Entries RSSWhen spring comes along in the Colorado Rockies, it makes me want to play hookie from all the trappings of real life. Fresh powder followed up quickly with bluebird skies and warmer temps draw me away from the office for more fun duties, like loading my truck with snowboard gear, friends and dogs to hit the slopes. 
So it was a few days ago, when the reports stated the fresh stuff was taking over the mountains near and dear to me. My friend and I headed to Copper and as soon as the shuttle stopped at the base, we hightailed it to the lift and back bowls. The target was hiking the ridge all the way out Copper Bowl to try to find fresh tracks followed by a cat trip to Tucker Mountain (the best kept secret..well maybe not anymore at the resort).
Luck was with us that day, when 1. no one else was hiking the ridge as far as we had and 2. We caught the last cat up of the day (eliminating the hike to my favorite chute…but for the record I like earning my turns). Fresh tracks greeted my friend and I all day long, pretty impressive for front-country riding. 
There is something about yipping down a hill and dodging branches in trees (or getting trapped in a tree well) and seeing the grin from ear to ear on a friend’s face on a powder day that sets all things right again, and I become grateful for the trappings of life.
