The Party's Over?

When is the ski season over? Is it when the lifts at the local ski area stop running? Do you travel farther and farther to find an open ski area? Or, do you chase winter across the globe so the ski season never ends? I haven't crossed the equator to ski yet, but I have climbed a mountain for some 'post-ski-season' turns.

If you live near the mountains, you quickly learn that winter can last well into the spring. Case in point: May 2nd, 2010 in the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Two friends and I met in the morning for a half-day of 'self-serve' skiing. We carpooled up a local mountain to find winter still holding strong. We put climbing skins on skis, strapped on avalanche beacons and packs to climb up for a half-day of surprisingly wintry skiing.

Was it worth it to climb a 12,000 foot mountain for a few ski runs? Look through these pictures and you tell me. Thanks to my friends, David and Shayne, for an great day of exploration and fun in the mountains.

More Info:

Winter Wonderings - Thoughts of an ISIA ski instructor working in Arinsal, Andorra.

Sangre de Cristo Mountains

The Party's Over and Other Great Willie Nelson Songs