Last Ski Day - Cold & Snowy

I was up at 6a and eager to do my run and get back to the mountain. I didn’t have my running attire as organized and I would’ve liked, but I managed to find it all in the dark. Just a dusting of fresh snow overnight and relatively clear skies hovering overhead. I completed my run by 635a. Back at the condo I started some coffee and made a fresh batch of orange juice. By consensus, we planned to have bacon and eggs for breakfast. Also, the day before, we made arrangements to take the resort shuttle to the mountain. Our pick-up was the later of the two available – 930a. However, during breakfast, I suggested we bag the shuttle and drive once again. After all, the weather didn’t seem to be an issue. Everyone agreed. We canceled the shuttle service. I was hopeful that we could get to the mountain even sooner than the prior two days. To help that idea along, I had showered even before the others were awake. However, after breakfast, Tommy declared his need to shower. Good grief! I hate waiting on others. We didn’t get out of the condo until 920a. And even though it was partly sunny over Bend, it looked like the mountain was socked in by clouds. Sure enough, it was socked in even more so than it was on Saturday. The parking lot was fuller too. Holy smoke! Getting geared up was slow, as well. Adding to it, Glenn ran off to the facilities as soon as we were parked. Sad he couldn't wait. I waited for his leisurely return. This time we planned wisely. I suggested we go right to the Red Chair lift. It’s so much closer a walk and a shorter line. All agreed. Mindy, Tom, & Tommy headed towards the lift while I waited on Glenn to gear up. It was already 1030a. By the time we got up to Red Chair, Tom & Tommy notified me that Mindy was in the bathroom and that they were headed over to tamer slopes. OK. Glenn and I waited on Mindy. Unfortunately, the line at Red Chair was long, but it did move fairly quickly. Mindy opted to ski down Leeway and with Glenn and I despite thinking we were gonna go a little easier. Turns out though, she did just fine. As it was the two prior days, the blues were all heavily moguled requiring a more technical ski technique. We eventually worked our way to the Northwest lift and planned once again to take Kangaroo. After one run down Mindy surprisingly agreed to do one of the black runs, Osprey. I took a spill right away, although fairly gentle, at least compared to my recent MRM spill. My skis simply got caught up in the deep powder. We skied it slow but all made it down safely. By the time we rode the NW back up top it was already break time. The skies were almost total white out at the top, making for a dizzying ski back towards the Pine martin lodge. Both Mindy & I felt queasy. We cruised down Thunderbird in order to get down to the lower lodge. Finding a table was tough. Mindy was invited to share one with others who she ended up befriending, but more of their friends showed leaving no room for the rest of us. We ended up finding a table upstairs. Unlike Friday, they had servers working the upstairs tables this time. We ordered two pitchers of beer; Black Butte Porter and Mirror Pond Pale Ale. We ordered some of their yummy Asiago spinach dip and nachos, too. Our break went well beyond the hour we budgeted, and with such short ski hours, there wasn’t a whole lot of time left when we headed out. It was already 2p. Yikes! We all agreed to ski the eastern mountain during the afternoon, a part of the mountain I had never seen before. And according to Tom, Tommy, and Mindy, groomed blue trails. That sounded good. To date, we had little opportunity to ski fast and fearless with all the powder and moguls. Hitting a cruiser or two was a welcome opportunity. They were correct; the runs were groomed more like home and Holiday Valley. More families over there too, however. We rode back up Rainbow, the eastern most lift. It was slow and long – over 200 chairs. It was a fun ski down, but by the time we skied down to the bottom again, the Sunrise lift was closing. Damn, where had the afternoon gone? At the top, visibility was very poor, not to mention it being extremely cold & windy above the timberline. Tom & Tommy took the green cruiser to the main lodge. Mindy & I took a blue run. I had to chuckle when she and I ended up on Coffee Run, the same trail she struggled mightily with on Friday. This time, however, she skied it fine. Getting used to the conditions, I guess. My legs were toast when we finished. Mindy, surprisingly, said she had something left in the tank. Just like that, our skiing was done. I was sad. Mindy and I plodded over to the ski shop to look for souvenirs. We already knew that Glenn & Tom were waiting at the car and brother Tommy at the rental facility awaiting a pick-up. We had his tennis shoes in the minivan. It was 430p by the time we were done shopping and ready to head back to the condo. The drive back was much easier than the day before. Clean roads and light traffic. Mindy headed to our room for a nap, and the others headed for the hot tub. I decided to stay back, nap and relax while sipping a Hop Henge IIPA. I watched some TV too. The time proved very relaxing. After an hour or so Mindy was up. She & I decided once again that we didn’t feel up to heading into town. We’d simply stay in enjoying beer, snacks, and TV. The others didn’t seem disappointed. I think everyone was tired. Instead, we watched Discovery Channel – Strange Addictions. Mindy & I headed to bed near 9p. Wanted to be rested come Monday morning for our trip back to the 'Couv'.