With winters slow start, let's just say that the weather that has hit Colorado these last two weeks has been more than welcomed! Summit County was provided with about four feet of snow since December 1st and it looks like more is on the way. Quick to make the most of what we got, the weekends plan was to get after Vail's opening of Blue Sky Basin on Saturday and hit the road towards some deeper snow on Sunday. The opening of Blue Sky has been an event I have been happy to take part in for years now. Get up early and get after it before everyone else does! The lift line awaiting the chairs to fire up was deep, but we knew we could take 'em.

The crowd awaits.

A furious race to the back side of vail proved victorious for us and we had more than enough stash ahead of us! Blowing by hundreds of people on the cat track back there is something that I must say I truly enjoy. Timing was something that we seemed to have in our corner as we found Ski Patrol flagging us under ropes they were about to drop. Having the go ahead on a virgin zone was just the spark we needed to ignite the fire that was our day.

Bnelz. Stoked!

Cort. Up to the armpits.

Brian Nelson, Gettin.

After tearing the S#&T out of everything in site, we were content in heading back to the frontside to check out the new high speed quad that had replaced the old chair 14. It sort of goes like this: 3 minute lift ride, hand full of slashers, air out on the rock..... repeat. Go check it out for youself!

With the day done and the legs burning, we began to assemble the crew for the next days mission. The choice in destination was simple when we discovered that Monarch Mountain had received over 75" of snow in the last three days. Sleepy eyed and exhausted from the previous day, we were determined to have our way with the hill and all its pow. Driving through Blue River at the wee hours of the morning, it looked much like late January and it was obvious that the day ahead of was sure to be a good one.

Hit the road early, see the sun rise and get the stash.

Mountains startin to look GOOD!

Another early morning start was rewarded with $28 lift tickets and Pow-wow galore! Stances were set back and powder skirts snapped before we loaded Monarch's classic double chairs that swept us above the snow laden terrain that lay ahead of us. Snow ghosts, pow rollers and all sorts of gulleys and such littered the slope below.

First run. . .Very EXCITE!

Soon enough, the first slashes of the day were layed down and the excitement continued to build. The snow was much more like that of Jackson Hole than Colorado in that it was a little thicker and much easier to stomp a landing in. Stoked to explore new terrain, the crew spent the day seeking out new zones and laying down some serious fun. Each run as good as the last, it was hard to stop for even a short lunch break.

Mike Day.

Clarissa was RUNNING up every hike for her turns!

Monarch is a "classic" kind of mountain.

Brian

Jimmy

When you finish the day with just as many first tracks as the first run, its really hard to call it quits. So, one more run in the yellow glow of the days end and we were finished. Another day was done and with enormous grins of satisfaction, we bid Monarch farewell.

Get up early, get in the car with your friends and find some snow.