Catch the freshies at Vail

Rule # 1 - Get your ass out of bed!

The early bird gets the freshies and the lazy loafer sucks exhaust fumes on I-70.  I suggest you leave Denver by 5:45am at the latest.  Besides you can enjoy a fresh cup o joe and a killer breakfast burrito at the Covered Bridge.

Rule # 2 - Get in line early

Patience is a virtue … or well worth it when freshies are the prize!  Sure its cold standing in line at 8am, but you can yap with your pals in line and dream of whats to come.  Lift opens at 8:30 and its a jail break!  I would start at the Vista Bahn.

Rule # 3 - Plan your route

Those who fail to plan, plan to ski tracked out chunky monkey crud!  At least plan your first 3 runs so you don’t waste valuable time discussing where to ski while your competitors (I mean fellow skiers) poach your god given line!

Here is my “Route” on a pow day at Vail:

1. Mountain Top Express Lift to Northwoods – it gets tracked early, so get the goods while they last, plus you don’t want to blow your wad on the first run!
2. Northwoods Express lift to Sun Up Bowl – pick your run, but I prefer Milt’s Run
3. Sun Up Lift to TeaCup Bowl – probably Ghengis Khan, but who the hell cares you are choking on pow!
4. Orient Express List to Siberia Bowl – Red Square has the best pitch.  Careful at the bottom as you have a pretty good traverse on the Silk Road to the Blue Sky lift.
5. Hopefully the line is small at Blue Sky Basin and the lift hasn’t opened.  Eat a bar clean off the pow and when the lift opens you are good to ski Champagne Glades.
6. Take Earls lift back up and repeat Champagne glades until your thighs scream for mercy or you puke.

Rule # 4 - Lunch is for Pussies

Eat, Drink and … miss more fresh tracks!  Ok, I am not saying you shouldn’t eat, after all you will be burning some serious calories.  But that is why they have ski lifts.  Eat your bar of choice (mmm … snickers) and drink up on the lift between runs.  Unless you like spending $10 on a hamburger …

Rule # 5 - There are no friends on a powder day!

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be  … obviously this guy never stood around waiting for his friend while the best tracks were being slowly eaten up by others.  Look, you have a cell phone, call your buddy later, for now you must ski!  That goes for spouses and signficant others as well.

Rule # 6 - Now you can eat, drink and be merry

All men have a sweetness in their life. That is what helps them go on. It is towards that they turn when they feel too worn out.  Now that you have a perma-grin, happy camper, it’s time to revel in food and drink.  There are many places to choose from, but my best bet for the money is Vendetta’s.  They have a great staff, great specials and great beer.