Today was an unusual day. Mike Fetters from Maine and Santa Barbra joined our group, and our group of six started at 8:30. We initially ascended into a snow cloud with freezing temperatures. As we approached the top of the mountain, the chairlift took us through the snow cloud into a sunny sky and slopes clear of new snow. Say what? Isn’t it supposed to snow on top of the mountain?
The resulting runs were exciting. Half of the run was through packed powder with great light, and the second half was a powder run with two inches of new snow on top of freshly groomed slopes.
After several runs, we stopped for hot chocolate, and I decided to head down the mountain as I was tired. Vicki joined me, and after we left, the group skied more runs high in the area.
We met Mike Fetters, his wife, and two sons more than thirty years ago on a trip down the Salmon River in Central Idaho. Later we skied with Mike and Linda and the teenage boys, Seth and Zack, at Snowmass. The boys, who then were outstanding skiers, convinced Vicki and me to “drop in” to a trail named Garrett’s Gulch. The word “gulch” should have been a tip-off. Let’s say that to this day, if someone suggests we “drop in” to an area, we turn and ski away.
Seth is now a vice principal in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he lives with his wife and two girls. Does he still ski well? If you watch a ski video of locals skiing radical back county lines, you might see Seth. Mike is a fabulous skier and will only follow Seth and his friends into specific areas.
Zack, a graphic artist in Los Angeles, is married with one daughter. He is also a gifted skier who sometimes skis with his father and brother. Their mother, a research psychologist, was an advanced skier but had to quit for medical reasons. It has been such fun to know this family and see Mike yearly at Snowmass.
We return to the Stew Pot for a light supper and a mug of ice-cold Avalanche Ale tonight.
For Haig koshkarian