Marble backcountry skiing.
A study in contrast (or lack thereof) was the weekend theme for team WildSnow as we eschewed the crowds up at Aspen Highlands and forayed with the few and the brave up to Marble Peak for a weekend of crisp white 100% human fueled bliss. First, a bit of storm skiing on Saturday provided us with just enough photons to fuel smiles (and appetites for Woody’s BBQ).
The storm cleared out Saturday night, thus providing contrast of a bluebird Sunday of the sort you read about in the magazines or guide service brochures. Puffy clouds here and there for effect, but mostly a deep azure sky and enough heat on the snow to dissolve any crust and make for two big laps of inimitably perfect creamed semi-corn.
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| I love this image we grabbed as the weather moved around on Saturday. The day was one of those with misty clouds near overhead, but a sun lurking out there for just enough contrast to make something more than an ‘inside the egg’ photo of my bride. Click to enlarge. |
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Best, the place wasn't mobbed -- only a few friendly souls showed up who'd avoided the lure of mountain biking or riding the cable.
Lisa on her way down Sunday on our second lap, headed for you know where.
Ok, so what did we have at Woody’s? Lisa imbibed a world-class burger constructed with black angus beef. You should have seen that thing disappear. Wonder. St. Louie ribs were my choice — after all, when one encounters eponymous victuals, the choice is kinda made for you. The ribs virtually fell off the bone into my greedy maw. Desert, extreme chocolate cake.
Marble report: A few days of velvet will ski a good as ever, till the lurking dust layer shows its evil visage. I estimate perhaps three days of good backcountry skiing up to timberline (such as the usual Marble shots) then it’s time to go higher into the alpine unless we get a snow surface renewal. See you up there.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
