Colorado Trip 2011 Blog 6

Awake at 6:30 but up for literally an hour before hand due to east coast time and ridiculous anticipation levels, we pack our bags and head to the Avalanche, a staple destination for Silverton's skiing visitors, to pick up breakfast and our brown bag lunches for the day. Breakfast was yet another massive breakfast burrito. Lunch was a phenomenal ham and brie sandwich. Casual conversations are heard between Silverton locals, mountain employees, some of the Warren Miller crew and of course the Silverton clients who had no idea what to expect. As we pulled into the parking lot (the side of the road) and put our boots on, both the Warren Miller Entertainment and Silverton Mountain helicopters were powering up. WME was in town to get some footage of Silverton and the surrounding San Juan Mountains. Mounted on the front of the WME heli was a massive 360 degree view camera connected to a similar in size view finder mounted in the front left seat of the heli. Some of the red bull crew was in town for some filming as well. Later in the day, over our guide’s radios, chatter of planned base jumps could be heard. We were in the middle of an extreme sports mecca and had no words to describe the feelings we had, just ear to ear grins all day.

Silverton Mountain base area is one hell of a hectic place first thing in the morning. Signing in, getting your ticket, picking up anything from fast skis and a back pack to a beacon, shovel or probe, it all happens in a whirlwind of a few minutes. Then hustle back down the snow carved steps etched into the hill by the mountain staff to gather in groups of 8, give or take, and meet your guide for the day. Dan, a, twenty something Colorado local from Denver would be our guide for day 1. An entire intro speech is given on the mountain, rules, and how to use your beacon, then up the only chair Silverton has, an old double, which proved later to be a sanctuary for, resting, eating, slamming red bull's and photo ops.

Once at the top Dan consults the group on which hike we would like to do first. A 15 min hike is chosen which brings the group up to the Hollywood rock area and then a traverse over to a ridge run on the front side which ran out into some small trees and held the snow nicely. 6 to 8 inches of untouched snow on prime steeps with no wind, under blue bird skies, prime.

Total runs for the day was 5, The longest being a 55 min. hike to just under The Billboard, with a vertical run length of over 2000 ft. Hiking at 13,000 ft is no easy task. Sucking wind with legs burning on top of fat boards and expensive camera equipment strapped to my back we make our way up the boot pack and windblown rocks, clenching onto nothing more than a rope in the steeper sections. Looking down to my right was a sheer fall away. One wrong step would mean the slide of a lifetime, invigorating to say the least. I’ve always loved the feeling of working for my runs but have always hated the crunchy Vermonter who has to prove their worth to the free heeling hippie gods by hiking right under the high speed quad to get to the top of Okemo to ski a groomer. Silverton is not for the faint of heart and makes a skier appreciate every turn made, every step taken and every breath drawn. 

The day was a total success with phenomenal runs and killer pictures taken of a couple ex-gate chasers getting their adrenalin on down narrow couloirs stacked with fresh snow. We reached the end of the cat-track run-out and got picked up by a shuttle at around ten after three which would mark the end of our first ski day at Silverton. As I pulled my feet out of my boots the steam immediately began to rise from the liners. I pulled off my ski socks which revealed grossly pruned, sweat drenched feet. After regretfully putting my kicks on, we made our way up to the ticket tent/base lodge which was now converted to a fully operational bar and swag shop. A round of Draft PBR's made for the most refreshing, hard earned, low end cocktail I have ever consumed.

Back to the pink hotel room for more beverages and a quick change of clothes for a night out in Silverton. Our first stop would be the Rum Bar which is more formally known as the Montanya Distillers. Montanya has their own distilling process which takes place right in the same room you get to enjoy your beverage in. By the way, these are some phenomenal beverages, I recommend the Maharaja Martini which has a really rich almost birch flavor to it. Continuing the evening, we make our way over to the Pickle Barrel for yet another homemade meal. Annie ordered a filet and I ordered beef stroganoff for myself. The Mr. and Mrs. of the McLean Clan, Gordon and Heidi, kept it organic and American with the all natural Kobe Burger, all delicious and homemade to say the least.

A review of the days photos, a Stella and a hot tub, lights out, Silverton, Day 2 in the a.m.