The 10th anniversary of our annual Dyer Family Ski trip was…interesting. Our spring break was early this year, and there was a shortage of ski rental equipment, avalanche warnings, a “bomb cyclone” weather system, a cake incident, and “too much snow to ski.” Here’s a post from the first year we went.
As we usually do in January, we went to our local ski shop (yes, there is one in our town!), and were told they were “out” of ski rentals because so many folks had rented equipment! We had to rent from a place in Denver.
Saturday
Saturday was uneventful. There was a wind advisory (which is pretty normal in Kansas), which made the drive to Denver kind of annoying.
Sunday
We started out ordering our coffee in advance (and by “we,” I mean me and Adam). Then went to a Redbox at McDonald’s to return a movie. Here’s where things got tense.
There was no parking. Scott decided to park in the “drive thru” only stall. That was a mistake.
Me: This is for drive thru customers only.”
Scott: “I’m only going to be here a minute.”
Me: “You’re breaking the rules.”
Scott: “Seriously…2 seconds…”
15yo McDonald’s worker, knocking on the car window: “Sir, you can’t park here. Drive-thru only” *points to sign*
Scott: “I’m just running in to return this Redbox movie…”
15yo worker: “I’m sorry, you are going to have to park somewhere else.”
Scott: 😒
The rest of us in the car: 🤣
We also learned yesterday that this was happening… 😒
We had some time to kill…
We rented the boys’ skis, boots, and poles (we had bought helmets already). While the boys were filling out the paperwork (which was a triplicate form using carbonless paper), the 16 year old asked if the print was supposed to go through on all the forms.
Um. Yes. That’s why there’s three of the same form. He had never seen that before. #BornIn2002
We ate at Beau Jo’s, our favorite pizza joint in Idaho Springs.
We always get the same pizza – the motherlode.
In case you want to know what’s on the motherlode…
I-70 was still closed in some parts, so we toured the Argo Mill & Tunnel. Here is the background of this historic gold mill and tunnel.
We went inside the tunnel, about 50 feet. At the end was a huge hatch, that was holding back water, I can’t remember how much is on the other side, but it was enough that I felt uneasy in the tunnel…because what if that hatch broke???
Inside the tunnel.
Next, we toured the mill which had original equipment, payroll and other paperwork from the early 1900s and gold rush artifacts.
Outside the mill.
By now, 1-70 had opened and the avalanche mitigation was done.
Shawna and Marty and their kids were at a bowling birthday party, so we made a stop at the grocery story first. We had to get food for our lunches on the mountain: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cans of Pringles (because the can protects the chips so they won’t get crushed), apples, and pop tarts plus some other necessities.
We did stop by the bowling alley to see Shawna and Marty. That’s where Adam sat in cake. 😆
On to Shawna and Marty’s new house! We had a great setup, a bedroom and bathroom in the basement. The boys slept on the couch in the basement.
Monday
Our first day of skiing, and the only day we saw sun. For 15 minutes.
One would think we would want to take it easy on the first run, to get our ski legs warmed up. An easy blue or something. Nope. Let’s start with a black diamond.
It was a little cold, and snowing.
It was cloudy the rest of the day. Beaver Creek had recorded record snowfall this year, so the snow was good, and lots of it.
This is a run called “Ghost Town” … so pretty with all the snow!
More snow…big, heavy flakes!
We’ve been enjoying the 3 p.m. chocolate chip cookies for 10 years now – you are never too old for cookies! This year, they also handed them out at 9 a.m. #CookiesforBreakfast
Tuesday
#NotInKansas
Right outside the “Ghost Town” run. Zach has orange on his coat. Adam is in all black. And me in turquoise.
This year, the boys tried “Head’s Up,” a double black diamond run. Everyone made it out alive! They also did “4 Get About It,” which has been Scott’s favorite double black diamond run for 10 years. I’ll stick to blues and wide open blacks…with no moguls.
Wednesday
It snowed…more. This is outside Shawna and Marty’s house.
Instead of skiing, Shawna and I enjoyed a massage, glass of wine in the relaxation room, and then lunch on the way back home in Edwards, CO.
The boys reported it snowed all day on the mountain, and the skiing was hard. There is such a thing as “too much snow to ski.” A dip in the hot tub was needed.
Thursday
We had planned to ski today. But with “feels like” temperatures in the teens in Beaver Creek, it would be cold and miserable. We decided to head home a day early.
Except….a “bomb cyclone” 💣 weather system had moved over Colorado and Kansas on Wednesday. Never heard of a bomb cyclone? It’s “an explosively intensifying winter storm with hurricane-force system that combines the worst weather of all four seasons into one — from a string of violent, tornadic thunderstorms to damaging winds, severe blizzard conditions and flooding.”
What’s that mean? It means I-70 was closed from Denver to Hays. That’s 332 miles.
According to weather experts, it was a storm for the record books, meeting the criteria of a meteorological “bomb.” More than 1,000 drivers were stranded, and Denver International Airport closed all its runways. In Kansas, semi trucks were blown over and the wind whipped up to 70-80 miles per hour.
I-70 was open from Eagle to Denver. We decided to get a room in Denver, and hopefully roads would be open on Friday. Piles of snow lined the roadways. This was in Frisco.
We made it home late Friday afternoon. And after all that weather, it was a beautiful and sunny day in Kansas!
One Kansas Girl 