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Black Diamond, Baby! (T-215)

Yep – I conquered one of my ski endeavors this weekend – the Keystone run called DiamondBack was totally my bitch!

I’ve returned from SnoFest! at Keystone without a broken bone or two! Incredible! Anyways, as promised, I have downloaded my pictures from the trip and posted them here. I must provide advance warning: some of the pics are very nice and pretty and blah blah blah – and some of the pictures are straight-up pics taken by and of drunk people. So if you can’t deal with that, bitch don’t care. I’ll expound on that last little phrase next month.

To recap the trip though: Awesomeness squared. There was no drama as potentially expected, everyone had a great time, no one got hurt, and the skiing was outstanding. We took off early Friday morning after combining people into two cars at Kyle’s house. On the way up, just right on Powers, Tom’s Explorer caught the ice wrong and spun out – fortunately that was the beginning and the end of the bad luck for the trip. Luckily he and his passengers weren’t hurt and the car was fine. The trek up to Keystone was uneventful as the weather was frickin’ beautiful. We then got ourselves parked and ready to go skiing, as we couldn’t check into the condo until the evening. And so we skied. And skied some more. Keystone really is a great resort – I didn’t really get to see much of it that first trip I took there last March, and during this trip, I got to see quite a few more runs on the front side of the mountain and take on some of the back side of the mountain, which is pretty advanced. What is cool about Keystone is that the length of the runs is very very long. You literally ski down the whole mountain, and some of the runs are 3 miles long or so. So you get a lot of turns, various steepness, potential for lots of speed, and an entertaining run in before you have to get back on the lifts. I’ve noticed that at Breckenridge, the runs aren’t quite as long as Keystone – but you do have many more to choose from than at Keystone. Regardless, it’s a very fun resort. On the second day of skiing was when I finally built up the courage to try a black diamond run. I had told myself to go for it this trip, but I was very willing to talk myself out of it though. Fortunately, I ended up running into Dave who talked up the DiamondBack trail. So I caught his enthusiasm and Kyle, Dave and I went down the trail. Of course, I had to take photos at the beginning and end of the trail – it’s not everyday you get to break your Black Diamond cherry. I will say that my heart was definitely beating superfast. I imagine that this isn’t the hardest of black diamonds to ski, but it certainly is long and steep. It starts off innocuously enough at the end of a little green bunny slope area (I kid you not) at the top of the mountain, but then you round a bend and see where the run pretty much slopes into the wham-o ‘black-diamond’ part. As you approach it, you can actually see the bottom and you realize that the bottom is VERY far down there and you have to ski to it to reach it. Well, I was there, so no turning around now. I felt pretty good while skiing down the run, especially when I saw other newbies trying to ski down it and who definitely looked a lot more scared than me. Before I knew it, I was down the mountain though, and it was awesome.

Jeremy also came up on Saturday, and we ended up all skiing around that afternoon, eventually meeting up to watch the Cardboard Derby set up for SnoFest. Basically people build various vehicles out of cardboard to race down the bunny slope. You hope to make it all the way to the finish line with an intact vehicle and not having to push it. Most do not meet these goals. But there were some that knocked that goal out of the park, including the NORAD bobsled team (freakin’ Fast!), the Short Yellow Bus, a giant Cricket cell phone, and a Viking warship. Some of these people got very creative. After watching that for a little bit, it was time to Night Ski! That is a definite fun experience, as the trails are much less crowded and the snow is great to ski on, as the iciness is mostly gone. Cheeks (I mean, Jeremy), KD, Eric and I went nightskiing for a while (Jeff went as well, but wanted to knock out more skiing without waiting) together, and of course fun was had by all.

I don’t want to leave out all the ridiculous fun had at night. The first night was pretty mellow, as we were all pretty damn tired, but not too tired to play some Karaoke Revolution! And of course drink. Which I did a lot of. No hangover the next day – woo hoo! Then on Saturday night, after night skiing, Jeremy, KD, Eric and I went out and got some pizza in the Keystone Village area. And of course drank. Then we went next door to Parrot Eyes bar, where we met up with Dave and Dallas, and of course we drank. Not to mention take lots of stupid pictures. As you’ll see below. Some hideous pics are also below. Then we went back to the lodge, and of course continued to drink (our driver, Eric, did NOT drink of course though – we are responsible people here!). That was when Jeremy and I probably should have stopped drinking, but c’est la vie. So even though we were hungover today, it was still lots of fun. The four of us stayed to do some more skiing this last day, but for me, the conditions were too icy; also, I think all the tiredness was catching up to me, I was still a bit hungover, and on one of the blue runs on the back of the mountain, I wiped out once and had to ski the gauntlet (what I call it, as basically you have to ski down this super-steep part of the mountain that everybody at the base is looking up at – so there’s like 200 people watching you ski or fall…) right afterwards. I was done. Everybody else had left in the morning, so I rode with Jeremy back to the Springs. All in all, a great weekend vacation!

And now, the pics:

SnoFest 2007 @ Keystone, Day 1: Friday, 26 Jan 07

Melissa in the car on the way upMelissa in the car on the way up
Melissa in the car on the way up26-Jan-2007 07:46, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 2.8, 7.40625mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 50
KD tooKD too
KD too26-Jan-2007 07:46, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 2.8, 7.40625mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 50
Jeff, the fearless driverJeff, the fearless driver
Jeff, the fearless driver26-Jan-2007 07:46, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 2.8, 7.40625mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 50
 
Hobie, the idiotic cameramanHobie, the idiotic cameraman
Hobie, the idiotic cameraman26-Jan-2007 07:47, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 2.8, 7.40625mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 50
Sleeping MelissaSleeping Melissa
Sleeping Melissa26-Jan-2007 08:06, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 2.8, 7.40625mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 50
26-Jan-2007 08:06, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 2.8, 7.40625mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 50
 
KD daresKD dares
KD dares26-Jan-2007 08:07, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 2.8, 7.40625mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 50
There's Keystone!There's Keystone!
There's Keystone!26-Jan-2007 10:03, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 10.0, 15.4375mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 50
Jeff at the summitJeff at the summit
Jeff at the summit26-Jan-2007 11:16, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 7.1, 7.40625mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 50
 
Melissa and KD at the topMelissa and KD at the top
Melissa and KD at the top26-Jan-2007 11:17, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 7.1, 7.40625mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 50
There's me, not paying attentionThere's me, not paying attention
There's me, not paying attention26-Jan-2007 11:17, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 7.1, 7.40625mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 50
Breckenridge, in the distanceBreckenridge, in the distance
Breckenridge, in the distance26-Jan-2007 11:22, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 13.0, 22.21875mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 50
 
26-Jan-2007 11:22, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 11.0, 18.34375mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 50
Jeff and BreckJeff and Breck
Jeff and Breck26-Jan-2007 11:22, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 13.0, 22.21875mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 50
KD and BreckKD and Breck
KD and Breck26-Jan-2007 11:22, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 4.9, 22.21875mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 50
 

SnoFest 2007 @ Keystone, Day 2: Saturday, 27 Jan 07

Eric, pro skier and gold medal winner at the racesEric, pro skier and gold medal winner at the races
Eric, pro skier and gold medal winner at the races27-Jan-2007 08:24, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 3.5, 10.8125mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 77
Jeff and Melissa prepare for a long day of lodge livingJeff and Melissa prepare for a long day of lodge living
Jeff and Melissa prepare for a long day of lodge living27-Jan-2007 08:25, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 3.5, 10.8125mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 102
Me before my first-ever Black Diamond run!!!!Me before my first-ever Black Diamond run!!!!
Me before my first-ever Black Diamond run!!!!27-Jan-2007 11:19, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 7.1, 7.40625mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 50
 
If I had to die today on the black diamond, that's one helluva viewIf I had to die today on the black diamond, that's one helluva view
If I had to die today on the black diamond, that's one helluva view27-Jan-2007 11:21, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 7.1, 7.40625mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 50
Dave and Kyle there to usher me in to the clubDave and Kyle there to usher me in to the club
Dave and Kyle there to usher me in to the club27-Jan-2007 11:21, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 7.1, 7.40625mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 50
I survived!I survived!
I survived!27-Jan-2007 11:31, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 7.1, 7.40625mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 50
 
Looking towards Breckenridge and the weather over thereLooking towards Breckenridge and the weather over there
Looking towards Breckenridge and the weather over there27-Jan-2007 14:53, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 10.0, 15.4375mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 50
Me tooMe too
Me too27-Jan-2007 14:53, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 10.0, 15.4375mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 50
KD, Eric, Melissa, Jeff and Jeremy at the Cardboard DerbyKD, Eric, Melissa, Jeff and Jeremy at the Cardboard Derby
KD, Eric, Melissa, Jeff and Jeremy at the Cardboard Derby27-Jan-2007 16:02, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 2.8, 7.40625mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 50
 
This Bitch Don't CareThis Bitch Don't Care
This Bitch Don't Care27-Jan-2007 16:02, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 2.8, 7.40625mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 50
Me in the pic this timeMe in the pic this time
Me in the pic this time27-Jan-2007 16:02, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 2.8, 7.40625mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 50
Not sure what happened hereNot sure what happened here
Not sure what happened here27-Jan-2007 16:03, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 2.8, 7.40625mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 50
 
The Cardboard derbyThe Cardboard derby
The Cardboard derby27-Jan-2007 16:05, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 4.9, 22.21875mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 50
The contestants lined upThe contestants lined up
The contestants lined up27-Jan-2007 16:05, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 4.9, 22.21875mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 50
KD and Eric at the Pizza placeKD and Eric at the Pizza place
KD and Eric at the Pizza place27-Jan-2007 20:03, Canon Canon PowerShot S410, 2.8, 7.40625mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 50
 

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