of good skiers "Whooping it up". I have never been part of a Chinese Downhill (note it was not as bad as the definition on Urban Dictionary:Chinese Downhill) but the quicker you got down, the better in line you to get to more "good stuff". I was fortunate to dodge the fallen unfortunate and stay on my feet to the bottom. It was a BLAST!

At the bottom Dave gave a short thanks to all that made it happen. This process took 20-30 minutes before they loaded the lift.

Now, here is something TelSki HAS to work out the kinks. When getting off the lift, they did not design the exit ramp. You had to push HARD off the chair so it would not hit you in the butt. They had a guy at the top, coaching people to get off the lift. You have to remember, the people who rode the down to the bottom know how to ski and are NOT beginners. The lift guy would count down 3,2,1, go,go,go.... :)

[update: I asked Dave about the above on his blog and here is his reply

Dave's reply: Hi Michael, Thanks for being a part of the day.

Yes, we will fix it tonight by snowcat. The runout area below the unload ramp at the top needs to be cut down a few feet.

Have a great ski season.

ok, good....

]

My second run down, I found some un-tracked snow up above my knees. Any one that skis powder knows you have to go fast to float to the top of the snow. Well, I was going a good clip, when I lean to far forward and I went "over the handle-bars". Except for a face full of fluff, it was all good. :)

Did break threw to the rocks a couple of times where they over blasted, or wind blown, but this is very early in the season. Look forward to the next big powder day.

Anyway, long post for those who don't ski, but it was a GREAT day. They opened up lifts 5,6, and 15 today. Got fresh tracks on most of my runs. My early season legs are spent. I will sleep well tonight.




Map from Telski:

"Think Snow"

Hop Garden (Review)

In a previous post, I said I would write my thoughts on Hops Garden.

So with my very special guest Mary Dawn (of Alpen Schatz) we sampled the Bretz'n with Obazda and Süßer Senf. :)

Here is what she wrote:

The new Hop Garden in T-Ride offers an authentic large "Beer Garden" Bretz'n (Pretzel) which is served with Obazda (a Bavarian Cheese Spread) and Süßer Senf (Bavarian Sweet Mustard).

The pretzel is warm and soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside. I rate this dish a 8.5 out of 10. The lacking 15% would be the Bretz'n is not having the large Rock Salt typical of German Pretzels and the Obazda lacking the spicy/tang taste of a true Bavarian Obazda. In all, I've never ever seen an attempt in America to serve authentic Bavarian and its dips.

Ok so there go, a review from someone that lived in Munich many years.

From MY beer standpoint, they had about 10 beers (some local and some European). However, only several were flowing today. They range from $5 to $8.5. I had a Fat Tire, so not very German.

Another good point, I was able to get a weak WiFi signal there. Not sure if that access point will hang around, but for any of you on-the go people, you might try it.

Revelation Bowl opening Tomorrow at 10 am.

So Dave from Dave's Blog says that Resolution Bowl is opening tomorrow! I will definitely try to be there for the ribbon cutting. Telluride really does not have this type of big open bowl skiing. Should be fun.

Below is photos from Dave's Blog


Tomorrow I will give my review of this new terrain. Also, they are opening up lots of other runs, my legs will BURN tomorrow.

For official reading on Revelation Bowl, click on of the links below.
Dave's Blog: http://blog.tellurideskiresort.com/blogs/davesblog/archive/2008/12/08/more-lifts-terrain-revelation-bowl-hop-garden-grand-opening-us-ski-and-snowboard-team-poster-signing.aspx

Telluride Daily Planet: http://www.telluridenews.com/news/x1049849038/New-terrain-revelatory-On-the-mountain-the-wait-is-nearly-over

Hop Garden (Telluride's new Apre-Ski Place)

Telluride Ski Resort opened a new Apre-Ski place called Hop Garden. I have not eaten there yet, but Mary Dawn from Alpen Schatz provided them with the flags. :)

Prices seem reasonable, good beers for $5. When I actually eat/drink there I will post a review.

Thanksgiving Trip

Just catching up on my blog photos. Below are some of the more interesting photos I took while in Fort Collins and Crook while over the Thanksgiving week. Click the FullScreen icon and the ShowInfo link if you want the description of the photo.

Click here to open up the set in Flickr, otherwise you can use the embeded viewer below. Click on the image to advance to the next image.

Snow Depth after Dec 8, 2008 Storm

Snow depth after the yesterdays storm. We were told that we need to shovel the deck, so I wanted to show pictures before that took place. But that can wait, I am off to go ski!!!!


Click here to open up the set in Flickr, otherwise you can use the embeded viewer below. Click on the image to advance to the next image. If you want more info, hover over the notes link.