Captains log 3202013

What a great day.  At the last minute I decided to use a lift ticket I had bought a few weeks ago at Loveland Basin (www.skiloveland.com).  The highs hit the 30's on the hill and there were minimal crowds.  I did make it a solo trip, which I had not done since 1998 a year after I first moved out to Colorado.  I had purchased some boots a few weeks ago and this was the first day in them, so breaking them in was a bit of a chore but it felt great to be outside, and MAN do my legs feel it today after working out as hard as I did yesterday.
I made a total of 12 trips up and down the hill in about 3 hours before my legs protested movement, and being one to always remember that the bad stuff happens "on the last run of the day" I was proactive and bailed early.  Clouds were moving in and the wind really picked up.  This was my second time on skis this year and makes 2 times in 15+ years.  I knew I had always loved the sport but damn it can get pricey.  Loveland may change that.  They have a really good deal on season passes and for newbie skiers like the wife and kids, and a whole hill away from experienced people to practice.  It is a relatively short drive from Denver and really has some great potential.  The snow seems to be lacking a bit this year and I bet with all the terrain open this hill is awesome.  Loveland's prices are the best around and a season pass is pretty cheap.  Sure they dont have the fancy resort stuff but really it is a great hill with some challenging terrain.  Some of the greens I would have classified as easy blues and the trend continues throughout the grading, it is a pretty steep hill in some spots.
So no running today, instead I am sore in a cross training sort of way, tomorrow I get to run again.  Wish me luck, these quads are a burnin.
Here is a picture I took from the top of the #9 lift about as high as 1 can get without hiking.

 

Here is a picture of the mountain:

On a side note:  in 1996 my father and I made a trip out here from the east coast and went up to loveland pass.  We climbed a small hill to make it official that we were 12000 feet up, loveland Pass is 11,990', and both of us were huffing and puffing after only a short 15' hike up the hill.  I had not been there since that day and today made a short jaunt up hwy 6 to see how acclimated I have become, I made it up the hill without barely a huff, my legs however told me they were still exhausted from skiing.  I know for a fact I need to get more high mountain training in before I attempt a 14er.  Baby steps people.