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Xavi, longtime CB local, is an impressive skier and photographer. After spending Christmas here in Gothic, he decided to ski the entire way home, traversing two intermediate ridges and their respective valleys before connecting with the nordic network that would carry him to his door. An aesthetic and practical route. He also did it fast, covering 8ish miles and 1700' in a casual 2:23.
Because it was such a cool tour, I had to follow suit. Because I am (just possibly) competitive, his time gave me a benchmark to shoot for. I borrowed 40mm mohair skins for my 10th Mountains, and while they didn't exactly climb like a champ, they kept sidestepping to a minimum, at least until they failed altogether halfway up the second ridge. No matter. It was a beautiful ski, with short steep climbs yielding to mellow but fast glade skiing on the backside of each ridge. Navigational errors tacked on a mile to my route. I rolled into town in 2:39. Next time, I guess. The out-and-back is also appealing...
Coffee and cinnamon bun were ample reward. And maybe a burrito and a PBR to boot.
Alpenglow on Gothic.
The first ridge.
Sun hits.
Backside of the mountain.
The end in sight.
Because it was such a cool tour, I had to follow suit. Because I am (just possibly) competitive, his time gave me a benchmark to shoot for. I borrowed 40mm mohair skins for my 10th Mountains, and while they didn't exactly climb like a champ, they kept sidestepping to a minimum, at least until they failed altogether halfway up the second ridge. No matter. It was a beautiful ski, with short steep climbs yielding to mellow but fast glade skiing on the backside of each ridge. Navigational errors tacked on a mile to my route. I rolled into town in 2:39. Next time, I guess. The out-and-back is also appealing...
Coffee and cinnamon bun were ample reward. And maybe a burrito and a PBR to boot.
Alpenglow on Gothic.
The first ridge.
Sun hits.
Backside of the mountain.
The end in sight.
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